'Duel' star Dennis Weaver dies

The actor, who became a household name thanks to TV series 'Gunsmoke', passes away.

Feb 28 2006

Star of stage and screen Dennis Weaver has died from complications due to cancer. He was 81.

A WWII pilot and accomplished athlete, Weaver studied at the Actors Studio in New York, and appeared onstage in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' opposite Shelley Winters early in his career.

He also has a small role in Orson Welles' 'Touch of Evil', although it was playing Deputy Chester Goode in the hugely successful TV series 'Gunsmoke' that truly shot him to fame.

Weaver later starred in two equally successful shows – 'McCloud' and 'Gentle Ben' – but he will probably be best remembered for his role as a businessman being stalked by a truck in Steven Spielberg's brilliant 1971 thriller 'Duel'.

He passed away at his Colorado home at the weekend, and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gerry, and three sons.

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