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IMDbPro

Dick Wesson(1922-1996)

  • Writer
  • Actor
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Dick Wesson
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:11
The Errand Boy (1961)
3 Videos
1 Photo
One of the most recognisable character actors of the 1950s, Boston Massachusetts-born Dick Wesson began his career with his older brother, Gene Wesson, in a comedy act that made the rounds of the nightclub circuit. He made his film debut in the sci-fi classic Destination Moon (1950), and spent his career specializing in playing the rambunctious, wisecracking smart alec, often in westerns and war films, easily recognizable by his big smile, crew-cut and amazing comedic timing. In addition to his film appearances, his extensive TV credits included The Bob Cummings Show (1955), The Danny Thomas Show (1953) (aka The Danny Thomas Show), Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (1974) (aka The Paul Sand Show), The People's Choice (1955), just to name a few. In the 60s, his comedic talents took him to directing and producing in such shows as The Beverly Hillbillies (1962) and Petticoat Junction (1963).
BornNovember 19, 1922
DiedApril 25, 1996(73)
BornNovember 19, 1922
DiedApril 25, 1996(73)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 1 nomination total

Known for

Doris Day and Howard Keel in Calamity Jane (1953)
Calamity Jane
7.2
  • Francis Fryer
  • 1953
The Bob Cummings Show (1955)
The Bob Cummings Show
7.7
TV Series
  • Writer
Destination Moon (1950)
Destination Moon
6.3
  • Joe Sweeney
  • 1950
Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Smiley Burnette, Frank Cady, Rufe Davis, Linda Henning, Gunilla Hutton, Meredith MacRae, Mike Minor, Jeannine Riley, Lori Saunders, and Pat Woodell in Petticoat Junction (1963)
Petticoat Junction
7.0
TV Series
  • Writer

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Writer



  • Ron Carey, Max Gail, Ron Glass, James Gregory, Steve Landesberg, Hal Linden, and Jack Soo in Barney Miller (1975)
    Barney Miller
    8.3
    TV Series
    • story by
    • 1982
  • These Are the Days (1974)
    These Are the Days
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Writer (1974)
    • 1974
  • Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)
    Maude
    7.3
    TV Series
    • written by
    • 1974
  • Butch Cassidy (1973)
    Butch Cassidy
    6.6
    TV Series
    • story
    • 1973
  • Goober and the Ghost Chasers (1973)
    Goober and the Ghost Chasers
    6.2
    TV Series
    • story (1973)
    • 1973–1975
  • Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer Jr., Donna Douglas, and Irene Ryan in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
    The Beverly Hillbillies
    7.3
    TV Series
    • writer
    • written by
    • teleplay
    • 1963–1971
  • Raymond St. Jacques in Change of Mind (1969)
    Change of Mind
    5.9
    • original screenplay (as Richard Wesson)
    • 1969
  • Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Smiley Burnette, Frank Cady, Rufe Davis, Linda Henning, Gunilla Hutton, Meredith MacRae, Mike Minor, Jeannine Riley, Lori Saunders, and Pat Woodell in Petticoat Junction (1963)
    Petticoat Junction
    7.0
    TV Series
    • story
    • written by
    • teleplay
    • 1963–1966
  • The Marquis Chimps in The Hathaways (1961)
    The Hathaways
    7.1
    TV Series
    • story by
    • teleplay by
    • 1961
  • My Sister Eileen (1960)
    My Sister Eileen
    7.0
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 1960–1961
  • Jay North in Dennis the Menace (1959)
    Dennis the Menace
    7.0
    TV Series
    • story
    • teleplay
    • 1960
  • Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan in The Real McCoys (1957)
    The Real McCoys
    7.6
    TV Series
    • written by
    • 1957–1959
  • Startime (1959)
    Startime
    6.4
    TV Series
    • writer
    • 1959
  • The Bob Cummings Show (1955)
    The Bob Cummings Show
    7.7
    TV Series
    • written by
    • writer
    • teleplay
    • 1957–1959

