Gregory Walcott (born Bernard Wasdon Mattox, January 13, 1928 – March 20, 2015) was an American film and television actor. Although he appeared in over 100 films and television series, he is perhaps best known for his leading role in the 1957 film Plan 9 from Outer Space, directed by Ed Wood.Rudolph Grey, Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr. (1992). pg. 203. ISBN 978-0-922915-24-8. He also starred as Det. Roger Havilland on the 1960s police procedural series 87th Precinct, and appeared in several films starring his real-life friend Clint Eastwood.
Early years Walcott was born Bernard Wasdon Mattox in Wendell, North Carolina, on January 13, 1928. He was raised in Wilson, North Carolina. Walcott served in the United States Army towards the end of World War II and the Korean War.
Career While serving in the United States Army, Walcott appeared as a marine corps drill instructor in the film Battle Cry (1955), then as a shore patrolman in 1955's war-themed classic Mister Roberts, again as a marine corps drill instructor in The Outsider (1961), and later in Midway (1976) as Capt. Elliott Buckmaster.
He appeared in Western films, beginning with an uncredited role in Red Skies of Montana (1952), then later more prominently as a gunslinger who tries to romance Claudette Colbert in 1955's Texas Lady. He agreed to appear in Plan 9 from Outer Space as a favor to a friend who was financing the film.
Walcott had roles in many television series, including that of Stone Kenyon in two episodes of the NBC sitcom, The People's Choice with Jackie Cooper. He was frequently cast in westerns like Bonanza (seven times), Maverick, Frontier Doctor, Wagon Train, The High Chaparral, 26 Men, Sugarfoot (in the 1958 episode "Bullet Proof"), Laramie, The Rifleman, The Tall Man, The Dakotas, and in several episodes of CBS's Rawhide, through which he began a long collaboration with Clint Eastwood. Walcott had featured roles in Eastwood's films Joe Kidd (1972), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), The Eiger Sanction (1975), and Every Which Way but Loose (1978).
Walcott made a guest appearance on Perry Mason as Bill Johnson in the 1959 episode, "The Case of the Howling Dog." He also was one of the stars of a 1961–1962 NBC television series, 87th Precinct, as Detective Roger Havilland. Walcott had guest roles on other television series, such as CHiPs and CBS's Dennis the Menace. He had recurring roles too in the original Dallas and Murder, She Wrote, and he appeared as Captain Diggs on the 1970s series Land of the Lost. He also made a guest appearance in 1984 on the TV series Alice in the episode titled "House Full of Hunnicutts". He played Jolene Hunnicutt's father, Big Jake Hunnicutt.
His theatrical film work included the comedy On the Double (1961), Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Prime Cut (1972), The Last American Hero (1973), and the chase film The Sugarland Express (1974). Walcott played a sheriff in the 1979 film Norma Rae, and appeared in the film Tilt the same year. He made a cameo appearance in the 1994 Ed Wood bio-pic starring Johnny Depp, directed by Tim Burton, which was Walcott's final role.
Walcott long regretted being associated with Plan 9, but eventually came to acknowledge the film's appeal and agreed to attend screenings. In a September 10, 2000, Los Angeles Times interview, he said, "It's better to be remembered for something than for nothing, don't you think?"
Personal life Walcott married Barbara May Watkins, and they had a son and two daughters. They were married for 55 years until her death in 2010.
Death He died of natural causes on March 20, 2015, in his home in Canoga Park, California, aged 87.
Filmography + List of acting performances in film Year Title Role Notes1952 Red Skies of Montana Randy O'Neill Uncredited Fearless Fagan MP at Gate Battle Zone Rifleman Above and Beyond Burns 1955 Battle Cry Sgt. Jim Beller Strange Lady in Town Scanlon Mister Roberts Shore Patrolman The McConnell Story Military Policeman Texas Lady Deputy Jess Folley The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell Howard Millikan Uncredited1956 The Lieutenant Wore Skirts Lt. Sweeney The Steel Jungle Guard Weaver Thunder Over Arizona Mark Warren1957 The Persuader Jim Cleery Plan 9 from Outer Space Jeff Trent1958 Jet Attack Lt. Bill Clairbone Badman's Country Bat Masterson1961 On the Double Colonel Rock Houston The Outsider Sgt. Kiley 1963 Captain Newman, M.D. Capt. Howard 1967 Bill Wallace of China Bill WallaceAlso producer 1969 Changes Businessman / Job Interviewer Uncredited1972 Prime Cut Weenie Joe Kidd Sheriff Mitchell Man of the East Bull Schmidt 1973 The Last American Hero Cleve Morley1974 The Sugarland Express Officer Mashburn Thunderbolt and Lightfoot Used Car Salesman 1975 The Eiger Sanction Pope1976 Midway Captain Elliott Buckmaster1978 Every Which Way but Loose Putnam1979 Norma Rae Lamar Miller Tilt Mr. Davenport 1980 To Race the Wind Don Summerfun 1987 House II: The Second Story Sheriff 1994 Ed Wood Potential Backer Cameo appearance + List of acting performances in television Year Title Role Notes 1958 Sugarfoot Duke McKlintock Episode: "Bullet Proof" 1958–59 The Rifleman Sid Halpern/Blade Kelby 2 episodes 1959 Perry Mason Bill Johnson Episode: "The Case of the Howling Dog." 1960 The Magical World of Disney Henderson 2 episodesSimon Lash: The Black BookLt. WileTV movie 1960–72 Bonanza Various roles 7 episodes 1961–62 87th Precinct Detective Roger Havilland 30 episodes 1963 The Dakotas Tom Davis 1975 Little House on the Prairie Slick McBurney Episode: "In the Big Inning" 1975–77 The Young and the Restless Ralph Olson1976The QuestBlacksmithEpisode: "Pilot"Land of the LostCaptain DiggsEpisode: "Medicine Man"1977Eight Is EnoughDr. Richard Neil HammerEpisode: "The Gipper Caper"1978Donner Pass: The Road to SurvivalWill McKutcheonTV movie 1979 CHiPs Derk Episode: "The Matchmakers" 1984 Alice Big Jake Hunnicutt Episode: "House Full of Hunnicutts"
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