David Whorf obituary

Child-Actor David Whorf Has Died

 

He was not on the list.

David Whorf died January 4th, 2020, at the age of 85. David was the second son of famous actor/director Richard Whorf and Margaret Smith Whorf. He was born July 24, 1934 in Syracuse, New York.

Hollywood called and the family moved to California in May of 1941.

David followed his father in show business starting in 1946 as a child actor in the film, ”On Our Merry Way”. He attended grammar school at Hawthorne School in Beverly Hills and high school at Beverly Hills High School for one year. He then followed his older brother, Peter, to attend and graduate from Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. David graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Speech and Drama in 1957. After college, David enlisted in the California National Guard and served for 6 years. He worked for sixty-five years in theater, movies and television, finally retiring in 2001. Feature film credits include “PT 109”, “Caddyshack” and “The Right Stuff.” David worked as an actor, director, assistant director, writer and producer during his career. Some of the television shows he worked on include: Batman, The Streets of San Francisco, CSI, Spenser: For Hire, The FBI, Canon, Barnaby Jones, The Brady Bunch, Lassie, Wagon Train, and Bonanza, to name a few. 

In 1959 David married Caroline Hughes and they had two daughters, Sarah Bradley in 1961 and Amanda Baker in 1964. In 1974 David divorced and moved to San Francisco to work on “The Streets of San Francisco”. In 1985, David and Rob Alger formed the Alnitak Computing Company and produced the first production software program for the film industry, “AD/80”. In 1989 he met Laurel Weber and they were married in 1991. In the years that followed, they lived in San Francisco, Carmel and Sun City Lincoln Hills in Lincoln, CA.

He is survived by his wife Laurel, daughter Sarah Whorf, her husband, Norman Sherfield, Amanda and Ernie Valenzuela and grandchildren, Anne, Marco and Emilio.

Starting in the film industry as a child actor, Whorf first appeared in the film On Our Merry Way (1948) in 1946 with an all-star cast including Jimmy Stewart, Henry Fonda, Paulette Goddard, Fred MacMurray and Burgess Meredith. Summer Stock in New England at Marblehead, Ma. and Westport, Ct. punctuated his summers while attending Stanford University where he majored in Theatre Arts and Fine Arts. In 1953 Mr. Whorf was an apprentice at the Country Playhouse, Marblehead, Massachusetts. This was followed a few years later with a season at the Westport Country Playhouse. A theatre his father had played many years earlier. After a tour in the Army, he returned to film making, appearing in over fifty television shows and six feature films including a feature role in PT 109 (1963), the story of John Kennedy's experience in the South Pacific during the Second World War. In 1961 he appeared with his father, Richard Whorf, in a pre-Broadway show "One for the Dame". At this time, it was only the second time in recent Broadway history that father and son played father and son on stage. The show "closed out of town" due to financial problems after playing Ford's Theatre in Baltimore and at the Copley Theatre in Boston. In 1964 he wrote, produced and directed a short subject "Another Way Home" which received "Honorable Mention" at the Cork Ireland Film Festival. Mr. Whorf spent two seasons in repertory theatre at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado. Of the sixteen plays in which he appeared, he received accolades for "Dark at the Top of the Stairs", "Five Finger Exercise" and "Little Mary Sunshine". In 1958 he became a member of the Director's Guild of America. As a first assistant director with director Larry Peerce, Mr Whorf worked on the Emmy Award winning mini-series "Woman Named Jackie, A" (1991)(mini)_ filmed entirely in the Richmond Virginia area. Other credits include the wacky "Caddyshack" and as Unit Manager on The Right Stuff (1983). Mr. Whorf continues to work actively in the film industry in a multitude of capacities from Director to Unit Manager and Assistant Director. He has written three feature scripts; "Deadly Intent" has been optioned by a production company. In 1980, Mr. Whorf recognized the impact computers were to have on the film industry. He formed a software company with Rob Alger, Alnitak Computing Company, and created the first film production software package, "AD/80".

