I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of my friend actor Aron Kincaid. I am stunned. I spoke to him last in November and meant to call him over the holidays but something would come up. I am going to miss picking up the phone to hear him say with his deep voice, “Hello Tom. This is Aron.” We would talk for almost an hour at a time about old and new Hollywood. Aron despised the computer and telephone was the only way to stay in touch with him.
He had a treasure trove of comical stories and was not shy in telling me what he really thought about some of the actors he knew and worked with. Though he worked during the 60s starring on the last season of TV’s Bachelor Father and in the beach movies The Girls on the Beach, Beach Ball, Ski Party, The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini, etc. he just adored the actors/actresses of the 30s/40s whereas I loved his era. I think the only thing he hated more than the Internet was Hollywood autograph shows where celebrities charged for their autographs. He thought that was sacrilege! LOL
I first began speaking with Aron around 2001. I did an article on him and for my books he led me to many of his former co-stars that he stayed friendly with including Salli Sachse, Quinn O’Hara and Luree Holmes. Later he was the force behind my book Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies contacting his friends such as Bart Patton, Don Edmonds, and Ed Garner to particiapte, providing photos from his vast collection, writing the foreword, and even being the fabulous artist that he was designing the cover, which unfortunately the publisher passed on to my chagrin.
Aron was also a huge movie buff collecting autographs, photos, posters, etc. He even had practical every photo and lobby card from all the movies he appeared in and his entire modelling portfolio. He showed it all to me and my friend Shaun when we visited him in his great Hollywood Hills house that he bought in 1965. Built in the thirties, it had a secret room created during Prohibition and Aron decorated the bedrooms in homage to some of his favorite stars. There was the Stewart Granger room and the Anna May Wong room.
Though Aron is gone his words will be turning up in my soon to be released book Dueling Harlow’s: Race to the Silver Screen and next year’s Sixties Pop Cinema in a chapter called “Aron Kincaid: Beach Boy vs the Creature of Destruction.” I was so looking forward to see what he thought of my Harlow book and it has just hit me that I will never know. Goodbye good friend! I will miss you!
Below is a rarely seen trailer to The Girls on the Beach:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vax9uOrCeyk
Dear Tom, Aron was proud to know you and work with you. He always had an interesting story to tell about Hollywood and loved being able to share them.
Thank you for keeping his memory out there. I will look forward to “Sixties Pop Cinema”.
Aron was my best friend for 26 years and I and so many others miss him already.
Aron’s death came as a surprise and was most disheartening. I did not know him but grew up in Ohio watching his movies and his suntanned blond hair goofiness was hilarious and of course I envied him getting all those great looking beach bunnies. He seemed to be pragmatic and respectful of his movies and the stuff he appeared in and I liked that in him. Ski Party would not be watchable w/o Aron in the movie–he stole every scene. May you surf into the sunset knowing you had a ton of fans!
Yes, Tim I heartily agree that Aron was the standout in Ski Party. He planned everything to make sure audiences would notice him right down to selecting his own wardrobe. He was voted one of the 10 Most Promising Personalities by Screen World that year (1965) and wrote to editor John Willis thanking him. Flabbergasted, Willis replied that in all the years Screen World was naming Promising Personalities Aron was the first to contact him with a personal thanks.
Aron was a true friend to film buffs and memorabilia collectors. I regret his passing.
I don’t recognize the title SIXTIES POP CINEMA. Will this be the book that also features Nancy Czar and Mimsy Farmer, among others?
Sixties Pop Cinema is just a working title for now.
I didn’t know Aron, but I knew his films very well. Thank you for such a nice tribute, he won’t be forgotten.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed Aron in Ski Party and Beach Ball, he was outstanding in The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini. What a great sense of humor and what a great actor. He will truly be missed.
He made the above three movies some of my current favorites. I also grew up in Ohio and really envied him in California and on the beach. I later lived in Los Angeles for 18 years. I’m sorry I never made an attempt to contact him.
Rest in peace Aron. You’re still the best!
Aron was a great guy. I am positive if you had contacted him he would have responded. He was always flattered by fans and was proud of his work in the beach movies. I still miss our phone chats about old Hollywood. Tom
So addened to hear of Aaron’s passing. I was going to look him up after so many years, on my next trip to Los Angeles to ask him whatever happened to our mutual friend and his roommate while he lived in San Francisco in the 70s, Michael Muselik. If anyone knows, please let me know. Thanks
Yes, Aron was a great guy. I still miss our phone chats and visiting with him when I went to LA. Sorry, I never heard him speak of your mutual friend.
The actors of today {2013} are so fake, plastic & metro sexual, they almost appear down right ugly! But not in Aron’s case, as he was a real natural, very handsome MAN!
Yes, he was.
P.S.
Surf’s Up Aron!
I own an original Aaron Kincaid painting of Bette Davis rising from a clam shell. The frame is wood and barbed wire. How can I find out its value?
First off I would like to say superb blog! I had a quick question that
I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to find out how you center
yourself and clear your mind before writing.
I’ve had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my ideas out there.
I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply
just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints?
Thank you!
Thanks for the kind words. I find I write best when my head is clear so usually when I first wake up or late at night before I go to bed. If I can’t seem to get started I don’t force it and just take a break for a bit. That could last for a half hour or a few days. The inspiration usually returns. Good luck with it.