Gavin MacLeod

Gavin MacLeod is an American film, television and character actor, ships ambassador, Christian activist and author, whose career spans six decades of television. He has also appeared as a guest on several talk, variety and religious shows.

Gavin MacLeod was born as Allan George See on February 28, 1931, in Mount Kisco, New York, the older of two children. His mother, Margaret See , a middle school dropout, worked for Readers Digest. His father, George See , an electrician, was part Chippewa . He grew up in Pleasantville and studied acting at Ithaca College, graduating in 1952. After serving in the United States Air Force, he moved to New York City and worked at Radio City Music Hall while looking for acting work. At about this time he changed his name, drawing Gavin from a physically disabled victim in a TV drama, and MacLeod from his Ithaca drama coach, Beatrice MacLeod. MacLeod said in a 2013 interview with Parade Magazine about his stage name, he felt as if my name was getting in the way of my success. Allan, he wrote, just wasnt strong enough, and See was too confusing.

Source: Wikipedia