- Born
- Died
- Birth nameDaniel Joseph Lockin
- Height5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
- Danny Lockin was born in Hawaii in 1943, and was raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He was an exceptional dancer who started dancing professionally at age eight. He appeared in the film Gypsy (1962) as Gerry. He appeared on Broadway in the 1964 revival of "West Side Story", and in other shows such as "The Sound of Music", "The Music Man" and "Take Me Along". He played the prominent supporting role of Barnaby in a touring stage production of producer David Merrick's Broadway smash "Hello, Dolly!" and soon caught the eye of Gene Kelly, who cast him in the film version in December 1967. After completion of filming on Hello, Dolly! (1969), Danny played the role of Barnaby on the Broadway stage with Ethel Merman starring in the lead. He recorded a record album, and for several years in the 1970s, taught dance at his mother's studio in Orange County, California. The life of this wonderful and multi-talented man was tragically cut short when he was brutally murdered in 1977.- IMDb Mini Biography By: John Hulland <hollywood6444@hotmail.com>
- SpouseCatherine L. Haas(December 22, 1967 - August 1969) (divorced, 1 child)
- Danny Lockin lived in Orange County, California and worked at his mother's dance studio for several years after his appearance in "Hello Dolly" with Streisand. On August 21, 1977, he competed on "The Gong Show" and tied for first place. After the taping of that show in Los Angeles, he drove toward his home in Anaheim, but ended up at a bar in Garden Grove instead. He was later found murdered in a nearby apartment of Charles Hopkins who had stabbed him to death. Police found a "torture diary" under Hopkins' bed and prosecutors tried to pursue the death penalty using the pictures in the diary as evidence that Lockin's death was planned. However, Hopkins' trial was postponed because of a car accident, and in that time (lucky for Hopkins) the California Supreme Court ruled that such evidence found AFTER the initial crime scene investigation was NOT admissible. Without the diary to show premeditation, Hopkins was only found guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to only four years in prison. Critics said justice hadn't been served, as Lockin was stabbed more than 100 times.
- Played Barnaby Tucker opposite several different Dolly Levi's, including Betty Grable, Ginger Rogers and Eve Arden before Gene Kelly spotted him and cast him in the 1969 film version starring Barbra Streisand. Kelly tested him 13 times before he got the part. After filming, he went to Broadway to play Barnaby opposite Ethel Merman and Phyllis Diller and in a tour with Dorothy Lamour.
- On Sunday, August 21, 1977, Danny's mother drove him to perform on "The Gong Show", a popular TV show which featured assorted talent competitions. Danny and fellow dancer Billie Jo Conway, another of Jean Lockin's dance instructors, were invited on the show and competed well, tying for first place. After the taping, Danny and Billie Jo decided to stop at a Garden Grove bar for a drink to celebrate their victory. Danny was later seen leaving the bar with Charles Leslie Hopkins and was later murdered by Hopkins.
- Fair, freckled and reddish-blond, Danny auditioned for the part of "Rolf" in the movie version of The Sound of Music (1965) but lost to Daniel Truhitte.
- Met Cathy Haas, a chorus line dancer, and they married in 1967. They had one son, Jeremy Daniel, born in 1969. The couple divorced in 1969.
- It seems that everyone who talks to me is more concerned about her [Barbra Streisand] than what I have to say. Then I'm misquoted. I really get bugged about that. I never said Barbra was the most super-colossal thing that ever happened. She's human. But I have more respect for her than anyone I've ever worked with. She is the most professional person I have ever experienced. She has never done anything unprofessional. But I deplore being used because of my association with her. -- DL, in a 1968 interview
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content