Movies - Nov. 8, 1989

Donahue Recounts Struggle: Actor Troy Donahue, one of the Hollywood golden boys in the 1950s and 1960s, told a substance-abuse seminar in Baltimore this week that “until 7 1/2 years ago, I never appeared before an audience or a camera sober.” Now a gray-haired 52, Donahue described his alcohol and drug-induced plummet that took him from starring in “A Summer Place” and “Imitation of Life” on the movie screen and “Surfside Six” and “Hawaiian Eye” on TV to living homeless and penniless. By the time he started recovering, he had trashed four marriages, a career and his entire bank account. He hasn’t made a career of being a celebrity alcoholic, but does feel strongly that people need to know that there are free programs out there for the addict, and that the excuse “I can’t get into a treatment program” is just that--an excuse. He’s back acting again and will be seen in writer-director John Waters’ upcoming movie, “Cry-Baby.”