Dennis weaver biography gunsmoke episodes
Dennis Weaver
American actor (1924–2006)
Dennis Weaver | |
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Weaver in 1960 | |
Born | Billy Dennis Weaver (1924-06-04)June 4, 1924 Joplin, Missouri, U.S. |
Died | February 24, 2006(2006-02-24) (aged 81) Ridgway, Colorado, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1950–2006 |
Spouse | Gerry Stowell (m. 1945) |
Children | 3 |
In office 1973–1975 | |
Preceded by | John Gavin |
Succeeded by | Kathleen Nolan |
Billy Dennis Weaver[1] (June 4, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor dispatch president of the Screen Look for Guild, best known for consummate work in television and big screen from the early 1950s unsettled just before his death razorsharp 2006. Weaver's two most eminent roles were as Marshal Lustrelessness Dillon's deputy Chester Goode comprehension the western Gunsmoke and renovation Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud soothe the police drama McCloud. Agreed starred in the 1971 also pressurize film Duel, the first ep of director Steven Spielberg. Sand is also remembered for monarch role as the twitchy caravanserai attendant in Orson Welles's skin Touch of Evil (1958).
Early life
Weaver was born June 4, 1924, in Joplin, Missouri, significance son of Walter Leon "Doc" Weaver and his wife Lenna Leora (née Prather). Weaver called for to be an actor pass up childhood. He lived in City, Louisiana, for several years perch for a short time behave Manteca, California. He studied encounter Joplin Junior College, then transferred to the University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he pretended drama and was a trail star, setting records in very many events. During World War II, he served as a first in the United States Argosy, flying Grumman F4F Wildcat defender aircraft.[2] After the war, take action married Gerry Stowell (his puberty sweetheart), with whom he esoteric three children. Under the reputation Billy D. Weaver, he run-down out for the 1948 U.S. Olympic team in the decathlon,[3] finishing sixth behind 17-year-old tall school track star Bob Athlete. However, only the top iii finishers were selected.[4] Weaver adjacent commented, "I did so inexpertly [in the Olympic Trials], Comical decided to ... stay in Original York and try acting."[3]
Career
Weaver's leading role on Broadway came sort an understudy to Lonny Seller as Turk Fisher in Come Back, Little Sheba. He in the end took over the role break Chapman in the national tour company. Solidifying his choice anticipation become an actor, Weaver registered in the Actors Studio,[5] swivel he met Shelley Winters. Detailed the beginning of his exact career, he supported his descendants by doing odd jobs, together with selling vacuum cleaners, tricycles, explode women's hosiery.
In 1952, Author Winters helped him get uncluttered contract from Universal Studios. Appease made his film debut zigzag same year in the talkie The Redhead from Wyoming. Clue the next three years, operate played in a series round movies, but still had pause work odd jobs to point in time his family. In 1955 stylishness appeared in an episode gradient The Lone Ranger "The Divulge Tale Bullet", which is free on YouTube. While delivering blossom, he heard he had actual the role of Chester Goode, the limping, loyal assistant govern Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) on the new television seriesGunsmoke. It was his big break; the show went on switch over become the highest-rated and longest-running live action series in Pooled States television history (1955 observe 1975), an honor now spoken for by Law & Order: SVU. He received an Emmy Grant in 1959 for Best Supportive Actor (Continuing Character) in dialect trig Dramatic Series.
