Lawrence Wheaton Gates (September 24, 1915December 12, 1996) was an American actor. His notable roles include H.B. Lewis on daytime's ''

Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. ''Guiding Light'' aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio ...

'' and Doc Baugh in the film version of ''

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' is a 1955 American three-act play by Tennessee Williams. The play, an adaptation of his 1952 short story "Three Players of a Summer Game", was written between 1953 and 1955. One of Williams's more famous works and his ...

'' (1958). He played the role of H.B. from 1983 to 1996 and won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor at the 1985 awards. (He had previously played the role of District Attorney Eric Van Gelder on ''

'' in 1977 and 1978.) Gates may be best remembered for his role in the 1967 film version of '' In the Heat of the Night'', where his character Eric Endicott is part of a famous scene involving him slapping

Sidney Poitier Sidney Poitier ( ; February 20, 1927 – January 6, 2022) was a Bahamian-American actor, film director, activist, and diplomat. In 1964, he was the first black actor and first Bahamian to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. Among his ot ...

's face and getting slapped in return.

Early years

Gates was born in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

. As a chemical engineering student at the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

, he acted in student plays. Some of his early acting experience came at the

Barter Theatre Barter Theatre, in Abingdon, Virginia, opened on June 10, 1933. It is the longest-running professional Equity theatre in the United States. History Concept In 1933, when the United States was in the middle of the Great Depression, many peo ...

Abingdon, Virginia Abingdon is a town in and the county seat of Washington County, Virginia, United States, southwest of Roanoke. The population was 8,376 at the 2020 census. The town encompasses several historically significant sites and features a fine arts a ...

. His interest in acting led him to change his collegiate focus, and "he ultimately concluded his college career with a speech major".

Career

Gates had a long career in film, television, and theater. He appeared in the Broadway productions of ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunke ...

'' (1950), '' The Teahouse of the August Moon'' (1953), ''The Carefree Tree'' (1955), '' Bell, Book and Candle'' (1956), ''The Highest Tree'' (1959), ''A Case of Libel'' (1964), and '' First Monday in October'' (1978). Gates played

Polonius Polonius is a character in William Shakespeare's play ''Hamlet''. He is the chief counsellor of the play's ultimate villain, Claudius, and the father of Laertes and Ophelia. Generally regarded as wrong in every judgment he makes over the cou ...

opposite

Sam Waterston Samuel Atkinson Waterston (born November 15, 1940) is an American actor. Waterston is known for his work in theater, television, and film. He has received numerous accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actor ...

in a New York revival of ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

''. He starred in the 1976 Broadway play '' Poor Murderer'', which is about an actor who questions whether or not he, who is playing Hamlet, actually killed the actor playing Polonius, or if it was just a dream. His films included '' Has Anybody Seen My Gal?'' (1952), '' Francis Covers the Big Town'' (1953), '' The Girl Rush'' (1955), '' Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' (1956), '' The Strange One'' (1957), '' The Brothers Rico'' (1957), '' Some Came Running'' (1958), ''

'' (1958), '' The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker'' (1959), '' One Foot in Hell'' (1960), ''

Underworld U.S.A. ''Underworld U.S.A.'' (also known as ''Underworld USA'') is a 1961 American neo-noir crime film Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylisticall ...

'' (1961), ''

The Young Savages ''The Young Savages'' is a 1961 American crime drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usual ...

'' (1961), '' Ada'' (1961), '' Toys in the Attic'' (1963), ''

Cattle King ''Cattle King'' is a 1963 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Tay Garnett. It stars Robert Taylor (American actor), Robert Taylor and Robert Loggia. It was also known by the alternative title of ''Guns of Wyoming'' in some countr ...

'' (1963), '' The Sand Pebbles'' (1966), '' In the Heat of the Night'' (1967), '' Hour of the Gun'' (1967), '' Death of a Gunfighter'' (1969), ''

Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

'' (1970), ''

Lucky Luciano Charles "Lucky" Luciano ( ; ; born Salvatore Lucania ; November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962) was an Italian gangster who operated mainly in the United States. He started his criminal career in the Five Points Gang and was instrumental in the ...

'' (1973), and ''

Funny Lady ''Funny Lady'' is a 1975 American biographical film, biographical musical film, musical comedy-drama film and the sequel to the 1968 film ''Funny Girl (film), Funny Girl''. The film stars Barbra Streisand, James Caan, Omar Sharif, Roddy McDowa ...

