O’Neal Compton, a SC character actor who found Hollywood success in the 1990s, dies at 68
He was not on the list.
Belton O’Neal Compton Jr., a film and television actor who
spent years in Charleston, died Monday. He was 68.
O’Neal Compton spent the 1990s in Los Angeles working as a
character actor in numerous popular movies, including “Attack of the 50-Foot
Woman,” “Made in America,” “Nell,” “Nixon,” “Diabolique,” “Deep Impact” and
“Primary Colors.” He appeared in TV shows such as “Martin,” “Quantum Leap,”
“Home Improvement,” “Seinfeld” and “Coach.”
He also made photographic portraits of celebrities that have
been exhibited in galleries and private collections.
Compton was born in Sumter, attended Clemson University and
Wofford College, served in the Navy and worked in the theater. An entrepreneur,
he built the first crematorium in Atlanta and briefly ran his family’s funeral
home.
Compton spent the 1980s in Charleston working with
artist-filmmaker David Boatwright and friend Timmy Mallard. They operated
production and advertising companies and made commercials in which Compton
appeared as the Cajun “Big Daddy” character Justin Thyme.
“We made a bunch of really funky commercials for about five
years, comic but beautiful,” Boatwright said. They shared an office on Lower
King Street at the time.
Compton, who had an oversized personality, was not always
easy to work with, but his talent was undeniable, Boatwright said.
“He was a really natural actor,” he said. “Just as soon as
you saw him on camera, you believed him.”
The commercials helped pave the way to Hollywood. By the
early 2010s, Compton was back in Charleston coping with health problems,
including a difficult hip replacement, Boatwright said.
“A hard life caught up with him.”
Compton died at the VA hospital in Columbia. He is survived
by four brothers, many nieces and nephews and his caregiver of the last 10
years, Sadia Mullins. A memorial is planned for 4 p.m. Saturday at the Sumter
County Museum, 122 N. Washington St.
Filmography
Kill Me Later
(2001) - Agent McGinley
Picking Up the
Pieces (2000) - Texas John
Big Eden (2000) -
Jim Soams
Life (1999/I) -
Superintendent Abernathy
Party of Five
(1998) (TV series) - Les (1 episode)
Deep Impact (1998)
- Morten Entrekin
LateLine (1998)
(TV series) - Harlan (1 episode)
Primary Colors
(1998) - Sailorman Shoreson
Orleans (1997) (TV
series) - Lawyer Curtis Manzant (5 episodes)
Seinfeld
(1995–1997) (TV series) - Earl Haffler (2 episodes)
Diabolique (1996)
- Irv Danziger
Shaughnessy (1996)
(TV) -
Nixon (1995) -
Texas Man
The Single Guy
(1995) (TV series) - TY (1 episode)
Coach (1995) (TV
series) - Hal (1 episode)
Lois & Clark:
The New Adventures of Superman (1995) (TV series) - Gene Newtrich (1 episode)
Nell (1994) - Don
Fontana, Lovell's Attorney
Roadracers (1994)
(TV) - J.T.
Rebel Highway
(1994) (TV series) - J.T. (1 episode)
Little Big League
(1994) - Major League Umpire
Murder Between
Friends (1994) (TV) - Det. Easby
Grace Under Fire
(1993) (TV series) - Doctor (1 episode)
Attack of the 50
Ft. Woman (1993) (TV) - Sheriff Denby
Harts of the West
(1993) (TV series) - (episode "The Right Stuff")
The Thing Called
Love (1993) - Singing Cop
What's Love Got to
Do with It (1993) - George (the Ramada Inn Manager)
Made in America
(1993) - Rocky
When Love Kills:
The Seduction of John Hearn (1993) (TV) - Minister
The Positively
True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993) (TV) -
Principal James Barker
The Wonder Years
(1993) (TV series) - Zeke (1 episode)
Home Improvement
(1993) (TV series) - Phil (1 episode)
Delta (1992) (TV
series) - Mr. Boone (1 episode)
A Message from
Holly (1992) (TV) - Burly Man
Parker Lewis Can't
Lose (1992) (TV series) - Fez Man (1 episode)
Quantum Leap
(1992) (TV series) - Russ (1 episode)
Brother Future
(1991) (TV) - Turner
Don't Tell Her
It's Me (1990) - Gas Station Attendant
Martin (1993) (TV
series) - Trooper Williams (1 episode)
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