# Vernon Weddle

Vernon Weddle Jr. (born August 23, 1935) is an American film, stage and television actor. He is perhaps 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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | The Take | Vanessi | |
| 1974 | The Parallax View | Harry Lutz | |
| 1976 | Family Plot | Priest in Diner | Uncredited |
| 1979 | Norma Rae | Reverend Hubbard | |
| 1980 | The Last Married Couple in America | Man at Soccer Game | |
| 1980 | Getting Wasted | Getting Wasted | |
| 1980 | Resurrection | 2nd Scientist | |
| 1980 | Oh, God! Book II | Superintendent Jeffrey Hodges | |
| 1981 | The Devil and Max Devlin | Justice of the Peace | |
| 1981 | Harry's War | Ponde | |
| 1981 | Carbon Copy | Wardlow | |
| 1982 | White Dog | Vet | |
| 1982 | Endangered Species | Varney | |
| 1984 | The World of dBase | George Davies | |
| 1986 | Short Circuit | General Washburne | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | Bonanza | South | Episode: "The Stalker" |
| 1969–1970 | Bracken's World | Johnno / Harvey | 3 episodes |
| 1970 | That Girl | Murray | Episode: "All's Well That Ends" |
| 1970 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Richie | Episode: "Divorce Isn't Everything" |
| 1971 | The Forgotten Man | Surgeon | Television film |
| 1971 | Nichols | Reporter | Episode: "The Siege" |
| 1972 | Second Chance | Lester Fern | Television film |
| 1972 | Sanford and Son | Mr. Clifford | Episode: "Blood Is Thicker Than Junk" |
| 1972 | The Mod Squad | Red Benson / Albert Cavelli | 2 episodes |
| 1972, 1973 | Search | Narrator / McEgan | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | The President's Plane Is Missing | Second Controller | Television film |
| 1973 | The New Perry Mason | Dr. Glober | Episode: "The Case of the Spurious Spouse" |
| 1974 | Scream of the Wolf | Newsman | Television film |
| 1974 | Apple's Way | Nelson Heintz | Episode: "The Coach" |
| 1974 | Death Sentence | Hayden | Television film |
| 1974 | Betrayal | Savings Officer | Television film |
| 1974 | Harry O | Desk Clerk | Episode: "Accounts Balanced" |
| 1974–1976 | Emergency! | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1975 | Medical Story | Dr. Ellis | Television film |
| 1975 | Switch | Ray Nesset | Episode: "The Body at the Bottom" |
| 1975 | The Streets of San Francisco | Hendrix | Episode: "Web of Lies" |
| 1975, 1977 | The Waltons | Rev. Caldwell / Dr. Culler | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | The Dumplings | Wilson | Episode: "Joe Takes a Fall" |
| 1976 | Holmes & Yoyo | Mr. Peerless | Episode: "Funny Money" |
| 1976 | The Rockford Files | Mike Prescott | Episode: "So Help Me God" |
| 1976 | Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | Man in Lobby | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Little House on the Prairie | Assayer Andy Anderson | Episode: "Gold Country" |
| 1977 | Handle with Care | Soldier | Television film |
| 1977 | Panic in Echo Park | Mason | Television film |
| 1977 | Most Wanted | Crill | Episode: "The Dutchman" |
| 1977 | Washington: Behind Closed Doors | Ashley | Episode: "Part 1" |
| 1977 | The Betty White Show | Installer | Episode: "Make Yourself at Home... Steal Something" |
| 1977 | Rafferty | Perry Newcomb | Episode: "Death Out of a Blue Sky" |
| 1977 | Carter Country | Guard | Episode: "By the Light of the Moonlight" |
| 1977, 1980 | The Jeffersons | Attendant #2 / Vincent Carter | 2 episodes |
| 1977–1980 | Quincy, M.E. | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1977, 1981 | Barney Miller | Lawrence Oaks / Alvin Trager | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | To Kill a Cop | Chief Duncan | Television film |
| 1978 | Husbands, Wives & Lovers | Marty Barows | Episode: "The Women Strike" |
| 1978 | The Clone Master | Pine | Television film |
