Lonny Chapman (October 1, 1920 – October 12, 2007) was an American television actor best known for his numerous guest star appearances on drama series, such as Storefront Lawyers, Quincy, M.E., The A-Team, Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, and NYPD Blue. In the 1954 movie "Young at Heart" with Doris Day and Frank Sinatra, he played Ernie the plumber.He also appeared as a guest star on the CBS adventure/drama Harbourmaster, starring Barry Sullivan, and on the same network's anthology series The Lloyd Bridges Show. He guest starred too in several episodes of NBC's McCloud, which starred his long-time friend Dennis Weaver, whom Chapman had originally urged to go into show business. He also appeared in three episodes of CBS's Gunsmoke opposite Dennis Weaver. He was cast several times on ABC's The Rifleman, twice on the syndicated adventure series, The Everglades, starring Ron Hayes, and once each on the syndicated crime drama Decoy, starring Beverly Garland, and the short-lived CBS western, Dundee and the Culhane. In 1964 he appeared on Perry Mason as murderer Jack Talley in "The Case of the Tandem Target."In 1966, Chapman appeared in the episode "Lone Woman" of Barry Sullivan's NBC western series, The Road West. In 1977, Chapman appeared in the episode "The Waterhole" of the short-lived Rod Taylor western series The Oregon Trail on NBC.
October 12, 2007, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Profession
Actor
Education
University of Oklahoma (1947), Missouri Southern State University, Joplin High School
Spouse
Erma Dean (m. 1944–2007)
Children
Wyley Dean
Star Sign
Libra
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Quote
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The theatre is a place of sharing. At its best, it is audience, play and actor participating at the same given moment in an experience. The theatre is unique in that respect. All three of the elements above must be involved for this to come about. One of them, by itself, cannot exist. So we are dependent upon each other; we must share the experience.
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Fact
1
A memorial was held for Lonny on December 4, 2007, at his Group Repertory Theatre in North Hollywood. Among those in attendance were actress Barbara Bain, director Mark Rydell, actor Jim Antonio and his brother, actor/director Lou Antonio. Sean Penn and Jennifer Tilly, plus nonagenarians Karl Malden and R.G. Armstrong gave their respective tributes via written notes of appreciation.
With the late Curt Conway, he operated the Fishkill Summer Playhouse in upper New York state for many years, where such stars as Barbra Streisand, Dustin Hoffman and Robert Duvall got their start. Hoffman got his Equity card there with a production of "The Diary of Anne Frank". Streisand did her first musical there playing Hortense in "The Boyfriend" and a legit role in the play "Separate Tables".
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Had a starring role in the short-lived series For the People (1965).
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Since the 1970s was artistic director of the Group Repertory Theatre (GRT) in Burbank, California. The name of the company was eventually changed to Lonny Chapman's Group Repertory Theatre in honor of the actor.
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Reliable, gruff-toned character actor on stage screen and TV for over six decades who, following service in the South Pacific during World War II, graduated from the University of Oklahoma, then moved to New York City where he landed the lead in "Come Back, Little Sheba".
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Was named "Outstanding Alumnus" at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri in 2005. Lonny graduated from Joplin High School and, in 1940, Joplin Junior College, Missouri Southern's predecessor institution.
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Appeared as a guest star on several episodes of McCloud (1970), which starred his long-time friend Dennis Weaver, whom he originally urged to go into show business. Also very close friends with Pat Hingle and Logan Ramsey.
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He and his wife, the former Erma Dean Gibbons, have one son.
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He is an acting teacher.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Name of the Game
1969
TV Series
Ralph Currier
Judd for the Defense
1969
TV Series
District Attorney Jack Martin
The Stalking Moon
1968
Purdue
The Guns of Will Sonnett
1967-1968
TV Series
O'Brian / Sheriff Tom Landry
Mod Squad
1968
TV Series
Lt. Wheeler
The Big Valley
1967
TV Series
Jack Dobbs / Cody Grell
Dundee and the Culhane
1967
TV Series
Henry Taylor
Iron Horse
1967
TV Series
Ike Bridger
Hour of the Gun
1967
Turkey Creek Johnson
Death Valley Days
1967
TV Series
Buzzer
A Covenant with Death
1967
Musgrave
The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones
1966
TV Movie
Roy
The Road West
1966
TV Series
Sergeant
Hawk
1966
TV Series
Tommy Alperts
Gunsmoke
1963-1966
TV Series
Sipes / Dove Bailey / Wade
The Fugitive
1966
TV Series
Jock Sims
The Loner
1966
TV Series
Chad Mitchell
Laredo
1965
TV Series
Julius
Slattery's People
1965
TV Series
Lou Stakley
For the People
1965
TV Series
Frank Malloy
The Defenders
1961-1965
TV Series
District Attorney / Barney Fox / District Attorney O'Hara / ...
