William Boyett, character actor dies at 77
John Nelson
Adam-12, died Wednesday December 29 at the age of 77. He appeared in
hundreds of films and television shows in a 50 year career.
Hyfler/Rosner
photo:
http://www.highwaypatroltv.com/boyett5.jpg
"John Nelson" <see...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:H8cBd.2979$Me4...@bignews4.bellsouth.net...
Hyfler/Rosner
W. Boyett, 77; Veteran Stage, Television Actor
BYLINE: Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer
William Boyett, a veteran stage, screen and television
character actor best known for playing Sgt. "Mac" MacDonald
on the TV series "Adam-12," has died. He was 77.
Boyett, a longtime resident of Studio City, died Wednesday
of complications from pneumonia and kidney failure at Holy
Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, said his daughter, Suzy
Boyett.
Boyett's early television credits in the 1950s included
"Playhouse 90," "Four Star Playhouse," "Perry Mason" and
"Sea Hunt." He also had two recurring roles -- as Officer
Johnson and Sgt. Ken Williams -- on the 1955-59 police drama
"Highway Patrol," starring Broderick Crawford.
Over the years, Boyett showed up frequently on series such
as "Family Affair," "My Three Sons," "Emergency!" and
"Knot's Landing." He also played the father of Luke Spencer
(Anthony Geary) on "General Hospital."
His work with actor-producer Jack Webb on both the 1950s and
'60s versions of "Dragnet" led Webb to cast the
barrel-chested actor with the gravelly voice to play the
role of the low-key but authoritative Sgt. MacDonald on
"Adam-12," the 1968-75 police drama that starred Martin
Milner and Kent McCord.
"He's one of the last [members] of the Jack Webb stock
company," McCord told The Times on Friday. "Bill was one of
those steady performers you could count on. He was honest in
his performance: He conveyed truthfulness, which is what
Jack required from everybody who worked for him."
And, McCord added, "Bill was a delight to work with, and
made it one of the greatest pleasures of being on a series
for seven years where you had such compatibility among all
of us. We had our own stock company [on "Adam-12"]. It
really was a fun show to be on."
Among Boyett's other credits are the miniseries "How the
West Was Won" and the films "The Rocketeer" and "The
Hidden." His distinctive voice also was heard often in
voice-over work, including national commercials for Hamm's
beer and Soft Scrub.
Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1927 and raised in Waco, Texas,
Boyett moved to Los Angeles with his family in the early
1940s. While at Dorsey High School, he won the Southern
California High School Shakespeare competition, which led to
acting jobs on radio.
He attended USC, where he majored in radio and television.
After serving in the Navy in the Pacific during World War
II, he appeared on stage in New York, including a small role
in "Mister Roberts."
He later appeared in numerous Los Angeles stage productions.
In addition to his daughter, Boyett is survived by his wife
of 48 years, Joan; son, Keven; two granddaughters; and his
brothers, John Olafson and Wallis Collins.
A private memorial service will be held next week. Instead
of flowers, the family suggests that donations in Boyett's
name be made to the Motion Picture and Television Fund or
the Music Center Education Division.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO: WILLIAM BOYETT. His credits included "Perry
Mason," "Sea Hunt" and "Highway Patrol." Later, he acted in
"Knot's Landing" and "General Hospital," among other TV
series.
Donna B
> LA Times obituary ~
>
> W. Boyett, 77; Veteran Stage, Television Actor
>
> BYLINE: Dennis McLellan, Times Staff Writer
>
> William Boyett, a veteran stage, screen and television
> character actor best known for playing Sgt. "Mac" MacDonald
> on the TV series "Adam-12," has died. He was 77.
>
> Boyett, a longtime resident of Studio City, died Wednesday
> of complications from pneumonia and kidney failure at Holy
> Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, said his daughter, Suzy
> Boyett.
>
> Boyett's early television credits in the 1950s included
> "Playhouse 90," "Four Star Playhouse," "Perry Mason" and
> "Sea Hunt." He also had two recurring roles -- as Officer
> Johnson and Sgt. Ken Williams -- on the 1955-59 police drama
> "Highway Patrol," starring Broderick Crawford.
>
> Over the years, Boyett showed up frequently on series such
> as "Family Affair," "My Three Sons," "Emergency!" and
> "Knot's Landing." He also played the father of Luke Spencer
> (Anthony Geary) on "General Hospital."
This GENERAL HOSPITAL credit has an error. He played Bill Eckert's father.
Tony Geary played his cousin, Bill Eckert for a time, and Boyett played Fred
Eckert in 1991.
Hyfler/Rosner
"Donna B"
>>
>> Over the years, Boyett showed up frequently on series
>> such
>> as "Family Affair," "My Three Sons," "Emergency!" and
>> "Knot's Landing." He also played the father of Luke
>> Spencer
>> (Anthony Geary) on "General Hospital."
>
> This GENERAL HOSPITAL credit has an error. He played Bill
> Eckert's father.
> Tony Geary played his cousin, Bill Eckert for a time, and
> Boyett played Fred
> Eckert in 1991.
From Today's LA Times: (Other irate fans clued them in.)
HEADLINE: FOR THE RECORD
Boyett obituary -- The obituary of actor William Boyett in
Saturday's California section reported that he played the
father of Luke Spencer, portrayed by Anthony Geary, on the
television soap opera "General Hospital." At the time Boyett
appeared on the show, Geary was playing the part of Luke
Spencer's look-alike cousin, Bill Eckert. Boyett played
Eckert's father, Fred Eckert.