Actor



  • Makin' It (1979)
    Makin' It
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Mort
    • 1979
  • Tabitha (1976)
    Tabitha
    5.7
    TV Series
    • Mr. Robbins
    • 1977
  • Dog and Cat (1977)
    Dog and Cat
    6.9
    TV Movie
    • Zink Kauffen
    • 1977
  • Henry Fonda, Timothy Bottoms, George Segal, Susan Strasberg, and Richard Widmark in Rollercoaster (1977)
    Rollercoaster
    6.3
    • Tourist Father
    • 1977
  • Quincy, M.E. (1976)
    Quincy, M.E.
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Clarence
    • 1976
  • Michelle Stacy and Walter Willison in McDuff, the Talking Dog (1976)
    McDuff, the Talking Dog
    6.2
    TV Series
    • Colonel Mulford
    • 1976
  • Susan Howard, Barry Newman, and Albert Salmi in Petrocelli (1974)
    Petrocelli
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Frankie Wells
    • 1976
  • Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)
    Marcus Welby, M.D.
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Charlie Benson
    • 1975
  • Starsky and Hutch (1975)
    Starsky and Hutch
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Ed
    • 1975
  • Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (1974)
    Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Jack Riordan
    • Jack Reardon
    • 1974–1975
  • Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)
    Maude
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Ernie
    • 1973
  • Buddy Ebsen, Max Baer Jr., Donna Douglas, and Irene Ryan in The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
    The Beverly Hillbillies
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Cabbie
    • Man on Plane
    • Patient
    • 1963–1969
  • That Girl (1966)
    That Girl
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Det. Charlie Thompson
    • 1968
  • Jerry Lewis in The Errand Boy (1961)
    The Errand Boy
    6.4
    • The A.D.
    • 1961
  • Goodyear Theatre (1957)
    Goodyear Theatre
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Ernie
    • 1960

Producer



  • Raymond St. Jacques in Change of Mind (1969)
    Change of Mind
    5.9
    • producer (as Richard Wesson)
    • 1969
  • George Furth, Frank McGrath, Denver Pyle, and Debbie Watson in Tammy and the Millionaire (1967)
    Tammy and the Millionaire
    5.7
    • producer
    • 1967
  • Tammy (1965)
    Tammy
    6.9
    TV Series
    • executive producer
    • producer
    • 1965–1966
  • Bea Benaderet, Edgar Buchanan, Smiley Burnette, Frank Cady, Rufe Davis, Linda Henning, Gunilla Hutton, Meredith MacRae, Mike Minor, Jeannine Riley, Lori Saunders, and Pat Woodell in Petticoat Junction (1963)
    Petticoat Junction
    7.0
    TV Series
    • producer
    • 1963–1964
  • My Sister Eileen (1960)
    My Sister Eileen
    7.0
    TV Series
    • series producer
    • producer
    • 1960–1961

Videos3

The Errand Boy
Trailer 2:11
The Errand Boy
Destination Moon
Trailer 2:06
Destination Moon
Destination Moon
Trailer 2:06
Destination Moon
Mike Hammer: Dixie Is Dead
Trailer 1:03
Mike Hammer: Dixie Is Dead

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Richard Earl Wesson
  • Born
    • November 19, 1922
    • Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
  • Died
    • April 25, 1996
    • Rancho Mirage, California, USA(aortic aneurysm)
  • Spouses
      Jannette Lee StantonDecember 6, 1981 - April 25, 1996 (his death)
  • Children
    • Eileen Wesson
  • Relatives
    • Gene Wesson(Sibling)
  • Other works
    He co-wrote and directed the screenplay for an unsold sitcom pilot called "The Donald O'Connor Show", where Donald O'Connor played a scientist who worked with ferocious-looking, but tame, animals like "Fluffy the Lion".

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Father of actress Eileen Wesson.
  • Trademarks
      Often portrayed wimpy, cowardly characters onscreen. Was nearly always used as the comic relief in musical films such as Calamity Jane (1953) and the 1953 version of The Desert Song (1953).

FAQ

Powered by Alexa
  • When did Dick Wesson die?
    April 25, 1996
  • How did Dick Wesson die?
    Aortic aneurysm
  • How old was Dick Wesson when he died?
    73 years old
  • Where did Dick Wesson die?
    Rancho Mirage, California, USA
  • When was Dick Wesson born?
    November 19, 1922

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