David Oliver Huffman (May 10, 1945 – February 27, 1985) was an American actor and producer.
David Huffman | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Oliver Huffman May 10, 1945 Berwyn, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 27, 1985 (aged 39) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Homicide |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
| Occupation(s) | Actor and producer |
| Years active | 1969–1985 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Philip Huffman Matt Huffman |
Personal life
editHuffman was born on May 10, 1945, in Berwyn, Illinois, to Clarence and Opal Huffman (née Dippel).
Huffman married casting director Phyllis Huffman (nee Grennan) in 1967,[1] whom he had met as a student at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. The couple had two sons and remained married until Huffman's death in 1985.
Huffman was an avid sailor, recreational painter, and country‐and‐western guitarist.[2][3]
Murder
editOn the morning of February 27, 1985, 16-year-old Genaro Samano Villanueva was taken into San Diego police custody after attempting to steal a radio from a car near his home. Released into the custody of his high school vice principal, Villanueva left school and went to Balboa Park. There he was spotted by Canadian tourist Jack Beamer prowling around inside the motor home of Beamer's friends. After Beamer accosted him, Villanueva fled the scene.[4]
Huffman, who was cast in the play Of Mice and Men at the Old Globe Theatre and was set to begin work on the television miniseries North and South the following week,[5] had visited the theatre shortly before noon to share cookies with the cast and crew[2] and was sitting in his van near the theatre playing his bagpipes when he saw Beamer confront Villanueva. He gave chase in his vehicle, parking the van near the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and following Villanueva into the park. When he caught up with Villanueva, the two became involved in a physical altercation, during which Villanueva stabbed Huffman twice in the chest with a screwdriver. Huffman died of exsanguination, likely within 30 to 45 seconds.[4] His body was found less than an hour later in a Palm Canyon crevice by a group of children, although it was not positively identified until later that night.[2]
On March 2 and 3, Crime Stoppers produced a reenactment of the crime that was shown on San Diego television and published in several national newspapers. The Canadian tourists whose motor home was burglarized saw Huffman's photo and death announcement in the newspaper and called police.[4] Huffman was buried on March 5 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).[6]
Villanueva was arrested on March 12 after a police officer recognized Villanueva from a composite sketch given to police by the Canadian tourist.[7][5] On June 24, 1986, Villanueva was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison and admitted to the California State Prison, Centinela.[8] On December 9, 2011, he was denied parole for 15 years.[9]
Broadway stage credits
edit- Butterflies Are Free as Don Baker (October 21, 1969 – July 2, 1972)
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | F.I.S.T. | Abe Belkin | |
| 1978 | Ice Castles | Brian Dockett | |
| 1979 | The Onion Field | District Attorney Phil Halpin | |
| 1980 | Wolf Lake | David | |
| 1980 | Leo and Loree | Dennis | |
| 1981 | Blood Beach | Harry Caulder | |
| 1981 | St Helens | David Jackson | |
| 1982 | Firefox | Captain Buckholz | |
| 1983 | Last Plane Out | Jim Conley |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Pueblo | Seaman | Television movie |
| 1973 | Love Story | David Ross | Episode: "Mirabelle's Summer" |
| 1974 | F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' | Andy McKenna | Television movie |
| 1974 | The Yanks Are Coming | Unknown | Television movie |
| 1974 | Lincoln | Elmer E. Ellsworth | Miniseries |
| 1974 | Police Story | T. Byron Bentley | Episode: "A Dangerous Age" |
| 1974 | Nakia | Unknown | Episode: "The Hostage" |
| 1974 | The Gun | Wayne | Television movie |
| 1976 | Eleanor and Franklin | Elliott Roosevelt (socialite) | Television movie |
| 1976 | Baretta | Jesse Bryant | Episode: "The Blood Bond" |
| 1976 | Bert D'Angelo/Superstar | Unknown | Episode: "A Noise in the Street" |
| 1976 | Amelia Earhart | Radio Operator | Miniseries |
| 1976 | Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby | Peter Simon | Television movie |
| 1976 | Captains and the Kings | Sean Armagh | Miniseries |
| 1977 | Play of the Month | Chadwick Newsome | Episode: "The Ambassadors" |
| 1977 | Testimony of Two Men | Harold Ferrier | Miniseries |
| 1977 | In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan | Paul Armstrong | Television movie |
| 1978 | The Winds of Kitty Hawk | Orville Wright | Television movie |
| 1979 | Tom Edison: The Boy Who Lit Up the World | Tom Edison | Television movie |
| 1979 | Lou Grant | Daniel Todson | Episode: "Hype" |
| 1980 | Baby Comes Home | Jeff Winston | Television movie Producer |
| 1981 | The Million Dollar Face | Christopher Ward | Television movie |
| 1981 | Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend | Jimmy | Television movie |
| 1982 | Little House on the Prairie | Reverend Addison Hale | Episode: "Alden's Dilemma" |
| 1983 | Jane Doe | David | Television movie |
| 1983 | Remington Steele | Wilson Jeffries | Episode: "Vintage Steele" |
| 1983 | Trapper John, M.D. | Barry Laughton / Frank Maxwyn | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Sparkling Cyanide | Stephan Farraday | Television movie |
| 1984 | T. J. Hooker | Dr. Don Travers | Episode: "The Lipstick Killer" |
| 1984 | The Mississippi | Harley Morhaim | Episode: "Going Back to Hannibal" |
| 1984 | Newhart | Ted Kingston | Episode: "Cats" |
| 1984 | When She Says No | Carl Jerome | Television movie |
| 1984 | Children in the Crossfire | Larry Malone | Television movie, (final film role) |
References
edit- ^ Blank, Ed (May 29, 1985). "10 Actors Get Multiple Roles at The Public". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D4. Retrieved June 9, 2014 – via Google News.
- ^ a b c Damsker, Matt; Weintraub, Daniel M. (March 1, 1985). "Actor's Stabbing Death in Park Mystifies Co-Workers, Officials". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ Bennetts, Leslie (July 28, 1978). "New Face: David Huffman Ex-Terrific Liar Gives Honesty a Boost in Film". The New York Times. p. section C, page 12. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ a b c Harris, Scott; Reza, H.G. (March 14, 1985). "Huffman's Slaying: Strangers Cross Paths and Tragedy Strikes". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ a b "Youth arrested in actor's murder". Reading Eagle. March 13, 1985. p. 32. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "David Huffman (1945-1985) - Find a Grave Memorial". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
- ^ "Youth, 16, Held in Death of Actor David Huffman". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- ^ "Teen Sentenced In Actor's Slaying". Reading Eagle. June 3, 1986. p. 3. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ "San Diego County District Attorney 2011 Annual Report". San Diego County District Attorney. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
External links
edit- David Huffman at the Internet Broadway Database
- David Huffman at IMDb
- David Huffman at AllMovie
- David Huffman(Aveleyman)
- David Huffman at Find A Grave
- Huffman and Gloria Swanson in 1972 play version Butterflies Are Free:
