---
name: "David Huddleston"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-huddleston"
fi1m_id: "david-huddleston"
imdb_id: "nm0399663"
tmdb_id: 1232
wikidata_id: "Q659962"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "17 September 1930"
died: "2 August 2016"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 64
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-10-04T16:35:25.337758+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Huddleston

## Identity

David Huddleston

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-huddleston
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-huddleston
- **IMDb ID:** nm0399663
- **TMDB ID:** 1232
- **Wikidata ID:** Q659962
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Huddleston, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q659962, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399663/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1232

Actor. Born 17 September 1930 in Vinton, Virginia, USA. Died 2 August 2016.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 17 September 1930, Vinton, Virginia, USA
- **Died:** 2 August 2016
- **Active:** 1974–1998
- **Average Fi1m score:** 64, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 44 (1), 1990s 85 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Huddleston, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q659962, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0399663/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1232

## 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.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *The Big Lebowski* (1998), Fi1m 85, as The Big Lebowski — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-lebowski.md)
- *Smokey and the Bandit II* (1980), Fi1m 44, as John Conn — [page](https://film.one/film/smokey-and-the-bandit-ii.md)

## Complete filmography (120)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Locker 13* (2014), as Floyd Marley
- *A Very Sunny Christmas* (2009), as Eugene Hamilton
- *Saving Grace B. Jones* (2009), as Radio Announcer (voice)
- *Postal* (2007), as Peter
- *Andy Barker, P.I.* (2007), series, as George Bender
- *Jericho* (2006), series, as E.J. Green
- *The Producers* (2005), as Judge
- *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia* (2005), series, as Eugene Hamilton
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, as Harry Porter — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Max Lobell — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Judging Amy* (1999), series, as L. Barton Connelly
- *L.A. Doctors* (1998), series, as Irving Gerken
- *The Wild Thornberrys* (1998), series, as Sea Tortoise (voice), Tlingit Elder (voice)
- *The Big Lebowski* (1998), as The Big Lebowski — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-lebowski.md)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Judge Richard Bender
- *The Man Next Door* (1997), as Sheriff Dawkins
- *Joe's Apartment* (1996), as P.I. Smith
- *The Naked Truth* (1995), series, as Ulysses
- *Something to Talk About* (1995), as Jack "Mad Dog" Pierce (uncredited)
- *Life with Mikey* (1993), as Herr Corcoran
- *Walker, Texas Ranger* (1993), series, as Ferris Clayton
- *Lucky Luke* (1992), series, as Ben Landon
- *In a Child's Name* (1991), series, as Zach Taylor
- *The Nutt House* (1989), series, as Big Jake
- *Margaret Bourke-White* (1989), as Remis
- *The Tracker* (1988), as Lane Crawford
- *Frantic* (1988), as Peter
- *The Wonder Years* (1988), series, as Grandpa Arnold — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-wonder-years.md)
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as The Conductor — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *J.J. Starbuck* (1987), series, Actor
- *Spot Marks the X* (1986), as Doc Ross
- *When the Bough Breaks* (1986), as Vicar McCaffrey
- *Our House* (1986), series, Director
- *Blacke's Magic* (1986), series, as Edgar Sheridan
- *Santa Claus: The Making of the Movie* (1985), as Santa Claus
- *Santa Claus: The Movie* (1985), as Santa Claus
- *Finnegan Begin Again* (1985), as Jack Archer
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Sheriff Ed Ten Eyck
- *The Act* (1984), as Corky
- *M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers* (1983), as Steve Blankenship
- *Go for It* (1983), as Tiger
- *Amy and the Angel* (1982), as Edgar Watson
- *Computercide* (1982), as Chief Sorrenson
- *Family Reunion* (1981), as Sen. Chester Winfield
- *Family Reunion* (1981), series, as Sen. Chester Winfield
