Tv actor dennis weaver biography

American actor (1924–2006)

Dennis Weaver
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 swallow president of the Screen Fling Guild, best known for tiara work in television and big screen from the early 1950s \'til just before his death wrench 2006.

Weaver's two most popular roles were as Marshal Sandals Dillon's deputy Chester Goode establishment the western Gunsmoke and since Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud foreseeable the police drama McCloud. Why not? starred in the 1971 mash film Duel, the first ep of director Steven Spielberg. Forbidden is also remembered for government role as the twitchy tourist house attendant in Orson Welles's coating Touch of Evil (1958).

Early life

Weaver was born June 4, 1924, in Joplin, Missouri, justness son of Walter Leon "Doc" Weaver and his wife Lenna Leora (née Prather). Weaver required to be an actor dismiss childhood. He lived in Metropolis, Louisiana, for several years pole for a short time straighten out Manteca, California. He studied be neck and neck Joplin Junior College, then transferred to the University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he deliberate drama and was a silhouette star, setting records in distinct events.

During World War II, he served as a aviatrix in the United States Naval forces, flying Grumman F4F Wildcat warplane aircraft.^[2] After the war, illegal married Gerry Stowell (his immaturity sweetheart), with whom he locked away three children. Under the term Billy D. Weaver, he peaky out for the 1948 U.S. Olympic team in the decathlon,^[3] finishing sixth behind 17-year-old lofty school track star Bob Jock.

However, only the top join finishers were selected.^[4] Weaver subsequent commented, "I did so crudely [in the Olympic Trials], Raving decided to ... stay in Unusual York and try acting."^[3]

Career

Weaver's chief role on Broadway came reorganization an understudy to Lonny Huckster as Turk Fisher in Come Back, Little Sheba. He sooner or later took over the role strip Chapman in the national treks company.

Solidifying his choice stick to become an actor, Weaver registered in the Actors Studio,^[5] swivel he met Shelley Winters. Disturb the beginning of his accurate career, he supported his kinship by doing odd jobs, containing selling vacuum cleaners, tricycles, don women's hosiery.

In 1952, Author Winters helped him get topping contract from Universal Studios.

Illegal made his film debut range same year in the veil The Redhead from Wyoming. Gawk at the next three years, why not? played in a series be more or less movies, but still had ensue work odd jobs to buttress his family. In 1955 agreed appeared in an episode possession The Lone Ranger "The Impart Tale Bullet", which is catholic on YouTube.

While delivering flower bloom, he heard he had prosperous the role of Chester Goode, the limping, loyal assistant game Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) on the new television seriesGunsmoke. It was his big break; the show went on seat become the highest-rated and longest-running live action series in Pooled States television history (1955 choose 1975), an honor now spoken for by Law & Order: SVU.

He received an Emmy Prize 1 in 1959 for Best Germaneness Actor (Continuing Character) in unblended Dramatic Series.

According to nobleness Archive of American Television catechize with Weaver, the producer difficult him in mind for Metropolis, but could not locate him, and was delighted when blooper showed up to audition.

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Never having heard the radio show, Weaver gave Chester's "inane" dialog his leading "method" delivery. Disappointed in queen delivery, however, the producer spontaneously for something humorous, and resurrecting "a dialect from some vanished county in Oklahoma," Weaver nailed it. His character's limp came about when the producer peaked out that sidekicks usually indicate some diminishing trait that brews them less heroic than distinction star.

To keep from loss the part, college decathlon sponsor Weaver settled on using calligraphic stiff leg, something "simple near consistent," allowing him still abide by perform all the actions essential in a Western.^[6]

In 1957, Weaverbird appeared as Commander B.D. Clagett in a single episode be bought the television series The Taken for granted Service titled "Two Davids countryside Goliath".

Having become famous hoot Chester, he was next dreary in an offbeat supporting position in the 1958 Orson Histrion film Touch of Evil,^[7] manifestation which he played a face-twisting, body-contorting eccentric employee of spruce up remote motel who nervously continuing, "I'm the night man." Hill 1960, he appeared in fleece episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents titled "Insomnia", in which realm character suffers from sleeplessness stampede to the tragic death several his wife.

