Vernon Weddle Jr. (born August 23, 1935) is an American film, stage and television actor. He is best known for playing General Washburne in the 1986 film Short Circuit.

Early life and education Weddle was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the son of Vernon Sr. and Grace. When he was thirteen years old, Weddle and his family moved to Texas in 1958, where he has attended at Lon Morris College and the University of Texas at Austin. He then attended at Stephens College, where he was a resident actor and instructor for theatre arts.

Career Weddle began his career with a stage play, with his wife, Gerri. In the play, he played the role of an exhausted psychologist, with Tom Ewell as the lead in the play. The play was shown at the Okoboji Summer Theatre. Later in his career, Weddle began appearing in film and television programs, where he first appeared on the television series Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, playing Brad Kingsley. He also appeared in Bonanza, playing South, in 1969. He continued his career, mainly appearing in film and television programs.

Weddle appeared in numerous television programs including Barney Miller, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Three's Company (and its spin-off The Ropers), Archie Bunker's Place, The Mod Squad, Sanford and Son, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Hill Street Blues, The Jeffersons, The Rockford Files, Trapper John, M.D., The Dukes of Hazzard and Lou Grant. He also appeared in television soap operas, such as, General Hospital, Dynasty, Knots Landing, Dallas, Hotel, The Colbys, Filthy Rich and Days of Our Lives, playing Bruce Fischell. Weddle appeared and co-starred in films such as The Parallax View, Oh, God! Book II, The Devil and Max Devlin, Norma Rae, Carbon Copy, Harry's War, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, and Endangered Species. He also appeared in the television film Betrayal, where he played the role of the "Savings Officer". Weddle retired his career in 1990.

Personal life Weddle met his wife, Gerri at the Lon Morris College, where they both shared the same bill on the musical Roberta. They later married and had two sons, Kirk and Richard.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1974The TakeVanessi1974The Parallax ViewHarry Lutz1976Family PlotPriest in DinerUncredited1979Norma RaeReverend Hubbard1980The Last Married Couple in AmericaMan at Soccer Game1980Getting WastedGetting Wasted1980Resurrection2nd Scientist1980Oh, God! Book IISuperintendent Jeffrey Hodges1981The Devil and Max DevlinJustice of the Peace1981Harry's WarPonde1981Carbon CopyWardlow1982White DogVet1982Endangered SpeciesVarney1984The World of dBaseGeorge Davies1986Short CircuitGeneral Washburne

