My Three Sons” enjoyed a remarkable run of 12 seasons on both ABC and CBS, featuring one of the era’s highest-paid actors, Fred MacMurray, in the lead role.
An undated image of Fred MacMurray, Don Brady, Dawn Lyn, Barry Livingston, Beverly Garland, Stanley Livingston on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
An undated image of Fred MacMurray, Don Brady, Dawn Lyn, Barry Livingston, Beverly Garland, Stanley Livingston on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
MacMurray portrayed Steve Douglas, a widowed father navigating the challenges of raising three sons with the help of his father-in-law. One of his sons, Robbie Douglas, eventually moved out to marry his high school love, leading to the birth of triplets.
The series also showcased the talents of several key actors, such as Tina Cole, Don Grady, and real-life siblings Joe, Daniel, and Michael Todd, each playing significant roles that left a lasting impact on the show’s legacy.
Tina Cole, Extras, Don Grady, Extra on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
Tina Cole, Extras, Don Grady, Extra on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
Tina Cole
Tina Cole, widely recognized for her role as the charming and lively Katie Miller Douglas on the 1960s series “My Three Sons,” has had an impressive journey in show business. Originally aspiring to become an elementary school teacher, Cole’s path took a different turn as she found her passion in acting and music.
At 19, she made her first television appearance on “Hawaiian Eye” and later joined the musical ensemble “The Four King Cousins,” as well as featuring on “The King Family Show.”
Her career-defining moment came when she was cast as Katie on “My Three Sons,” although this wasn’t her first stint on the show—she had previously taken on various roles in different episodes.
Despite initial doubts from her co-star Grady, Cole’s portrayal of Katie felt so genuine that it required little effort to bring the character to life.
As time went on, she embraced motherhood, raising two sons and two daughters. She takes great pride in her role as both a mother and grandmother, often sharing glimpses of her family life on social media.
On April 25, 2019, she posted a series of photos on Facebook, highlighting a memorable Easter celebration. One particular photo was affectionately described as a “mini” Thanksgiving with her daughters and their families.
Don Grady
Don Grady, who portrayed the wholesome, heartthrob older brother Robbie Douglas on the long-running sitcom “My Three Sons,” had a career that extended beyond acting.
He was a talented musician and singer who began his television journey as a Mouseketeer on “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Although the star became well-known for his acting, he always viewed music as his true calling, with his acting career being somewhat of a happy accident.
Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1970 | Source: Getty Images
Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1970 | Source: Getty Images
After “My Three Sons” concluded, Don Grady channeled his passion for music into a new career as a composer and songwriter for television, theater, and films.
He notably composed the theme song for Phil Donahue’s talk show, and his work also appeared in the children’s television series “The Kid-A-Littles” and the 1985 film “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1966 | Source: Getty Images
Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1966 | Source: Getty Images
Grady also co-wrote “Keep the Dream Alive,” a piece recorded by Herbie Hancock, Della Reese, and other notable artists as part of the Jazz to End Hunger project. The actor’s wife once shared, “His passion was music. TV was a sideline to all he ever wanted to do, which was play music.”
Tragically, Grady passed away in June 2012 at the age of 68. A family spokesperson at the time confirmed that he succumbed to cancer. He left behind his wife, his mother, his two children, Joey and Tessa, and his sister, Marilou Reichel.
Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1977 | Source: Getty Images
Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1977 | Source: Getty Images
The Triplets
One of the triplets who portrayed the son of Cole and Grady on the now-classic TV show is Joe Todd. In a 2018 interview, Todd revealed that he has very few memories of the filming experience, as he was too young at the time to recall much.
“We were just young kids, so everybody was real nice and friendly. There are pictures from the set that I view now that I don’t remember seeing or doing,” he shared.
An undated image of triplets and Tina Cole on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
An undated image of triplets and Tina Cole on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
Todd mentioned that many people often ask him, after seeing pictures online, which of the triplets he is. He admitted, “I couldn’t point myself out.” The former child star explained that as children, he and his brothers Daniel and Michael Todd, didn’t grasp the context of their roles.
