Gavin MacLeod, known for his roles on « The Mary Tyler Moore Show » and « The Love Boat, » died Saturday, his nephew Mark See told Variety. He was 90 years old.
MacLeod’s birth name was Allan See, but in his memoir, « This is Your Captain Speaking, » he wrote that he considered his last name to be « too confusing » and changed it to honor an acting teacher. MacLeod wrote he also had to deal with premature hair loss, going bald while still in college. After a busy career of bit parts in television and film, MacLeod first achieved fame as part of the ensemble of « The Mary Tyler Moore Show, » a breakthrough sitcom in which he played news writer Murray Slaughter. Murray often served as a confidante to Moore’s character, rolled his eyes at the cluelessness of WJM anchor Ted Baxter and absorbed the fierce temper of WJM news director Lou Grant.
