Yale Summers

Born in Manhattan, Summers made his acting debut in the 1961 film, Mad Dog Coll, playing a small unbilled role.^[2] The remainder of his career was almost entirely occupied with television. He appeared in a recurring role on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, as Dr. Bob Ayres during the 1964-1965 television season.^[1] His best known role was as Jack Dane on Daktari, which aired from 1966 to 1968.^[1] From 1972 to 1974, Summers replaced Lawrence Casey in the NBC daytime series, Return to Peyton Place, as the character Rodney Harrington.^[1]

His additional television roles included guest spots on Land of the Giants, My Favorite Martian, My Three Sons, The Outer Limits, Quincy, M.E., Fantasy Island, and The Donna Reed Show.^[1]

Summers was a founding member of the SAG Awards Committee and for a time the chairman of that committee.^[1] Summers was a co-founder and producer of the Screen Actors Guild Awards from 1995 until 2009.^[1][2]

Summers also served as the former national treasurer and the recording secretary for SAG.^[2] Summers was a trustee of the SAG Pension and Health Funds and a member of the board for the SAG Foundation.^[1][2] In 2008, SAG awarded Summers the Ralph Morgan Award for his service and involvement with the union.^[1]

Summers was active with another actors' union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He served a combined twenty-four years on the national AFTRA board and the union's local Los Angeles chapter.^[2]

SAG and AFTRA merged in March 2012, shortly before Summers' death.^[4]

The only child of Joseph and Edlie Neuvohner,^[3] Summers received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Cornell University in 1955^[1] and served in the United States Army, having attained the rank of lieutenant.^[1]

He married actress Suzanne Ried in 1967. They had 2 children, one of whom is Jolie Elean Summers. He also had 2 grandchildren at the time of his death.^[5]