William Lanteau
William Lanteau (born William Lanctot) (November 17, 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", "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) and "Cold Steel" (1987). Death. He died of complications from heart surgery on November 3, 1993, two weeks before his 71st birthday.