Don Yarmy was born on April 13, 1923, in New York City, New York. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on April 21, 1942, and completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in June 1942. Pvt Yarmy next served with Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Marine Base New River, North Carolina, from June to September 1942, followed by service with Company I, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment in the Pacific Theater from September 1942 to October 1943. During this time he participated in the Battle of Guadalcanal from December 1942 to April 1943, and after contracting malaria, he was evacuated to Wellington, New Zealand, and then to U.S. Naval Hospital, Mare Island, California, from April to May 1943. PFC Yarmy then transferred to the U.S. Naval Hospital at St. Albans, Long Island, New York, where he was treated from May to December 1943. His next assignment was as a Marine Guard at the Guard Company, Marine Barracks, at the Navy Yard in New York City from December 1943 to May 1944, followed by service as a Marine Guard at the Marine Barracks, Naval Ammunition Depot Earle, New Jersey, from May to June 1944. He then returned to the Marine Barracks at the Navy Yard in New York City, where he served from July to August 1944, followed by service as a Marine Guard with the Marine Detachment, U.S. Naval Disciplinary Barracks at Hart's Island, New York, from August 1944 until his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on December 12, 1945. After leaving active duty, Yarmy worked as a comic, and changed his name to Don Adams in 1947. He began working as an actor in television in 1954, and his most famous role was as Maxwell Smart (Secret Agent 86) in the television comedy Get Smart from 1965-1970. Don Adams died on September 25, 2005, and was buried at Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California.