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William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor, best known for his work in television, including roles on Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud, and the 1971 TV movie Duel. Weaver was born in Joplin, Missouri, son of Walter Weaver and his wife Lena Prather. His father was of Irish, Scottish, English, Cherokee and Osage ancestry. Weaver wanted to be an actor from childhood. He studied at Joplin Junior College, now Missouri Southern State University and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he studied... MORE

William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor, best known for his work in television, including roles on Gunsmoke, as Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud, and the 1971 TV movie Duel. Weaver was born in Joplin, Missouri, son of Walter Weaver and his wife Lena Prather. His father was of Irish, Scottish, English, Cherokee and Osage ancestry. Weaver wanted to be an actor from childhood. He studied at Joplin Junior College, now Missouri Southern State University and then transferred to the University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he studied drama and was a track star, setting records in several events. During World War II he served as a pilot in the United States Navy. At the war's end, married Gerry Stowell, by whom he had three children - Richard, Robert and Rustin Weaver. He tried out for the U.S. Olympic team in the decathlon. He finished sixth and only the top three were chosen for the team. Weaver later said, "I did so poorly [in the Olympic Trials], I decided [to]... stay in New York and try acting." Weaver's first role on Broadway came as an understudy to Lonny Chapman as Turk Fisher in Come Back, Little Sheba. He eventually took LESS