Warren J. Kemmerling was an American actor best known for his roles in “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Family Plot,” and “The A-Team.” Born on January 4, 1924, in St. Louis, Missouri, he had a successful acting career that spanned several decades.
Personal and Family Life
Kemmerling graduated from St. Louis University in 1947 before serving in the U.S. Marines. He was married twice, first to Jo Ann LeCompte from 1952 to 1955 and then to Marianne Olsen, with whom he had two children: Lisa and Kurt. He remained married to Olsen until his death in 2005.
Career
After starting his professional acting career on Broadway in 1953, Kemmerling later transitioned to television and movies, becoming known for his supporting roles. He appeared in notable shows like “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza,” and “Ironside.” His work also included a significant role as President Lyndon B. Johnson in the miniseries “King.”
Death and Legacy
Warren Kemmerling passed away on January 3, 2005, in Los Angeles, California, just a day before his 81st birthday. He left behind a legacy as a committed member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, where he served for 18 years and strongly advocated for actors’ benefits. His contributions were recognized posthumously at the SAG Awards later that year.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Close Encounters of the Third Kind | 1977-12-14 | Wild Bill |
| Angel’s Flight | 1965-01-01 | |
| Family Plot | 1976-04-09 | Hank Granderson |
| Trauma | 1962-03-23 | Luther |
| Framed | 1975-08-01 | Morello |
| Godzilla 1985 | 1985-07-26 | General Goodhoe |
| Hit! | 1973-09-18 | Dutch Schiller |
| Brother John | 1971-08-15 | George |
| Savage | 1973-03-31 | Lieutenant Chambers |
| The Bermuda Triangle | 1979-01-24 | Captain of Ellen Austin |
| The Dark | 1979-04-27 | Police Captain Speer |
| A Tiger Walks | 1964-04-12 | Kelso |
| Eat My Dust | 1976-04-01 | Sheriff Harry Niebold |
| Gun Street | 1961-11-05 | Frank Bogan |
| Raid on Entebbe | 1976-12-26 | Gad Yaakobi |
| Incident in an Alley | 1962-05-16 | Det. Peterson (uncredited) |
| Trapped Beneath the Sea | 1974-10-22 | Cmdr. Prestwick |
| 92 in the Shade | 1975-08-22 | |
| The Loved One | 1965-10-11 | Colonel |
| The Lawyer | 1970-03-10 | Sergeant Moran |
| The Execution of Private Slovik | 1974-03-13 | Maj. Fellman |
| Convicts 4 | 1962-09-15 | Guard |
| Navajo Run | 1964-11-25 | Luke Grog |
| The Meanest Men in the West | 1978-05-04 | |
| The Marshal of Madrid | 1972-01-01 | Owen McCann |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Del Phillips |
| The A-Team | 1983-01-23 | Gen. Ludlam |
| The Rockford Files | 1974-09-13 | Police Lt. Earl Furlong |
| The Rockford Files | 1974-09-13 | Vern Soper |
| I Dream of Jeannie | 1965-09-18 | Husband |
| The Twilight Zone | 1959-10-02 | Jud Godwin |
| Hawkins | 1973-03-13 | Ernie Fisk |
| The Fugitive | 1963-09-17 | Nick |
| Peter Gunn | 1958-09-22 | Bennett |
| Black Saddle | 1959-01-10 | Vic Cleland |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Conductor |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Sheriff Ridder |
| The Green Hornet | 1966-09-09 | Bert Selden |
| King | 1978-02-12 | Lyndon Johnson |
| The Six Million Dollar Man | 1974-01-18 | Ted |
| Mission: Impossible | 1966-09-17 | Raff |