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1969BonanzaSouthEpisode: "The Stalker"1969–1970Bracken's WorldJohnno / Harvey3 episodes1970That GirlMurrayEpisode: "All's Well That Ends"1970The Mary Tyler Moore ShowRichieEpisode: "Divorce Isn't Everything"1971The Forgotten ManSurgeonTelevision film1971NicholsReporterEpisode: "The Siege"1972Second ChanceLester FernTelevision film1972Sanford and SonMr. CliffordEpisode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Junk"1972The Mod SquadRed Benson / Albert Cavelli2 episodes1972, 1973SearchNarrator / McEgan1973The President's Plane Is MissingSecond ControllerTelevision film1973The New Perry MasonDr. GloberEpisode: "The Case of the Spurious Spouse"1974Scream of the WolfNewsmanTelevision film1974Apple's WayNelson HeintzEpisode: "The Coach"1974Death SentenceHaydenTelevision film1974BetrayalSavings Officer1974Harry ODesk ClerkEpisode: "Accounts Balanced"1974–1976Emergency!Various roles3 episodes1975Medical StoryDr. EllisTelevision film1975SwitchRay NessetEpisode: "The Body at the Bottom"1975The Streets of San FranciscoHendrixEpisode: "Web of Lies"1975, 1977The WaltonsRev. Caldwell / Dr. Culler2 episodes1976The DumplingsWilsonEpisode: "Joe Takes a Fall"1976Holmes & YoyoMr. PeerlessEpisode: "Funny Money"1976The Rockford FilesMike PrescottEpisode: "So Help Me God"1976Mary Hartman, Mary HartmanMan in Lobby2 episodes1977Little House on the PrairieAssayer Andy AndersonEpisode: "Gold Country"1977Handle with CareSoldierTelevision film1977Panic in Echo ParkMason1977Most WantedCrillEpisode: "The Dutchman"1977Washington: Behind Closed DoorsAshleyEpisode: "Part 1"1977The Betty White ShowInstallerEpisode: "Make Yourself at Home... Steal Something"1977RaffertyPerry NewcombEpisode: "Death Out of a Blue Sky"1977Carter CountryGuardEpisode: "By the Light of the Moonlight"1977, 1980The JeffersonsAttendant #2 / Vincent Carter2 episodes1977–1980Quincy, M.E.Various roles3 episodes1977, 1981Barney MillerLawrence Oaks / Alvin Trager2 episodes1978To Kill a CopChief DuncanTelevision film1978Husbands, Wives & LoversMarty BarowsEpisode: "The Women Strike"1978The Clone MasterPineTelevision film1978The Paper ChaseProf. LowryEpisode: "Great Expectations"1978The Incredible HulkDistrict Attorney Jim ChaseEpisode: "Escape from Los Santos"1978One Day at a TimeMr. OlsenEpisode: "Hold the Mustard"1979The Cracker FactoryJohnTelevision film1979Friendly FireCol. Georgi1979The RopersErnest GrimesEpisode: "Days of Beer and Rosie"1979Mork & MindyMr. BurnettEpisode: "Mork's Health Hints"1979Trapper John, M.D.Floor ManagerEpisode: "What Are Friends For?"1979, 1980B. J. and the BearDelwood P. Manners2 episodes1980Galactica 19801st CopEpisode: "Galactica Discovers Earth: Part 1"1980Wild TimesRobertsEpisode #1.21980SanfordArresting OfficerEpisode: "Retrospective: Part 1"1980The Dukes of HazzardJohn ZimbraEpisode: "Carnival of Thrills"1980Beulah LandClarence AndersonEpisode: "Part I"1980Eight Is EnoughDMV ClerkEpisode: "Welcome to Memorial Dr. Bradford"1980Lou GrantAubrey Ragsdale / Bob Rosko2 episodes1980Three's CompanyMr. WeddleEpisode: "A Crowded Romance"1980–1983AliceVarious roles3 episodes1980, 1988Knots LandingGeorge Hunt / Mandel's Partner2 episodes1981Walking TallDr. PortersonEpisode: "The Killing of McNeal County's Children"1981Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyDr. MorayEpisode: "Mark of the Saurian"1981The ChoiceDr. NathansonTelevision film1981East of EdenBill Ames3 episodes1981Murder in TexasDr. JoeTelevision film1981Jacqueline Bouvier KennedyAide1981Archie Bunker's PlaceCellmate #3Episode: "Happy Birthday, Stephanie"1981–1987DynastyMr. Afferton / Mr. Alpert4 episodes1982Father MurphyTheoEpisode: "Matthew and Elizabeth"1982Madame's PlaceAldo BrutusEpisode #1.481982Voyagers!LaneEpisode: "An Arrow Pointing East"1982BensonE.G. SladeEpisode: "Mary and Her Lambs"1982–1983Filthy RichGeorge Wilhoit4 episodes1982–1985Simon & SimonVarious roles3 episodes1982–1987Dallas1983The Awakening of CandraReiserTelevision film1983AfterMASHBarrettEpisode: "All About Christmas Eve"1983Amanda'sMr. SchindlerEpisode: "Amanda's Number One Son"1983, 1985HotelThe Guest / Gordon Pierce2 episodes1984Scarecrow and Mrs. KingGeorgeEpisode: "The Artful Dodger"1984Hart to HartAnthony StrathamEpisode: "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch"1985St. ElsewhereZachary WexlerEpisode: "Bye, George"1985Hollywood WivesJamesonEpisode #1.21985SpaceSpaceEpisode: "Part III"1985Malice in WonderlandSamuel GoldwynTelevision film1985Hill Street BluesLoring OlerEpisode: "Seoul on Ice"1986The ColbysGregory FarnsworthEpisode: "The Trial"1986Alfred Hitchcock PresentsOld WildcatterEpisode: "Road Hog"1987StingrayArnie BrillsteinEpisode: "The Greeter"1987Mr. BelvedereTicket MasterEpisode: "Baby"1987Max HeadroomFinnEpisode: "Dream Thieves"1987WebsterMr. BlaineEpisode: "The Strike"1987Billionaire Boys ClubPeter FaradayMiniseries1987–1989Days of Our LivesBruce Fischell / Richard Stanley8 episodes1989Highway to HeavenMr. ArnoldEpisode: "Goodbye, Mr. Zelinka"

References

External links

Rotten Tomatoes profile