Years active 1957-82 Children Eileen Wesson Role Character actor | Name Dick Wesson Spouse(s) Wini Walsh Siblings Gene Wesson | |
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Full Name Richard Lewis Wesson Born November 19, 1922 ( 1922-11-19 ) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Died April 25, 1996, Rancho Mirage, California, United States TV shows Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The People's Choice, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Hollywood House Movies Destination Moon, Calamity Jane, The Errand Boy, The Charge at Feather R, Jim Thorpe – All‑American Similar People Irving Pichel, Paul Henning, David Butler, Leslie Goodwins, Eddie Bracken | ||
Richard Lewis "Dick" Wesson (November 19, 1922 – April 25, 1996) was a prolific character actor, comedian, comedy writer, and producer. The dark haired man with a flat top haircut was frequently confused with announcer Dick Wesson.
Contents
Biography
Wesson was born Richard Lewis Wesson on November 19, 1922 in Boston, Massachusetts. A comedian, impressionist and singer, Wesson appeared with his brother Gene (1921-1975) in a comedy act appropriately called "The Wesson Brothers". They had some hit records such as "Oodles of Boodle" and "All Right Louie, Drop the Gun". In 1949, Wesson became a television series regular with Jim Backus in Hollywood House.
Making his film debut as a wisecracking astronaut in Destination Moon (1950), Dick Wesson was soon signed to a contract as a supporting actor with Warner Brothers. Wesson played comedy relief in all his films, frequently as a World War II soldier in Breakthrough (1950) and Force of Arms (1951), and in the Old West with The Man Behind the Gun (1953) and The Charge at Feather River (1953). Wesson's best known role was as Francis Fryer in Calamity Jane (1953).
Wesson moved to American television appearing as Jackie Cooper's ex-United States Marine Corps sidekick, Rollo, in 27 of the 104 episodes of NBC's The People's Choice and later as Frank Crenshaw in Paul Henning's The Bob Cummings Show. Wesson began writing for The Bob Cummings Show and later The Beverly Hillbillies, in which he appeared as a taxi driver. He produced CBS's My Sister Eileen and many episodes of Petticoat Junction and directed several episodes of each series. He was a member of the cast of the 1974 CBS situation comedy Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers.
Wesson later died of a heart attack on April 25, 1996 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Filmography
Writer
1982
Barney Miller (TV Series) (story by - 1 episode)
- The Tontine (1982) - (story by)
1974
These Are the Days (TV Series) (1974)
1974
Maude (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- The Love Birds (1974) - (written by)
1973
Butch Cassidy (TV Series) (story - 1 episode)
- The Gold Caper (1973) - (story)
1973
Goober and the Ghost Chasers (TV Series) (story - 1973)
-
The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) (writer - 50 episodes, 1968 - 1971) (written by - 10 episodes, 1963 - 1970) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1969)
- Jethro Returns (1971) - (writer)
- The Clampetts Meet Robert Audubon Getty Crockett (1971) - (writer)
- Love Finds Jane Hathaway (1971) - (writer)
- Elly, the Secretary (1971) - (writer)
- Elly, the Working Girl (1971) - (writer)
- Lib and Let Lib (1971) - (writer)
- The Palace of Clampett-San (1971) - (writer)
- The Teahouse of Jed Clampett (1971) - (writer)
- Women's Lib (1971) - (writer)
- The Grun Incident (1971) - (writer)
- The Girls from Grun (1971) - (writer)
- The Grunion Invasion (1971) - (writer)
- The Great Revelation (1970) - (writer)
