Biography
Charles Tyner (8 June 1923 – 8 November 2017) was an American film, television and stage actor. A native of Danville, Virginia, he served in the United States Army during the Second World War. He made his Broadway debut in 1957 in Orpheus Descending and appeared with Paul Newman in Sweet Bird of Youth in 1959.
Tyner’s film debut was an uncredited role in That Kind of Woman (1959). He worked again with Newman as Boss Higgins in Cool Hand Luke (1967). Among his other film roles were Uncle Victor in Harold and Maude (1971), Robidoux in Jeremiah Johnson (1972), Zukie Limmer in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Merle in Pete’s Dragon (1977) and Gus in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987). On television he appeared in series including Little House on the Prairie, The Wonder Years and ER.
