Fritz Weaver
Fritz William Weaver (January 19, 1926 − November 26, 2016) was an American actor. He appeared in over 170 theatre, television, and film productions in a career spanning nearly 60 years.[1][2][3]
Not to be confused with Fritz Wepper.
Fritz Weaver
November 26, 2016 (aged 90)
Actor, voice artist
1956–2016
-
- Mary Dodson (sister)
- Jack Dodson (brother-in-law)
Weaver won the 1970 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Performance for his performance as Jerome Malley in the original Broadway production of Child's Play, and was nominated for Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Chalk Garden (1958). He was also well-known as a Shakespearean, and for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the musical Baker Street.[3]
On screen, he made his film debut in Sidney Lumet's Fail Safe (1964), and appeared in Marathon Man (1976), Black Sunday (1977), Demon Seed (also 1977), Creepshow (1982), and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).
Weaver portrayed Dr. Josef Weiss in the 1978 television miniseries Holocaust, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.[4] He was also a fixture as a featured and guest actor on science fiction and fantasy shows, including The Twilight Zone, 'Way Out, Night Gallery, The Martian Chronicles, and The X-Files. He also narrated many educational television programs.
Early life[edit]
Weaver was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 19, 1926,[5] the son of Elsa W. Weaver (née Stringaro) and John Carson Weaver.[4] His mother was of Italian descent and his father was a social worker from Pittsburgh with deep American roots.[6]
Weaver attended the Fanny Edel Falk Laboratory School[7] at the University of Pittsburgh as a child, followed by Peabody High School. He served in the Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector during World War II.
Personal life[edit]
His brother was the illustrator Robert Weaver, and his younger sister was art director Mary Dodson.[11] Via his sister, he was the brother-in-law to actor Jack Dodson.
Weaver was married twice. His first marriage, to actress Sylvia Short, lasted from 1953 to 1979, and ended in divorce. His second marriage, to actress Rochelle Oliver, lasted from 1997 until his death in 2016. He had two children from his first marriage, Lydia and Anthony.
Fritz Weaver died at his home in New York City on November 26, 2016, at the age of 90.[5]