- Welcome to the Family (1970) - (writer)
- Shorty to the Rescue (1970) - (writer)
- Farm in the Ocean (1970) - (writer)
- The Frog Family (1970) - (writer)
- Do You, Elly, Take This Frog? (1970) - (writer)
- Doctor, Cure My Frog (1970) - (writer)
- Don't Marry a Frogman (1970) - (writer)
- Mark Templeton Arrives (1970) - (writer)
- Jed Buys the Capitol (1970) - (writer)
- The Clampetts in Washington (1970) - (writer)
- The Pollution Solution (1970) - (writer)
- Honesty Is the Best Policy (1970) - (writer)
- Honest John Returns (1970) - (writer)
- Simon Legree Drysdale (1970) - (writer)
- Hotel for Women (1970) - (writer)
- Annul That Marriage (1970) - (writer)
- The Wedding (1970) - (writer)
- Three-Day Reprieve (1970) - (writer)
- Shorty Spits the Hook (1970) - (writer)
- Marry Me, Shorty (1970) - (writer)
- What Happened to Shorty? (1970) - (writer)
- The Clampett-Hewes Empire (1970) - (written by)
- Buzz Bodine, Boy General (1969) - (written by)
- Our Hero the Banker (1969) - (writer)
- The Hero (1969) - (writer)
- Shorty Go Home (1969) - (writer)
- Midnight Shorty (1969) - (writer)
- Shorty Kellems Moves West (1969) - (written by)
- Home Again (1969) - (writer)
- Manhattan Hillbillies (1969) - (writer)
- The Clampetts in New York (1969) - (writer)
- Jed Buys Central Park (1969) - (writer)
- Wedding Plans (1969) - (writer)
- Jane Finds Elly a Man (1969) - (writer)
- Silver Dollar City Fair (1969) - (writer)
- The Hills of Home (1969) - (writer)
- Back to the Hills (1969) - (writer)
- Cousin Roy in Movieland (1969) - (writer)
- Jethro the Flesh Peddler (1969) - (teleplay)
- The Hot Rod Truck (1968) - (writer)
- The Great Cook-Off (1968) - (writer)
- The Italian Cook (1968) - (written by)
- Granny Goes to Hooterville (1968) - (written by)
- Elly Becomes a Secretary (1963) - (written by)
- The Psychiatrist Gets Clampetted (1963) - (written by)
- The Clampetts in Court (1963) - (written by)
- The Clampetts Entertain (1963) - (written by)
- The Clampetts and the Dodgers (1963) - (written by)
1969
Change of Mind (original screenplay - as Richard Wesson)
-
Petticoat Junction (TV Series) (written by - 6 episodes, 1963 - 1964) (story - 2 episodes, 1963 - 1966) (teleplay - 2 episodes, 1963)
- The Young Matchmakers (1966) - (story)
- Bedloe and Son (1964) - (written by)
- Kate and the Dowager (1964) - (written by)
- Kate and the Manpower Problem (1964) - (written by)
- The Talent Contest (1964) - (written by)
- Hooterville vs. Hollywood (1964) - (written by)
- Herby Gets Drafted (1963) - (teleplay)
- Uncle Joe's Replacement (1963) - (story) / (teleplay)
- Kate's Recipe for Hot Rhubarb (1963) - (written by)
-
The Hathaways (TV Series) (story by - 1 episode, 1961) (teleplay by - 1 episode, 1961)
- Love Thy Neighbor (1961) - (story by) / (teleplay by)
1960
My Sister Eileen (TV Series) (writer - 6 episodes)
- The Protectors (1961) - (writer)
- Separate Ways (1961) - (writer)
- Ruth's Fella (1961) - (writer)
- Aunt Harriet's Way (1961) - (writer)
- Ruth Becomes a Waitress (1960) - (writer)
- The Photography Mix-Up (1960) - (writer)
-
Dennis the Menace (TV Series) (story - 1 episode, 1960) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1960)
- Dennis Becomes a Baby Sitter (1960) - (story) / (teleplay)
1959
Startime (TV Series) (writer - 1 episode)
- The Secret World of Kids (1959) - (writer)
1957
The Real McCoys (TV Series) (written by - 2 episodes)
- The Fighter and the Lady (1959) - (written by)
- The Fishing Contest (1957) - (written by)
-
The Bob Cummings Show (TV Series) (15 episodes, 1957 - 1959) (written by - 28 episodes, 1957 - 1959) (writer - 3 episodes, 1958 - 1959) (teleplay - 1 episode, 1957)
