William Newman obit

William Newman Obituary

 

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1934 - 2015

William MacLeod Newman, age 80, passed away on May 27th at Hayes Manor Senior Residence in Philadelphia, after a prolonged struggle against the vascular affliction, Multi-Infarct Dementia.

He was born in Chicago on June 15th, 1934, and moved to Seattle in 1937. He graduated from Roosevelt High School

in 1952, and the University of Washington in 1956. He was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship  for advanced writing study at Columbia University from 1958-1960.. 

Through the late 50's and early 60's he served in the Armed Forces, married the former Julia Tayon, and taught English. In 1965 he secured an acting position with the Seattle Repertory Theatre which determined the course of his professional life for the next forty years.

He alternated between jobs with theater companies throughout the country including The Seattle Repertory, Baltimore Center Stage, Stephens College (Artist-in-Residence) of Columbia, MO, Minneapolis Guthrie Theater, Denver Center Theater, and Repertory Theater of St. Louis. In addition, he played Off- and On-Broadway in New York, some highlights being Beggar's Opera, Over Here,  and Strangers. Among his numerous TV and film credits were Mosquito Coast, Mrs. Doubtfire, Tom & Huck, Silver Bullet, and The Postman Always Rings Twice. As much as he loved the work, he held the countless and varied friendships that the work provided, in equally high esteem.

He played the diplomat Kalin Trose in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Host."

He was known by friends and loved ones as a deeply spiritual man, and became a convinced Quaker in 1989, where he found much love and support in the spiritual communities of his Meetings on both coasts.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Margaret Ramsey of Ardmore, PA., his son, Liam Newman of Seattle, WA, his daughter, Katherine Newman of Los Angeles, CA., and his brother, Stephen Newman of New York, N.Y.  A third child, Matthew, died of a fatal fall in 1976 at age 10.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 27, at 3 PM at Old Haverford Friends Meeting, 235 East Eagle Road in Havertown, PA. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to The Friends Council on Education, 1507 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

 

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1976    Squirm            Quigley

1980            Brubaker            Dunfield, Member of Prison Board   

1981    The Postman Always Rings Twice   Man From Home Town  

1984    Billions for Boris            OTB Cashier #2       

1985    Silver Bullet    Virgil Cuts    

1986    Playing for Keeps            Joshua 

The Mosquito Coast   Captain Smalls 

1988    The Serpent and the Rainbow            French Missionary Doctor

Funny Farm            Gus Lotterhand       

Monkey Shines            Doc Williams          

Chattahoochee            Jonathan         

1992    Hero            Millionaire       

1993            Leprechaun     Sheriff Cronin 

Fearless            Elderly Man    

Mrs. Doubtfire            Mr. Sprinkles         

1995    Jury Duty     Judge D'Angelo         

Pie in the Sky            Funeral Guest  

Tom and Huck            Dr. Jonas Robinson           

1996    The Craft    Street Preacher          

Santa with Muscles            Chas   

No Easy Way            Restaurant Patron        

1997    Touch            Court Clerk   

1998            Brown's Requiem            Augie  

1999    For Love of the Game   Fitch    

2000    Devil in the Flesh 2            Dr. Thompson       

2006            Shadow: Dead Riot            Male Guard  

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1979    Ryan's Hope    FBI Agent            Episode #1.1103

Episode #1.1104

1983    Chiefs            Mac McKibbon            Part 2

1986    The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James            Sheriff Timberlake            TV movie

Act of Vengeance            Ezra Morgan            TV movie

1987    A Special Friendship            Quaker            TV movie

1988    The Murder of Mary Phagan            Episode #1.1

Episode #1.2            miniseries

1989    Dinner at Eight Alf            TV movie

1991    Star Trek: The Next Generation            Kalin Trose            Episode: "The Host"

Matlock            Bink            Episode: "The Witness Killings" Part 1 and 2

1992            Homefront            Mechanic            Episode: "No Man Loyal and Neutral"

Eerie, Indiana            Father            Episode: "Mr. Chaney"

Desperate Choices: To Save My Child            Dr. Edwards            TV movie

Knots Landing            Judge Allen Rifkin / Judge Allan Rifkin   2 episodes

1993    Mad About You            The Waiter            Episode: "The Wedding Affair"

Picket Fences            Arthur            Episode: "Be My Valentine"

The Odd Couple: Together Again            Sylvester         TV movie

1994    Dead Man's Revenge            Doctor            TV movie

The Stand            Dr. Soames            miniseries

All-American Girl            Customer #1            Episode: "Mommie Nearest"

1995            Something Wilder            Unknown            Episode: "The Ex Files"

VR.5            Unknown            Episode: "Simon's Choice"

Pig Sty Priest            Episode: "Leap Into an Open Grave"

Wounded Heart            Jedediah          TV movie

Women of the House  Dave            5 episodes

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman            Abner Foley            Episode: "Halloween III"

1996    The Drew Carey Show            Hammond            Episode: "Drew Gets Motivated"

Goode Behavior            Unknown            Episode: "Goode Golly, Miss Molly"

1997    Party of Five      Mr. Langen            Episode: "Promises, Promises"

1999    The King of Queens            Herb            Episode: "Crappy Birthday"

L.A. Doctors            Harvey Feingold            Episode: "Where the Rubber Meets the Road"

Dharma & Greg            Reverend Greeves            Episode: "The Very Grateful Dead"

Diagnosis: Murder Chester Chumley            Episode: "Gangland: Part 1"

2000    Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family            Cal Caprita            Episode: "Bazooka Joe"

2001    Popular            Dr. Meyer            Episode: "The Brain Game"

Angel   Old Demon Man            Episode: "Over the Rainbow"

Philly    Judge Fuller    Pilot episode

2001-2002            The Tick     The Cape    3 episodes

2005    Days of Our Lives            Bookstore Clerk            Episode #1.10180

2006    My Name Is Earl            Unknown            Episode: "Larceny of a Kitty Cat", (final appearance)