rugged outdoorsman, and all-around good guy. Porter is a widowed father with two sons, Sandy and Bud, and is employed as chief warden and park ranger at the fictional Coral Key Park and Marine Preserve in southern Florida. Kelly replaced Chuck Connors (the original Porter Ricks in the first movie Flipper) in the second movie Flipper's New Adventure, although he was then only at park ranger training school. Reflecting on Porter being single, Brian Kelly told TV Guide (July 9, 1966): "I'm going to bring a couple of bikini girls on. I want some groovy-lookin' girls because a lot of fathers who see the show say, "Where are the chicks?" Porter's parenting style is firm yet fun, as he involves his boys (particularly the older son Sandy) in his various exciting water-borne tasks as park ranger, all the while gladly allowing Flipper to befriend his sons and help with various crucial rescue efforts. Sandy Ricks: Luke Halpin plays Porter's elder son, Sandy. Sandy begins season one as a 15-year-old outdoorsy, athletic teenager sometimes given to boyish mishaps and poor choices (although usually more responsible than his impish younger brother Bud), and ends season three as an 18-year-old, old enough for adult responsibilities and duties. Sandy often accompanies his father on dangerous adventures and rescues at and under the sea. The character of Sandy is carried over from both the feature films (Halpin was the sole lead actor/character to appear in both movies and the entire TV series), where he was the one who first met Flipper and became his special friend. Halpin became an expert diver, thus was able to perform the extensive water-related scenes throughout the series, largely without stunt doubles. Halpin's role as Sandy Ricks catapulted him to the rarefied atmosphere of teen super-stardom, a status bolstered by his frequent appearances in just cutoff blue jeans showing his tanned, athletic swimmer's build, blond hair, and model-quality telegenic looks. Bud Ricks: Redheaded, freckle-faced Tommy Norden portrayed the younger son, Bud, a character created specifically for the TV series. He begins season one as an impish 10-year-old boy who has a difficult time staying out of trouble. Many episodes revolve around mistakes made by Bud, intentionally or unintentionally, and his need to be rescued from the consequences. Bud is gullible and easily swallows the tall tales Hap Gorman feeds him. Bud is at home on or near the sea, and