Barry Livingston Reveals How a Lion Once Got Loose on the Set of ‘My Three Sons’
What To Know
- Barry Livingston recalled a frightening incident on the set of My Three Sons when a lion, used for a circus-themed episode, escaped and roamed the soundstage.
- The child actors were locked in their dressing room for safety, while William Demarest narrowly avoided the lion before it was safely recaptured by the crew.
In a recent interview on the Still Here Hollywood podcast with Steve Kmetko, Barry Livingston looked back on an unforgettable and frightening day on the My Three Sons set. Livingston, who portrayed Ernie Douglas in nearly 300 episodes, remembers one day of filming very clearly. “There was an occasional working with a lion, you know, some goofy storyline that a lion got loose from the circus and just conveniently winds up in the Douglas household,” he recalled. “So, as a kid, you know, suddenly you’re working with a lion off a chain, 10 feet away from you. That was an interesting day at the office.”
What Happened When a Lion Got Loose on the Set of My Three Sons?
The lion, ordinarily chained or held in a cage when not in use, managed to slip loose and began roaming the vast Desilu soundstage. Livingston said, “Everyone’s in a panic because you got a man-eating beast wandering around this cavernous sound stage.”
Everett Collection
How Did the Cast Handle the On-Set Lion Incident?
The child actors, Barry and his brother Stanley, were quickly locked in their dressing room while the crew scrambled to find the missing cat.
William Demarest, who played Uncle Charlie, arrived for work unaware of the situation. He crossed from bright daylight into the darkened studio and made his way toward his dressing room. Livingston explained, “As he’s walking to his dressing room, of course, the lion was perched very close to his door. Of course, I’m sure he let out a pretty good string of obscenities, but he ran … and the lion chased him.” The animal, drugged for filming, was impaired and not at full strength, but the moment was still terrifying.
In the safety of his dressing room, Demarest called the stage office and calmly reported, “I think I found your lion, because he’s outside my door here.” The big cat was safely recaptured. Kmetko joked, “A misstep here or there, it could have been My Two Sons.” Livingston added, “Or we needed another Uncle Charlie.”
Where to Watch My Three Sons
The series currently airs on FETV, and it is also part of the lineup on Catchy Comedy, which features reruns of many beloved sitcoms. You can also watch it on Pluto TV or Philo.
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