 

Second Unit or Assistant Director

Elisabeth Shue and Ted Danson in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

first assistant director

TV Series

2001

5 episodes

 

The Test of Love (1999)

The Test of Love

first assistant director

TV Movie

1999

 

Dennis Rodman, Tim Abell, Melinda Clarke, David Eigenberg, and Brad Johnson in Soldier of Fortune, Inc. (1997)

Soldier of Fortune, Inc.

first assistant director

TV Series

1999

2 episodes

 

Holy Joe (1999)

Holy Joe

first assistant director

TV Movie

1999

 

Don Johnson and Cheech Marin in Nash Bridges (1996)

Nash Bridges

first assistant director

TV Series

1997

4 episodes

 

Brian Bosworth and Joe Torry in Back in Business (1997)

Back in Business

first assistant director

1997

 

Dalva (1996)

Dalva

first assistant director (as David M. Whorf)

TV Movie

1996

 

North & South: Book 3, Heaven & Hell (1994)

North & South: Book 3, Heaven & Hell

first assistant director

TV Mini Series

1994

3 episodes

 

Melody Anderson and James F. Kelly in Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993)

Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair

first assistant director

TV Movie

1993

 

Roma Downey in A Woman Named Jackie (1991)

A Woman Named Jackie

first assistant director

TV Mini Series

1991

3 episodes

 

Brian Dennehy in In Broad Daylight (1991)

In Broad Daylight

first assistant director

TV Movie

1991

 

Gary Cole and Wendy Kilbourne in Midnight Caller (1988)

Midnight Caller

first assistant director

TV Series

1989

2 episodes

 

Avery Brooks and Robert Urich in Spenser: For Hire (1985)

Spenser: For Hire

first assistant director

TV Series

1985–1987

17 episodes

 

Jason Gedrick and Lewis Smith in The Heavenly Kid (1985)

The Heavenly Kid

first assistant director

1985

 

Kim Evenson in Porky's Revenge (1985)

Porky's Revenge

first assistant director (as David M. Whorf)

1985

 

Drew Barrymore in Firestarter (1984)

Firestarter

first assistant director

1984

 

Love Child (1982)

Love Child

first assistant director

1982

 

Nobody's Perfekt (1981)

Nobody's Perfekt

first assistant director

1981

 

Island Claws (1980)

Island Claws

first assistant director

1980

 

Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, and Ted Knight in Caddyshack (1980)

Caddyshack

first assistant director

1980

 

Die Laughing (1980)

Die Laughing

first assistant director

1980

 

The Lazarus Syndrome (1979)

The Lazarus Syndrome

first assistant director

TV Series

1979

1 episode

 

Dom DeLuise, Suzanne Pleshette, and Jerry Reed in Hot Stuff (1979)

Hot Stuff

first assistant director (as David M. Whorf)

1979

 

The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove (1979)

The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove

first assistant director

TV Series

1979

2 episodes

 

When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder? (1979)

When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?

first assistant director

1979

 

Louis Gossett Jr. and Ronald Hunter in The Lazarus Syndrome (1978)

The Lazarus Syndrome

first assistant director

TV Movie

1978

 

If Ever I See You Again (1978)

If Ever I See You Again

assistant director: west coast

1978

 

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

The Streets of San Francisco

assistant director

TV Series

1975–1977

23 episodes

 

Cannon (1971)

Cannon

assistant director

TV Series

1971–1975

29 episodes

 

Nothing by Chance (1975)

Nothing by Chance

assistant director

1975

 

The Abduction of Saint Anne (1975)

The Abduction of Saint Anne

assistant director

TV Movie

1975

 

Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

assistant director

TV Series

1973

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

assistant directorfirst assistant director

TV Series

1970–1971

12 episodes

 

Christopher George in The Immortal (1969)

