Chrome Posted February 4, 2005 Report Posted February 4, 2005 They say these things come in threes ... Schmeling, Davis and now this! 'Animal House' dean Wormer dies at 72 Los Angeles, CA, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Film and television actor John Vernon, who played the sinister Dean Wormer in the 1978 classic "Animal House," has died in California. He was 72. Canadian-born Vernon, who recently suffered a heart attack, died Tuesday in his sleep at his Van Nuys home, family members told the Los Angeles Times. In "Animal House," Vernon did his best to expel the Delta House fraternity -- the beer-swilling gang of college misfits led by an uncouth John Belushi as John "Bluto" Blutarsky. Vernon, known for his deep, resonant voice and villainous face, amassed more than 200 film and TV credits including a bounty hunter stalking Clint Eastwood in "The Outlaw Josey Wales," the mayor of San Francisco in "Dirty Harry" and a vulnerable bad guy in "Point Blank," starring Lee Marvin. "Animal House" director John Landis said he originally wanted "Dragnet" star Jack Webb to play Wormer but after meeting with the long-haired, bearded Landis, the conservative Webb "was absolutely horrified at the suggestion," the Times reported. Quote
BruceH Posted February 4, 2005 Report Posted February 4, 2005 By coincidence, I recently watched one of my favorite 70's movies, Charley Varrick, yet again. Vernon was great in that. RIP Quote
medjuck Posted February 4, 2005 Report Posted February 4, 2005 He was a tv star in Canada before he was Dean Wormer. Quote
Guest Chaney Posted February 4, 2005 Report Posted February 4, 2005 By coincidence, I recently watched one of my favorite 70's movies, Charley Varrick, yet again. Vernon was great in that. RIP Fabulous movie, recently released on DVD, but NOT in letterbox format. Nuts. Quote
Joe Posted February 4, 2005 Report Posted February 4, 2005 (edited) By coincidence, I recently watched one of my favorite 70's movies, Charley Varrick, yet again. Vernon was great in that. RIP A favorite of mine as well. All praise Don Siegel! Edited February 4, 2005 by Joe Quote
DTMX Posted February 4, 2005 Report Posted February 4, 2005 (edited) "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son." - Dean Wormer Edited February 4, 2005 by DTMX Quote
Jazzdog Posted February 5, 2005 Report Posted February 5, 2005 Damn...him and Ossie Davis on the same day... He was also great as Mr. Big in "I'm Gonna Get You, Sucka" "Lot's of other big stars have played villans in Blaxploitation films" that and putting Delta on Double Secret Probabtion...great stuff! Quote
Brad Posted February 5, 2005 Report Posted February 5, 2005 "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son." - Dean Wormer Well, I'll go with the drunk part RIP, Dean. Quote
BruceH Posted February 5, 2005 Report Posted February 5, 2005 By coincidence, I recently watched one of my favorite 70's movies, Charley Varrick, yet again. Vernon was great in that. RIP A favorite of mine as well. All praise Don Siegel! Yes indeed! Notice the actors who appear in Varrick who also pop up in Dirty Harry---including Vernon, in a small role as the mayor of San Francisco! Quote
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