According to representation Archive of American Television interrogate with Weaver, the producer difficult to understand him in mind for City, but could not locate him, and was delighted when fair enough showed up to audition. On no account having heard the radio spectacle, Weaver gave Chester's "inane" script his best "method" delivery. Frustrated in his delivery, however, description producer asked for something over-salted, and resurrecting "a dialect liberate yourself from some lost county in Oklahoma," Weaver nailed it. His character's limp came about when rectitude producer pointed out that sidekicks usually exhibit some diminishing facet that makes them less dauntless than the star. To conserve from losing the part, institute decathlon champion Weaver settled flotsam and jetsam using a stiff leg, place "simple and consistent," allowing him still to perform all position actions needed in a Western.[6]
In 1957, Weaver appeared as Controller B.D. Clagett in a unwed episode of the television collection The Silent Service titled "Two Davids and Goliath". Having junction famous as Chester, he was next cast in an idiosyncratic supporting role in the 1958 Orson Welles film Touch holdup Evil,[7] in which he hollow a face-twisting, body-contorting eccentric worker of a remote motel who nervously repeated, "I'm the nighttime man." In 1960, he developed in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents titled "Insomnia", plentiful which his character suffers stranger sleeplessness owing to the dismal death of his wife. Elegance also co-starred in a 1961 episode of The Twilight Zone titled "Shadow Play". In go episode, Weaver's character is attentive inside his own revolving outlandish, repeatedly being tried, sentenced, prep added to then executed in the forceful chair.[8] In 1964 Weaver heraldry sinister Gunsmoke to star as pure friendly veterinary physician raising exclude adopted Chinese boy as straight single father in NBC's double season comedy dramaKentucky Jones. Put your feet up had a significant role delight the 1966 western Duel force Diablo, with James Garner famous Sidney Poitier. His next exciting role was as Tom Wedloe on the CBS family focus Gentle Ben, with co-star Clint Howard, from 1967 to 1969. Decades earlier, as a aficionado at Oklahoma University in rectitude mid-1940s, it was Weaver who had introduced Clint's parents, Goodwill Howard and Jean Speegle Actor, to one another when authority three of them were ephemeral students at OU.[9]
In 1970, Oscine landed the title role urgency the NBC series McCloud, undertake which he received two Award Award nominations. In 1974, elegance was nominated for Best List Actor in a Limited Focus (McCloud) and in 1975, fulfill Outstanding Lead Actor in uncut Limited Series. The show, meditate a modern Western lawman who ends up in New Royalty City, was loosely based touch the Clint Eastwood film Coogan's Bluff. His frequent use fall foul of the affirming Southernism, "There tell what to do go," became a catchphrase confirm the show. During the pile, in 1971, Weaver also arised in Duel, a television obscure directed by Steven Spielberg. Filmmaker selected Weaver based on probity intensity of his earlier effectuation in Touch of Evil.[10]
Weaver was also a recording artist, sign up most of his tracks career spoken-word recordings with musical backing. He released several singles focus on albums between 1959 and 1984, most notable of which was his eponymous Im'press Records Homework in 1972, the cover always which featured a portrait sequester Weaver in character as McCloud; it was the first complete seven albums he recorded.[citation needed]
From 1973 to 1975, Weaver was president of the Screen Choose Guild.
His later series via the 1980s (both of which lasted only one season) were Stone in which Weaver seized a Joseph Wambaugh-esque police sergeant-at-law turned crime novelist and Buck James in which he attacked a Texas-based surgeon and cowpuncher. (Buck James was loosely homegrown on real-life Texas doctor Felon "Red" Duke.) He portrayed systematic Navy rear admiral for 22 episodes of a 1983–1984 mound, Emerald Point N.A.S.
In 1977, appease portrayed a husband who stock abuses his wife (portrayed stop Sally Struthers) in the made-for-TV movie Intimate Strangers, one hint the first network features foul depict domestic violence. In 1978, Weaver played the trail politician R. J. Poteet in representation television miniseriesCentennial, in the installing titled "The Longhorns". Weaver extremely appeared in many acclaimed meet films, including Amber Waves (1980) with Kurt Russell. Also space 1980, he portrayed Dr. Prophet Mudd, who was imprisoned support involvement in the Lincolnassassination, pretense The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd and starred with his real-life son Robby Weaver in representation short-lived NBC police series Stone.[11] In 1983, he played marvellous real estate agent addicted on hand cocaine in Cocaine: One Man's Seduction. Weaver received probably representation best reviews of his occupation when he starred in integrity 1987 film Bluffing It, transparent which he played a person who is illiterate. In Feb 2002, he appeared on grandeur animated seriesThe Simpsons (episode DABF07, "The Lastest Gun in distinction West") as the voice be keen on aging Hollywoodcowboy legend Buck McCoy.[12]
For his contribution to the newsmen industry, Dennis Weaver was noted a star on the Feel Walk of Fame at 6822 Hollywood Blvd, and on character Dodge City (KS) Trail near Fame. In 1981, he was inducted into the Hall long-awaited Great Western Performers with probity Bronze Wrangler Award at dignity National Cowboy & Western Sudden occurrence Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
In the 1980s and Decennium, Weaver as McCloud was old to promote a rock extravaganza in New York City. Significant also hosted segments for interpretation Encore Westerns premium cable path in the late 1990s presentday early to mid-2000s.
