Denny Scott Miller (born Dennis Linn Miller;Certificate of Birth for Dennis Linn Miller, April 25, 1934, Bloomington, Monroe, Indiana. Registered No. 14748, Indiana State Board of Health, Division of Vital Statistics. Roll Number 40474_357178, Volume Range 26–30. Retrieved May 31, 2026 – via Ancestry.com. April 25, 1934 – September 9, 2014) was an American actor, perhaps best known for his regular role as Duke Shannon on Wagon Train, his guest-starring appearances on Gilligan's Island and Charlie's Angels, and his 1959 film role as Tarzan.
Background Miller was born in Bloomington, Indiana, to Bernard "Ben" Miller (1909–1999) and Martha Alice Miller (née Linn, 1911–2010). The 6'4' Miller was a basketball player for the UCLA Bruins at UCLA, where his father was a physical education instructor.Ben W. Miller, Ph.D., Professor of Physical Education (Chairman of the Department). Bulletin, University of California, General Catalog, Departments at Los Angeles, Fall and Spring Semesters, 1957–58 (August 10, 1957), p. 309. Miller is listed in the catalog with the designation "Sabbatical Leave in Residence, 1957–58."
In his senior year, while he was working as a furniture mover to pay for school, Miller was discovered on Sunset Boulevard by a Hollywood agent who signed him with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. His screen test was directed by George Cukor.
Acting career Miller became the first blond Tarzan in Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959), a cheapie/quickie which lifted most of its footage from earlier Johnny Weissmuller movies. Miller had been recommended by someone else considered for the role, William Smith, later a star of the NBC Laredo western series. MGM had Miller under contract for twenty months; in that time, he worked only eight weeks as Tarzan.
Miller had guest spots on a number of television series, such as Northwest Passage and Overland Trail. In 1960, the 26-year-old Miller appeared as Wilkie, the son of a powerful rancher, in the "License to Kill" episode of Laramie. He also appeared on Have Gun – Will Travel and an episode of The Rifleman as a dimwitted gunfighter named Reuben Miles. From 1961 to 1964, Miller was a regular on Wagon Train in the role of the scout, Duke Shannon. After the cancellation of Wagon Train in 1965, Miller starred as Mike McCluskey on the NBC sitcom Mona McCluskey (1965–1966).
He guest starred on such series as Gunsmoke; The Fugitive; The High Chaparral; Gilligan's Island; I Dream of Jeannie; The Brady Bunch; Alice; Death Valley Days; Hawaii Five-O; Emergency!; The Six Million Dollar Man; Quincy, M.E.; The New Adventures of Wonder Woman; Battlestar Galactica; Quark; Charlie's Angels; Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; The Incredible Hulk; M*A*S*H; Magnum, P.I.; Rockford Files and V, He appeared in over 200 television series and, for 14 years, he played the Gorton's Fisherman in TV commercials. He also portrayed Superman in an Air Force recruiting PSA.
His film career included roles in Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961), and the part of "Wyoming" Bill Kelso in The Party (1968), which he remembered as the part he most enjoyed. His other film credits included Making It (1971), Doomsday Machine (1972), Buck and the Preacher (1972), The Gravy Train (1974), The Island at the Top of the World (1974), The Norseman (1978), Caboblanco (1980) and Circle of Power (1981).
Books Miller published an autobiography, Didn't You Used to Be...What's His Name?, as well as a book about obesity in the United States, Toxic Waist? ... Get to Know Sweat!
Death Miller was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in January 2014. He died in Las Vegas on September 9, 2014, at the age of 80.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1958 Some Came Running Dewey Cole Uncredited1959 Tarzan, the Ape Man Tarzan 1961 Love in a Goldfish Bowl Oscar Flegler 1965 Gilligan's Island Duke Williams “Big Man on a Small Stick”1967 Gilligan's Island Tongo The Ape Man “Our Vines Have Tender Apes”1968 The Party William 'Wyoming Bill' Kelso 1969 Hawaii Five-O John Hayes “Pray Love Remember, Pray Love Remember”1971 Making It Skeeter 1971 The Virginian Joe Terry season 9 episode 15 (The politician)1972 Buck and the Preacher Floyd 1972 Doomsday Machine Col. Don Price 1973 The Brady BunchTank Gates season 5 episode 9 (Quarterbck Sneak)1974 The Gravy Train Rex 1974 The Island at the Top of the World Town Guard 1976 Alice Jack Newhouse season 1 episode 2 (Alice Gets a Pass)1977 Charlie's Angels Helmut season 2 episode 7 (Circus of Terror)1978 The Norseman Rauric 1978 Rockford Files Norman season 5 episode 9 (Black Mirror)1979 The Incredible Hulk John Tobey season 2 episode 8 (Killer Instinct)1980 Caboblanco Horst 1981 Circle of Power Uwe 1981 The Incredible Hulk Paul Corton season 4 episode 14 (The Harder They Fall)1984 Dallas Max “Blow Up”2005 Hell to Pay Horace the miner (final film role)
See also Mike Henry Buster Crabbe Lex Barker Ron Ely
Notes
External links
Entry for Denny Miller at Brian's Drive-In Theater Official Denny Miller Website Erbzine