14 Facts About Luke Halpin

Luke Austin Halpin was born on April 4,1947 and is a retired American actor, stuntman, marine coordinator, diver and pilot.

Luke Halpin became a child actor at the age of eight and is widely known for his role as Sandy Ricks in the feature films Flipper and Flipper's New Adventure, as well as for reprising his role for the NBC television series adaptation, Flipper.

Luke Halpin's father was of Irish and German descent, and his maternal grandparents were Polish.

Luke Halpin grew up with his family in Long Island City.

Luke Halpin made his Broadway debut in Take Me Along starring Jackie Gleason, and appeared in Sunrise at Campobello, and with Mary Martin in both Annie Get Your Gun and Peter Pan.

Luke Halpin acted in plays that were televised on The Play of the Week including starring with Broadway luminaries Burgess Meredith and Zero Mostel in the critically acclaimed avant-garde play Waiting for Godot.

Kelly and Luke Halpin kept the same roles for the television series that began filming in the summer of 1964, adding younger brother Bud, played by Tommy Norden.

Luke Halpin was chosen by Tors for the role of Sandy Ricks because of his skills in the water as well as his extensive prior acting experience.

Luke Halpin proved able to bond quickly with the dolphins who filled the role of Flipper.

Luke Halpin was often featured in such magazines as Bravo, Teen Life, 16 Magazine, and the earliest issues of Tiger Beat.

Luke Halpin appeared on the show again just prior to the filming of the second season, on April 15,1965.

Luke Halpin continued to make cameo appearances, most notably, on the television series Key West, Miami Vice and in the 1996 feature film remake, Flipper, starring a 15-year-old Elijah Wood as Sandy Ricks.

In 2015, it was reported that Luke Halpin was suffering from Stage IV head and neck cancer.

In June 2016, a family friend announced the cancer was in remission but that Luke Halpin was at the time in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.