Stan Paregien, Editor
Jack Weadock
(Deceased)
Jack Weadock wrote Dust of the Desert (1936) and over 1,552 articles.
Jack Weadock's death was reported in the Oct., 1970 issue of The Roundup.
Dennis Weaver
Dennis Weaver was born Billy Dennis Weaver on June 4, 1924 in Joplin, MO. Dennis Weaver quite an athlete during his school days. He placed 6th in the 1948 Olympic Trials in the Decathlon (Bob Mathias placed first). Weaver won the final event, the 1500 meter run.
Acting was his chosen career, however, so Dennis went to New York in search of opportunities. He was accepted into New York's famed Actors Studio and made his Broadway debut in Our West of 8th," directed by Burgess Meredith. He went on to tour nationally with Shirley Booth and Sidney Blackmer in William Inge's prizewinning play, COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA.
Dennis was signed by Universal in 1952 and brought to Hollywood to pursue his career. He was in most of the Westerns the studio was producing.
Dennis Weaver made it into the big time when he hired on as Chester, the limping deputy, on TV's longest running series, "Gunsmoke".
Weaver and other members of the cast were able to use their TV exposure to cash in on public appearances across the country. In 1958, he formed a singing trio with Milburn Stone ("Doc") and Amanda Blake ("Kitty"). In 1960 the trio broke the house record for the Albuquerque Arena during the New Mexico State Fair.
In 1959 Dennis Weaver won an Emmy for his role as Chester on "Gunsmoke". Then, after nine years on the show, he elected to leave it for other projects. Dennis Weaver starred as Deputy Chester Goode 1955-64. He played Buffalo Bill Cody in 1992 in the TV show, "Lonesome Dove: The Series".
Weaver starred in these TV series: "Gentle Ben," "Kentucky Jones, "Buck James," and the memorable "McCloud" series where he played a New Mexico lawman trying to get by in New York City. He received not one or two but three Emmy nominations for that role.
Dennis Weaver's singing and song writing abilities have been shown on several television music specials, as well in several albums. And he also was the host for a syndicated series of "Country Top 20" specials.
From 1973 to 1975, Dennis Weaver served as President of the Screen Actors Guild and received "The Ralph Morgan Award" for outstanding service to his fellow members. In 1986, he received his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1988 he received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Ryokan College. He was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1981.
In 1983, Dennis, Valerie Harper and several concerned community leaders founded Love Is Feeding Everyone(L.I.F.E.). Once providing supplemental food to 400 people each week, through Dennis's leadership, as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, L.I.F.E. now supports 200 agencies who collectively are feeding 150,000 hungry people a week in Los Angeles County. L.I.F.E. now serves as a role model for groups throughout the U.S. who wish to launch a program like L.I.F.E. His work with L.I.F.E. earned Dennis the 1986 Presidential End Hunger Award.
Today Weaver lives in a home he built. It is an environmentally friendly solar-powered mass house made from recycled automobile tires and cans. It is called an "Earthship, " an independent sustainable living space that is not dependent on archaic centralized energy systems that are greatly damaging the planet. The "Earthship" is the brainchild of Taos, New Mexico architect, Michael Reynolds.
Weaver's Western movies include "The Raiders" (1952), "Horizons West" (1952), "Redhead for Wyoming" (1953), "The Lawless Breed" (1953), "War Arrow" (1953), "Chief Crazy Horse" (1955), "Duel at Diablo" (1966), "Gallagher Goes West" (1966, TV), "Escape From Wildcat Canyon" (1998), "The Virginian" (2000, TV) and "High Noon" (2000, TV).
CLICK HERE to visit the official Dennis Weaver web site.
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Dennis Weaver.
Dr. David J. Weber
David J. Weber is a professor of history at Southern Methodist University. Among his 13 books are (as editor) Foreigners in Their Native Land: Historical Roots of the Mexican Americans (University of New Mexico Press), The Taos Trappers: The Fur Trade in the Far Southwest (University of Oklahoma Press), Richard Kern: Expeditionary Artist in the Far Southwest, 1848-1853 (UNM Press, 1985), Arms, Indians and the Mismanagement of New Mexico (Texas Western Press). He edited New Spain's Far Northern Frontier (UNM Press, 1979) and The Southwestern United States Under Mexico (Ayer Co., 1976).
David D. Weber's book, The Mexican Frontier, 1821-1846: The American Southwest Under Mexico (University of New Mexico) won awards from the Texas Institute of letters, the Organization of American Historians, Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Border Regional Library Association and Westerners' International.
Barbara Weeks
Barbara Weeks, actress, was born on July 4, 1913 in Boston, MA.
Her film career ran from 1930 to 1956. She appeared in such Western movies as "White Eagle" (1932), "Forbidden Trail" (1932), "The Sundown Rider" (1932), "Rusty Rides Alone" (1933), "Two-Fisted Sheriff" (1937) and "The Old Wyoming Trail" (1937).
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Barbara Weeks.
Martha Wentworth
(Deceased)
Verna Martha Wentworth, actress, was born on June 2, 1889 in New York City. She appeared in such Western films as "Stagecoach to Denver" (1946), "Santa Fe Uprising" (1946), "Rustlers of Devil's Canyon" (1947), "Oregon Trail Scouts" (1947), "Marshal of Cripple Creek" (1947) and "Homesteaders of Paradise Valley."Martha Wentworth died on Mar. 8, 1974 in Sherman Oaks, CA.
CLICK HERE to see the complete filmography of Martha Wentworth.
This listing is far from complete and may contain errors.
Therefore, all Western entertainers and/or their agents
are requested to submit recommended changes by
contacting Stan Paregien through his e-mail address.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
--- Bible: Hebrews 12:2-3
© 2003 by Stan Paregien, Sr.