Elusive Flipper Stars

The 1960s television show "Flipper" portrayed the perfect childhood adventure. Most kids could relate to the fantasy idea of having a pet dolphin and growing up in the Florida sunshine with not much else to do but explore Coral Key park.

I've been a "Flipper" fan for years and it's amazing where "Flipper" will turn up. I've found dvds of the shows for sale last year in a German supermarket and at the local antique store have found such treasures as a "Flipper" novel for kids.

That's all dandy, but what ever happened to the "Flipper" cast? I have books on so many tv shows....everything from "I Love Lucy" to "The Waltons." Why nothing on "Flipper"? The show was (and I imagine still is) being seen world wide but not much info is around about it. There are a few oddball websites twisting the innocence of this 1960s family series, but not much substance or relevance to its history or popularity.

Since I'm always looking for things to write about, I thought this might be a great topic. I did some research a few years back and found out Brian Kelly (who played the dad) had quite a time after the show ended. He was in a motorcycle accident which ended his acting career. He has since died. Ivan Tors, who had a big tv presence in Florida is long gone. I don't know who would have his archival info.

I found an address for Ricou Browning, who was instrumental in the series. He never responded. I wrote to Tommy Norden (Bud). Never heard a thing. I wrote to Luke Halpin (Sandy). Heard back from a lady who said she was his agent. She said he was writing a book and Ricou Browning was writing one, too. Quite a while has passed and still no book, so I guess we'll never know the background on this interesting series.

Fast forward a few years later and recently a coworker told me she knew Jack Cowden, Flipper's creator. She was going to see if we could meet him, when he suddenly moved out of the state!

A few years ago the Miami Seaquarium reunited Halpin and Norden (Sandy and Bud) for a Flipper anniversary, but other than that they have faded from public life, which they seem to want.

Oh well, I still think the "Flipper" story and the stars that were in it would make a great book....

You can watch all of the seasons of "Flipper" on Hulu.com. Click on hulu.com and you'll be taken to Coral Key! It's free!


Season one has been released by MGM on dvd and you can find it most anywhere. The prints are clean and pristine. The colors beautiful.Oddly enough you can get the whole series on dvd officially in Germany but not here! Click here to hear the Flipper theme in German!




pictures: Heike & yours truly at Florida's wonderful "Marineland" (notice my Flipper t shirt and a dolphin in the background); The Flipper logo and cast; Luke Halpin autograph (pic from the Flipper MOVIE not tv series); a few more cast pics, and lastly Luke Halpin recently at the Miami Seaquarium.