Person Biography:
Darby Hinton was born on August 19th, 1957, in Santa Monica, California, to actor Ed Hinton and his school teacher wife, Marilynn Hinton. His family has a rich history, with the Hinton name tracing back to early American history and even crossing through Daniel Boone's family tree. Marilynn's parents were immigrants from Germany.
Starting his acting career at just six months old, Darby has had a long and varied career. His early work included commercials and appearances on classic TV shows such as "Mr. Ed," "Wagon Train," and "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." He also appeared in films like "Hero's Island" and "Son of Flubber."
At the age of four, Darby landed the role of Israel Boone on the popular TV show "The Daniel Boone Show," which ran for six seasons and had a massive Thursday night viewing audience of 30 million by its fourth season. The show still has a loyal fan base and continues to attract new fans through reruns.
After "Boone" ended, Darby tried to shake off his all-American image by taking on darker roles in shows like "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors" and "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law." He then took time off to focus on his education, graduating from the American School in Switzerland and attending World Campus Afloat, where he studied theatre and acting around the world.
Darby returned to acting, appearing in shows like "Magnum, P.I.," "The Fall Guy," and "Hunter," as well as films like "Malibu Express" and "Texas Rising." He has also worked in martial arts films in the Philippines and as a detective in Malibu.
In addition to his acting work, Darby has been an advocate for child performers, serving on the SAG-AFTRA Young Performer's Committee and being a long-time member of A Minor Consideration. He has also been on the advisory committee for Looking Ahead, a non-profit organization that helps young performers and their families navigate the challenges of the entertainment industry.
Darby has written a book, "Growing Up Israel," documenting his early years in the business and his love of acting. He continues to work in the industry, most recently appearing in the role of Cole Younger in the film "Bill Tilghman and The Outlaws."