The Immortal

assistant director

TV Series

1969

1 episode

 

Seven in Darkness (1969)

Seven in Darkness

assistant director

TV Movie

1969

 

Gary Conway in Land of the Giants (1968)

Land of the Giants

assistant director

TV Series

1969

4 episodes

 

The Felony Squad (1966)

The Felony Squad

assistant director

TV Series

1966–1969

17 episodes

 

Peyton Place (1964)

Peyton Place

assistant director

TV Series

1968

6 episodes

 

Batman (1966)

Batman

assistant director

TV Series

1966–1968

28 episodes

 

Actor

Bess Armstrong, Robert Hays, Robert Curtis Brown, Robin Riker, Erik von Detten, Julia Whelan, and Yvonne Zima in Christmas Every Day (1996)

Christmas Every Day

Dr. Baker

TV Movie

1996

 

Joy Harmon in One Way Wahine (1965)

One Way Wahine

Lou Talbot (as David M. Whorf)

1965

 

Inger Stevens and William Windom in The Farmer's Daughter (1963)

The Farmer's Daughter

Usher

TV Series

1964

1 episode

 

Dr. Kildare (1961)

Dr. Kildare

Dr. Oscar Bittner

TV Series

1963–1964

2 episodes

 

Gene Barry in Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

Intern

TV Series

1963

1 episode

 

Whitney Blake, Shirley Booth, Bobby Buntrock, and Don DeFore in Hazel (1961)

Hazel

Joe Cook

TV Series

1963

1 episode

 

PT 109 (1963)

PT 109

Raymond Albert

1963

 

Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, and Pernell Roberts in Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

Peter

TV Series

1962

1 episode

 

Thriller (1960)

Thriller

Johnny BrannerThe 2nd Student

TV Series

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

The Continental Twist (1961)

The Continental Twist

Riffy (as David M. Whorf)

1961

 

Jon Provost, Tommy Rettig, Lassie the Dog, and Lassie in Lassie (1954)

Lassie

Will

TV Series

1961

1 episode

 

The DuPont Show with June Allyson (1959)

The DuPont Show with June Allyson

Boy at DanceLatham

TV Series

1959–1961

2 episodes

 

Ernie Kovacs, Margo Moore, Dick Shawn, and Jack Warden in Wake Me When It's Over (1960)

Wake Me When It's Over

Radar Student (uncredited)

1960

 

Jody McCrea and Joel McCrea in Wichita Town (1959)

Wichita Town

Joe Tomasino

TV Series

1960

1 episode

 

Manhunt (1959)

Manhunt

Ken Marshall

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

Father Knows Best (1954)

Father Knows Best

Earl

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

Ronald Reagan in General Electric Theater (1953)

General Electric Theater

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

One Step Beyond (1959)

One Step Beyond

Evan

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, and Sheb Wooley in Rawhide (1959)

Rawhide

Norm Morton

TV Series

1959

1 episode

 

Jeannie Carson in Hey, Jeannie! (1956)

Hey, Jeannie!

Pete

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Man with a Camera (1958)

Man with a Camera

Ernie

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Dennis Hopper, Lyle Bettger, and Cameron Mitchell in Pursuit (1958)

Pursuit

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Have Gun - Will Travel (1957)

Have Gun - Will Travel

Jimmy Dawes

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

The Silent Service (1957)

The Silent Service

Rector - Ill Sailor

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Pat Conway in Tombstone Territory (1957)

Tombstone Territory

Ben Ashdown Brother Simon Webb

TV Series

1958

2 episodes

 

The Adventures of Jim Bowie (1956)

The Adventures of Jim Bowie

Leiutenant

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Climax! (1954)

Climax!

Jesse Tate

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

Jack

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

James Stewart, Paulette Goddard, Harry James, Dorothy Lamour, and Fred MacMurray in On Our Merry Way (1948)

On Our Merry Way

Edgar Hobbs - aka Sniffles Dugan

1948