Weaver dies at 81
TV icon remembered for 'Gunsmoke,' 'McCloud'
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A struggling actor in Hollywood in 1955, Weaver was earning $60 a week delivering flowers when he was offered $300 a week for a role in a new CBS television series, "Gunsmoke." He learned another actor had turned down the same role at $400 a week. Weaver summoned his courage and asked for and got $400. By the end of his nine years with "Gunsmoke," he was earning $9,000 a week.
At the end of seven hit seasons, Weaver sought other opportunities. He announced his departure, but the failures of pilots for his own series caused him to return to "Gunsmoke" on a limited basis for two more years. The role brought him an Emmy in the 1958-59 season.
In 1966, CBS cast Weaver and a 600-pound black bear in "Gentle Ben," about a family that adopts a bear as a pet. The series was well received, but after two seasons the network decided it needed more adult entertainment, and "Gentle Ben" was canceled.
Next came the character of Sam McCloud, which Weaver called "the most satisfying role of my career." The "McCloud" series put a no-nonsense lawman from Taos, N.M., onto the crime-ridden streets of New York City. His Wild West tactics, such as riding his horse through Manhattan traffic, drove local policemen crazy, but he always solved the case.
Rotating on Sunday nights with "Columbo" and "McMillan and Wife," "McCloud" ran 1970-77.
A vegetarian for most of his adult life, Weaver became an activist for protecting the environment and combating world hunger. He served as president of Love Is Feeding Everyone (Life), which fed 150,000 needy people a week in Los Angeles County.
"Earthship" was the most visible of Weaver's crusades. He and his wife, Gerry, built a solar-powered Colorado home out of recycled tires and cans. The 3-foot-thick walls helped keep the inside temperature even year-round.
The 10,000-square-foot home was put up for sale for $3.75 million before Weaver died, according to the actor's Web site.
The tall, slender Weaver came by his Midwestern twang naturally. He was born in Joplin, Mo., where he excelled in high school drama and athletics. After Navy service in WWII, he enrolled at the U. of Oklahoma and placed sixth in the tryouts for the Olympic decathlon.
He studied at the Actors Studio in New York. He appeared in "A Streetcar Named Desire" opposite Shelley Winters and toured in "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth.
Universal signed Weaver to a contract in 1952 but found little work for him. He freelanced in features and TV until he landed "Gunsmoke." Among his movies are "Touch of Evil," "Ten Wanted Men," "Gentle Giant," "Seven Angry Men," "Dragnet," "Way ... Way Out" and "The Bridges at Toko-Ri."
Weaver appeared in dozens of TV movies, the most notable of which was 1971's "Duel." It was a bravura performance for both fledgling director Steven Spielberg and Weaver, who played a driver menaced by a large truck that followed him down a mountain road.
Thesp's other TV series included "Kentucky Jones," "Emerald Point N.A.S.," "Stone" and "Buck James."
From 1973-75, Weaver was president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Most recently, he appeared on the ABC Family series "Wildfire" in 2005, as well as in TV movie "The Virginian" and skein "Touched by an Angel."
Weaver is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gerry, three sons and three grandchildren.
