PASSINGS

Russell Zink, 95, who under the stage name Russ Conway appeared in scores of films and television shows in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s but was perhaps best known for playing Fenton Hardy, the father of Frank and Joe Hardy on “The Hardy Boys,” which was part of Walt Disney’s “The Mickey Mouse Club” TV program, died Jan 12 in Laguna Woods, family members said.

Zink was born April 25, 1913, in Brandon, Canada. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1937 at UCLA. Years later, he earned a master’s in theater arts from UCLA and a teaching credential.

During World War II, he was in an Army special services unit. For several months, he was entertainment director at Ft. Ord before serving in the Philippines and, at the end of the war, in Japan, where he worked as a producer and announcer for Armed Forces Radio.

He started acting in Hollywood in 1947. His film appearances included “Twelve O’Clock High” (1949), “War of the Worlds” (1953), “Love Me Tender” (1956) and “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane” (1962).

His television guest spots included roles on “The Fugitive,” “Mod Squad,” “Barnaby Jones,” “Mission Impossible,” “Sea Hunt” and “The Untouchables.”

The Hardy Boys series, which ran on “The Mickey Mouse Club” in 1956 and 1957, featured Tim Considine and Tommy Kirk as the sleuthing teenage brothers and was based on the series of novels aimed at youths.