Richard Denning (born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr.; March 27, 1914 – October 11, 1998)[1] was an American actor who starred in science fiction films of the 1950s, including Unknown Island (1948), Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Target Earth (1954), Day the World Ended (1955), Creature with the Atom Brain (1955), and The Black Scorpion (1957).

Denning also appeared in the film An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and on radio with Lucille Ball in My Favorite Husband[2]: 244  (1948–1951), the forerunner of I Love Lucy.

He's more well-known as Governor Paul Jameson in late 1960s-early 1980s police procedural TV series Hawaii Five-O.

Denning began acting in minor supporting and background roles through the 1930s and early 1940s until the start of World War II.

Denning's unemployment ended when he was hired to star on the radio opposite Lucille Ball in My Favorite Husband.

[8] On television, he starred as the title character in the 1950 syndicated adventure series Ding Howe and the Flying Tigers.

[10] In other activity on radio, Denning played Uncle Jack in It's a Crime, Mr. Collins (1956-1957) on the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Denning died of a heart attack at the age of 84 on October 11, 1998, while visiting relatives in Southern California.