Brenner
1964
TV Series
George Hirsch
Perry Mason
1964
TV Series
J.S. (Jack) Talley
Suspense
1964
TV Series
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1964
TV Series
Lt. Wymar
Ben Casey
1963
TV Series
Dr. Charles Freel
The Birds
1963
Deke Carter - Diner Owner
The Lloyd Bridges Show
1963
TV Series
Jess Carter
Wide Country
1963
TV Series
Chuck Martin
The Rifleman
1961-1963
TV Series
Scully Potter / Stanley
The DuPont Show of the Week
1962
TV Series
Seaman Cromwell
The Doctors and the Nurses
1962
TV Series
Dr. Mehli
Armstrong Circle Theatre
1951-1962
TV Series
Richard McIntyre
Naked City
1962
TV Series
Asst. D.A. Chuck Smith
Everglades
1962
TV Series
Max Faust / Benjamin Duncan
Outlaws
1961
TV Series
Silas Brathwaite
The Americans
1961
TV Series
Chester Longbaugh
Play of the Week
1960-1961
TV Series
Ed
The DuPont Show of the Month
1961
TV Series
The DuPont Show with June Allyson
1961
TV Series
Pvt. Jud Baker
The Detectives
1961
TV Series
Link Merriwether
One Step Beyond
1961
TV Series
Phillip Werris
The Witness
1960
TV Series
Dutch Schultz
World Wide '60
1960
TV Series
Sunday Showcase
1960
TV Series
Deadline
1959
TV Series
McWilliams
Armchair Theatre
1958
TV Series
Tom
The Investigator
1958
TV Series
Jeff Prior
Harbormaster
1958
TV Series
Engineer
Decoy
1957
TV Series
Howard Farley
Studio One in Hollywood
1957
TV Series
Will Landis
Baby Doll
1956
Rock
Robert Montgomery Presents
1955
TV Series
The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
1954-1955
TV Series
Cadet O.D.
Goodyear Playhouse
1955
TV Series
Bert
East of Eden
1955
Roy Turner - Automobile Mechanic (uncredited)
Young at Heart
1954
Ernie Nichols
Danger
1953
TV Series
Suspense
1953
TV Series
Tom
Mister Peepers
1953
TV Series
Bill
Starlight Theatre
1951
TV Series
Harry Santis
The Hunted
2003
Zander
NYPD Blue
2000
TV Series
Timothy O'Leary
Reindeer Games
2000
Old Timer
L.A. Doctors
1998
TV Series
Nightwatch
1997
Old Watchman
Murder, She Wrote
1985-1993
TV Series
Frank Hemet / Addison Langley / Jack Bowen
Matlock
1989-1991
TV Series
Sheriff Harry Casey / John Donovan
The Rape of Doctor Willis
1991
TV Movie
Dr. McMahon
The China Lake Murders
1990
TV Movie
Jake and the Fatman
1989
TV Series
Clancy
Stingray
1987
TV Series
Chuck Mitchell
The A-Team
1987
TV Series
Henderson
52 Pick-Up
1986
Jim O'Boyle
Riptide
1986
TV Series
Sheriff Emile Caine
The Fall Guy
1982-1985
TV Series
Big Ed / Sheriff
Hotel
1984
TV Series
Edgar Ellsworth
Matt Houston
1984
TV Series
The Yellow Rose
1983
TV Series
Del Horton
Trapper John, M.D.
1979-1983
TV Series
Peter Jenkins / Police Detective
Cave In!
1983
TV Movie
Walt Charles
Knight Rider
1983
TV Series
Falker
Who Will Love My Children?
1983
TV Movie
Milton Hammond
Quincy M.E.
1977-1982
TV Series
Mr. Tourneau / Jack LaFollette / Sgt. Ernie Sproul / ...
