Hank ran for only one season on NBC beginning in September 1965. It starred comedian Dick Kallman as orphan Henry “Hank” Dearborn (his parents were killed in an accident when he was a teen). Hank had a little sister, Tina (Katie Sweet), to care for and not enough funds for college.
Determined to get an education, Hank decided to get through college by sneaking into classes at Western State University, disguising himself and subbing in for students he knew were sick and absent.
He used at least six different names, including Mr Dunstetter and Waldo Smith.
In addition to running the lunch wagon at the college (from an old ambulance), he ran a bunch of other businesses (laundry service, shoe and watch repair, dating service, etc) and was always on the run from the suspicious school registrar, Dr Lewis Royal (Howard St. John).
The registrar’s daughter, Doris (Linda Foster) was Hank’s girlfriend and knew his secret, as did his younger sister’s babysitter.
Professor McKillup (Lloyd Corrigan) also discovered the truth but was so taken by Hank’s ingenuity and hunger for knowledge, he pledged to go along with the charade (he also professed a love for “beating the system”).
Ossie Weiss (Dabbs Greer) was the track coach who wanted Hank to join the track team – since his constant running away made him a very proficient runner and hurdler.
Hank’s ruse was eventually discovered in the final episode (‘Operation: Matriculation’) when he was whisked off to the hospital after pretending to be a student who had been sent home with the measles.
Henry ‘Hank’ Dearborn Dick Kallman Doris Royal Linda Foster Dr Lewis Royal Howard StJohn Professor McKillup Lloyd Corrigan Tina Dearborn Katie Sweet Franny Kelly Jean Peters Ossie Weiss Dabbs Greer Mrs Ethel Weiss
Sheila Bromley
Miss Mittleman Dorothy Neumann Asst. Coach Gazzari Lou Wills Jr
Determined to get an education, Hank decided to get through college by sneaking into classes at Western State University, disguising himself and subbing in for students he knew were sick and absent.
Henry ‘Hank’ Dearborn