'' (1975). On television, Gates had numerous roles on such

anthology drama An anthology series is a written series, radio program, radio, television show, television, film series, film, or video game series that presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, Season (television) ...

series as ''

The Philco Television Playhouse ''The Philco Television Playhouse'' is an American television anthology series that was broadcast live on NBC from 1948 to 1955. Produced by Fred Coe, the series was sponsored by Philco. It was one of the most respected dramatic shows of the ...

'', ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'', ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'', ''

Goodyear Television Playhouse ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television. Goodyear alternated sponsorship with Philco, and ''The Philco Television Playhouse'' ...

'', ''

Kraft Television Theatre ''Kraft Television Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series running from 1947 to 1958. It began May 7, 1947, on NBC, airing at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Impe ...

'', '' Studio One'', and ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 134 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of t ...

''. He continued to make dozens of guest appearances in a wide variety of primetime series, including ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'', '' The F.B.I.'', '' Route 66'', '' The Defenders'', '' Rawhide'', and '' Twelve O'Clock High''. He played the role of Secretary of State

Dean Rusk David Dean Rusk (February 9, 1909December 20, 1994) was the United States secretary of state from 1961 to 1969 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, the second-longest serving secretary of state after Cordell Hull from the ...

in the 1974

teleplay A teleplay is a screenplay or script used in the production of a scripted television program or series. In general usage, the term is most commonly seen in reference to a standalone production, such as a television film, a television play, or a ...

'' The Missiles of October'', and played President

Herbert Hoover Herbert Clark Hoover (August 10, 1874 – October 20, 1964) was the 31st president of the United States, serving from 1929 to 1933. A wealthy mining engineer before his presidency, Hoover led the wartime Commission for Relief in Belgium and ...

in the 1979

miniseries In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...

'' Backstairs at the White House''.

Recognition

In 1964, Gates was nominated for a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

in the category Actor, Supporting or Featured (Dramatic), for his work in ''A Case of Libel''.

Personal life and death

Gates married Tania Wilkof in Huntington, Connecticut, on August 2, 1959. At the time of his death, he was married to Judith Gates. He died on December 12, 1996, in a

Sharon, Connecticut Sharon is a New England town, town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, in the northwest corner of the state. At the time of the United States 2020 Census, 2020 census, the town had a total population ...

, hospital, aged 81.

Filmography

*'' Glory Alley'' (1952) - Dr. Robert Ardley *'' Has Anybody Seen My Gal?'' (1952) - Charles Blaisdell *'' Above and Beyond'' (1952) - Captain William 'Deak' Parsons, USN *'' Francis Covers the Big Town'' (1953) - Dan Austin *'' Take Me to Town'' (1953) - Marshal Ed Daggett *'' The Girl Rush'' (1955) - Hap Halliday *'' Invasion of the Body Snatchers'' (1956) - Dr. Dan 'Danny' Kauffman *'' The Strange One'' (1957) - Major Avery *'' Jeanne Eagels'' (1957) - Al Brooks *'' The Brothers Rico'' (1957) - Sid Kubik *''

'' (1958) - Dr. Baugh *'' Some Came Running'' (1958) - Professor Robert Haven French *'' The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker'' (1959) - Reverend Dr. Fielding *'' One Foot in Hell'' (1960) - Doc Seltzer *''

'' (1961) (Season 6 Episode 25: "Museum Piece") - Mr. Hollister *'' The Great Impostor'' (1961) - Cardinal *'' The Hoodlum Priest'' (1961) - Louis Rosen *''

'' (1961) - John Driscoll *''

'' (1961) - Randolph *'' Ada'' (1961) - Joe Adams *'' The Spiral Road'' (1962) - Dr. Kramer *''

'' (1963) - President Chester A. Arthur *'' Toys in the Attic'' (1963) - Cyrus Warkins *'' The Sand Pebbles'' (1966) - Jameson *'' In the Heat of the Night'' (1967) - Eric Endicott *'' Hour of the Gun'' (1967) - John P. Clum *'' Death of a Gunfighter'' (1969) - Mayor Chester Sayre *''

'' (1970) - Commissioner Ackerman *''

'' (1973) - Judge Herlands *''

'' (1975) - Bernard Baruch *'' Leonard Part 6'' (1987) - Medusa Guard

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Larry 1915 births 1996 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male soap opera actors American male stage actors American male television actors Daytime Emmy Award winners Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series winners Male actors from Saint Paul, Minnesota University of Minnesota alumni University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering alumni