John Wheeler obit

John Wheeler, Actor, Singer Known for ‘Star Trek’ and an Iconic McDonald’s Commercial, Dies at 95

He also appeared in five Broadway musicals, recurred on ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ and played William Frawley in a TV movie. 

He was not on the list.

John Wheeler, the well-known character actor who appeared in five Broadway musicals, guest-starred as Tellarites politician Ambassador Gav on Star Trek and performed in an unforgettable McDonald’s commercial, has died. He was 95.

Wheeler died Feb. 6 at his home in Claremont, California, his daughter, Johanna Wheeler, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Wheeler also recurred on CBS’ The Dukes of Hazzard in 1982 as Mr. Rhuebottom, owner of a general store in Hazzard County, and he played William Frawley alongside Frances Fisher as Lucille Ball, Maurice Benard as Desi Arnaz and Robin Pearson Rose as Vivian Vance on the 1991 CBS telefilm Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter.

Unrecognizable under heavy latex makeup, Wheeler made his onscreen debut when he portrayed Gav and tussled with Mark Lenard’s Sarek, a Vulcan, on the second-season Star Trek installment “Journey to Babel,” which premiered in November 1967 and ranks 42nd on THR’s list of the show’s best episodes.

In the show-stopping 1971 choreographed musical commercial “Grab a Bucket and Mop,” Wheeler appears in a white shirt and tie as a McDonald’s manager, and he shows off his strong tenor voice alongside John Amos, Robert Ridgely and others.

Johnnie Lee Wheeler Jr. was born on June 20, 1930, in Corsicana, Texas. His father worked for the railroad, and his mother, Ann, was a homemaker. He attended TCU and the University of the Pacific, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Music, and served for a couple years in the U.S. Army.

Wheeler sang with the New York City Opera in New York, and that got him to the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels, where he performed in the Comden-Green musical Wonderful Town. He later was a member of two folk groups led by conductor Robert DeCormier: the Grammy-winning Belafonte Singers, who backed up Harry Belafonte and sang on their own albums, and the DeCormier Singers.

He first made it to Broadway in 1961 in the musical comedy The Happiest Girl in the World, starring Janice Rule and based on tales of Greek mythology, and he followed with turns in four other musicals: 1962’s Kean, 1964’s Café Crown and I Had a Ball and 1966’s Sweet Charity, playing Herman, the dance hall proprietor.

He landed an uncredited part in Elvis Presley’s Live a Little, Love a Little (1968) and portrayed a dancer in Bob Fosse’s 1969 movie adaptation of Sweet Charity that starred Shirley MacLaine (Stubby Kaye played Herman in the movie).

Wheeler’s big-screen résumé included Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969), Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971), Mame (1974), Newman’s Law (1974), Big Bad Mama (1974), Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), The North Avenue Irregulars (1979), The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) and Apollo 13 (1995).

He also showed up on four episodes of The Odd Couple and Green Acres and three of The Brady Bunch, with other appearances coming on Then Came Bronson, Mannix, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Here’s Lucy, Happy Days, The Waltons, The Rockford Files, Rhoda, Dallas, Night Court, The Golden Girls and ER, among other shows.

And he was a great Santa Claus, playing him on a 1997 episode of Step by Step and in telefilms that aired in 1996, 2004 and 2005.

In addition to his daughter, survivors include his sons, Christopher and Timothy, and his grandson, Brandon. He was married to Helen Wheeler from 1959 until her death in 2013.

Actor

Meet the Santas (2005)

Meet the Santas

5.7

TV Movie

Mr. Claus

2005

 

Steve Guttenberg and Crystal Bernard in Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004)

Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus

5.8

TV Movie

Santa

2004

 

Annette O'Toole and James Remar in The Huntress (2000)

The Huntress

6.4

TV Series

Harry

2001

1 episode

 

Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering, and Gabrielle Carteris in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)

Beverly Hills, 90210

6.6

TV Series

Greg Redborn

1998

1 episode

 

Duane Davis, Brixton Karnes, Christine Steel, Kathy Trageser, and Nick Wechsler in Team Knight Rider (1997)

Team Knight Rider

4.6

TV Series

Barber

1998

1 episode

 

Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers, Christine Lakin, Josh Byrne, Brandon Call, Christopher Castile, Staci Keanan, Sasha Mitchell, and Angela Watson in Step by Step (1991)

Step by Step

6.6

TV Series

Santa

1997

1 episode

 

Sugar Ray Leonard, Dawn Eason, Wolf Larson, Renee Tenison, Kenneth Tigar, and Steven Williams in L.A. Heat (1996)

L.A. Heat

6.8

TV Series

Jonathan Quincy

1997

1 episode

 

Angela Lansbury and Michael Jeter in Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)

