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DAVID NAUGHTON

“MAKIN’ IT”

(Dino Fekaris, Freddie Perren)

RSO 916

No. 5   July 21, 1979

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Dave Naughton has functioned primarily as an actor and a dancer; only a sometime singer.   Born on

February 13, 1951, and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, he received a degree in English literature from

the University of Pennsylvania and studied acting at the London Acade­my of Music and Dramatic Arts.

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Naughton’s big break came in the late ’70s, when he sang and danced in a series of mini-musical Dr.

Pepper commercials.   The spots caught the attention of the casting director for an upcoming TV

series,”Makin’ It;’ to be based on the film Saturday Night Fever (1977).   Dave had the honor of playing

the John Travolta role.   To beef up the connection with the movie, the produc­ers used Bee Gees music,

gave John’s sister Ellen Tra­volta a small part, and brought in the film’s producer, Robert Stigwood, for

“technical” input.   Two months later, ABC pulled the plug on the series.

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“Makin’ It” was used as the theme for the TV series and used in the flick Meatballs (1979).   Despite the

mas­sive response, only a few more efforts were issued before Dave turned his full attention to being an

actor.

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Naughton has since had roles in two other TV series, “At Ease” and “My Sister Sam,” and starred in the .

films An American Werewolf in London (1981), Hot Dog . .. The Movie (1984), Kidnapped (1987),

Overexposed (1990), and Steel and Lace (1990).

Dave’s older brother is actor James Naughton, known for his supporting roles in The Paper Chase (1973)

and The Glass Menagerie (1987).