Dwayne Hickman, a.k.a. Dobie Gillis: See him then and now
Jennifer Kline, AOL.com
May 5th 2019 10:35AM
We know him best as a lovestruck teen, but today, Dwayne Hickman is an octogenarian.
Well, let's back up a bit -- Hickman wasn't really an adolescent when he played the title character in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," which ran from 1959 to 1963. He was, in fact, 25 years old when he got the part, but his boyish face and acting skills made him a convincing teen protagonist.
After his sitcom run, Hickman decided to focus instead on work behind the camera. By the '80s, he was an in-demand director with a particular knack for tween shows like "Head of the Class" and "Sister Sister." He also, after a few marital attempts, found forever love in a woman named Joan Roberts, who he wed in 1983.
Hickman will celebrate his 85th birthday in 2019. Take a look at his journey through the years in the gallery below.
Dwayne Hickman through the years
Actor Dwayne Hickman (Photo by ?? John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Actor Dwayne Hickman poses for a portrait in circa 1954. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - CIRCA 1957 : Actor Dwayne Hickman pose as he drives a scooter in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 30: THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS - episode title, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' (air date: February 16, 1960). A situation comedy, shot in Los Angeles, CA, featuring Dwayne Hickman (pictured in a gallery shot Sept. 30, 1959) in the starring role as the girl-crazy teenager, Dobie. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - NOVEMBER 17: CBS television sitcom, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, episode: Greater Love Hath No Man. Pictured is from left is Bob Denver (as Maynard G. Krebs) and Dwayne Hickman (as Dobie Gillis). Episode originally broadcast November 17, 1959. Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 16: THE MANY LOVES OF DOBIE GILLIS - episode title, 'The Power of Positive Thinking' (air date: February 16, 1960). A situation comedy, shot in Los Angeles, CA, featuring Dwayne Hickman in the starring role as the girl-crazy teenager, Dobie. Pictured are Hickman, right, with Tuesday Weld as the flirty, unattainable, Thalia Menninger. Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - JUNE 19: Portrait of Dwayne Hickman (as Dobie Gillis) and Tuesday Weld (as Thalia Menninger). They perform on the CBS television comedy series, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. June 19, 1959. Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)
American actors Bob Denver (1935 - 2005) and Dwayne Hickman (right) star in the CBS TV series 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis', circa 1961. (Photo by CBS Photo Archive/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Frankie Avalon and Dwayne Hickman sitting in a classroom in a scene from the film 'Ski Party', 1965. (Photo by American International Pictures/Getty Images)
PUERTO RICO - FEBRUARY 13: THE FLYING NUN - ''The Boyfriend' - Season Two - 2/13/69, Sister Bertrille's (Sally Field) old boyfriend (guest star Dwayne Hickman as Randy) felt she became a nun to cure her broken heart., (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images)
LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE - 'Love and the Big Surprise/Love and the Security Building/Love and the Ski Lodge/Love and the Happy Unhappy Couple/Love and the Topless Policy' - Airdate January 14, 1972. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) DWAYNE HICKMAN;ELAINE SHORE;CAROL WORTHINGTON
LOVE AMERICAN STYLE - 'Love and the Persistentt Assistant' - Airdate November 9, 1973. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images) SUASN SENNETT;CHANIN HALE;DWAYNE HICKMAN
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 9: Actor Dwayne Hickman and wife Joan Roberts attends the Maple Center's 13th Anniversary Gala Distinguished Community Service Award Salute to Wendy and Leonard Goldberg on October 9, 1985 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Actor Dwayne Hickman attends the 63rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 27, 1994 at KTLA Studios in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
HOLLYWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Actor Dwayne Hickman and wife Joan Roberts attend the 63rd Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade on November 27, 1994 at KTLA Studios in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
PASADENA, CA - AUGUST 29: Actor Dwayne Hickman and wife Joan Roberts attend the 50th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Creative Arts Emmy Awards on August 29, 1998 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
Dwayne Hickman during 'Mamma Mia!' Los Angeles Premiere - Red Carpet at Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage)
PARSIPPANY, NJ - APRIL 19: Dwayne Hickman attends the 2009 Chiller Theatre Expo at the Hilton on April 19, 2009 in Parsippany, New Jersey. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 06: Actor Dwayne Hickman attends the Hollywood Museum's reception for Jeran Design's graffiti gown at the Hollywood History Museum on May 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Dwayne Hickman arrives at the Academy Of Magical Arts, Inc. Centennial Celebration on November 3, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Heather Holt/Getty Images)
Jolie vs. Hollywood: Find Out Who Wants Her Gone
Intense Behind-The-Scenes Feuds: These Co-Stars Will Never Work Togeth…
Come On Down! Behind-the-Scenes Secrets Of The Price Is Right
NBC pokes fun at its talent roster during Upfronts