Mrs. Santa Claus

6.6

TV Movie

Man in Santa Suit

1996

 

Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995)

Apollo 13

7.7

Reporter

1995

 

Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Mr. Resnick

1994

1 episode

 

Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

6.7

TV Series

Shop Owner

1994

1 episode

 

Scott Baio and Mary Page Keller in Baby Talk (1991)

Baby Talk

4.0

TV Series

Minister

1992

1 episode

 

Runaway Father (1991)

Runaway Father

6.4

TV Movie

Judge Ciglio

1991

 

Claude Brooks, Frankie Faison, Stephanie Faracy, Adam Jeffries, Nancy Walker, and Brigid Brannagh in True Colors (1990)

True Colors

7.0

TV Series

Head Monk

1991

1 episode

 

Maurice Benard and Frances Fisher in Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991)

Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter

6.5

TV Movie

William Frawley

1991

 

Howie Mandel, Joel Brooks, Sheldon Feldner, Tom Poston, and Wendy Schaal in Good Grief (1990)

Good Grief

7.6

TV Series

Skippy

1990

1 episode

 

Kellie Martin, Chris Burke, Patti LuPone, and Bill Smitrovich in Life Goes On (1989)

Life Goes On

7.2

TV Series

AnnouncerCoach McNuiffy

1989–1990

2 episodes

 

Eve Plumb, Susan Olsen, Ann B. Davis, Leah Ayres, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, and Barry Williams in The Bradys (1990)

The Bradys

5.4

TV Series

Joe Fletcher

1990

1 episode

 

The Hollywood Detective (1989)

The Hollywood Detective

5.3

TV Movie

Jack

1989

 

Nikki and Alexander

5.7

TV Movie

Older Man

1989

 

Harry Anderson, Selma Diamond, Ellen Foley, John Larroquette, Charles Robinson, and Richard Moll in Night Court (1984)

Night Court

7.7

TV Series

Mr. Perine

1989

1 episode

 

Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls (1985)

The Golden Girls

8.2

TV Series

Patron

1988

1 episode

 

Cold Steel (1987)

Cold Steel

4.7

Mahoney

1987

 

Banzai Runner (1987)

Banzai Runner

4.8

Hawkins

1987

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

Cab Driver

1986

1 episode

 

The Kid-a-Littles (1983)

The Kid-a-Littles

TV Series

Chief Clipper

1983

 

Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)

Simon & Simon

7.1

TV Series

Burt

1983

1 episode

 

Catherine Bach, Ben Jones, Denver Pyle, John Schneider, and Tom Wopat in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)

The Dukes of Hazzard

7.1

TV Series

Mr. Rhuebottom

1982

4 episodes

 

Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, Linda Gray, and Steve Kanaly in Dallas (1978)

Dallas

7.1

TV Series

Apartment Manager

1982

1 episode

 

Separate Ways (1981)

Separate Ways

4.7

Worker #1

1981

 

Gail Edwards, Ann Jillian, Paul Kreppel, Bert Remsen, Wendy Schaal, Susan Sullivan, and Barrie Youngfellow in It's a Living (1980)

It's a Living

7.0

TV Series

Customer

1980

1 episode

 

Seed of Innocence (1980)

Seed of Innocence

5.3

Trammer

1980

 

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979)

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again

6.0

Conductor

1979

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West Revisited (1979)

The Wild Wild West Revisited

6.6

TV Movie

Henry

1979

 

Cloris Leachman, Susan Clark, Barbara Harris, Patsy Kelly, and Karen Valentine in The North Avenue Irregulars (1979)

The North Avenue Irregulars

6.7

Clothier

1979

 

Valerie Harper in Rhoda (1974)

Rhoda

6.9

TV Series

Harvey

1978

1 episode

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.5

TV Series

Wally

1978

1 episode

 

Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Cliff

1978

1 episode

 

Rescue from Gilligan's Island (1978)

Rescue from Gilligan's Island

5.4

TV Movie

Studio Guard

1978

 

Barry Gibb, Peter Frampton, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, and The Bee Gees in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

4.3

Mr. Fields

1978

 

Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid (1978)

Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid

7.0

TV Movie

Telegraph Operator

1978

 

With This Ring (1978)

With This Ring

6.6

TV Movie

Bell Captain

1978

 

Bad Georgia Road (1977)

Bad Georgia Road

4.8

Dub Douchette

1977

 

Van Dyke and Company (1976)

Van Dyke and Company

7.5

TV Series

Mr. Haley, Network Executive

1976

1 episode

 

Richard Thomas, Will Geer, Judy Norton, Ellen Corby, Kami Cotler, David W. Harper, Michael Learned, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Ralph Waite, and Jon Walmsley in The Waltons (1972)

The Waltons

7.6

TV Series

Leonard Gormley

1976

1 episode

 

Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

Waiter

1975

1 episode

 

Jack Klugman and Tony Randall in The Odd Couple (1970)

The Odd Couple

7.9

TV Series

Mr. FlescherMr. FelscherHenry ...