- Bob Clashes with Ken (1959)
- Bob Gets Hypnotized (1959) - (written by)
- Bob and the Pediatrician (1959) - (writer)
- Bob Seeks a Wife (1959) - (writer)
- Bob Meets Mamie Van Doren (1959) - (written by)
- Bob's Boyhood Love Image (1959)
- Grandpa Moves West (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Plays Margaret's Game (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Judges a Beauty Pageant (1958) - (written by)
- Collins the Crooner (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Butters Beck, Beck Butters Better (1958) - (written by)
- Bob in Orbit (1958) - (written by)
- Grandpa Clobbers the Airforce (1958)
- Bob Restores Male Supremacy (1958) - (written by)
- Bob and the Ravishing Realtor (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Helps Anna Maria (1958) - (written by)
- Bob and the Dumb Blonde (1958)
- Bob and Schultzy Reunite (1958) - (written by)
- Bob's Forgotten Fiancée (1958) - (written by)
- Colonel Goldbrick (1958)
- Bob Digs Rock 'N' Roll (1958) - (written by)
- Grandpa's Old Buddy (1958) - (written by)
- Grandpa Attends the Convention (1958) - (written by)
- Bob and Schultzy at Sea (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Sails for Hawaii (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Retrenches (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Goes to the Moon (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Goes Birdwatching (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Saves Harvey (1958) - (writer)
- Bob Gets Harvey a Raise (1958) - (written by)
- Bob Gives SRO Performance (1958)
- Bob and Automation (1958)
- Bob Goes Hillbilly (1958)
- Bob's Christmas Party (1957)
- Bob Wins The Olympics (1957)
- Thanksgiving at Grandpa's (1957)
- Bob Meets Bill Lear (1957) - (written by)
- Bob the Body Builder (1957) - (written by)
- Bob Slows Down (1957) - (written by)
- Bob Gets Neighborly (1957) - (written by)
- Air Force Calls Bob (1957) - (teleplay)
- Bob Gets Out-Uncled (1957)
- Bob Meets Miss Sweden (1957)
- Bob Meets the Mortons (1957) - (written by)
- Chuck at College (1957) - (written by)
- Bob Tangles with Ruthie (1957)
- The Model's Revolt (1957)
Actor
1979
Makin' It (TV Series) as
Mort
- The Art Auction (1979) - Mort
1977
Tabitha (TV Series) as
Mr. Robbins
- Arrival of Nancy (1977) - Mr. Robbins
1977
Dog and Cat (TV Movie) as
Zink Kauffen
1977
Rollercoaster as
Tourist Father
1976
Petrocelli (TV Series) as
Frankie Wells
- Jubilee Jones (1976) - Frankie Wells
1976
Quincy M.E. (TV Series) as
Clarence
- A Star Is Dead (1976) - Clarence
1976
McDuff, the Talking Dog (TV Series) as
Colonel Mulford
- The Not So Greatest Show On Earth - Colonel Mulford
1975
Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) as
Charlie Benson
- The Fruitfulness of Mrs. Steffie Rhodes (1975) - Charlie Benson
1975
Starsky and Hutch (TV Series) as
Ed
- Savage Sunday (1975) - Ed
1974
Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers (TV Series) as
Jack Reardon / Jack Riordan
- From Russia with Lust (1975) - Jack Riordan
- The Groupie (1974) - Jack Reardon
- All's Well That Ends (1974) - Jack Reardon
- Maid in the Snow (1974) - Jack Riordan
- Getting to First Bass (1974) - Jack Reardon
1973
Maude (TV Series) as
Ernie
- Arthur Moves In (1973) - Ernie
1963
The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) as
Cabbie / Man on Plane / Patient
- The Clampetts in New York (1969) - Cabbie
- Something for the Queen (1968) - Man on Plane
- The Clampetts Get Psychoanalyzed (1963) - Patient (as Richard Earl Wesson)
1968
That Girl (TV Series) as
Det. Charlie Thompson
- A Muggy Day in Central Park (1968) - Det. Charlie Thompson
1961
The Errand Boy as
The A.D.