Simon & Simon
1982
TV Series
FBI Agent Grover
The Rainmaker
1982
TV Movie
The Border
1982
Andy
The Steeler and the Pittsburgh Kid
1981
TV Movie
Chuck Noll
Amy
1981
Virgil Goodloe
Vega$
1981
TV Series
James Rayborn
Running Scared
1980
Pa Beecher (as Lonnie Chapman)
When Time Ran Out...
1980
Kelly
The Incredible Hulk
1980
TV Series
J.J. Hendren
Blind Ambition
1979
TV Mini-Series
L. Patrick Gray
Hanging by a Thread
1979
TV Movie
Charles Minton
Norma Rae
1979
Gardner (as Lonnie Chapman)
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
1979
TV Series
Terror Out of the Sky
1978
TV Movie
Earl Logan
Lawman Without a Gun
1978
TV Movie
Sheriff Harvey Johnson
Charlie's Angels
1978
TV Series
Eddie Cobb
The American Girls
1978
TV Series
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan
1978
Louis the Gambler
The Runaways
1978
TV Series
Ray Farris
Police Story
1978
TV Series
Commissioner Martin
Richie Brockelman, Private Eye
1978
TV Series
Wonder Woman
1978
TV Series
Hopewell International Chairman
King
1978
TV Mini-Series
Chief Frank Holloman
Black Beauty
1978
TV Mini-Series
Samuel Livingston
The Oregon Trail
1977
TV Series
Coe Webster
Riding High
1977
TV Movie
Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn
1977
TV Movie
Eddie Duncan (as Lonnie Chapman)
Nashville 99
1977
TV Series
Dave Hargrove
Moving Violation
1976
Sheriff Rankin
The Blue Knight
1976
TV Series
Mali
Bronk
1976
TV Series
Captain Miller
The Witch Who Came from the Sea
1976
Long John
Kojak
1975
TV Series
Lt. Follmer
Medical Story
1975
TV Series
Medical Center
1970-1975
TV Series
Carter / Sheriff / Mr. Kaufman
The Streets of San Francisco
1975
TV Series
Mr. Hale
McCloud
1972-1975
TV Series
Wally Forman / Kramer / Gabe Lester
The Family Holvak
1975
TV Series
Hopkins
The Last Survivors
1975
TV Movie
David Broadhead
The Rookies
1973-1975
TV Series
Arnie Brody / Crater
Ironside
1972-1974
TV Series
Jason Mowbray / Harry Amstead
Earthquake
1974
L.A.P.D. Captain (uncredited)
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1973-1974
TV Series
Frank Brannen / Fred Benson / Harry Walker
Lucas Tanner
1974
TV Series
Joe Garfield
Return of the Big Cat
1974
TV Movie
Frank Brannen
Planet of the Apes
1974
TV Series
Polar
Kodiak
1974
TV Series
Hurricane
1974
TV Movie
Pappy
Where the Red Fern Grows
1974
Sheriff
Big Rose: Double Trouble
1974
TV Movie
Lieutenant John Moore
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law
1974
TV Series
Richards
Doc Elliot
1974
TV Series
Everett Graham
The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton
1974
TV Movie
Fred Benson
Cotter
1973
Running Wild
1973
Senator Frank Coombs
Hunter
1973
TV Movie
Albert Treadway
Run, Cougar, Run
1972
Harry Walker
Visions...
1972
TV Movie
Martin Binzech
Banacek
1972
TV Series
Bartender
Mannix
1972
TV Series
Phil Rand
The Screaming Woman
1972
TV Movie
Police Sergeant
The Cowboys
1972
Homer's Father
Cade's County
1972
TV Series
Lucas Kettenbach
Longstreet
1972
TV Series
Lieutenant Crane
Marcus Welby, M.D.
1971
TV Series
Joe Perino
Welcome Home, Soldier Boys
1971
Danny's Father
Night Gallery
1971
TV Series
Father (segment "Silent Snow, Secret Snow")
Mission: Impossible
1967-1971
TV Series
Lt. Bill Orcott / Edward Hughes
Marriage: Year One
1971
TV Movie
Phil
The Interns
1971
TV Series
Neil McElhenny
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1970
TV Series
George Barton
The Young Lawyers
1970
TV Series
Fowler
I Walk the Line
1970
Bascomb
Men at Law
1970
TV Series
Jacobs
Bonanza
1966-1970
TV Series
Major Paul Colter / Will Smith
The Reivers
1969
Maury McCaslin
The Virginian
1966-1969
TV Series
Weasel Willie Burr / Carl Luther / Donovan Young / ...