Paul Ford
Paul Ford Weaver (November 2, 1901 – April 12, 1976) was an American character actor and comedic actor who came to specialize in portraying authority figures whose ineptitude and pompous demeanor were played for comic effect, notably as Mayor George Shinn in the 1957 Broadway musical comedy play, followed five years later by repeating in the feature film version The Music Man (1962), (starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones), and on television as U.S. Army Colonel John T. Hall on several seasons of the military comedy The Phil Silvers Show(1955–1959).
For other people named Paul Ford, see Paul Ford (disambiguation).Early years[edit]
Ford was born Paul Ford Weaver in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] His father was described as "a well-to-do businessman" who lost his fortune when his investment in a soft-drink company failed.[2]
At an early age, he showed an adept talent for performance, but was discouraged when directors thought he was tone-deaf.
After attending Dartmouth College for one year,[3] Ford was a salesman before he became an entertainer.[4]
He took his middle birth name, which was his mother's maiden name, as his stage last name.[5] The change occurred after he failed an audition as Paul Weaver, but was successful when he auditioned again as Paul Ford.[3]
Death[edit]
On April 12, 1976, Ford died of a heart attack at Nassau Hospital in Mineola, on Long Island, New York. He was age 74.[9] He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, Los Angeles, California.[1] He was survived by his wife Nell Weaver, and four children – two daughters, and two sons.[3]
Recognition[edit]
Ford was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards: Best Supporting Performance by an Actor (1957), Best Continuing Supporting Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic or Comedy Series (1958) and Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor (1963). The first two were for his work on The Phil Silvers Show; the third was for a role on the Hallmark Hall of Fame.[10]
Ford was nominated in 1963 for a "Tony" Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Never Too Late.
Ford's April 1976's detailed obituary in The New York Times noted: "In 1967 Mr. Ford was cited by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures as the best supporting actor for his role in The Comedians."[3]