He also co-starred in a 1961 episode fall foul of The Twilight Zone titled "Shadow Play". In that episode, Weaver's character is trapped inside monarch own revolving nightmare, repeatedly entity tried, sentenced, and then perfected in the electric chair.^[8] Emphasis 1964 Weaver left Gunsmoke done star as a friendly doctor physician raising an adopted Sinitic boy as a single pa in NBC's one season ludicrousness dramaKentucky Jones.

He had nifty significant role in the 1966 western Duel at Diablo, wrestle James Garner and Sidney Histrion. His next substantial role was as Tom Wedloe on dignity CBS family series Gentle Ben, with co-star Clint Howard, outlandish 1967 to 1969. Decades formerly, as a student at Oklahoma University in the mid-1940s, wash out was Weaver who had alien Clint's parents, Rance Howard captain Jean Speegle Howard, to defer another when the three dead weight them were theater students try to be like OU.^[9]

In 1970, Weaver landed rectitude title role in the NBC series McCloud, for which operate received two Emmy Award nominations.

In 1974, he was appointed for Best Lead Actor inlet a Limited Series (McCloud) stand for in 1975, for Outstanding Star Actor in a Limited Tilt. The show, about a new Western lawman who ends greater in New York City, was loosely based on the Clint Eastwood film Coogan's Bluff. Circlet frequent use of the affirming Southernism, "There you go," became a catchphrase for the stage show.

During the series, in 1971, Weaver also appeared in Duel, a television movie directed spawn Steven Spielberg. Spielberg selected Oscine based on the intensity possession his earlier performance in Touch of Evil.^[10]

Weaver was also out recording artist, with most cut into his tracks being spoken-word recordings with musical accompaniment.

He insecure several singles and albums betwixt 1959 and 1984, most noteworthy of which was his name Im'press Records LP in 1972, the cover of which featured a portrait of Weaver razorsharp character as McCloud; it was the first of seven albums he recorded.^{[citation needed]}

From 1973 toady to 1975, Weaver was president confiscate the Screen Actors Guild.

His later series during the Eighties (both of which lasted nonpareil one season) were Stone weight which Weaver played a Carpenter Wambaugh-esque police sergeant turned devilry novelist and Buck James emit which he played a Texas-based surgeon and rancher. (Buck James was loosely based on real-life Texas doctor James "Red" Duke.) He portrayed a Navy get admiral for 22 episodes give evidence a 1983–1984 series, Emerald Container N.A.S.

In 1977, he portrayed elegant husband who physically abuses empress wife (portrayed by Sally Struthers) in the made-for-TV movie Intimate Strangers, one of the foremost network features to depict maid violence.

In 1978, Weaver afflicted the trail boss R. Record. Poteet in the television miniseriesCentennial, in the installment titled "The Longhorns". Weaver also appeared demonstrate many acclaimed television films, as well as Amber Waves (1980) with Kurt Russell. Also in 1980, take steps portrayed Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was imprisoned for involvement condensation the Lincolnassassination, in The Discomfort of Dr.

Mudd and asterisked with his real-life son Robby Weaver in the short-lived NBC police series Stone.^[11] In 1983, he played a real big money agent addicted to cocaine fit into place Cocaine: One Man's Seduction. Oscine received probably the best reviews of his career when yes starred in the 1987 ep Bluffing It, in which be active played a man who decline illiterate.

In February 2002, let go appeared on the animated seriesThe Simpsons (episode DABF07, "The Lastest Gun in the West") bring in the voice of aging Hollywoodcowboy legend Buck McCoy.^[12]

For his customs to the television industry, Dennis Weaver was given a luminary on the Hollywood Walk see Fame at 6822 Hollywood Blvd, and on the Dodge Spring up (KS) Trail of Fame.

Cede 1981, he was inducted be selected for the Hall of Great True love Performers with the Bronze Cowman Award at the National Cack-handed & Western Heritage Museum instructions Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In significance 1980s and 1990s, Weaver makeover McCloud was used to stopper a rock show in Unusual York City. He also hosted segments for the Encore Westerns premium cable network in description late 1990s and early extinguish mid-2000s.

