- Born
- Died
- Birth nameThomas Morgan Woodward
- Height6′ 3″ (1.91 m)
- Craggy-faced, athletic veteran character actor who played hard-bitten or menacing types in numerous westerns and crime dramas. One of five brothers, Woodward grew up in Arlington, Texas. He had a keen interest in aviation early on and took flying lessons from 1941, getting his pilot's license and subsequently served in both World War II (Army Air Corps) and Korea (Military Air Transport Command). Woodward first acted at Arlington State College, majoring in music and drama. He appeared for a while with the Margo Jones Repertory Theatre '47 in Dallas and then went back to study for a degree in corporate finance at the University of Texas, graduating in 1948. At one time, he sang with a jazz band and as a member of a barber shop quartet as well as having a regular weekly gig as a talk show host on local radio. Possessed of a powerful bass-baritone voice, Woodward's ultimate ambition had been to sing for the Metropolitan Opera. That didn't pan out. Neither did his hope that moving to Hollywood in 1955 might open the door to a career in musicals. Instead, he successfully auditioned at Disney for The Great Locomotive Chase (1956), followed by a part in the western pioneer saga Westward Ho, the Wagons! (1956). His first big break was as co-star opposite Hugh O'Brian in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955), playing the role of Earp's deputy Shotgun Gibbs for four seasons. This effectively typecast him as a western genre actor with a record number of guest spots on Gunsmoke (1955) and Wagon Train (1957). Nonetheless, his most famous role was that of ""the man with no eyes", a sinister chain gang overseer in Cool Hand Luke (1967), distinguished by perpetually wearing reflective sunglasses. He also made two appearances on Star Trek (1966) (most famously as Simon Van Gelder, the first human with whom Spock 'mind melds') and played the shrewd Armani-suited oil tycoon Punk Anderson in 55 episodes of Dallas (1978).
Thomas Morgan Woodward was awarded the Golden Boot Award from the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Fund in August 1988. In 2009, he became an inductee into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Privately, he was a respected authority on Early American Aircraft. According to his website, his main hobby was "restoring, rebuilding and flying antique airplanes".
- IMDb mini biography by: I.S.Mowis
- SpouseEnid Anne Loftis(November 18, 1950 - February 22, 2019) (his death, 1 child)
- ParentsValin WoodwardFrances McKinley
- Full head of (prematurely) snow white hair
- Towering height
- Pockmarked face
- A 1969 article in "Newsweek" magazine, about screen "heavies" entitled "The Dirty Half Dozen," named Woodward as one of the six most in demand bad guys in television and motion pictures at the time.
- In August 1988, he received the prestigious "Golden Boot Award" from the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Fund. Other 1988 recipients were Roy Rogers, Virginia Mayo, Willie Nelson, Ann Rutherford and Burt Reynolds.
- In retirement, Woodward divided his time between his ranch, in Paso Robles, California and his home in Hollywood.
- After graduating from college at the University of Texas, Woodward entered the University of Texas Law School in 1951. His legal studies were interrupted when he was recalled to active duty with the Air Force during the Korean War. He served in Korea with the Military Air Transport Command. After demobilization, he chose not to return to studying the law, choosing to became an actor, instead.
- Woodward's chief hobby was restoring, rebuilding and flying antique airplanes. In aviation circles, he was recognized as an authority on Early American Aircraft, receiving numerous awards for his restoration projects.
- "Recognition is a funny thing. I've been recognized for many roles and recently I had someone remember me from an old show I did more than 20 years ago. It was such an obscure role that it took me a few minutes to remember the part myself. But it's amazing what people will remember you for doing. I still get response about my role as Shotgun Gibbs on 'Wyatt Earp' and that ended in the early 60's." (on roles he's recognized in public for playing)
- [on the secret to his success as a baddie in westerns.] The worst thing you could do is kick a little dog. And I kicked that little dog!
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