Tim Considine, actor who played eldest son on ‘My Three Sons’ sitcom, dies at 81

LOS ANGELES — Tim Considine, who played the eldest son, Mike, on the 1960s TV sitcom “My Three Sons,” has died. He was 81.

Considine died Thursday at his home in the Mar Vista neighorhood of Los Angeles, his son, Christopher, told The Hollywood Reporter. His death also was noted Friday by D23, the official Walt Disney fan club, and in a Facebook post by Stanley Livingston, who played son Chip on the series.

Livingstone called Considine “my life-long friend and surrogate older brother.”

“Tim went through life HIS WAY! He will be missed by all those who knew him,” Livingstone posted.

Considine was born in Los Angeles to a show business family. His father, John Considine Jr., was an Academy Award-nominated movie producer and his mother, Carmen, was the daughter of theater magnate Alexander Pantages.

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Considine got his first movie role in 1953 at age 12, appearing with Red Skelton in “The Clown.”

A few years later, he appeared on TV in “The Adventures of Spin and Marty” and “Hardy Boys” adventures, which were short serials that aired on “The Mickey Mouse Club.”

He went on to appear in the 1959 Disney movie classic “The Shaggy Dog” with Fred MacMurray and later starred with him on “My Three Sons” for five years before leaving the series.

In 2006, Considine was named a Disney Legend in honor of his contributions to the Disney company.

Considine also appeared on other television series and in the movies, perhaps most famously (but briefly) as a war-traumatized soldier who is slapped by Gen. George S. Patton in the 1970 film “Patton.”

A fan of auto racing, Considine photographed and wrote about motor sports, producing several books.

Considine’s brother, John, also was an actor and screenwriter who had roles on several TV soap operas and who co-wrote and appeared in the 1978 Robert Altman film, “A Wedding.”