MaKee Kalaikinipeakapalekaikalawaiaopuna Blaisdell (November 15, 1931 – February 20, 1988), also known as Blaizdell[1] or Blaisdell Makee,[2] was an American actor on television, film, and stage. He was best known for playing Sergeant Alika, a recurring character in the television series Hawaiian Eye.[2] He also played the title character in the short film Johnny Lingo (1969), which was part of the LDS Seminary curriculum for many years.[3]
Blaisdell Makee | |
|---|---|
| Born | MaKee Kalaikinipeakapalekaikalawaiaopuna Blaisdell November 15, 1931 |
| Died | February 20, 1988 (aged 56) |
| Other names | Blaizdell Makee Blaisdel Makee |
| Occupation | Actor |
Early life and education
editBorn and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Blaisdell was a high school athlete, surfer, and captain of the swim team.[4][5] He graduated from Farrington High School in 1949.[4] He was a second cousin of Mayor Neal Blaisdell.[5]
At Brigham Young University, he initially majored in physical education and was voted one of the 10 "most preferred" men on campus.[4] He ultimately received his bachelor's degree in theatre arts from BYU.[5] In the late 1950s, he was selected as BYU actor of the year.[6]
Career
editMakee had minor roles in two 1966 films, Paradise, Hawaiian Style starring Elvis Presley and The Last of the Secret Agents?[2]
He also acted on TV, with a recurring role as Sergeant Alika in Hawaiian Eye,[2] and appeared on Star Trek, The Big Valley, Ironside, and F-Troop.[6] He also appeared in Daniel Boone, Mission: Impossible, and Whale Rider.[citation needed]
His stage roles included playing John Buchanan in Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams with Honolulu Community Theater.[7] He later performed with the Shakespeare Society of America in plays such as The White Devil by John Webster.[8]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961–1962 | Hawaiian Eye | Sergeant Alika | [5] | |
| 1966 | Paradise, Hawaiian Style | Pua's Escort | Uncredited | [2] |
| 1966 | The Last of the Secret Agents? | King | Uncredited | [2] |
| 1967 | Star Trek | Ship Officer | Episodes: "The Changeling" and "Space Seed" | |
| 1969 | Johnny Lingo | Johnny Lingo | Short, none | [6] |
| 1971 | The Bold Ones | Matthew | NBC-TV movie | [9] |
| 1971 | The Cult | Invar | (final film role) |
Personal life and death
editWhile living in Hawaii, Blaisdell sold securities for Trans Pacific Underwriters.[7] He died of heart failure in Ventura County, California, in 1988.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Dave Donnelly's Hawaii". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. July 22, 1970. Retrieved April 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e f "McKee cast in Paramount Comedy". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 13, 1965. Retrieved April 5, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Means, Sean P. (June 10, 2011). "LDS classic "Johnny Lingo" now on YouTube". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Makee Blaisdell Wins in College Popularity Poll". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. December 13, 1949. Retrieved April 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "MaKee Blaisdell to Star In Co-Production Movie". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. June 7, 1962. Retrieved February 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Church News: Death". Deseret News. March 12, 1988. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ a b "Two Newcomers in Next HCT Play". The Honolulu Advertiser. November 11, 1960. Retrieved April 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Elizabethan 'Devil' Given Uneven Staging". The Los Angeles Times. January 8, 1970. Retrieved April 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Verdict Brings A Surprise". Ithaca Journal. February 20, 1971. Retrieved April 4, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
Sources
edit- LDS film bios
- Paul Skousen. Brother Paul's Mormon Bathroom Reader. (Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, Inc., 2005) p. 169.