Don Adams had an estimated net worth of $4 million at the time of his death in 2005, equivalent to roughly $6 million in today’s dollars. The American actor and comedian built his wealth through a long career in television, comedy, acting and voice work.
Adams became one of television’s most recognizable comedy stars after taking on the role of bumbling secret agent Maxwell Smart in the hit sitcom Get Smart. The series, created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry, became a major success and earned Adams several Emmy nominations and two wins.
Beyond Get Smart, Adams developed a successful career as a voice actor. He was particularly known for voicing the title character in Inspector Gadget and Tennessee Tuxedo in Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. He later voiced characters in animated productions including Gadget Boy & Heather and Pepper Ann.
| Don Adams Net Worth | $4 Million |
| Date of Birth | April 13, 1923 |
| Place of Birth | New York City |
Early Life
Don Adams was born Donald Yarmy on April 13, 1923, in New York City.
His parents were Consuelo and William Yarmy. His mother was of Irish-American descent, while his father was of Hungarian-Jewish descent.
Adams was raised in his mother’s Catholic faith. His brother Dick was raised in their father’s Jewish faith, while the family also had an older daughter, Gloria.
Adams attended DeWitt Clinton High School but eventually dropped out. He then worked as a theater usher before entering military service during World War II.
Military Service
In late 1941, Adams enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
He was initially sent to San Diego before being deployed to Samoa with his unit in 1942. Adams later participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal.
During his military service, Adams contracted blackwater fever, a serious illness that required him to be evacuated and hospitalized for more than a year at a Navy hospital in Wellington, New Zealand.
After recovering, he returned to the United States and served as a Marine drill instructor.
Adams was discharged from the Marines in 1945.
Career Beginnings
After leaving the military, Adams began working as a comedian.
He performed at a strip club in Florida but was fired after refusing to perform obscene material. Adams then worked as a commercial artist and restaurant cashier while continuing to pursue comedy.
His major television breakthrough came in 1954 when he won a stand-up comedy competition on the variety program Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts. His performance was written by his childhood friend Bill Dana.
Adams later made several appearances on The Steve Allen Show, where Dana worked as a writer.
From 1963 to 1964, Adams starred alongside Dana on The Bill Dana Show. He played hotel detective Byron Glick, a character whose clumsy behavior helped establish the comic style that would later define his most famous role.
Get Smart and Maxwell Smart
Don Adams’ biggest career breakthrough came in 1965 when he began starring in the NBC sitcom Get Smart.
The series was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry as a parody of popular spy dramas. Adams played Maxwell Smart, an incompetent but determined secret agent working for the fictional CONTROL organization.
Barbara Feldon played Agent 99, Smart’s partner and eventual wife.
Get Smart became a major television hit and ran for five seasons. The series moved from NBC to CBS before ending in 1970.
Adams received four consecutive Emmy Award nominations for his performance as Maxwell Smart and won the award twice.
The character became closely associated with Adams throughout his career. Get Smart eventually inspired movies, television revivals, remakes and other adaptations.
Television Career After Get Smart
Following the end of Get Smart, Adams continued working in television.
He starred as Detective Sergeant Lennie Crooke on the NBC sitcom The Partners, which also featured Rupert Crosse. The series was short-lived.
From 1975 to 1976, Adams hosted the syndicated game show Don Adams’ Screen Test. The program featured audience members attempting to recreate scenes from Hollywood movies.
During the 1970s, Adams also made guest appearances on popular programs including The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.
He continued appearing on The Love Boat during the 1980s and later took another starring television role on the Canadian sitcom Check It Out!.
Adams played supermarket manager Howard Bannister on the series, which ran from 1985 to 1988.
Voice Acting Career
Voice acting became another major part of Adams’ career and contributed to his lasting popularity.
One of his earliest major animated roles came as the voice of Tennessee Tuxedo on Tennessee Tuxedo and His Tales. The Saturday morning cartoon ran from 1963 to 1966.
Adams’ most famous animated role came later when he provided the voice of Inspector Gadget.
The animated science-fiction comedy series Inspector Gadget ran from 1983 to 1985. Adams voiced the title character, a bumbling cyborg detective equipped with a collection of unusual gadgets.
He later returned to the character for Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas in 1992 and Inspector Gadget’s Field Trip, which aired from 1996 to 1998.
Adams also voiced Gadget Boy in the animated series Gadget Boy & Heather.
His final major television role came as Principal Hickey on the animated series Pepper Ann, which ran from 1997 to 2000.
Personal Life
Don Adams was married three times and had seven children.
He married his first wife, singer Adelaide Efantis, in 1947. She performed professionally as Adelaide Adams, and Don eventually adopted Adams as his surname.
The couple divorced in 1960.
Adams later married actress Dorothy Bracken. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1976.
In 1977, he married actress Judy Luciano. The couple remained together until their divorce in 1990.
Death
Don Adams died on September 25, 2005, at the age of 82.
He died from lymphoma and a lung infection.
His funeral was attended by several friends and colleagues from his long entertainment career, including Barbara Feldon, James Caan, Bill Dana and Don Rickles.
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