Obit: Dennis Weaver (Feb 2006)

Subject: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 02:03 PM

CNN is reporting that Dennis Weaver has passed away in a McCloud of Gunsmoke. Via Con Dios.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/27/obit.weaver.ap/index.html

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 02:09 PM

Last year I borrowed his film Duel from the library and had the kids watch it. They were impressed. Best tv movie I ever got around to watching. Duel was a real standout in its time, and it still holds up today.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: jacqui.c
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 02:12 PM

I think that was Spielberg's first film. Weaver was excellent in the part.

Another sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 02:13 PM

And it was directed by a young Steven Speilberg.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 02:36 PM

Dammit, it's not fair losing both Chester and Barney this week. And, I didn't even know Chester lived right up the highway from me.

Thank goodness for re-runs and I HOPE they all enjoy the Talent they are getting on the Other Side!

Thanks, Mr. Weaver, Sir,

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: fat B****rd
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 03:26 PM

RIP Chester.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Don Firth
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 03:48 PM

Well, shucks!

Used to watch McCloud regularly. "Duel" was a real eyeball grabber. Ordinary guy just wanting to get home after a long, tiring road trip, is confronted on the highway by The Malevolent Beast in the form of a big tank truck driven by a homocidal driver you never see (except for his left hand at one point and his boots at another), and eventually prevails at the last second. Talk about surviving a bout of road rage! Epic!

If they don't start replaying it, I'll put it on my Netflix list.

So long, Chester. Glad you were here, and thanks!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 03:51 PM

Who dies?

Everyone dies...

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: gnu
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 04:20 PM

Gosh. A real old fashioned Yankee TV role model. Yeah, he carried a big six-gun, but he never shot anyone who said, "Yes sir" and "No Ma'am." Just a good old country boy who knew right from wrong.

Don't know much about the man, but that good old boy on the TV was aces when I was kid.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 04:23 PM

Boot Hill gets one more resident. RIP
Giok

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 04:37 PM

From what I've read he was a big proponent of recycling and conservation. I also remember he released an LP back when people released LP's. Probably a folksy/country effort. I never heard it myself.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: number 6
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 04:40 PM

Definately an actor we should have seen in more roles.

He'll be missed.

sIx

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 05:34 PM

A while back the westerns cable channel had James Arness on, talking about the early days of "Gunsmoke." Seems most of the main actors were vegetarians and it caused some funny times on the set. This was way before it was "trendy" Imagine if fans back then had known their "cowboy" heros didn't eat steaks!

As I recall, Weaver had a pretty decent voice. Didn't he sing a few times on the show? Maybe it was on the radio. My earliest memory of radio is of our family gathering around to listen to "Gunsmoke."

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: freightdawg
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 05:41 PM

I remember watching "Duel" when I was a young kid. Scared me to death. I couldn't drive for many years yet, but I have always been leery of big tanker trucks coming up in my rear view mirror.

Man, losing Don Knotts and Dennis Weaver in the same week. This has not been a good week.

Freightdawg

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: frogprince
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 05:48 PM

I really don't think Weaver played Chester on the radio; my memory of the radio characterization is that Chester was so marginal in intelligence that, if played that way on TV, it would have been more of what's been called a "thankless" role.
Ken Curtis as Festus was funny enough sometimes, but to me seemed a little too forced and "cartoonish" compared to Weaver.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Peace
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 05:50 PM

Wesley's link.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 05:57 PM

I seem to remember Dennis in a movie which had a long riveting sequence involving a duel between 2 helicopters - of course the baddie had the better one with the guns - but I can't seem to find the movie or remember the name.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: open mike
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:12 PM

I picture him as a veterinarian?
was he in a t.v. series besides gunsmoke?
ahhh-Gentle Ben! I always loved that one..
Dennis did a lot of good things...
nice to read about the environmentally friendly home..
If it is near you, perhaps you can go see it, kat?

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Peace
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:28 PM

"sequence involving a duel between 2 helicopters"

The movie was "Duel" wasn't it?

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:30 PM

Alright, I'll admit it. My first crush was on Chester Goode. Damn it's hard to lose him.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:33 PM

'Duel' was him in a car against a truck: the driver's face you never saw. Different film.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:45 PM

Danged, the deputies is droppin' like flies...

Since bad stuff happens in 3's, I guess Deputy Dog is next...

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:37 PM

On the radio, Chester's name was Chester Proudfoot!-------- 'Twas Chester Good on TV.

Matt Dillon was played by one of the great radio voices---Willian Conrad. He wasn't what you'd think of as a natural for T.V. but he did well as Cannon and another couple roles.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Dead Horse
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:39 PM

Did his limp get better?
I remember thinking it was good that a semi-cripple could get an acting part, long before I realised that that WAS acting!
I have come a long way since then :-)

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:48 PM

No Bobert - the Nightstalker is gone now too.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:53 PM

I just remembered!!! On the radio Chjester was played by Parley Behr ! And Nilburn Stone was once with the Sons Of The Pioneers.

