Why a Lion Got Loose on the Set of This ’60s Sitcom

Published: October 17, 2025

By Gavin Boyle

Barry Livingston, who played Ernie Douglas on MY THREE SONS, recalled the unforgettable moment when a lion got loose on set.

“There was an occasional working with a lion, you know, some goofy storyline that a lion got loose from the circus and just conveniently winds up in the Douglas household,” Livingston told the “Still Here in Hollywood” podcast when explaining why a lion was on set in the first place. “So, as a kid, you know, suddenly you’re working with a lion off a chain, 10 feet away from you. That was an interesting day at the office.”

One day, however, the lion managed to slip free from its normal restraints and began freely roaming the stage. This sent the entire cast and crew into a panic, though not everyone knew what was going on.

“As [William Demarest] is walking to his dressing room [unaware], of course, the lion was perched very close to his door. Of course, I’m sure he let out a pretty good string of obscenities, but he ran…and the lion chased him,” Livingston recalled.

Despite the incident taking place over 50 years ago, seeing the lion run loose has stuck with Livingston all these years later.

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Running for 12 years, MY THREE SONS was an extremely popular show in the ’60s and ’70s. Given its long tenure, the cast and crew have remained close for their entire lives and supported each other through triumphs and trials. In 2023, Tina Cole recalled her co-star Dawn Lyn recovering from a traumatic brain injury that could have been fatal.

“I saw a call coming in from her number, and I expected it to be her husband John calling – he usually does,” Cole said. “I was in an indoor soccer game for my grandson, and I could hardly hear. I stepped outside and was stunned. I heard her voice. It was raspy, but it was her. I just said, ‘Dawn, is that really you?’ She said, ‘Yes, it’s really me.’ The tears just came. I was in shock. And it was just so wonderful. I couldn’t believe it.”

Stanley Livingston shared his support for Lyn after the accident as well, wishing her a speedy recovery as he prayed for her health.

“Please pray for her to have a swift and full recovery,” he wrote on Facebook. “Dawn is one of the nicest human beings I have ever known. Thoughts and prayers also go out to her husband, John, at this time. This is devastating news!”

It is amazing to see how MY THREE SONS has impacted those who worked on the show, whether it be by leaving them with incredible lifelong memories or providing them with a group of friends that has lasted through the ages.

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