1960
Alcoa Theatre (TV Series) as
Ernie
- You Should Meet My Sister (1960) - Ernie
1960
Goodyear Theatre (TV Series) as
Ernie
- You Should Meet My Sister (1960) - Ernie
1959
Mike Hammer (TV Series) as
Clef
- Dixie Is Dead (1959) - Clef
1955
The Bob Cummings Show (TV Series) as
Frank Crenshaw / Sailor
- Bob and the Ballet (1959) - Frank Crenshaw
- Bob and the Dumb Blonde (1958) - Frank Crenshaw
- Schultzy Says No (1956) - Frank Crenshaw
- Bob Batches It (1956) - Frank Crenshaw
- Bob Glamorizes Schultzy (1955) - Sailor
1957
The People's Choice (TV Series) as
Rollo 'Hex' Hexley / Prime Minister
- Rollo's Wedding (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Rollo Makes Good (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Practical Joker (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Cleo, Secret Dog (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Family Way (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Male Ego (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sleeping Beauty (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Salted Cellar (1958) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock's Old Flame (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Reluctant House Guest (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Retiring Mayor (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Giveaway (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Nickel Pickle (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock, the Matchmaker (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Sophisticates (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Queen and Me (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley / Prime Minister
- Paper Hangers (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- The Ink Blots (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock Goes for the Dough (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- One-Ring Circus (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock's Out-of-Town Job (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Almost a Father (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock's Master Plan (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock's Bivouac (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock's Secret Honeymoon (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- How Sock Met Rollo (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
- Sock and the Hex (1957) - Rollo 'Hex' Hexley
1955
Paris Follies of 1956 as
Chuck Russell
1953
Calamity Jane as
Francis Fryer
1953
The Charge at Feather River as
Pvt. Cullen
1953
The Desert Song as
Benjamin 'Benjy' Kidd
1953
The Man Behind the Gun as
Sgt. 'Monk' Walker
1952
About Face as
Dave Crouse
1951
Starlift as
Sgt. Mike Nolan
1951
Sunny Side of the Street as
Dave Gibson
1951
Jim Thorpe -- All-American as
Ed Guyac
1951
Force of Arms as
Kleiner
1951
Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison as
Tinker
1950
Breakthrough as
Pvt. Sammy Hansen
1950
Destination Moon as
Joe Sweeney
1949
Hollywood House (TV Series) as
Regular
- Episode dated 2 December 1949 (1949) - Regular
Producer
1969
Change of Mind (producer - as Richard Wesson)
1967
Tammy and the Millionaire (producer)
-
Tammy (TV Series) (producer - 16 episodes, 1965) (executive producer - 1 episode, 1966)
- The Cinemazation of Tammy Tarleton (1966) - (executive producer)
- To Know Me Is to Love Me (1965) - (producer)
- A Severe Case of Matrimony (1965) - (producer)
- The Enoch Bowl (1965) - (producer)
- Cletus Comes Callin' (1965) - (producer)
- Grandpa's Secret Love (1965) - (producer)
- The Riverfyin' of Billy Joe Morgan (1965) - (producer)
- Grandpa's Old Flame (1965) - (producer)
- Mind Your Manners (1965) - (producer)
- Still Waters (1965) - (producer)
- Will the Real Dwayne Whitt Please Stand Up? (1965) - (producer)
- Prophet and Loss (1965) - (producer)
- The Tarleton Land Grant (1965) - (producer)
- The Poker Game (1965) - (producer)
- Tammy Plays Cupid (1965) - (producer)
- The Aristocratic Tates (1965) - (producer)
- Tammy Leaves Home (1965) - (producer)
1963
Petticoat Junction (TV Series) (producer - 38 episodes)
- The Genghis Keane Story (1964) - (producer)
- Kate Flat on Her Back (1964) - (producer)
- Cave Woman (1964) - (producer)
- Local Girl Makes Good (1964) - (producer)
- Bedloe and Son (1964) - (producer)
- A Millionaire for Kate (1964) - (producer)
- Dog Days at Shady Rest (1964) - (producer)
- Charley Abandons the Cannonball (1964) - (producer)
- Kate and the Dowager (1964) - (producer)
- Kate the Stockholder (1964) - (producer)
- The Hooterville Flivverball (1964) - (producer)
- The Ladybugs (1964) - (producer)
- Kate and the Manpower Problem (1964) - (producer)
- The Talent Contest (1964) - (producer)
- Behind All Silver, There's a Cloud Lining (1964) - (producer)