| 1978 | The Paper Chase | Prof. Lowry | Episode: "Great Expectations" |
| 1978 | The Incredible Hulk | District Attorney Jim Chase | Episode: "Escape from Los Santos" |
| 1978 | One Day at a Time | Mr. Olsen | Episode: "Hold the Mustard" |
| 1979 | The Cracker Factory | John | Television film |
| 1979 | Friendly Fire | Col. Georgi | Television film |
| 1979 | The Ropers | Ernest Grimes | Episode: "Days of Beer and Rosie" |
| 1979 | Mork & Mindy | Mr. Burnett | Episode: "Mork's Health Hints" |
| 1979 | Trapper John, M.D. | Floor Manager | Episode: "What Are Friends For?" |
| 1979, 1980 | B. J. and the Bear | Delwood P. Manners | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Galactica 1980 | 1st Cop | Episode: "Galactica Discovers Earth: Part 1" |
| 1980 | Wild Times | Roberts | Episode #1.2 |
| 1980 | Sanford | Arresting Officer | Episode: "Retrospective: Part 1" |
| 1980 | The Dukes of Hazzard | John Zimbra | Episode: "Carnival of Thrills" |
| 1980 | Beulah Land | Clarence Anderson | Episode: "Part I" |
| 1980 | Eight Is Enough | DMV Clerk | Episode: "Welcome to Memorial Dr. Bradford" |
| 1980 | Lou Grant | Aubrey Ragsdale / Bob Rosko | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Three's Company | Mr. Weddle | Episode: "A Crowded Romance" |
| 1980–1983 | Alice | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1980, 1988 | Knots Landing | George Hunt / Mandel's Partner | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Walking Tall | Dr. Porterson | Episode: "The Killing of McNeal County's Children" |
| 1981 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Dr. Moray | Episode: "Mark of the Saurian" |
| 1981 | The Choice | Dr. Nathanson | Television film |
| 1981 | East of Eden | Bill Ames | 3 episodes |
| 1981 | Murder in Texas | Dr. Joe | Television film |
| 1981 | Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy | Aide | Television film |
| 1981 | Archie Bunker's Place | Cellmate #3 | Episode: "Happy Birthday, Stephanie" |
| 1981–1987 | Dynasty | Mr. Afferton / Mr. Alpert | 4 episodes |
| 1982 | Father Murphy | Theo | Episode: "Matthew and Elizabeth" |
| 1982 | Madame's Place | Aldo Brutus | Episode #1.48 |
| 1982 | Voyagers! | Lane | Episode: "An Arrow Pointing East" |
| 1982 | Benson | E.G. Slade | Episode: "Mary and Her Lambs" |
| 1982–1983 | Filthy Rich | George Wilhoit | 4 episodes |
| 1982–1985 | Simon & Simon | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1982–1987 | Dallas | | 3 episodes |
| 1983 | The Awakening of Candra | Reiser | Television film |
| 1983 | AfterMASH | Barrett | Episode: "All About Christmas Eve" |
| 1983 | Amanda's | Mr. Schindler | Episode: "Amanda's Number One Son" |
| 1983, 1985 | Hotel | The Guest / Gordon Pierce | 2 episodes |
| 1984 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | George | Episode: "The Artful Dodger" |
| 1984 | Hart to Hart | Anthony Stratham | Episode: "Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch" |
| 1985 | St. Elsewhere | Zachary Wexler | Episode: "Bye, George" |
| 1985 | Hollywood Wives | Jameson | Episode #1.2 |
| 1985 | Space | Space | Episode: "Part III" |
| 1985 | Malice in Wonderland | Samuel Goldwyn | Television film |
| 1985 | Hill Street Blues | Loring Oler | Episode: "Seoul on Ice" |
| 1986 | The Colbys | Gregory Farnsworth | Episode: "The Trial" |
| 1986 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Old Wildcatter | Episode: "Road Hog" |
| 1987 | Stingray | Arnie Brillstein | Episode: "The Greeter" |
| 1987 | Mr. Belvedere | Ticket Master | Episode: "Baby" |
| 1987 | Max Headroom | Finn | Episode: "Dream Thieves" |
| 1987 | Webster | Mr. Blaine | Episode: "The Strike" |
| 1987 | Billionaire Boys Club | Peter Faraday | Miniseries |
| 1987–1989 | Days of Our Lives | Bruce Fischell / Richard Stanley | 8 episodes |
| 1989 | Highway to Heaven | Mr. Arnold | Episode: "Goodbye, Mr. Zelinka" |