It wasn’t until later in life that he realized the significant impact the show had on audiences, despite the fact that the triplets were only part of it for a few years.
An undated image of Extras, Fred MacMurray, and Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
An undated image of Extras, Fred MacMurray, and Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
After their two seasons on the show, the Todd family stayed in San Diego, the triplets continued their acting journey by appearing in several commercials. They promoted products like Doublemint chewing gum and the California restaurant chain Mr. Steak, among others.
However, Todd shared that he and his brothers never planned to pursue acting as a long-term career. “Hollywood always portrays itself as lollipops and rainbows, but there’s more to it,” he noted.
An undated image of Extra, Tina Cole, Barry Livingston, Extra, Fred MacMurray, William Demarest, Ronnie Troup, Daniel Todd, Stanley Livingston, Dawn Lyn, Joseph Todd, Beverly Garland on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
An undated image of Extra, Tina Cole, Barry Livingston, Extra, Fred MacMurray, William Demarest, Ronnie Troup, Daniel Todd, Stanley Livingston, Dawn Lyn, Joseph Todd, Beverly Garland on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
Todd explained that pursuing a career in acting requires a certain level of commitment and the willingness to overlook certain aspects. He stated, “It’s not for everybody.”
The TV star went on to say that as children, they were more interested in being outside and engaging in normal activities rather than focusing on acting.
An undated image of Stanley Livingston, William Demarest, Barry Livingston, and Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
An undated image of Stanley Livingston, William Demarest, Barry Livingston, and Don Grady on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
For them, it was just something to do, and he emphasized that their involvement in acting was more about the novelty of being triplets than about any particular talent.
In 1989, the Todd brothers appeared on “The Joan Rivers Show” to share their memories from “My Three Sons,” but they have remained out of the spotlight since then.
Fred MacMurray, Beverly Garland, Extras, Dawn Lyn, Barry Livingston, Ronnie Troup, Tina Cole, Extra, Stanley Livingston, and William Demarest on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
Fred MacMurray, Beverly Garland, Extras, Dawn Lyn, Barry Livingston, Ronnie Troup, Tina Cole, Extra, Stanley Livingston, and William Demarest on the set of “My Three Sons” | Source: Getty Images
Their father’s job led the family to move to Houston during the triplets’ senior year of high school. There, all three siblings completed their high school education and went on to start college.
However, their time in college was also short-lived. Todd revealed, “We realized we weren’t mature enough to handle college, and decided to join the Army. It was the best thing we could have ever done.”
Don Grady and Extras on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Don Grady and Extras on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1960 | Source: Getty Images
He explained that some people think they all joined the Army for the same reason, and in fact, they did—to discover their own individuality. The former celebrity noted that when you’re constantly grouped with your brothers, there’s a desire to establish your own identity, and the military provided them with that opportunity.
At 19, the three brothers enlisted in the military, each choosing a different occupational specialty. However, they were unexpectedly assigned to different locations in Germany for their first tour of duty.
Don Grady and Extras on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Don Grady and Extras on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Todd explained that they were no longer identified as “the triplets.” Growing up as a triplet is a unique blessing, being separated allowed each of them to establish their own identities more effectively than if they had remained in the same town and pursued similar careers.
Todd went on to serve as an Army medic for 20 years before retiring in March 2007. Following his retirement, he took on a contract position to teach Soldier medics at Fort Sam Houston, eventually transitioning to a civil service role to continue training Soldiers.
Don Grady and Extras on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1960 | Source: Getty Images
Don Grady and Extras on the set of “My Three Sons,” 1960 | Source: Getty Images
In June 2018, his on-screen mother Cole posted a throwback group photo from the show alongside a collage of the now-adult siblings on Facebook. “The Todd Triplets from ‘My Three Sons,’” she captioned the post.
Online users commented on the social media upload, with one writing, “Wow they look great I was wondering what ever became of them.” Another said, “Awesome job guys you really matured thanking God.”
The journey of the Todd brothers, alongside the lives of their “My Three Sons” co-stars Tina Cole and Don Grady, paints a vivid picture of how life can evolve beyond the early fame of a beloved TV show.
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