In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
Actor Dennis Weaver Dead at 81
select-fire
Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
Dennis Weaver
Main Page
Biography
Filmography
Photos
Awards & Nominations
Msg Boards & Groups
Web Sites
Top Selling Dennis Weaver Films
(click to buy at Y! Shopping)
1. Touch of Evil
2. Charlotte's Web (1973)
3. Twilight Zone: The Definitive Edition - Season 2(1960)
Often Works With.
Brian Keith
Clint Howard
Sally Struthers
Guy Williams
Michael Ansara
This lanky, laconic actor possesses an Everyman quality that has rendered him perfect for the long-running star career he has enjoyed in TV, but whose persona did not translate to the big screen. Dennis Weaver has been on the small screen almost continuously for more than 40 years, in series and movies and as a commercial spokesperson. After military service during World War II and earning a degree at the University of Oklahoma, Weaver headed to New York where he studied at the famed Actors Studio. In 1950, he appeared on Broadway as Turk, the college suitor, in "Come Back, Little Sheba" and toured the USA in the role. He migrated to Hollywood and made his screen debut in "The Raiders" (1952), but other film roles have been neither central nor long-lasting. He had supporting roles in "The Bridges at Toko-Ri", "Ten Wanted Men" and "Seven Angry Men" (all 1955), and in 1958 played a twitchy motel clerk in Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil". Weaver was one of the moon dwellers to be replaced by Jerry Lewis in the silly "Way, Way Out" (1960) and was the wealthy westerner who courts Debbie Reynolds in the thriller "What's the Matter With Helen?" (1971).
Yet, on the small screen, his good looks and stalwart abilities translated far better and audiences responded to his take-charge personality. Weaver was acting in drama series in the early 50s, including episodes of "Dragnet" and "Schlitz Playhouse". In 1955, he was cast as the limping deputy Chester Goode on "Gunsmoke" and won a 1957 Emmy for his efforts. His trademark twang made Weaver one of the more popular Dodge City residents until he departed the series in 1964 to star in his own show, the short-lived "Kentucky Jones" (NBC). In this series, he was a veterinarian who had adopted a nine-year old Chinese orphan. Weaver had starred in the feature "Gentle Giant" (1967), about a bear captured in the Everglades saved by a ranger and his son, which CBS turned into "Gentle Ben" (1967-69). Weaver abandoned sweet family dramas to play "McCloud" (NBC, 1970-77), a thoughtful, tough country detective who moves to the big city but keeps the horse. The series, which premiered as part of NBC's "Mystery Wheel", alternating with the likes of "Columbo" and "McMillan and Wife" on the Sunday night schedule, firmed Weaver's TV stardom. From 1979-80, he was "Stone" (ABC), a cop who was also a celebrity best-selling author and headed the cast of the CBS primetime serial "Emerald Point, N.A.S" (1983-84), as the commanding officer of a naval air post. Weaver later played a dedicated trauma surgeon in "Buck James" (ABC, 1987-88) and also hosted the syndicated "Backstage at the Zoo" in 1991.
Even when his latest series venture was not a success, Weaver was making an impact in TV movies and miniseries. He starred in Steven Spielberg's minor masterpiece of terror "Duel" (ABC, 1971) as a man confronting an evil runaway truck. Subsequently, he was cast as Abraham Lincoln in "The Great Man's Whiskers" (NBC, 1973), a lighter look at the great president's times, and Benjamin Fuller, the professor studying a native, in "Ishi: The Last of His Tribe" (NBC, 1978). Weaver offered a fine performance as the doctor who treats John Wilkes Booth not knowing he has just assassinated Lincoln and then suffers for it in "The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd" (CBS, 1980). Weaver's very reachable, common-Joe qualities played well in "Cocaine: One Man's Seduction" (NBC, 1983), in which he was a real estate agent whose life takes a new path after his addiction. In 1986, he was a factory foreman who gives up his job rather than admit he cannot read in "Bluffing It" (ABC), and Weaver also was one of the producers of "The Return of Sam McCloud" (CBS, 1989).
An accomplished singer and songwriter, Weaver has also appeared occasionally on variety specials and in 1993 hosted The Nashville Network special "A Tribute to Singing Cowboys." He released an album in 1977 simply titled "Dennis Weaver".
