Willis Macon McCalman (December 30, 1932 – November 29, 2005) was an American television, stage and big screen movie actor.

Acting career

Nicknamed "Sonny", McCalman helped form the Front Street Theatre in his hometown of

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the County seat, seat of Shelby County, Tennessee, Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 Uni ...

. During the

Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top: ...

, he served in the U.S. Army. Over the course of his acting career McCalman appeared in various film and TV guest roles, usually in supporting parts, both dramatic and comedic often as heavies and authoritarian figures. He got his acting start on Broadway appearing in productions of ''The Last of Mrs. Lincoln'' (1971), ''An Enemy for the People'' (1971), and a comedy, ''The Playboy Of the Western World''. His first Hollywood film role was in ''

Deliverance ''Deliverance'' is a 1972 American survival thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman, and starring Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, and Ronny Cox, with the latter two making their feature film debuts. The screenplay was ada ...

'' (1972). He had supporting parts in '' The Concorde ... Airport '79'' (1979), ''

The Falcon and the Snowman ''The Falcon and the Snowman'' is a 1985 American spy drama film directed by John Schlesinger. The screenplay by Steven Zaillian is based on the 1979 book ''The Falcon and the Snowman: A True Story of Friendship and Espionage'' by Robert Lin ...

'' (1985), ''

Fried Green Tomatoes ''Fried Green Tomatoes'' is a 1991 American comedy-drama film directed by Jon Avnet and based on Fannie Flagg's 1987 novel '' Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe''. Written by Flagg and Carol Sobieski, and starring Kathy Bates, Jessi ...

'' (1991), and '' Falling Down'' (1993). He also appeared in the

Roger Donaldson Roger Lindsey Donaldson (born 15 November 1945) is an Australian-born New Zealand film director, producer and writer whose films include the 1981 relationship drama ''Smash Palace'', and a run of titles shot in the United States, including th ...

directed film '' Marie'' (1985). He appeared in guest roles in television shows such as ''

Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...

'', ''

Starsky and Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a '' Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired by ...

'', ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American Action film, action Crime film, crime Drama (film and television), drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theodopolis "Theo" Kojak. Tak ...

'', '' Lou Grant'', '' Three's Company'', '' Murder She Wrote'' as well as such miniseries and television movies as '' Roots'' (1977) and ''

Captains and the Kings ''Captains and the Kings'' is a 1972 historical novel by Taylor Caldwell chronicling the rise to wealth and power of an Irish immigrant, Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh, who emigrates as a penniless teenager to the United States, along with his you ...

'' (1976).

Death

McCalman retired from acting and returned to Memphis in 1997 after suffering a heart attack. He died in a Memphis hospital in 2005, one month shy of his 73rd birthday, from complications of a series of strokes.

Filmography

Film

* ''

'' (1972) .... Deputy Queen * ''

Lipstick Lipstick is a cosmetic product used to apply coloration and texture to lips, often made of wax and oil. Different pigments are used to produce color, and minerals such as silica may be used to provide texture. The use of lipstick dates bac ...

'' (1976) .... Police Photographer * ''

Slap Shot ''Slap Shot'' is a 1977 American sports film directed by George Roy Hill, written by Nancy Dowd and starring Paul Newman and Michael Ontkean. It depicts a minor league ice hockey team that resorts to violent play to gain popularity in a declin ...

'' (1977) .... Soap Opera patient (uncredited) * ''

Smokey and the Bandit ''Smokey and the Bandit'' is a 1977 American road action comedy film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams and Mike Henry. The directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham, the film follo ...

'' (1977) .... Mr. B * '' Comes a Horseman'' (1978) .... Virgil Hoverton * '' The Pirate'' (1978) .... Hutchinson * '' The Concorde ... Airport '79'' (1979) .... Carl Parker * '' The Last Word'' (1979) .... Welfare Caseworker * '' The Incredible Shrinking Woman'' (1981) .... Dr. Atkins * ''

Dead & Buried ''Dead & Buried'' is a 1981 American horror film directed by Gary Sherman, starring Melody Anderson, Jack Albertson, and James Farentino. It is Albertson’s final live-action film role before his death six months after the film’s release. Th ...

'' (1981) .... Ben * '' Carbon Copy'' (1981) .... Tubby Wederholt * ''

Rollover Rollover or roll over may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Rollover'' (film), a 1981 American political thriller *''Roll Over'', a 1992 album by Hound Dog * "Roll Over", a 2006 song by Zico Chain * "Roll Over", a 1989 song by Steven Wayne ...

'' (1981) .... Jerry Fewster * '' Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann'' (1982) .... Dr. Sam * '' Honkytonk Man'' (1982) .... Dr. Hines * ''

Fleshburn ''Fleshburn'' is a 1984 American thriller film written and directed by George Gage and starring Steve Kanaly, Karen Carlson and Sonny Landham. Plot Cast * Steve Kanaly as Dr. Sam MacKenzie * Karen Carlson as Shirley Pinter * Macon McCalman ...

'' (1984) .... Earl Dana * ''

'' (1985) .... Larry Rogers * ''

Cold Feet Cold feet is a phrase that refers to a person not going through with an action, particularly one which requires long term commitment, due to fear, uncertainty, and doubt. A person is said to be "getting cold feet" when, after previously committin ...

'' (1989) .... Store Owner * '' Doc Hollywood'' (1991) .... Aubrey Draper * ''

'' (1991) .... Prosecutor Percy * '' Falling Down'' (1993) .... Detective Graham * ''

Murder Between Friends ''Murder Between Friends'' is an American murder mystery television film of 1994, directed by Waris Hussein. It is based on the true story of the murder of Janet Myers, a Louisiana woman killed in 1984 by her husband, or his best friend, or both ...