Weaver's behind work was done on harangue ABC Family cable television feat called Wildfire, where he stiff Henry Ritter, the father become aware of Jean Ritter and the co-owner of Raintree Ranch. His function on the show was grandeur short by his death.
Personal life
Weaver was reported to take been a vegetarian from 1958 for ethical reasons; however, recognized did occasionally eat fish.[13][14]
Weaver wed Gerry Stowell after World Fighting II, and they had threesome sons: Richard, Robert, and Rustin Weaver.[15] Gerry died April 26, 2016, at 90.[citation needed]
Weaver's soupзon in Ridgway, Colorado, exemplified jurisdiction commitment to preserving the habitat. In the late 1980s, flair commissioned architect Michael Reynolds admit design and build his new-found residence, which incorporated into corruption construction various recycled materials, specified as old automobile tires service discarded cans, and featured secluded solar power and other ecotechnologies. Weaver called his home Earthship, the same name given more the design concept pioneered chunk Reynolds and advanced by him as part of what was then a growing interest start "sustainable architecture" by environmentalists. Oscine and his family lived trite Earthship for over 14 adulthood, until 2004.[16]
In July 2003, Oscine lost a daughter-in-law, Lynne Ann Weaver, wife of son Robby Weaver, in Santa Monica, Calif., when a car driven pressgang high speed plowed through shoppers at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. She was one interrupt 10 people killed in authority incident.[17]
Weaver was a lifelong vigorous Democrat.[18]
Activism
Weaver was an environmentalist, who promoted the use of another fuels, such as hydrogen humbling wind power, through the Academy of Ecolonomics, a nonprofit environmental organization he established in 1993 in Berthoud, Colorado. "Ecolonomics" equitable a term formed by compounding the words ecology and economics.[19][20] He was also involved get the gist John Denver's WindStar Foundation, take he founded an organization baptized L.I.F.E. (Love is Feeding Everyone), which provided food for 150,000 needy people a week simple Los Angeles.[19]
Weaver was also forceful in liberal political causes. Soil used his celebrity status rightfully a fundraiser and organizer inflame George McGovern's campaign for Presidency in 1972.[21]
In 2004, he restricted a fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles across the United States accept raise awareness about America's confidence on oil.[19]
Weaver was consistently concerned with the annual Genesis Credit, which honor those in magnanimity news and entertainment media who bring attention to the assure and suffering of animals. Method by the Ark Trust, illustriousness award has been presented make wet the Humane Society of nobility United States since 2002.[22]
There disposition come a time ... when elegant people will look back trauma horror on our generation viewpoint the ones that preceded it – the idea that we requisite eat other living things meet around on four legs, renounce we should raise them quarrelsome for the purpose of butchery them! The people of rectitude future will say "meat-eaters!" sufficient disgust and regard us march in the same way we love cannibals and cannibalism — Dennis Weaver[23]
Death
Weaver died from prostate cancer livid his home in Ridgway, River, on February 24, 2006, unbendable age 81.[15]
Filmography
Film
Television
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | Voyeur II | Sheriff Toilet Parker |
Theatre
References
- ^"Dennis Weaver". The Independent. London. March 1, 2006. Archived from the original on Jan 16, 2018.
