Scott Wilson Passes On

Scott Wilson, who appeared in the films In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967),  and The Right Stuff (1983), as well as the TV shows CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and The Walking Dead, died on October 6 2018 at the age of 76. The cause was leukaemia.

Scott Wilson was born on March 29 1942 in Thomasville, Georgia. He made an impressive screen debut in 1967 in In the Heat of the Night, playing the murder suspect Harvey Oberst. For the remainder of the Sixties he appeared in such films as In Cold Blood (1967), Castle Keep (1969), and The Gypsy Moths (1969). In the Seventies he appeared in such films as The Grissom Gang (1971), The New Centurions (1972), The Great Gatsby (1974), The Passover Plot (1976), and The Ninth Configuration (1980).

In the Eighties Mr. Wilson appeared in such films as The Right Stuff (1983), On the Line (1984), The Aviator (1985), Blue City (1986), Malone (1987), Johnny Handsome (1989), Young Guns II (1990), and The Exorcist III: Legion (1990). He made his television debut in 1986 in an episode of the revival of The Twilight Zone.

In the Nineties Scott Wilson appeared in such films as Femme Fatale (1991), Pure Luck (1991), Geronimo: An American Legend (1993), Tall Tale (1993), Judge Dredd (1995), The Grass Harp (1995), Dead Man Walking (1995), G.I. Jane (1997), Clay Pigeons (1998), and The Way of the Gun (2000). He guest starred on the TV show The X-Files.

In the Naughts he appeared in such films as The Animal (2001), Pearl Harbour (2001), Don't Let Go (2002), Monster (2003), The Last Samurai (2003), Junebug (2005), Saving Shiloh (2006), The Heartbreak Kid (2007), and Radio Free Albemuth (2010). On television he had the recurring role of Sam Braun on the TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He guest starred on the shows Karen Sisco and Law & Order. In the Teens he played the regular role of Hershel Greene on the TV show The Walking Dead, the recurring role of Dr. Guyot on Bosch, the role of John Lyons on Damien, and Abel Johnson on The OA. He guest starred on the shows Justified, Five, and Enlightened. He appeared in the movies Dorfman (2011) and Hostiles (2017).

Scott Wilson was definitely a versatile actor, as shown by his work in television. On The Walking Dead he played  the upright, kind, but stubborn farmer Hershel Greene. On CSI: Crime Scene Investigation he played corrupt casino owner, and father of Catherine Willows, Sam Braun. On film he played everything from murderers to former astronauts to ministers. If his career was so long and Mr. Wilson was so prolific, it was because he was just that talented.