Dirk Wayne Summers

When his friend, actress Joan Marshall, married business executive Mel Bartfield in 1990 in Los Angeles, he performed the wedding ceremony. Dirk became an ordained minister in 1969.

Always ahead of his time, Mr. Summers created two "boy-bands" in the early 1980s - "Outre" and "The Wumblies" - long before *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, and others filled this market in the late 1990s.

He has received two EMMY nominations: for writing; and for producing; the 1972 film Survival of Spaceship Earth (1972).

In the 1970s, he collaborated with his best friend (from grammar school days in Chicago) actress Joan Marshall, co-scripting TV sitcoms.

In 1959, he co-starred in a national tour of Sally Benson's "The Young And The Beautiful". Author Benson was the writer of the book that later became the memorable film Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), featuring Mr. Summers' grandfather, the beloved actor Harry Davenport.

First met June Allyson on the set of Little Women (1949). June was a major star at MGM. Dirk, who was visiting his grandfather, Harry Davenport, on the film set, was just 17. Dirk bore a striking resemblance to Van Johnson, June's favorite on-screen partner. They were together from 1962-75. During this time, June went through a bitter court battle with her mother over custody of her son, Dick Powell Jr., and adopted daughter, Pamela Powell. June's mother told the court that June "was an unfit mother". The judge apparently agreed and court records show that Dirk was named legal guardian for Dick Powell Jr. and Pamela Powell. This long-drawn out legal case and June's increasing alcoholism caused a major break in their relationship. Dirk finally moved on.

Dirk Wayne Summers was born on June 9, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, USA as Dirk Drew Davenport Summers.