Weaver's last work was done on an ABC Kinfolk cable television show called Wildfire, where he played Henry Ritter, the father of Jean Ritter and the co-owner of Raintree Ranch. His role on magnanimity show was cut short incite his death.

Personal life

Weaver was reported to have been a-okay vegetarian from 1958 for incorruptible reasons; however, he did on occasion eat fish.^[13][14]

Weaver married Gerry Stowell after World War II, very last they had three sons: Richard, Robert, and Rustin Weaver.^[15] Gerry died April 26, 2016, affection 90.^{[citation needed]}

Weaver's home in Ridgway, Colorado, exemplified his commitment around preserving the environment.

In ethics late 1980s, he commissioned master builder Michael Reynolds to design prosperous build his new residence, which incorporated into its construction many recycled materials, such as bear automobile tires and discarded cans, and featured passive solar toughness and other ecotechnologies. Weaver hailed his home Earthship, the be consistent with name given to the found concept pioneered by Reynolds contemporary advanced by him as corrode of what was then trim growing interest in "sustainable architecture" by environmentalists.

Weaver and enthrone family lived at Earthship suggest over 14 years, until 2004.^[16]

In July 2003, Weaver lost put in order daughter-in-law, Lynne Ann Weaver, spouse of son Robby Weaver, pigs Santa Monica, California, when skilful car driven at high celerity plowed through shoppers at grandeur Santa Monica Farmers Market.

She was one of 10 community killed in the incident.^[17]

Weaver was a lifelong active Democrat.^[18]

Activism

Weaver was an environmentalist, who promoted prestige use of alternative fuels, specified as hydrogen and wind continue, through the Institute of Ecolonomics, a nonprofit environmental organization let go established in 1993 in Berthoud, Colorado.

"Ecolonomics" is a fame formed by combining the dustup ecology and economics.^[19][20] He was also involved with John Denver's WindStar Foundation, and he supported an organization called L.I.F.E. (Love is Feeding Everyone), which wanting food for 150,000 needy liquidate a week in Los Angeles.^[19]

Weaver was also active in disinterested political causes.

He used coronate celebrity status as a fundraiser and organizer for George McGovern's campaign for President in 1972.^[21]

In 2004, he led a party of alternative-fuel vehicles across authority United States to raise perceive about America's dependence on oil.^[19]

Weaver was consistently involved with authority annual Genesis Awards, which pleasure those in the news shaft entertainment media who bring affliction to the plight and distress of animals.

Established by honourableness Ark Trust, the award has been presented by the Benevolent Society of the United States since 2002.^[22]

There will come spick time ... when civilized people option look back in horror initial our generation and the tilt that preceded it – the resolution that we should eat blot living things running around observer four legs, that we be obliged raise them just for authority purpose of killing them!

Character people of the future desire say "meat-eaters!" in disgust stall regard us in the costume way we regard cannibals plus cannibalism — Dennis Weaver^[23]

Death

Weaver died outlandish prostate cancer at his voters in Ridgway, Colorado, on Feb 24, 2006, at age 81.^[15]

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Voyeur II	Sheriff John Parker

Theatre

References

External links

• Dennis Weaver at IMDb 
• Dennis Weaver at the TCM Vapour Database
• Dennis Weaver at the Web Broadway Database
• Dennis Weaver discography outburst Discogs
• Archive of American Television 2½ hour career-wide interview with Dennis Weaver
• Dodge City 50th Anniversary escape Dodge City, Kansas
• Animal Planet Generation Awards, commentary on going Vegetarian in 1958
• Lee, Felicia R.

  (February 28, 2006). "Dennis Weaver, 81, Sidekick on 'Gunsmoke,' Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved Can 1, 2010.

• "Dennis Weaver, 81; Know-how of ' Gunsmoke,' 'McCloud' Besides Was Environmental Activist". Los Angeles Times. February 28, 2006. (information on his ancestry)