Born: on 06/04/24 in Joplin, MissouriJob Titles: Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Lay ministerFamily
Father: Walter Weaver.
Mother: Lenna Weaver.
Son: Rick Weaver. born c. 1949
Son: Robby Weaver. born c. 1953
Son: Rusty Weaver. born c. 1959
Significant Others
Wife: Gerry Stowell. married on October 20, 1945
Education
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, BFA, 1948
Milestones
1950 Co-starred on Broadway in "Come Back, Little Sheba"; later toured in the part
1952 Feature debut, "The Raiders"
1952 Signed to a contract by Universal; dropped after one year
1954 Had early TV appearance in an episode of "Dragnet"
1955 Co-starred as Chester Goode on the CBS Western "Gunsmoke"; won Emmy
1958 Offered a fine supporting turn as a very nervous motel clerk in "Touch of Evil"
1962 Made unsold musical pilot "TV Tonight"; sang and danced in the program
1967 Appeared in feature film "Gentle Giant"
1971 Made TV-movie debut, "Duel", directed by Stephen Spielberg
1971 Starred opposite Debbie Reynolds in the feature thriller "What's the Matter With Helen?"
1973 Cast as Abraham Lincoln in "The Great Man's Whiskers" (NBC)
1977 Released album, "Dennis Weaver"
1991 Hosted the syndicated series "Backstage at the Zoo"
2000 Appeared in TNT TV remake of "The Virginian"
2001 Had recurring role on the ABC summer series "The Beast"
Appeared in the NBC miniseries "Centennial"
Had title role of "McCloud" (NBC)
Headed cast of the CBS drama "Emerald Point, N.A.S."
Played title role, "Buck James" (ABC)
Raised in Joplin, Missouri
Starred in CBS series "Gentle Ben", based on the feature "Gentle Giant"
Starred in the title role of "Kentucky Jones" (NBC)
Starred in the title role of the ABC series "Stone
Main Page
Biography
Filmography
Photos
Awards & Nominations
Msg Boards & Groups
Web Sites
Top Selling Dennis Weaver Films
(click to buy at Y! Shopping)
1. Touch of Evil
2. Charlotte's Web (1973)
3. Twilight Zone: The Definitive Edition - Season 2(1960)
Often Works With.
Brian Keith
Clint Howard
Sally Struthers
Guy Williams
Michael Ansara
This lanky, laconic actor possesses an Everyman quality that has rendered him perfect for the long-running star career he has enjoyed in TV, but whose persona did not translate to the big screen. Dennis Weaver has been on the small screen almost continuously for more than 40 years, in series and movies and as a commercial spokesperson. After military service during World War II and earning a degree at the University of Oklahoma, Weaver headed to New York where he studied at the famed Actors Studio. In 1950, he appeared on Broadway as Turk, the college suitor, in "Come Back, Little Sheba" and toured the USA in the role. He migrated to Hollywood and made his screen debut in "The Raiders" (1952), but other film roles have been neither central nor long-lasting. He had supporting roles in "The Bridges at Toko-Ri", "Ten Wanted Men" and "Seven Angry Men" (all 1955), and in 1958 played a twitchy motel clerk in Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil". Weaver was one of the moon dwellers to be replaced by Jerry Lewis in the silly "Way, Way Out" (1960) and was the wealthy westerner who courts Debbie Reynolds in the thriller "What's the Matter With Helen?" (1971).