- Betty Jo's First Love (1964) - (producer)
- The Art Game (1964) - (producer)
- The Very Old Antique (1964) - (producer)
- Last Chance Farm (1964) - (producer)
- Visit from a Big Star (1964) - (producer)
- Hooterville vs. Hollywood (1964) - (producer)
- My Daughter the Doctor (1964) - (producer)
- Bobbie Jo and the Beatnik (1964) - (producer)
- Herby Gets Drafted (1963) - (producer)
- Cannonball Christmas (1963) - (producer)
- A Night at the Hooterville Hilton (1963) - (producer)
- Honeymoon Hotel (1963) - (producer)
- Uncle Joe's Replacement (1963) - (producer)
- Bedloe Strikes Again (1963) - (producer)
- The Little Train Robbery (1963) - (producer)
- Kate's Recipe for Hot Rhubarb (1963) - (producer)
- The Ringer (1963) - (producer)
- Please Buy My Violets (1963) - (producer)
- The Courtship of Floyd Smoot (1963) - (producer)
- Is There a Doctor in the Roundhouse? (1963) - (producer)
- The President Who Came to Dinner (1963) - (producer)
- Quick, Hide the Railroad (1963) - (producer)
- Spur Line to Shady Rest (1963) - (producer)
-
My Sister Eileen (TV Series) (producer - 5 episodes, 1960 - 1961) (series producer - 1 episode, 1961)
- The Protectors (1961) - (series producer)
- Separate Ways (1961) - (producer)
- Ruth's Fella (1961) - (producer)
- Aunt Harriet's Way (1961) - (producer)
- Ruth Becomes a Waitress (1960) - (producer)
- The Photography Mix-Up (1960) - (producer)
Script Department
1969
The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) (script consultant - 49 episodes)
- Jethro Returns (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Clampetts Meet Robert Audubon Getty Crockett (1971) - (script consultant)
- Love Finds Jane Hathaway (1971) - (script consultant)
- Elly, the Secretary (1971) - (script consultant)
- Elly, the Working Girl (1971) - (script consultant)
- Lib and Let Lib (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Palace of Clampett-San (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Teahouse of Jed Clampett (1971) - (script consultant)
- Women's Lib (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Grun Incident (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Girls from Grun (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Grunion Invasion (1971) - (script consultant)
- The Great Revelation (1970) - (script consultant)
- Welcome to the Family (1970) - (script consultant)
- Shorty to the Rescue (1970) - (script consultant)
- Farm in the Ocean (1970) - (script consultant)
- The Frog Family (1970) - (script consultant)
- Do You, Elly, Take This Frog? (1970) - (script consultant)
- Doctor, Cure My Frog (1970) - (script consultant)
- Don't Marry a Frogman (1970) - (script consultant)
- Mark Templeton Arrives (1970) - (script consultant)
- Jed Buys the Capitol (1970) - (script consultant)
- The Clampetts in Washington (1970) - (script consultant)
- The Pollution Solution (1970) - (script consultant)
- Honesty Is the Best Policy (1970) - (script consultant)
- Honest John Returns (1970) - (script consultant)
- Simon Legree Drysdale (1970) - (script consultant)
- Hotel for Women (1970) - (script consultant)
- Annul That Marriage (1970) - (script consultant)
- The Wedding (1970) - (script consultant)
- Three-Day Reprieve (1970) - (script consultant)
- Shorty Spits the Hook (1970) - (script consultant)
- Marry Me, Shorty (1970) - (script consultant)
- What Happened to Shorty? (1970) - (script consultant)
- The Clampett-Hewes Empire (1970) - (script consultant)
- Buzz Bodine, Boy General (1969) - (script consultant)
- Our Hero the Banker (1969) - (script consultant)
- The Hero (1969) - (script consultant)
- Shorty Go Home (1969) - (script consultant)
- Midnight Shorty (1969) - (script consultant)
- Home Again (1969) - (script consultant)
- Manhattan Hillbillies (1969) - (script consultant)
- The Clampetts in New York (1969) - (script consultant)
- Jed Buys Central Park (1969) - (script consultant)
- Wedding Plans (1969) - (script consultant)
- Jane Finds Elly a Man (1969) - (script consultant)
- Silver Dollar City Fair (1969) - (script consultant)
- The Hills of Home (1969) - (script consultant)
- Back to the Hills (1969) - (script consultant)
Director
1967
Ready and Willing (TV Movie)
1964
Petticoat Junction (TV Series) (2 episodes)
- Bedloe and Son (1964)
- Kate and the Dowager (1964)
-
My Sister Eileen (TV Series) (4 episodes, 1960 - 1961) (series director - 1 episode, 1961)
- The Protectors (1961)
- Separate Ways (1961)
- Ruth's Fella (1961)
- Aunt Harriet's Way (1961) - (series director)
- Ruth Becomes a Waitress (1960)
Soundtrack
1953
Calamity Jane (performer: "Hive Full of Honey")
Self
1949
City at Night (TV Series) as
Self (1950)
Archive Footage
2023
Compression (TV Series documentary)
- Compression Destination Moon de Irving Pichel (2023)
References
Dick Wesson (actor) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA