RIP Dennis Weaver (1924-2006)

Actor Dennis Weaver, who died last Friday from complications due to lung cancer, may have been best known for his role on TV's "Gunsmoke" from 1955-1964, or as the horse riding detective Sam "McCloud" in the 70's but I will also remember him for his role in the 1971 tele-film Duel. In that movie, Weaver plays David Mann, a guy being terrorized by the driver of a tractor trailer. Not only was the film penned by one of the greatest writers of any medium, Richard Matheson, it also helped to lead a young director away from television, and a few years later, he established himself quite a feature film career. The promising young man's name? Director Steven Spielberg...Weaver is just fantastic in the movie. The roller-coaster ride of emotion that his character goes through and how the actor is able to pull that off is amazing

Weaver also made his mark in many westerns, like Chief Crazy Horse, Duel at Diablo and Ten Wanted Men, all genre classics. Speaking of classic films, he also showed up in Orson Welles 1958 masterpiece of film nior, Touch of Evil. I also remember him for two great episodes of "The Twilight Zone" in '60 and '61 too.

Rest easy partner....For more on the actor's life click here.