Yet, on the small screen, his good looks and stalwart abilities translated far better and audiences responded to his take-charge personality. Weaver was acting in drama series in the early 50s, including episodes of "Dragnet" and "Schlitz Playhouse". In 1955, he was cast as the limping deputy Chester Goode on "Gunsmoke" and won a 1957 Emmy for his efforts. His trademark twang made Weaver one of the more popular Dodge City residents until he departed the series in 1964 to star in his own show, the short-lived "Kentucky Jones" (NBC). In this series, he was a veterinarian who had adopted a nine-year old Chinese orphan. Weaver had starred in the feature "Gentle Giant" (1967), about a bear captured in the Everglades saved by a ranger and his son, which CBS turned into "Gentle Ben" (1967-69). Weaver abandoned sweet family dramas to play "McCloud" (NBC, 1970-77), a thoughtful, tough country detective who moves to the big city but keeps the horse. The series, which premiered as part of NBC's "Mystery Wheel", alternating with the likes of "Columbo" and "McMillan and Wife" on the Sunday night schedule, firmed Weaver's TV stardom. From 1979-80, he was "Stone" (ABC), a cop who was also a celebrity best-selling author and headed the cast of the CBS primetime serial "Emerald Point, N.A.S" (1983-84), as the commanding officer of a naval air post. Weaver later played a dedicated trauma surgeon in "Buck James" (ABC, 1987-88) and also hosted the syndicated "Backstage at the Zoo" in 1991.
Even when his latest series venture was not a success, Weaver was making an impact in TV movies and miniseries. He starred in Steven Spielberg's minor masterpiece of terror "Duel" (ABC, 1971) as a man confronting an evil runaway truck. Subsequently, he was cast as Abraham Lincoln in "The Great Man's Whiskers" (NBC, 1973), a lighter look at the great president's times, and Benjamin Fuller, the professor studying a native, in "Ishi: The Last of His Tribe" (NBC, 1978). Weaver offered a fine performance as the doctor who treats John Wilkes Booth not knowing he has just assassinated Lincoln and then suffers for it in "The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd" (CBS, 1980). Weaver's very reachable, common-Joe qualities played well in "Cocaine: One Man's Seduction" (NBC, 1983), in which he was a real estate agent whose life takes a new path after his addiction. In 1986, he was a factory foreman who gives up his job rather than admit he cannot read in "Bluffing It" (ABC), and Weaver also was one of the producers of "The Return of Sam McCloud" (CBS, 1989).
An accomplished singer and songwriter, Weaver has also appeared occasionally on variety specials and in 1993 hosted The Nashville Network special "A Tribute to Singing Cowboys." He released an album in 1977 simply titled "Dennis Weaver".
Born: on 06/04/24 in Joplin, MissouriJob Titles: Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Lay ministerFamily
Father: Walter Weaver.
Mother: Lenna Weaver.
Son: Rick Weaver. born c. 1949
Son: Robby Weaver. born c. 1953
Son: Rusty Weaver. born c. 1959
Significant Others
Wife: Gerry Stowell. married on October 20, 1945
Education
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, BFA, 1948
Milestones
1950 Co-starred on Broadway in "Come Back, Little Sheba"; later toured in the part
1952 Feature debut, "The Raiders"
1952 Signed to a contract by Universal; dropped after one year
1954 Had early TV appearance in an episode of "Dragnet"
1955 Co-starred as Chester Goode on the CBS Western "Gunsmoke"; won Emmy
1958 Offered a fine supporting turn as a very nervous motel clerk in "Touch of Evil"
1962 Made unsold musical pilot "TV Tonight"; sang and danced in the program
1967 Appeared in feature film "Gentle Giant"
1971 Made TV-movie debut, "Duel", directed by Stephen Spielberg
1971 Starred opposite Debbie Reynolds in the feature thriller "What's the Matter With Helen?"
1973 Cast as Abraham Lincoln in "The Great Man's Whiskers" (NBC)
1977 Released album, "Dennis Weaver"
1991 Hosted the syndicated series "Backstage at the Zoo"
2000 Appeared in TNT TV remake of "The Virginian"
2001 Had recurring role on the ABC summer series "The Beast"
Appeared in the NBC miniseries "Centennial"
Had title role of "McCloud" (NBC)
Headed cast of the CBS drama "Emerald Point, N.A.S."
Played title role, "Buck James" (ABC)
Raised in Joplin, Missouri
Starred in CBS series "Gentle Ben", based on the feature "Gentle Giant"
Starred in the title role of "Kentucky Jones" (NBC)
Starred in the title role of the ABC series "Stone
Comments
Even in "Duel", which was about stupid even by the standards of the day.
Former Member U.S. Navy Shooting Team
Former NSSA All American
Navy Distinguished Pistol Shot
MO, CT, VA.
Brad Steele
I don't mind speaking badly of the dead OR the living.