Macon McCalman
Encyclopedia
Willis Macon "Sonny" McCalman (December 30, 1932 – November 29, 2005) aka Macon McCalman was an American television, stage and big screen movie actor.
. During the Korean War
, he served in the U.S. Army. Over the course of his acting career MacCalman appeared in various film and TV guest roles, usually in supporting parts, both dramatic and comedic often as heavies and authoritarian figures. MacCalman first got his acting start on The Broadway stage appearing in the productions The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1971), An Enemy for the People (1971), and a comedy, The Playboy Of the Western World.
opposite Burt Reynolds
and Ned Beatty
in 1972. In films, he would have continue to have prominent supporting parts in films such as The Falcon and the Snowman
(1985), Fried Green Tomatoes
(1991), and Falling Down
(1993) with Michael Douglas
. He would also appear in the Roger Donaldson directed film Marie
(1985).
McCalman also appeared in guest roles in television shows such as Starsky and Hutch
, Kojak
, Lou Grant
, and miniseries and TV films such as the ABC-TV miniseries Roots
(1977), and The Captains and The Kings (1976). He also appeared in three episodes of the hit ABC-TV sitcom Three's Company
, two as Janet Wood's (Joyce DeWitt
) father Roland.
... aka "Timerider" - USA (short title)
Acting career
MacCalman Helped form the Front Street Theatre in his hometown Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, he served in the U.S. Army. Over the course of his acting career MacCalman appeared in various film and TV guest roles, usually in supporting parts, both dramatic and comedic often as heavies and authoritarian figures. MacCalman first got his acting start on The Broadway stage appearing in the productions The Last of Mrs. Lincoln (1971), An Enemy for the People (1971), and a comedy, The Playboy Of the Western World.
Hollywood film and TV roles
His first Hollywood film role was as Deputy Queen in the Oscar-winning film DeliveranceDeliverance
Deliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
opposite Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
and Ned Beatty
Ned Beatty
Ned Thomas Beatty is an American actor who has appeared in more than 100 films and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, an MTV Movie Award for Best Villain and a Golden Globe Award; won a Drama Desk Award....
in 1972. In films, he would have continue to have prominent supporting parts in films such as The Falcon and the Snowman
The Falcon and the Snowman
The Falcon and the Snowman is a 1985 film directed by John Schlesinger about two young American men, Christopher Boyce and Daulton Lee , who sold U.S. security secrets to the Soviet Union...
(1985), Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes (film)
Fried Green Tomatoes is a 1991 comedy-drama film based on the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. It was released in the UK under the novel's full title. Directed by Jon Avnet and written by Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski, it stars Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy,...
(1991), and Falling Down
Falling Down
Falling Down is a 1993 crime-drama film directed by Joel Schumacher. The film stars Michael Douglas in the lead role of William Foster , a divorcee and unemployed former defense engineer...
(1993) with Michael Douglas
Michael Douglas
Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, primarily in movies and television. He has won three Golden Globes and two Academy Awards; first as producer of 1975's Best Picture, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and as Best Actor in 1987 for his role in Wall Street. Douglas received the...
. He would also appear in the Roger Donaldson directed film Marie
Marie (film)
Marie is a 1985 film starring Sissy Spacek as the real-life Marie Ragghianti, former head of the Tennessee Board of Pardons and Paroles, who was removed from office in 1977 after refusing to release prisoners who had bribed aides to then-Governor Ray Blanton...
(1985).
McCalman also appeared in guest roles in television shows such as Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, Lou Grant
Lou Grant
Lou Grant is a fictional character played by Edward Asner in two television series produced by MTM Enterprises for CBS. The first was Mary Tyler Moore , in which the character was the news director at the fictional television station WJM-TV...
, and miniseries and TV films such as the ABC-TV miniseries Roots
Roots (TV miniseries)
Roots is a 1977 American television miniseries based on Alex Haley's fictional novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots received 36 Emmy Award nominations, winning nine. It also won a Golden Globe and a Peabody Award. It received unprecedented Nielsen ratings with the finale still...
(1977), and The Captains and The Kings (1976). He also appeared in three episodes of the hit ABC-TV sitcom Three's Company
Three's Company
Three's Company is an American sitcom that aired from March 15, 1977, to September 18, 1984, on ABC. It is based on the British sitcom, Man About the House....
, two as Janet Wood's (Joyce DeWitt
Joyce DeWitt
Joyce Anne DeWitt is an American actress most famous for playing Janet Wood on the ABC sitcom Three's Company.-Early life:...
) father Roland.
Death
McCalman retired from acting and returned to Memphis in 1997 after suffering a heart attack. He died in Memphis in 2005 one month shy of his 73rd birthday, after complications arose while hospitalized after suffering a series of debilitating strokes.Films
- Rosewood (1997) .... Gov. Hardee
- A Walk in the Clouds (1995) .... Conductor
- The Client (1994) .... Ballatine
- "The Wonder Years" .... Karl Gustavson (1 episode, 1993)
- Falling Down (1993) .... Detective Graham
- "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" .... Dr. Baylor (2 episodes, 1992)
- Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) .... Prosecutor Percy
- Doc Hollywood (1991) .... Aubrey Draper
- Valentino Returns (1989)
- "The Young Riders" (1989)
- MarieMarie-Music:* "Marie", a song written by Irving Berlin, that was a hit for Tommy Dorsey , Rudy Vallée , Nat Shilkret , Franklyn Bauer , The Four Tunes and The Bachelors*"Marie" , a hit for Johnny Hallyday*Marie, song by Solveig Sandnes...
(1985) (TV) .... Murray Henderson - The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) .... Larry Rogers
- Cold Feet (1989) .... Store Owner
- Fleshburn (1984) .... Earl Dana
- Honkytonk Man (1982) .... Dr. Hines
- Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann (1982) .... Dr. Sam
... aka "Timerider" - USA (short title)
- Dead & Buried (1981) .... Ben
- The Concorde ... Airport '79 (1979) .... Carl Parker
- The Last Word (1979) .... Welfare Caseworker
- Slap Shot (1977) (uncredited) .... Soap Opera patient
- Comes a Horseman (1978) .... Virgil Hoverton
- Smokey and the BanditSmokey and the BanditSmokey and the Bandit is a 1977 American film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. It inspired several other trucking films, including two sequels, Smokey and the Bandit II, and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3...
(1977) .... Mr. B - Lipstick (1976) .... Police Photographer
- DeliveranceDeliveranceDeliverance is a 1972 American thriller film produced and directed by John Boorman. Principal cast members include Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ronny Cox and Ned Beatty in his film debut. The film is based on a 1970 novel of the same name by American author James Dickey, who has a small role in the...
(1972) .... Deputy Queen