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:54 PM

That ought to read Milburn Stone.

Art

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:56 PM

I NEVER saw him do anything badly....not ever! Even when he made a turkey of a movie, he was wonderful. I recently enjoyed listening to his special on Hoppalong Cassidy and as always wished he did more. He did an episode of "Magnum, PI" that was, to me, the best episode the show ever had.

A made-for-TV movie he did back in the early 70's is typical of how brilliant he was. Someone over at IMDB had this to say and they were right on the money: "By chance I was able to see this movie on TV, while on vacation.At first I was interested in watching the 1970's TV movie icon Dennis Weaver in action. But this unassuming film took me by surprise. Yes, it seemed corny at first, but the sad plot and Weavers' fine acting was infectious. He is a master at playing the shafted straight shooter. Coupled with the country soundtrack and the dismal scenery you really felt for Lonnie and his plight, as he ran from one disaster to another searching for his two sons. A solid simple movie with a sound moral thread running through it."......Exactly right. BTW, the movie was "Rolling Man."

So sad..........just sad........ya' know?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:03 PM

Here's an interseting tidbit for you Art which I found in the IMDB site: In 1958, he formed a singing trio with Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake. In 1960 the trio broke the house record for the Albuquerque Arena during the New Mexico State Fair.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:06 PM

open mike, I just found out it is in Ridgeway which si only about an hour or so up the road from us. next time we go to Montrose, I'll see what I can find out about it. Our local news said he was a committed environmentalist. He and his wife built their house of all recycled materials, including tires.

Thanks for the info on the radio voices, folks. I am still kicking myself that as a child, I lost Milburn Stone's autugraph!

Yeah, Spaw, it's been a sad week for childhood icons.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 10:55 PM

From a local news story: An environmental activist, Weaver`s southwestern Colorado luxury home was built using 3,000 recycled tires and 3,000 aluminum cans, KMGH said. He called the highly energy efficient abode his 'earthship.'

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Cluin
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 11:16 PM

Art, I think it was Ken Curtis (Festus) who sang with the Sons of the Pioneers. (He also sang for a while with Tommy Dorsey's band)

Though Milburn Stone did sing, as Spaw added above.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:02 AM

I saw a part of a film that he made in probably the last 10-15 years (but time flies, so don't quote me on it!) in which he played a man who was illiterate and confronts a couple of situations in which he has no way to help (road accident, sign in front of him, but he can't read it to call it in). I've hoped it would come on the air--and I'd notice it was on! I'll have to look it up.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: catspaw49
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 08:32 AM

SRS.....That WAS an excellent movie and one which he liked as literacy was another of the causes he championed. The movie was called "Bluffing It" and the reviewer on the linked site again hit the nail on the head.

BTW, the only thing I ever saw John Denver do that I liked (as an actor) was an episode of McCloud.....proof that Dennis Weaver could make anyine look good.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: clueless don
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:02 PM

Foolestroupe, That movie you are remembering with the duel between 2 helicopters was probably "Birds of Prey" (1973, made for TV). It starred David Janssen, who is probably best remembered as the original Fugitive, though I remember him best as Harry O.

Don

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:45 PM

That's it, thanks for saving me a few steps and a lot of time--I didn't go look it up because IMDB is one of those sites that sucks you in. I start chasing around memory lane looking up trivia and before you know it, you're late for something. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver (Feb 2006)
From: Cluin
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 05:45 PM

Yeah, unlike Mudcat, eh?    ;)

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver (Feb 2006)
From: GUEST,Ken-NM
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 06:03 PM

Wasn't Dennis Weaver responsible for promoting "Earthships?" They are homes made from old tires and half sunk into the ground. I remember seeing a subdivision of "Earthships" on the other side of the Rio Grande from Taos, NM.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver (Feb 2006)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 09:56 PM

Thanks clueless don

I remember that I saw it on TV sometime in the 70's - we used to get things a year or two later in Oz.

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver (Feb 2006)
From: open mike
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 01:16 AM

music thread entry..
i hope that we might be able to find
some of the music from that trio..
Dennis Weaver with Milburn Stone and Amanda Blake.
Where do you suppose we might find it??
any Albequerkians here??/
What do you suppose they called themselves??!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Dennis Weaver (Feb 2006)
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 03:51 AM

here's a bit more I found of interest:

But it was Sam McCloud that Weaver called "the most satisfying role of my career." The show, which ran from 1970 to 1977, featured him as a New Mexico lawman cast on the streets of New York City with a horse, a sheepskin coat and a folksy manner that belied his shrewd crime-solving talent.

Off-screen, Weaver served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and was a vegetarian and activist for environmental and charitable causes.

He served as president of Love Is Feeding Everyone, which fed 150,000 needy people a week in Los Angeles County. He founded the Institute of Ecolonomics, which sought solutions to economic and environmental problems. He spoke at the United Nations and Congress, as well as to college students and school children about fighting pollution.