David Huddleston was born on September 17 1930 in Vinton, Virginia. As a child he performed in church pageants. He attended Fork Union Military Academy in Fork Union, Virginia before serving as an engine mechanic in the United States Air Force. He studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Mr. Huddleston made his television debut in an episode of Shotgun Slade in 1960. In the Sixties he guest starred on the shows Harrigan and Son, Adam-12, Then Came Bronson, and The Name of the Game. He made his film debut in a small role in the film All the Way Home in 1963. During the decade he appeared in such films as Black Like Me (1964), A Lovely Way to Die (1968), Slaves (1969), and WUSA (1970). Norwood (1970) presented him with a somewhat more substantial role than the bit parts he had been playing. It was followed by Rio Lobo (1970), in which he also had a somewhat more substantial role. David Huddleston made his debut on Broadway in Woman Is My Idea in 1968.
The Seventies saw David Huddleston's career take off. He was a regular on the shows Petrocelli, How the West Was Won, The Kallikaks, and Hizzoner. He also played the role of Olson Johnson in the classic film Blazing Saddles. Mr. Huddleston appeared frequently on television in the Seventies. He guest starred on such shows as Room 222, Bewitched, McMillan & Wife, Cannon, Medical Centre, Bonanza, The Waltons, The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Ironside, Dirty Sally, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Kung Fu, Emergency!, Hawaii Five-O, Sanford and Son, The Rockford Files, Charlie's Angels, and Vega$. He also originated the role of Sheriff Bridges in The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (1971), from which The Waltons was spun off (on the TV series Sheriff Bridges was played by John Crawford).
Amazingly enough given how often he appeared on television, Mr. Huddleston also appeared in several feature films in the decade. Besides Blazing Saddles they included such films as Fools' Parade (1971), Something Big (1971), Bad Company (1972), Country Blue (1973), McQ (1974), Nightmare Honeymoon (1974), Breakheart Pass (1975), Crime Busters (1977), The Greatest (1977), and Smokey and the Bandit II (1980). He also appeared on Broadway in The Roast in 1980.
In the Eighties David Huddleston played the title role in Santa Claus (1985). He also appeared in the films Go For It (1983), The Act (1984), and Frantic (1988). He guest starred on the shows Trapper John M.D.;The Fall Guy; Magnum P.I.;Blacke's Magic; Our House; J. J. Starbuck; Murder, She Wrote; and Columbo. He appeared on Broadway in The First and Death of a Salesman.
In the Nineties David Huddleston played the lead role in The Big Lebowski (1998). He also appeared in the films Life with Mikey (1993), Cultivating Charlie (1994), Something to Talk About (1995), Joe's Apartment (1996), The Man Next Door (1997), and G-Men from Hell (2000). He guest starred on such shows as The Wonder Years; Star Trek: The Next Generation; Walker, Texas Ranger; The Naked Truth; The Practice; The West Wing, and Gilmore Girls. He appeared on Broadway in Abe Lincoln in Illinois and 1776.
From the Naughts into the Teens he appeared in such films as Reveille (2004), The Producers (2005), Postal (2007), and Locker 13 (2014). He guest starred on the TV shows Gilmore Girls, The West Wing, Andy Parker P.I., and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
David Huddleston was an extremely versatile actor, as comfortable playing comedy as he was drama. He played his share of villains in his career, from the comic (the Big Lebowski in the film of the same name) to the downright frightening (Mayor Riddle in 1974's The Klansman). While Mr. Huddleston was very effective at playing bad guys, he was just as effective playing more lovable roles. He made a good Santa Claus in the film of the same name, and played Gramps Arnold in episodes of the TV show The Wonder Years. A veritable mountain of a man, Mr. Huddleston could play everything from a United States Senator (as he did on The West Wing) to a New York City police Inspector (in the TV movie Sherlock Holmes in New York). He was one of the most talented character actors of his generation and one who was certainly prolific.
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