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Noble Willingham
Solidly built, strong-featured character actor, prolific in film and TV, whose authority figures and blustery professional types often rely on his Texas-flavored image. Born in a small Texas town, Willingham worked in oil fields as a roustabout and steam fitter, and after college and graduate studies became a schoolteacher. A longstanding interest in acting led to a small role in the acclaimed TV-movie "My Sweet Charlie" (1970) and when Peter Bogdanovich brought his crew to Texas to work on "The Last Picture Show" (1971), Willingham was one of the locals cast in a small part. Soon thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles to further his acting career.