American character actor , best known for his roles on the television series Gunsmoke and McCloud.
Was a track and field athlete from the University of Oklahoma.
Placed 6th in the 1948 Olympic Trials in the Decathlon. Bob Mathias placed first; Weaver won the final event, the 1500 meter run.
Born at 8:00am-CDT.
Shelley Winters gave him one of his first real breaks by helping him get a part in a stage production of "Come Back, Little Sheba."
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.
(1973-1975) President of Screen Actors Guild (SAG).
Had three grandchildren: Jennifer Weaver , Travis Weaver and Jesse Weaver.
Vegetarian.
Was a committed environmentalist; Weavers home near Santa Fe, NM, is constructed almost entirely out of recycled materials.
Father of actor Robert Weaver , actor/producer/director Rick Weaver and Rusty Weaver.
Lost a daughter-in-law, Lynne Ann Weaver (who was married to his son, Robert Weaver ), to a July 2003 Santa Monica, California, car accident that killed more than eight people.
Inducted (as a cast member of "Gunsmoke" ) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1981.
Almost didnt get the part of "Chester Goode" on "Gunsmoke" until he asked for a second chance to read the lines in a humorous, countrified accent and won the role.
Served as the president of "Love Is Feeding Everyone" (LIFE), which fed 150,000 needy people a week in Los Angeles County. Also, founded the Institute of Ecolonomics, which sought solutions to economic and environmental problems.
He was a struggling actor in Hollywood in 1955, earning $60 a week delivering flowers when he was offered $300 a week for a role in a new CBS television series, "Gunsmoke" . After nine years as Chester, who he played with a stiff-legged gait, he was earning $9,000 a week.
Died on the same day and at the same age as Don Knotts.
Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch).
Built an Earthship environmental home in Ridgway, Colorado.
He was a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party and a vocal opponent of the Iraq war.
Good friend of Robert Brubaker. Their sons went to school together.
Signed to a contract at Universal in 1952.
In 1948, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Fine Arts and Theater.
He was of part-American Indian background, being a registered Cherokee, as well as Osage.
Served as a pilot in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Introducing movies on the Encore Westerns channel. Telling a little about the films before they are shown.
Used to live across the street from Julie London.
Was good friends with Guy Williams.
Stepfather of Beverly Randolph and Kim Williams.
Stepfather-in-law of Clayton Hartley.
When we realize we can make a buck cleaning up the environment, it will be done!,Practically every environmental problem we have can be traced to our addiction to fossil fuels, primarily oil.
The people of the future will say, meat-eaters in disgust and regard us in the same way that we regard cannibals and cannibalism. .