1971–1975

4 episodes

 

Emergency! (1972)

Emergency!

7.9

TV Series

Felix

1974

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson, Robbie Lee, and Susan Sennett in Big Bad Mama (1974)

Big Bad Mama

5.7

Lawyer

1974

 

Newman's Law (1974)

Newman's Law

6.2

Eastman's dinner guest (uncredited)

1974

 

Richard Crenna in Honky Tonk (1974)

Honky Tonk

5.9

TV Movie

Bank Manager

1974

 

Eve Plumb, Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Ann B. Davis, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, and Barry Williams in The Brady Bunch (1969)

The Brady Bunch

6.8

TV Series

Second ManMr. DimsdalePostman

1970–1974

3 episodes

 

Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Robert Preston, and Gene Saks in Mame (1974)

Mame

5.9

Judge Bregoff

1974

 

Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Don Most, and Anson Williams in Happy Days (1974)

Happy Days

7.4

TV Series

Mr. Crenshaw

1974

1 episode

 

Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz Jr., Lucie Arnaz, and Gale Gordon in Here's Lucy (1968)

Here's Lucy

6.9

TV Series

Mr. Blake

1974

1 episode

 

Vice Squad Women (1973)

Vice Squad Women

Detective Ray Farnum

1973

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

BailiffLennyMinister ...

1972–1973

4 episodes

 

Kent McCord and Martin Milner in Adam-12 (1968)

Adam-12

7.7

TV Series

Wilbur

1972

1 episode

 

Peter Falk in Columbo (1971)

Columbo

8.3

TV Series

Client of 'Eve Babcock' (uncredited)

1972

1 episode

 

Rolling Man (1972)

Rolling Man

6.0

TV Movie

Wilbur Maynard

1972

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

Crowley

1972

1 episode

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

HillBartender

1968–1971

2 episodes

 

Joan Blondell, Jack Elam, James Garner, Bill Finnegan, Burt Kennedy, Harry Morgan, Suzanne Pleshette, and Marie Windsor in Support Your Local Gunfighter (1971)

Support Your Local Gunfighter

6.8

Croupier

1971

 

Green Acres (1965)

Green Acres

7.3

TV Series

Justice Of The PeaceMr. CollinsMelvin ...

1969–1971

4 episodes

 

The Vendors (1970)

The Vendors

Chief Ramsey

1970

 

Black Angels (1970)

Black Angels

4.3

1970

 

Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Second Zoo Attendant

1970

1 episode

 

Move (1970)

Move

5.1

Brown Package

1970

 

Then Came Bronson (1969)

Then Came Bronson

8.0

TV Series

Herb Perry

1970

1 episode

 

The Silent Gun (1969)

The Silent Gun

6.4

TV Movie

Second Townsman

1969

 

Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here (1969)

Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here

6.3

Newman

1969

 

Robert Mitchum and George Kennedy in The Good Guys and the Bad Guys (1969)

The Good Guys and the Bad Guys

6.1

Bumper (uncredited)

1969

 

Darren McGavin in The Outsider (1968)

The Outsider

7.8

TV Series

Montana

1969

1 episode

 

Shirley MacLaine and John McMartin in Sweet Charity (1969)

Sweet Charity

6.9

Dancer

1969

 

Elvis Presley in Live a Little, Love a Little (1968)

Live a Little, Love a Little

5.7

Workman (uncredited)

1968

 

Death Valley Days (1952)

Death Valley Days

7.5

TV Series

John Burk

1968

1 episode

 

Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek

8.4

TV Series

Gav

1967

1 episode

 

Golden Child

TV Movie

Caller

1960

 

Rosalind Russell in Wonderful Town (1958)

Wonderful Town

8.6

TV Movie

Officer Lonigan

1958

 

Soundtrack

Barry Gibb, Peter Frampton, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, and The Bee Gees in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

4.3

performer: "She's Leaving Home"

1978

 

Self

The Richard Pryor Special? (1977)

The Richard Pryor Special?

7.5

TV Special

Self - Security Guard

1977

 

Van Dyke and Company (1976)

Van Dyke and Company

7.5

TV Series

Self

1976

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Star Trek Online (2010)

Star Trek Online

7.4

Video Game

Gav (archive sound, voice)

2010

 

The Dick Cavett Show (1968)

The Dick Cavett Show

8.3

TV Series

Self - Judge Bregoff (archive footage)

1974

1 episode