He was born in ‘31 and the series started in ‘66, so that means he was about 35. I also carried a bit of a torch ...! I got to meet him in 2006. He was in great shape (not fat) and seemed like a very comfortable guy who liked people a lot but who didn’t give a particular damn whether or not they liked him. I was pleasantly surprised. I liked him: you always know where you stand with people like that.
You’re right, but he was 38 or so when I was 12.... He’s actually only two years younger than my father. But he was dreamy then and his eyes twinkled.
And I still fall for that strong man-mischievous boy act. Save the world and make the girls giggle. It’s Tom Sawyer all grown up. Yummy.