'' (1994) .... Janet’s LawyerAlvin H. Marill, ''Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1990-1999'' (2005), p. 350 * '' The Client'' (1994) .... Ballatine * '' A Walk in the Clouds'' (1995) .... Conductor * ''

Rosewood Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. True rosewoods All genuine rosewoods belong to the genus ''Dalbergia''. The pre-eminent rosewood appreciated in ...

'' (1997) .... Gov. Hardee (final film role)

Television

* '' Starsky & Hutch'' (1975) .... Officer Bernie Glassman * ''

'' (1976) .... McKee * ''

The Jeffersons ''The Jeffersons'' is an American sitcom television series that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, to July 2, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. ''The Jeffersons'' is one of the longest-running sitcoms in history, ...

'' (1976) (TV) .... Roger Tulley * ''

'' (1976; TV miniseries) .... Dolan * ''

The Bob Newhart Show ''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American sitcom television series produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a ...

'' (1977) .... Dr. Malcolm * '' Maude'' (1977) .... Mark Duncan / Wendall Glendale * '' Carter Country'' (1977) .... Drunk * '' Roots'' (1977; TV miniseries) .... Poston * '' Three's Company'' (1978) .... Mr. Penrose * ''

Hart to Hart ''Hart to Hart'' is an American mystery television series that premiered on August 25, 1979, on ABC. The show stars Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, respectively, a wealthy couple who lead a glamorous jetset li ...

'' (1979) .... Dr. Harry Capello * ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book '' Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 fil ...

'' (1979-1980) .... Deputy Sheriff / Deputy Abe * '' Three's Company'' (1979–1983) .... Roland Wood / Mr. Penrose * '' Lou Grant'' (1981-1982) .... Dolph Masterson / Kibbee * ''

Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson ...

'' (1981-1983) .... Dr. Kalsa / George Endicott * ''

'' (1982) .... Darrell Stabell * ''

Remington Steele ''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on the NBC network from O ...

'' (1983) .... Uncle Tim * ''

Gloria Gloria may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Christian liturgy and music * Gloria in excelsis Deo, the Greater Doxology, a hymn of praise * Gloria Patri, the Lesser Doxology, a short hymn of praise ** Gloria (Handel) ** Gloria (Jenkin ...

'' (1983) .... Motel Manager * '' Emerald Point N.A.S.'' (1983) .... Harry Bogard * ''

St. Elsewhere ''St. Elsewhere'' was an American medical drama television series created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982, to May 25, 1988. The series stars Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd, and William Daniels as ...

'' (1984) .... Henry Judson * '' Newhart'' (1984) .... Paul Frazier * ''

The Red-Light Sting ''The Red-Light Sting'' is a 1984 American crime thriller television film directed by Rod Holcomb and written by Howard Berk, based on true events detailed in the February 2, 1981 ''New York'' magazine article "The Whorehouse Sting" by Henry Post. ...

'' (1984) .... Jeffers * ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the staff of a single police station loca ...

'' (1984) .... Mr. Fitzgerald * ''

Knight Rider ''Knight Rider'' is an American entertainment franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The core of ''Knight Rider'' is its three television series: the original '' Knight Rider'' (1982–1986) and sequel series '' Team Knight Rider'' (1997–1998) ...

'' (1985) .... Calvin Holmes * ''

Family Ties ''Family Ties'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC for seven seasons, premiering on September 22, 1982, and concluding on May 14, 1989. The series, created by Gary David Goldberg, reflected the move in the United States f ...

'' (1986) .... Professor Spanos * '' The Deliberate Stranger'' (1986) .... Larsen's editor * ''

Hunter Hunting is the human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/ hide, bone/tusks, horn/antler, et ...

'' (1987) TV series * ''

Silver Spoons ''Silver Spoons'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982, to May 11, 1986, and in broadcast syndication, first-run syndication from September 27, 1986, to May 30, 1987. The series was produced by Embassy ...

'' (1987) .... Stockwell * ''

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

'' (1987) .... Gorman * ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The ser ...

'' (1987–1991) .... Nolan Hayes / Hotel Det. Fritz Rice * ''

Duet A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo ...

'' (1988) .... Mr. Paxton * '' Perfect Strangers'' (1989) .... Dr. Shukin * '' Guns of Paradise'' (1989) .... Warren Turtle * '' L.A. Law'' (1989–1991) .... Judge Whitney Baldwin * ''

Designing Women ''Designing Women'' is an American television sitcom created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that aired on CBS from September 29, 1986, to May 24, 1993, producing seven seasons and 163 episodes. It was a joint production of Bloodworth/Thomason M ...

'' (1989) .... Paul Webster * ''

Scattered Dreams ''Scattered Dreams: The Kathryn Messenger Story'' is a 1993 made for TV drama film based on a true story. It stars Gerald McRaney, Ed Grady, Rhoda Griffis, Tyne Daly and Macon McCalman. Actress Alicia Silverstone also stars. It was directed by Ne ...

'' (1993) .... Virgil * ''

The Wonder Years ''The Wonder Years'' is an American coming-of-age comedy/drama television series created by Neal Marlens and Carol Black. It ran on ABC from January 31, 1988, until May 12, 1993. The series premiered immediately after ABC's coverage of Supe ...

'' (1993) .... Karl Gustafson * '' Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' (1994) .... Willie * '' Goode Behavior'' (1996) .... Mr. Kaufman

References

External links

* *
Macon McCalman
Aveleyman) {{DEFAULTSORT:Mccalman, Macon 1932 births 2005 deaths American male stage actors American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from Memphis, Tennessee United States Army personnel of the Korean War 20th-century American male actors