GD Spradlin RIP

As others have touched on, he lived a fascinating life.

Was head of Phillips Petroleum's legal department in Caracas. Became an independent oil producer. Ran JFK's campaign in Oklahoma in 1960, ran for Oklahoma City mayor in 1965.

Then he became an actor.

http://t.co/YpHP0Lw

 

RIP Senator Geary

 

He had no family. Nobody knows that he worked here. It'll be as if he never existed. All that's left is our friendship.

 

RIP - one of my favorite character actors. Favorite roll was General Corman in Apocalypse Now - the opening scene with Capt Williard.

"He's out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct. And he is still in the field commanding troops. "

I would imagine that Grantland will have something on this today.

 

"He joined the special forces. After that, his ideas became ... unsound."

 

As Ragu mentioned, One on One was a great showcase for him. And for Robby Benson's skills.

 

A broader expanse of co-star Annette O'Toole's skills appear in "Cat People." ;D

 

Since the middle of last decade, smallpotatoes has provided more unintentionally funny moments than any other poster. He's an absolute treasure to this site.

And I haven't seen One on One in 30 years, but I remember this dead actor very well as the coach.

 

That scene was even better with Robert Duvall.

When he appears at the pearly gates, will Spradlin tell St. Peter, "I intend to squeeze you . . ."

 

He was also the preacher in Ed Wood.

He did some good indignation when Ed Wood dressed in his angora sweater.

"Mr. Wood! What are you doing!"

 

It was Duvall ...

 

When he is speaking at the check-passing scene at the big party at Lake Tahoe, with news photographers taking pictures, etc etc., Geary intentionally botches up the name of Vito Corleone, because he wants the public to believe he isn't really close to them.

Then when he retires to the private confab with Michael, first thing he says, IIRC, quite angrily, is that he doesn't want any contacts made directly through him, because he doesn't want to be publicly associated with the Corleone Family.

That's when he delivers the perfectly-accented Sicilian "Corleone." A signal to Michael he knows exactly who he is.

Then he attempts to strongarm Michael with all the bluster about how he doesn't want the "oily" Corleones mixing with the "nice clean people" they have out in Nevada, then makes the ill-fated payoff demand.

To which Michael responds, "Here's my offer: Nothing."