Ken Swofford

Ken Swofford
Born	Kenneth Charles Swofford (1933-07-25)July 25, 1933 Du Quoin, Illinois, U.S.
Died	November 1, 2018(2018-11-01) (aged 85) Pacific Grove, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, voice actor, script writer
Years active	1962–2004; 2018
Spouse	Barbee Biggs (1958–2018; his death)
Children	5

Kenneth Charles Swofford (July 25, 1933 – November 1, 2018) was an American film and television actor often cast as a villain or a policeman.

Between 1962 and 1995, Swofford's film credits included Thelma & Louise, Skyjacked, Black Roses and The Andromeda Strain, while his TV career during the same period was prolific. He appeared on such television series as Fame, Switch, The Oregon Trail, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, Murder, She Wrote, and as a cast member of the mystery series Ellery Queen.

Life and career

Born to Howard and Goldie Swofford on July 25, 1933, Ken Swofford graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in theater.

In an interview in 1976 the distinctive, red-headed actor described the advantages of an acting career as spending more time with his children and having the freedom to do any job. "If you're an actor, you can do anything. I have cleaned carpets, painted houses, worked on loading docks. It didn't bother me, because I could always act and enjoy myself."

He met and married Barbee Biggs in summer stock in 1958; the couple had several children. In a Los Angeles Times interview in 1985 titled "Autistic Youth Thrives in Large, Loving Family", the Swoffords discussed bringing up their autistic son Brendan at home.

In 1989, Swofford was convicted of felony drunk driving and sentenced to 28 months in prison, after which he made a comeback and continued to work steadily until retiring in 1995. In 2001, he supplied the voice of the coach in Recess: School's Out, and played Officer White in Teacher's Pet (2004), which was his last role before retiring permanently. Nonetheless, in 2018 he voiced the title character of Happy the Angry Polar Bear in a film written and directed by his grandson, Brandon.

Death

Swofford died on November 1, 2018. His death was announced by his grandson Brandon on Twitter.

Filmography

• Captain Newman, M.D. (1963) — Patient (uncredited)
• Father Goose (1964) — Helmsman, Submarine USS Sailfin (uncredited)
• First to Fight (1967) — O'Brien
• Gunfight in Abilene (1967) — Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
• How Much Loving Does a Normal Couple Need? (1967) — Barney Rickert / ex-detective
• The Lawyer (1970) — Charlie O'Keefe
• The Andromeda Strain (1970) — Toby (technician)
• Bless the Beasts and Children (1971) — Wheaties
• Skyjacked (1972) — John Bimonte
• One Little Indian (1973) — Pvt. Dixon
• A Cry for Help (1975, TV Movie) — