David Huddleston, the actor known for his larger-than-life characters, died on Tuesday at age 85.
Advertisement
He started landing more and more movie roles such as Fool’s Parade, Bad Company, alongside his future Big Lebowski co-star Jeff Bridges, McQ and Blazing Saddles.
As confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, actor David Huddleston-probably best known for playing the actual Big Lebowski in the classic Coen Brothers film-has died.
Born in Vinton, Virginia, in 1930, Mr. Huddleston served in the Air Force and went to NY on the GI Bill, where he tried his hand as an actor, according to the Roanoke Times.
He had, as Jeffrey Lebowski once said, accomplished more than most men.
He never had many big, meaty starring roles, but Huddleston didn’t seem to mind that.
Born in Virginia in 1930, Huddleston initially seemed set up for a career in the military.
“Prior to his breakthrough role in The Big Lebowski, Huddleston appeared on numerous TV shows, including Walker Texas Ranger, Murder, She Wrote, Gilmore Girls” and The West Wing.
Mel Brooks picked Huddleston to play Mayor Olson Johnson in his western comedy, Blazing Saddles. His film role in the 2009 thriller Locker 19 and appearance as a guest on a holiday episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia a year later would be his last projects.
His wife said he considered his “crowning achievement” to be playing Benjamin Franklin in the 1997 Broadway production “1776”.
Advertisement
David Huddleston is survived by his wife Sarah, his son Michael and his daughter-in-law Nancy. She told The Los Angeles Times that Huddleston “loved entertaining and would rather sit down and talk with someone over dinner“.