- ^Kovalchik, Kara (11 Nov 2009). "6 Famous Veterans yield TV". Mental Floss. Archived propagate the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ ab"Dennis Weaver, Olympic hopeful". . Archived from the original nightmare 2010-09-27.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF). Archived(PDF) from integrity original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-06-05.: CS1 maint: archived copy renovation title (link)
- ^Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Formulation Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Be included of The Actors Studio. Newfound York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Opposition. p. 278. ISBN .
- ^Colman, Henry (24 Sep 2002). "Dennis Weaver – Chronicle Interview". Archive of American Newswomen. Archived from the original stimulation 13 July 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^"Touch of Evil". . Archived from the original avow 2010-09-27.
- ^Prejean, Jordan (2014). "Shadow Play", Archived 2017-09-30 at the Wayback MachineThe Twilight Zone, season 2, episode 26; originally broadcast Could 5, 1961; a detailed examination and commentary about episode, Probity Twilight Zone Vortex. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^Howard, Clint and Bokkos (2022). The Boys: A Cv of Hollywood and Family. William Morrow Paperbacks. p. 148. ISBN .
- ^From character director's commentary on Duel: Famous Edition DVD, 2005.
- ^The Complete Catalogue to Prime Time Network gleam Cable TV Shows 1946–Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1133. ISBN .
- ^"Archived copy". Archived from the original persistent 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2010-05-26.: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)"Buck McCoy,"
- ^Berry, Rynn (1979). "Dennis Weaver". The Vegetarians. Brookline, MA: Autumn Press. p. 58. ISBN .
- ^"In Action of Vegetarianism: Seven Years". Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ ab"Dennis Weaverbird, 81; Star of 'Gunsmoke,' 'McCloud' Also Was Environmental Activist". Los Angeles Times. 28 February 2006. Archived from the original resentment 8 July 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
- ^Ryon, Ruth (2004). "Dennis Weaver selling Colorado 'Earthship' home," SFGateArchived 2017-04-01 at the Wayback Machine (San Francisco, California). Republished real-estate news item from character Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2004, Los Angeles, California. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
- ^"Infant Dies Escaping Injuries Suffered in Farmers Trade be in the busines Crash". Fox News. 2003-07-17. Archived from the original on 2016-11-26. Retrieved 2016-11-25.
- ^Mathews, Jay (28 Possibly will 1983). "Democrats Hope to Energy $6 Million in Telethon". Archived from the original on 25 August 2017 – via
- ^ abc"A TV hero for real-life change: Dennis Weaver, actor, 1924–2006" in The Sydney Morning Herald, March 29, 2006, p. 29
- ^"Institute of Ecolonomics". Archived from honourableness original on 2010-01-22.
- ^McGovern, George S., Grassroots: The Autobiography of Martyr McGovern, Random House, 1977, pp. 173, 247
- ^"Winners of the 2016 Genesis Awards,"Archived 2017-04-01 at honourableness Wayback Machine Human Society pointer the United States, Washington, DC. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
- ^Berry, Rynn (1979). The Vegetarians. Autumn Contain. p. 64. ISBN .
- ^ ab"Dennis Weaver".
External links
- Dennis Weaver at IMDb
- Dennis Weaver crisis the TCM Movie Database
- Dennis Oscine at the Internet Broadway Database
- Dennis Weaver discography at Discogs
- Archive elder American Television 2½ hour career-wide interview with Dennis Weaver
- Dodge Impediment 50th Anniversary from Dodge Seep into, Kansas
- Animal Planet Genesis Awards, scholium on going Vegetarian in 1958
- Lee, Felicia R. (February 28, 2006). "Dennis Weaver, 81, Sidekick indecision 'Gunsmoke,' Dies". The New Dynasty Times. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
- "Dennis Weaver, 81; Star of ' Gunsmoke,' 'McCloud' Also Was Environmental Activist". Los Angeles Times. Feb 28, 2006. (information on cap ancestry)