- *The Oklahoma City Dolls* (1981), as J.D. Hines
- *Magnum, P.I.* (1980), series, as Frank Peterson
- *Smokey and the Bandit II* (1980), as John Conn — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/smokey-and-the-bandit-ii.md)
- *Gorp* (1980), as Walrus
- *Benson* (1979), series, Actor
- *Hizzonner* (1979), series, as Mayor Cooper · Producer
- *Supertrain* (1979), series, as Elroy 'Duke' Burnside
- *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor
- *Kaz* (1978), series, Actor
- *Zero to Sixty* (1978), as Harold Finch
- *Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid* (1978), as Sheriff
- *The World's Greatest Lover* (1977), as Bakery Owner
- *Capricorn One* (1977), as Hollis Peaker
- *The Kallikaks* (1977), series, Actor
- *The Greatest* (1977), as Cruikshank
- *Crime Busters* (1977), as Captain McBride
- *Once an Eagle* (1976), series, as Earl Preis
- *Sherlock Holmes in New York* (1976), as Inspector Lafferty NYPD
- *Charlie's Angels* (1976), series, as Sheriff Clint
- *Spencer's Pilots* (1976), series, Actor
- *Shark Kill* (1976), as Bearde
- *Good Heavens* (1976), series, Actor
- *The Practice* (1976), series, Actor
- *Breakheart Pass* (1975), as Dr. Molyneux
- *Bronk* (1975), series, Actor
- *The Klansman* (1974), as Mayor Hardy Riddle
- *Nightmare Honeymoon* (1974), as Pete Carroll aka Barnett
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Sherm — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Police Woman* (1974), series, Actor
- *Paper Moon* (1974), series, Actor
- *Petrocelli* (1974), series, as Lieutenant Ponce, Lt. John Ponce
- *The Gun and the Pulpit* (1974), as Mr. Ross
- *Billy Two Hats* (1974), as Copeland
- *Blazing Saddles* (1974), as Olson Johnson
- *McQ* (1974), as Pinky
- *Heatwave!* (1974), as Arnold Brady
- *The Snoop Sisters* (1973), series, as Arwin Shanks
- *Tenafly* (1973), series, as Lieutenant Sam Church
- *Hawkins* (1973), series, as Joseph Harrelson
- *Brock's Last Case* (1973), as Jack Dawson
- *Country Blue* (1973), as Angus Wages
- *Kung Fu* (1972), series, as Shelby Cross, Nathaniel
- *Bad Company* (1972), as Big Joe
- *The Waltons* (1972), series, Actor
- *Temperatures Rising* (1972), series, as Charlie Brings
- *The Rookies* (1972), series, Actor
- *Emergency!* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Sixth Sense* (1972), series, Actor
- *Sanford and Son* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Homecoming: A Christmas Story* (1971), as Sheriff Ep Bridges
- *Brian's Song* (1971), as Ed McCaskey
- *Something Big* (1971), as Malachi Morton
- *Suddenly Single* (1971), as Bennie
- *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, Actor
- *The Partners* (1971), series, Actor
- *Columbo* (1971), series, as Mayor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/columbo.md)
- *Cannon* (1971), series, as Jimmy Winters
- *The Priest Killer* (1971), as Harrison Davis
- *Fools' Parade* (1971), as Homer Grindstaff
- *Sarge: The Badge or the Cross* (1971), as Tyler
- *Norwood* (1970), as Uncle Lonnie
- *The Mary Tyler Moore Show* (1970), series, as Freddy — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mary-tyler-moore-show.md)
- *Rio Lobo* (1970), as Dr. Ivor Jones
- *Then Came Bronson* (1969), series, as Bear Hudson
- *Room 222* (1969), series, Actor
- *Slaves* (1969), as Holland
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Vincent Rhoads
- *Adam-12* (1968), series, as Station Attendant
- *A Lovely Way to Die* (1968), as Man in Bar (uncredited)
- *Ironside* (1967), series, Actor
- *Bewitched* (1964), series, Actor
- *Black Like Me* (1964), Actor
- *All the Way Home* (1963), as Small Part (uncredited)
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Doc Scully, Myles Johnson
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Arno, Dad Goodpastor, Asa, Emmett Cassinger

## Gallery

- ![David Huddleston in trailer to "Breakheart Pass" (1975) (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/87705/gallery-685b438cde7c.jpg) David Huddleston in trailer to "Breakheart Pass" (1975) (2013) — Trailer to "Breakheart Pass" (1975), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/David-huddleston-trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![David Huddleston](https://film.one/media/person/87705/gallery-799f9c9c626c.jpg) David Huddleston — Image via TMDB
- ![David Huddleston](https://film.one/media/person/87705/gallery-afd0a054464c.jpg) David Huddleston — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-huddleston