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David Allen Ogden Stiers (October 31, 1942 – March 3, 2018) was an American actor, director, singer, musician, conductor and voice artist, best known for his roles in Disney movies, as well as his performances in M*A*S*H as Charles Emerson Winchester III and The Dead Zone as Reverend Gene Purdy. He is also known for the role of District Attorney Michael Reston in the Perry Mason made-for-television films.

Early life and education[]

Stiers was born David Allen Ogden Stiers in Peoria, Illinois on October 31, 1942, the son of Kenneth Truman Stiers and Margaret Elizabeth (née Ogden).[1] He attended Urbana High School, at the same time as Roger Ebert.[2] Stiers and his family later relocated to Eugene, Oregon, where he graduated from North Eugene High School and briefly attended the University of Oregon.[3][4]

Stiers later ventured to San Francisco, where he performed with the California Shakespeare Theater, San Francisco Actors Workshop, and the improv group The Committee, whose members included Rob Reiner (who would later star as Mike Stivic inAll in the Family) and Howard Hesseman (who would later play Johnny Fever of WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class). Stiers studied at the Juilliard School. During his studies, Stiers was mentored by John Houseman and would later join his City Center The Acting Company.

Career[]

Early acting credits[]

In 1974, Stiers first appeared in the Broadway production The Magic Show in the minor role of Feldman. Later, his early credits include The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Kojak, and Rhoda. Stiers also appeared in the pilot of Charlie's Angels as the team's chief back-up.

M*A*S*H[]

In 1977, Stiers joined the cast of M*A*S*H.

As Charles Emerson Winchester III, Stiers filled the void created by the departure of Larry Linville's Frank Burns character. In contrast to the buffoonish Burns, Winchester was a well-spoken and talented surgeon who presented a different type of foil to Alan Alda's Hawkeye Pierce and Mike Farrell's B.J. Hunnicutt. Burns usually served as the butt of practical jokes instigated by Hawkeye or B.J. and his surgical skills were often harshly criticized. However, Charles presented a challenge to his colleagues' displays of irreverence because his surgical skills could match or even outshine theirs; his aristocratic manner and aversion to the puerile behavior served as the target for his fellow surgeons' barbs and jokes. At times, however, Winchester could align himself with Hawkeye and B.J. and held considerable admiration for Sherman T. Potter. For his portrayal of the pompous, but nonetheless multifaceted, Boston aristocrat, Stiers received two Emmy Award nominations.

Death[]

On March 3, 2018, Stiers died in his home in Newport, Oregon of bladder cancer at the age of 75.

References[]

External links[]

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