Veteran actor Gavin MacLeod, who starred in lead roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat, has passed away. He was 90.
MacLeod died early Saturday morning in the company of his loved ones and caretakers, his nephew Mark See told TMZ. The actor had been in and out of the hospital for months with varying illnesses, but an official cause of death has not been reported.
Perhaps best known for playing Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, MacLeod played the head writer of the fictional TV station that Mary Richards worked at. He appeared in all 168 episodes over seven seasons.
[pmc_inline_gallery]
On The Love Boat, MacLeod spent a decade playing Captain Merrill Stubing in a total of 250 episodes, including its accompanying TV movies and one episode of the 1998 revival series, Love Boat: The Next Wave. These two career highlights landed him a total of five Golden Globe nominations.
With over seven decades in the business, MacLeod’s other credits include shows like Hawaii Five-O, Hogan’s Heroes, Perry Mason, McHale’s Navy, The Andy Griffith Show, My Favorite Martian, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Charlie’s Angels, Murder She Wrote, Oz, JAG, That ’70s Show, Touched by an Angel, The Untouchables, It Takes a Thief and more.
MacLeod’s Mary Tyler Moore co-star Ed Asner, who played WJM-TV producer Lou Grant, took to Twitter to eulogize his late friend writing, “My heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime (and food) and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit Gavin. Tell the gang I will see them in a bit. Betty! It’s just you and me now.”
The TV Greats are leaving us far to often now.
RIP Mr McLeod….Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Murray and Captain Stubing will go on forever
So many of them are in their 90’s
RIP…forever an open smile on a friendly shore
RIP Murray. 🥲 I think Ed Asner and Betty White are the only ones left from that wonderful show.
…I just remembered that Cloris Leachman passed away earlier this year.
Ouch.
Time flies… I didn’t realize he was 90.
RIP Captain!
RIP.
I loved all the love boat episodes ,I especially love Gavin and his wife testify about their love of Jesus Christ. now he’s with Jesus, peace at last .
Murray Slaughter will live on forever, what a stellar character!
He’ll always be Moriarty from Kelly’s Heroes to me.
Always with the negative vibes, Moriarty.❤
That ain’t my fault, Oddball, I’ve done nothing but have good thoughts about that damn bridge ever since we left!
High five and thanks for reminding me of that great moment and the amazing actor it reflected. 🙂
Thank you! I didn’t know Mr. MacLeod was in Kelly’s Heroes. I will definitely watch it soon.
We’re losing a generation of greats. Rest in peace sir. You will be remembered with great affection.
And don’t forget McHale’s Navy.
RIP and thank you for Murray, Captain Stubing, Seaman Joseph ‘Happy’ Haines on McHale’s Navy and so many other wonderful roles.
When I looked at his filmography, he was in many of my favorite shows throughout my life. How lucky we are that we can still view most of them.
My heartfelt sympathies to Gavin’s family.
I fell in love with him as Murray on Mary Tyler Moore show and then as CAPT. STUBBING!!
He brought so many belly laughs to us in his long acting career.
RIP, return if possible is another meaning I learned in 2020.
May God comfort his family in the days, months, and years ahead.
Mr. MacLeod will be missed by his fans and family. Will find The love boat and binge watch and other shows.
all episodes are on paramount+ – I have been watching it from the beginning over the past few weeks
Episodes of The Love Boat are also available on Pluto TV
May he rest in peace!At 90 he has morevthan earned it. Always enjoyed the shows he was in.
Growing up I watched The Love Boat and The Mary Tyler Moore show. Top notch sitcoms. RIP
I loved this actor, he was great.
Gavin also played “Hunkle” in the movie Operation Petticoat with Cary Grant
Fantastic and hilarious movie.
I met him once in an airport. He was a delightful and gracious gentleman to everyone.
I use to catch Love Boat while waiting for Fantasy Island to start on Saturday nights. That was back when networks actually cared to broadcast anything decent on Saturdays.
You had to love Murray and Captain Stubbing.
The Love Boat demonstrated that all the personnel you need to run a cruise liner is the Captain, the activities director, the ship Doctor, the assistant purser, and of course a bartender
I’m so bummed. I am a HUGE Mary Tyler Moore Show fan, so this hurts. I’ve been rewatching my DVD’s over the past year, and the show never gets old. It’s so funny all these years later.
Thanks for the laughs.
I first watched him on repeats of McHale’s Navy, then Mary Tyler Moore and then the Love Boat. He was a good actor who I enjoyed watching on screen.
Love Boat and Fantasy Island were among my mom’s favorite shows. Would watch them every week. RIP, Gavin MacLeod.
May he rest in peace
The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Love Boat were two of my favorite shows to watch in the 70’s. MTM was obviously the better show. But as much as I love Murray Slaughter, I think Gavin MacLeod really came into his own as Captain Stubing. He was obviously the star of the show, so it focused on his character the most. He was no longer the awkward Murray pining away for Mary. He was the dapper Captain romancing the guest of the week. You’ve had a great life, Mr. MacLeod. Rest in peace.