Don Harron (1924-2015)

Published by Stewart Smith at January 18, 2015

Canadian comedian Don Harron has passed away at his Toronto home at the age of 90. He started his career as a “chalk talk” artist at 10 years old, earning him an audition for a part on a radio series. Following a stint in the Royal Canadian Air Force in WWII, Harron graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts, appearing in and even composing several stage productions.

He wrote and appeared in the Spring Thaw production company, which resulted in his TV debut in a CBC broadcast of the revue in 1952. He also became a comedy writer for the BBC while performing in “A Streetcar Named Desire” on London’s West End. After returning from Europe, he performed on both Broadway and Ontario’s Stratford Shakespeare Festival. In 1956, he cowrote a musical version of “Anne Of Green Gables” for the CBC, and later adapted the story to stage. He guest starred in several American television shows, including “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” and “The Outer Limits” (the latter with Robert Duvall). He later hosted the CBC radio show “Morningside” in the 70’s, and appeared in the film “The Hospital.” He hosted an afternoon talk show for the CTV in the 80’s, “The Don Harron Show,” and afterward made numerous appearances on “The Red Green Show.”

But to most audiences, especially in America, he is best known as the character Charlie Farquharson. Based on his teenage experiences working as a farmhand in rural Ontario, Charlie was a farmer who gave his opinions on world events with a thick rural accent and hilarious malapropisms. Dressed in a flat cap and cardigan sweater, and sporting glasses and a “two-days beard,” Charlie Farquharson appeared in the 1952 “Spring Thaw” broadcast. Harron performed the satirical character on television and stage over the years, and the character has penned numerous books (often misspelled). But where most Americans know Charlie Farquharson was the variety show “Hee Haw,” a country version of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” The show debuted on CBS alongside shows like “The Beverly Hillbillies” and “Mayberry RFD,” but was cancelled in the “Rural Purge” of the early 70’s. It survived in first-run syndication through the 80’s, even as cornpone comedy grew out of favor. Parry Sound-based Charlie Farquharson gave an international flavor to Kornfield Korners (even though fellow writer and cast member Gordie Tapp was also Canadian). Besides the usual full-cast skits and gags, Farquharson was the host of the local newscast, putting his unique spin on what was basically small-town gossip.

Harron was recently diagnosed with cancer, and opted to forego treatment and spend his last days at home with his family. Harron is survived by his three daughters, which include Kelly Harron who is working on a film version of the “Anne Of Green Gables” musical, and Mary Harron, director of “American Psycho” and “I Shot Andy Warhol.”

Rest peacefully Don Harron.