William Windom, a name synonymous with American television from the 1950s through the 1980s, left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. While he amassed an impressive number of TV appearances, Windom was primarily a theater actor. His journey encompassed Broadway, iconic television roles in classics like The Farmer's Daughter and Murder, She Wrote, and a memorable performance in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Early Life and Military Service
Born in New York City on September 28, 1923, William Windom was the son of architect Paul Windom and Isobel Wells (née Peckham). He was also a descendant of the United States Secretary of the Treasury of the same name. Windom's education began at Williams College, Massachusetts, but was interrupted by World War II.
During the war, he served as a paratrooper with Company B, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy and Operation Market Garden. After the war, he enrolled in the new American University in Biarritz, France, where he began acting.
From Stage to Screen: A Prolific Career
Windom made his Broadway debut in 1947 with the American Repertory Theatre, taking on roles in productions such as Shakespeare's Henry VIII, Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman (as young Erhart Borkman), Shaw's Androcles and the Lion, Barrie's What Every Woman Knows, and Alice in Wonderland (as the White Rabbit). His career on television began in 1949 with The Philco Television Playhouse.
In the early 1950s, television became a new avenue for Windom. He appeared in shows like Studio One, Masterpiece Playhouse, Omnibus, and Kraft Television Theatre. His work spanned various genres, showcasing his versatility.
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Television Successes
Windom's television career took off in the 1960s. He guest-starred in The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and Star Trek. In 1961, he played The Major in "Five Characters in Search of an Exit," an episode of The Twilight Zone. Windom considered this appearance his West Coast television debut. He later reported that Richard Widmark was originally offered the role, but turned it down when he learned the pay was only $1,000.
From 1963 to 1966, Windom starred in the sitcom The Farmer's Daughter, based on the 1947 film. He played a widowed congressman whose children's governess was a Swedish farm girl (played by Inger Stevens). The show saw success. In Star Trek, Windom played Commodore Matt Decker, commander of the doomed USS Constellation, in the 1967 episode "The Doomsday Machine," a role he reprised nearly 40 years later for Star Trek: New Voyages. He also played a recurring role (three episodes) in The Invaders in 1967.
In 1968, Windom starred alongside Peter Falk and Gene Barry in the TV movie Prescription: Murder, the pilot for the TV series Columbo. He starred in another episode of the series titled "Short Fuse" in 1972. That same year, Windom starred with Frank Sinatra in the film The Detective, playing a homophobic killer, a role appreciated in The New York Times.
From 1969 to 1970, he had the lead role as cartoonist John Monroe in the sitcom My World and Welcome to It, which was based on the writings and cartoons of humorist James Thurber. The show mixed quality animation with live action footage, as Thurber-like cartoons would come to life in brief animated sequences. The show won Windom an Emmy award.
"Murder, She Wrote" and Later Career
Windom joined Murder, She Wrote in October 1985 as Dr. Seth Hazlitt. He had previously appeared on the series as a guest star playing another character in April 1985. The producers invited him thereafter to return at the beginning of the second season in a continuing role. He was one of Jessica Fletcher's (Angela Lansbury) closest friends and confidants in the cozy town of Cabot Cove, Maine. Dr. Hazlitt was opinionated and stubborn, holding himself in the highest regard as a health care professional and a proud New England history buff. Windom brought great presence and a tenacious Maine accent to the role.
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Windom briefly left the show in 1990 to work on the first television version of Parenthood, based on the 1989 film of the same name, playing the role of patriarch Frank Buckman--a role played by Jason Robards in the film and, later, Craig T. Nelson in the second TV version.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Windom continued to appear in film and TV guest roles. He appeared in Sommersby (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), and Clint Eastwood's True Crime (1999). He also appeared in series including Ally McBeal (2000) and The District (2001), and voiced Uncle Chuck in Sonic the Hedgehog.
Notable Film Roles
Windom's film career included To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), in which he played the smirking prosecutor opposite Gregory Peck. He also appeared in The Detective (1968), playing a closeted, married gay man, The Gypsy Moths (1969), and Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), where he played the US president.
Personal Life
Windom was married five times. He married Carol Keyser in New York City in August 1947. They divorced in December 1955. In 1958, he married actress Barbara Joyce. She was six years older than Windom. They divorced in 1963. A few weeks later, he married Barbara Clare. She was the granddaughter of MGM's founder, Louis B. Mayer, and 11 years Windom's junior. He became stepfather to Barbara's two daughters. His first child, Rachel, was born in 1964. Windom and Barbara divorced in 1968. In October 1969, he married Jacqulyn D. Hopkins, 19 years his junior. They had two daughters: Heather Juliet (b. 1970) and Hope Teresa (b.
In 1974, Windom met Patricia (Fehrle) Tunder while shooting a TV movie; 12 years his junior, she was working for the production company at the time.
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William Windom died on August 16, 2012, at the age of 88.
Legacy
William Windom's career was marked by versatility and longevity. He seamlessly transitioned between stage and screen, comedy and drama. He was a character actor who left an indelible mark on American television.