William Lanteau (born William Lanctot; November 12, 1922 – November 3, 1993) was an American character actor. Among his best known roles are Charlie the mail carrier in On Golden Pond and mayor Chester Wanamaker in Newhart.
Life and career Lanteau was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. During WWII he was in the Army. His first television appearance was in 1954 in an episode of Goodyear Television Playhouse. He appeared in over 80 television shows, among them The Donna Reed Show, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, The Andy Griffith Show, Here's Lucy, Wonder Woman, No Soap, Radio, Centennial and Amen. He appeared in the first season of Barnaby Jones in an episode titled "To Denise, with Love and Murder" (April 22, 1973). He also appeared in the movies Li'l Abner (1959), The Honeymoon Machine (1961), Sex and the Single Girl (1964), Hotel (1967), From Noon till Three (1976), On Golden Pond (1981), Cold Steel (1987), and Shadow of a Doubt (1991).Other notable appearances on television included The Twilight Zone , Dr. Kildare, Perry Mason, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Waltons, CHiPs, Trapper John, M.D., Diff'rent Strokes, Hart to Hart, Cagney & Lacey, Cheers, Murder, She Wrote, The Wonder Years, Newhart, Amen, and Coach
Death He died of complications from heart surgery on November 3, 1993, at age 70.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes1959Li'l Abner Available Jones1960The Facts of Life Airline Clerk1961The Honeymoon Machine Tommy Dane1962That Touch of MinkLeonardUncredited1963 The Twilight ZoneDolanSeason 4, Episode 18: "The Bard"1964Sex and the Single GirlSylvester1967HotelMason1976From Noon till ThreeReverend Cabot1981On Golden Pond Charlie Martin1987Cold SteelSam Modine
References
3. Demetria Fulton previewed William Lanteau's appearance in the first season of Barnaby Jones; episode titled, "To Denise, with Love and Murder" (April 22, 1973).
External links