Richard Eastham (born Dickinson Swift Eastham; June 22, 1916 – July 10, 2005) was an American actor of stage, film, and television, a concert singer known for his deep baritone voice, and an inventor.
Early years Eastham's birth name was chosen in honor of Miss Helen Dickinson Swift, one of his mother's college classmates. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest K. Eastham, and he attended Soldan High School. Prior to serving in the Army during World War II, he was a student at Washington University in St. Louis, where he sang with the St. Louis Grand Opera.
Career On Broadway, Eastham was the understudy for Ezio Pinza as "Emile DeBecque" in South Pacific, eventually replacing Pinza on stage. His performance was so well received that he was made the male lead for a two-year national tour of the musical. His other Broadway plays included Medea and Call Me Madam. Eastham and co-star Janet Blair, in their original roles, headed another tour of South Pacific in 1965. In 1981 he appeared as Wesley Northridge on The Waltons “The Lumberjack” (TV Episode 1981)
Prompted by his playing of a guitar in The Sound of Music, Eastham invented the "Sidewinder", a mechanical device that attaches to the tuning gears and assists restringing a guitar. 31,000 "Sidewinders" were sold in the first three weeks they were publicly available.
Personal life and death Eastham married Betty Jean Van Allen, who was his high school classmate. On July 10, 2005, he died of Alzheimer's disease at an assisted-living facility in Pacific Palisades. He was cremated after his nephews and nieces had a private funeral service for him. His ashes were entombed inside a columbarium at Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1954 There's No Business Like Show Business Lew Harris Film1957 Man on Fire Bryan Seward Film1960 Toby Tyler; or, Ten Weeks with a Circus Colonel Sam Castle Film1965 That Darn Cat! Supervisor Newton Film1966 Not with My Wife, You Don't! General Milt Walters Film1966 Murderers' Row Dr. Norman Solaris Film1969Silent Night, Lonely NightPaul JohnsonTV movie1969The Last of the PowerseekersAnthony Mathesson IIITV movie1973 Tom Sawyer Doctor P.R. Robinson Film1973 Battle for the Planet of the Apes Mutant Captain Film1974The President's Plane is MissingGeneral ColtonTV movie1974 McQ Walter Forrester Film1974The Missiles of OctoberGen. David M. Shoup - USMC CommandantTV movie1975Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux KlanInvestigatorTV movie1975DoubletalkFatherShort1976Mallory: Circumstantial EvidenceExecutiveTV movie1980Conquest of the EarthGen. CushingFilm1982A Wedding on Walton's Mountain Mr. NorthridgeTV movie Television Year Title Role Notes1955Max Liebman SpectacularsGrandfatherHeidi1957Men of AnnapolisCoach Uehling / Instructor Damon2 episodes1957-1960 Tombstone Territory Harris Claibourne / Editor of the Tombstone Epitaph and also the show's Narrator 91 episodes1960Zane Grey TheatreJim AmberNever Too Late1960The AquanautsSinclairDisaster Below1961Bat MastersonOrin DiltsA Lesson in Violence1961The Barbara Stanwyck ShowSam VernerAlong the Barbary Coast1961King of DiamondsTrumikThe Couriers1962Ensign O'TooleChief Petty Officer O'TooleOperation Potomac1962RipcordDon HartHostage Below1963Alcoa PremiereWill StarkThe Town That Died1961-1965Perry MasonOliver Stone / Roland Canfield / Prosecutor Parness/ Deputy D.A. Parness4 episodes1967The InvadersCarl VandersSummit Meeting: Part II1967Cowboy in AfricaWhitakerThe Hesitant Hero1969The Bill Cosby ShowLionel SchallertLullaby and Goodnight1969The SurvivorsHimselfChapter One1969-1970Bright PromiseRed Wilson15 episodes1970Mod SquadHarrison CochranA Time for Remembering1970Adam-12Mr. CourtnayLog 173: Shoplift1970The Young LawyersTorranceWhere's Aaron1968-1971The F.B.ISpecial Agent Howard Armstrong2 episodes1972Cade's CountyRafaelsonShakedown1972CannonLucas WhippleThe Shadow Man1967-1973 Bonanza Tom Yardley / Stanton 2 episodes1971-1974Owen Marshall, Counselor at LawProf. Gannett / Philip Lerman2 episodes1972-1974The Streets of San FranciscoJack Leist / Jules Rhinelander2 episodes1974TomaDr. Herman50% of Normal1974KojakJack SeymourA Killing in the Second House1975McMillan & WifeThomas EwingDeadly Inheritance1976Rich Man, Poor ManSen. MickelwaitePart III: Chapter 51976BarettaLinton GavinRunaway Cowboy1976-1977 Wonder Woman General Phil Blankenship 13 episodes1978Grandpa Goes to WashingtonUnknownPilot1975-1979Barnaby JonesLawrence Adams / R.B. Catlin3 episodes1979Salvage 1Brinks / Commentator6 episodes1980Galactica 1980General CushingGalactica Discovers Earth: Part 11980CondominiumTom Forrester2 episodes1977-1981The WaltonsWesley Northridge / Judge Thomas Parrish2 episodes1979-1982Quincy M.E.Drug Industry Council Member / Baine / Chemical Company Executive3 episodes1982Tales of the Gold MonkeyDr. WhiteTrunk from the Past1982Falcon CrestDr. Howell6 episodes1982Hart to HartMan at RestaurantOne Hart Too Many1991DallasFrank Hillson2 episodes
References
External links
(as Dickinson Eastham)