Actor. A burly-looking character performer, he played a wide range of roles during a fifty-year career. Born David William Huddleston, he attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, prior to his service with the United States Air Force. After realizing he wished to pursue a career as an entertainer and with the aid of the GI Bill, he moved to New York City, where he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduation, he acquired experience performing in traveling touring companies. He broke into television during the early 1960s and made his motion picture debut in the racially-charged film "Black Like Me" (1964). In 1968, he began his association with Broadway in the production Woman is My Idea". During the 1970s, he found himself in high demand and achieved parts in the films "Rio Lobo" (1970), "Brian's Song" (1971, TV-Movie), "Bad Company" (1972), "McQ" (1974), Blazing Saddles" (1974) and "Breakheart Pass" (1975). On television, Huddleston will be remembered for playing 'Lieutenant Ponce" in "Petrocelli" (1974 to 1976) and as 'Grandpa Arnold' in "The Wonder Years" (1990 to 1992). In 1984, he earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for the Broadway revival "Death of a Salesman" (1984), which starred Dustin Hoffman. He played the title role in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski". He died of complications from advanced heart and kidney disease.
Actor. A burly-looking character performer, he played a wide range of roles during a fifty-year career. Born David William Huddleston, he attended Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia, prior to his service with the United States Air Force. After realizing he wished to pursue a career as an entertainer and with the aid of the GI Bill, he moved to New York City, where he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After graduation, he acquired experience performing in traveling touring companies. He broke into television during the early 1960s and made his motion picture debut in the racially-charged film "Black Like Me" (1964). In 1968, he began his association with Broadway in the production Woman is My Idea". During the 1970s, he found himself in high demand and achieved parts in the films "Rio Lobo" (1970), "Brian's Song" (1971, TV-Movie), "Bad Company" (1972), "McQ" (1974), Blazing Saddles" (1974) and "Breakheart Pass" (1975). On television, Huddleston will be remembered for playing 'Lieutenant Ponce" in "Petrocelli" (1974 to 1976) and as 'Grandpa Arnold' in "The Wonder Years" (1990 to 1992). In 1984, he earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for the Broadway revival "Death of a Salesman" (1984), which starred Dustin Hoffman. He played the title role in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski". He died of complications from advanced heart and kidney disease.
Bio by: C.S.
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