William Windom, Emmy winner and TV everyman, dies at 88

[Omaha Steve]

Source: NY Times

By Eric Grode

William Windom, who won an Emmy Award playing an Everyman drawn from the pages of James Thurber but who may be best remembered for his roles on "Star Trek" and "Murder, She Wrote," died Thursday at his home in Woodacre, Calif., north of San Francisco. He was 88.

The cause was congestive heart failure, said his wife, Patricia.

Windom won the Emmy for best actor in a comedy series in 1970 for his performance in "My World and Welcome to It," a whimsical program based on James Thurber's humorous essays and fantastic cartoons. He subsequently toured the country with a solo show based on Thurber's works.

But filmgoers and television viewers may be more likely to associate him with roles that, though also fanciful, had a distinctly darker tone. He teamed up with Rod Serling on episodes of both "The Twilight Zone" ("Five Characters in Search of an Exit" in 1961 and "Miniature" in 1963) and "Night Gallery"; played the president in "Escape From the Planet of the Apes"; and had a memorable role in an early episode of "Star Trek." He was also a guest star on dozens of other television shows.

FULL story at link.



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Marta and I spent a 1/2 hour chatting 1 on 1 with Mr Windom 10 years ago at the first Twilight Zone convention. He was so happy we provided him with a photo of his Night Gallery episode "They're Tearing Down Tim Riley's Bar". One of the best single shows to ever be on US TV.


William Windom appeared on many TV shows but is probably better known for his role as the leading physician of Cabot Cove, Maine, on "Murder, She Wrote," starring Angela Lansbury (pictured here with Windom and Nancy Reagan). He appeared in more than 50 episodes of the CBS series.

[avebury]

1. I really liked watching him on Murder She Wrote.

[Norrin Radd]

2. Peace and condolences. Thanks for entertaining us, Mr. Windom. eot

[hamsterjill]

16. Just what I was thinking.

Thanks for posting it for me.

[Norrin Radd]

19. ...

[Graybeard]

3. To Kill A Mockingbird

William Windom was a fine actor and he didn't always play the good guy. In 1962's "To Kill A Mockingbird" he took on the unenviable role of the prosecutor of the man accused of rape. (Who would have wanted to be on the wrong side of Gregory Peck in that case?)

RIP

[Kolesar]

4. He loved the Trekkies who flocked to him for an autograph

Shatner and Nimoy skipped the Star Trek conventions, but William Windom was happy to soak up the adulation. He said the fans were "nice people".

[Ken Burch]

5. Got to meet Mr. Windom in Monmouth, Oregon

He was doing a one man show as James Thurber(this was in 1980 or so), and had brought it to the small college I was attending at the time. Some of us went back stage to meet him afterwords and he was happy to chat with us all.

A gentle, approachable man and MY WORLD AND WELCOME TO IT, his early 70's show, was my introduction to Thurber's writings(I suspect a lot of other folks in my age group could say the same).

[Bluenorthwest]

6. Windom was one of my favorites, from My World And Welcome To It onward

This is sad news this morning.

[blaze]

7. My World and Welcome to It!!

We LOVED that show!

RIP Mr. Windom.

[rurallib]

11. me also

really remember that Night Gallery episode also.

[nuxvomica]

8. "My World and Welcome to It"

I very different kind of sitcom, full of James Thurber's sophisticated whimsy. Windom made it work but it only lasted a season, though it charmed critics and swept the Emmys.

[trof]

12. A Sheldom Leonard production. And...HENRY MORGAN!

One of the world's great curmudgeons.

[MarianJack]

9. He was always one of my favorite actors,...

...and a good guy, too!

RIP!

PEACE!

[longship]

10. Pass peaceably, Commodore Matt Decker.

One of the better Star Trek episodes, The Doomsday Machine. Windom turns in one of his great dramatic performances.

The guy did light comedy, too. Thurber has to be done with tongue planted firmly in cheek, so to speak.

I have always been a fan.

[just1voice]

17. Loved that episode. I met him once too.

I was a babbling, star-struck idiot too because I was talking to a Star Ship Commodore. Yes, I am indeed a science "geek".

[UnrepentantLiberal]

13. He was in one of my favorite Star Trek episodes.

And a memorable Twilight Zone.

[klook]

14. Bummer - loved his work

I had already become an avid reader of Thurber when "My World and Welcome To It" came on TV, and that gave me a deeper appreciation of JT's whimsy.

[classof56]

15. He also starred in the 60s TV show "The Farmer's Daughter"

He played the congressman whose housekeeper was played by the late Inger Stevens. I always liked that show, low-key and pleasant.

Rest in peace, Mr. Windom. You brought a lot of joy to a lot of people throughout your career!

[B Stieg]

18. Phyllis Diller too!

My childhood icons are dying off. I'm getting old.

Thank you Mr. Windom and Ms. Diller for your memorable work.

[spiderpig]

20. And gosh, wasn't he a "guest star" in every single series of the 60s and 70s?

He and Lois Nettleton were everywhere back in the day.