G.D. Spradlin

A former attorney and oil producer millionaire, character actor G.D. Spradlin broke into show business in his 40s with a string of TV guest spots on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (CBS, 1964-69) and "Dragnet 1967" (NBC, 1967-1970). Often cast as authority and military figures, the commanding Spradlin broke through as the corrupt, bigoted U.S Senator who winds up blackmailed into loyalty to the Corleones in "The Godfather: Part II" (1974). He scored in two memorable sports-related roles in "One on One" (1977) and "North Dallas Forty" (1979), before essaying the crucial supporting role of General Corman in "Apocalypse Now" (1979). After a searing turn as a relentless military academy commandant in "The Lords of Discipline" (1983), Spradlin played a pair of presidents "Robert Kennedy & His Times" (CBS, 1985) and "Houston: The Legend of Texas" (CBS, 1986). Settling into a series of smaller roles, he appeared in the black comedy "The War of the Roses" (1989), the biopic "Ed Wood" (1994) and the real-time thriller "Nick of Time" (1995). Spradlin wrapped his career with "Riders of the Purple Sage" (TNT, 1996), "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996) and the Watergate comedy "Dick" (1999). Although he never became a household name, Spradlin embodied the American Dream and left behind an impressive body of character acting work.