sean(doc)martin
February 28th, 2006, 01:17 AM
US actor Dennis Weaver, 'McCloud' star, dies at 81: publicist
http://i2.tinypic.com/or8r9f.jpg
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US actor Dennis Weaver, who starred in the 1970s hit television detective series "McCloud" and in films such as Orson Welles' "A Touch of Evil," has died aged 81, his publicist said.
Weaver, a slim, drawling actor best known for his television work including the hit 1960s Western "Gunsmoke," died of complications from cancer on Friday in his home in the western state of Colorado, Julian Myers told AFP.
Weaver, born in 1924 in the southern state of Missouri, had roles in more than 90 movies and television shows in a career spanning 53 years, but will be best remembered as the Stetson-wearing sleuth Sam McCloud in the 1970-77 show in which he played a New Mexico cop transposed onto the streets of New York.
Weaver starred in several television series, including "Gunsmoke," for which he won an Emmy in 1959 for his portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon's pal Chester Goode in the series that ran from 1955 to 1975.
He also worked with future big screen movie mogul Steven Spielberg, starring in his 1970 classic television movie "Duel," in a career that also saw him play lead roles in 40 big screen movies.
Among his screen credits are the legendary Welles 1958 crime classic "A Touch of Evil," starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh and in "Duel at Diablo" (1966) with James Garner and Sidney Poitier.
Weaver served as a US Naval Air Corps pilot before studying theatre at the University of Oklahoma.
In 1948 he was a finalist in the decathlon in the Unites States Olympic trials and in his 20s, as a member of the famed Actors Studio, he made his Broadway acting debut in "Come Back, Little Sheba," and was subsequently signed by Universal Studios and brought to Hollywood.
Weaver would have turned 82 on June 4th and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gerry, by sons Rick, Rob, and Rusty, daughters-in-law Judith and Madison, and grandchildren Jennifer, Travis, and Jess.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060227/ennew_afp/afpentertainmentusfilm_060227195441
http://i2.tinypic.com/or8r9f.jpg
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - US actor Dennis Weaver, who starred in the 1970s hit television detective series "McCloud" and in films such as Orson Welles' "A Touch of Evil," has died aged 81, his publicist said.
Weaver, a slim, drawling actor best known for his television work including the hit 1960s Western "Gunsmoke," died of complications from cancer on Friday in his home in the western state of Colorado, Julian Myers told AFP.
Weaver, born in 1924 in the southern state of Missouri, had roles in more than 90 movies and television shows in a career spanning 53 years, but will be best remembered as the Stetson-wearing sleuth Sam McCloud in the 1970-77 show in which he played a New Mexico cop transposed onto the streets of New York.
Weaver starred in several television series, including "Gunsmoke," for which he won an Emmy in 1959 for his portrayal of Marshal Matt Dillon's pal Chester Goode in the series that ran from 1955 to 1975.
He also worked with future big screen movie mogul Steven Spielberg, starring in his 1970 classic television movie "Duel," in a career that also saw him play lead roles in 40 big screen movies.
Among his screen credits are the legendary Welles 1958 crime classic "A Touch of Evil," starring Charlton Heston and Janet Leigh and in "Duel at Diablo" (1966) with James Garner and Sidney Poitier.
Weaver served as a US Naval Air Corps pilot before studying theatre at the University of Oklahoma.
In 1948 he was a finalist in the decathlon in the Unites States Olympic trials and in his 20s, as a member of the famed Actors Studio, he made his Broadway acting debut in "Come Back, Little Sheba," and was subsequently signed by Universal Studios and brought to Hollywood.
Weaver would have turned 82 on June 4th and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gerry, by sons Rick, Rob, and Rusty, daughters-in-law Judith and Madison, and grandchildren Jennifer, Travis, and Jess.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060227/ennew_afp/afpentertainmentusfilm_060227195441