Biography
David Huddleston was an American character actor. Born in Vinton, Virginia, on 17 September 1930, he studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts after service in the United States Air Force. He began working in television and film in the early 1960s and appeared in more than 140 productions over five decades.
Huddleston is best known for playing the title character in the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski (1998) and Olson Johnson in Mel Brooks’s Blazing Saddles (1974). He also played Santa Claus in Santa Claus: The Movie (1985). His television credits include guest roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Gilmore Girls, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and an Emmy-nominated performance as Grandpa Arnold in The Wonder Years. He worked extensively on stage, including several Broadway productions.
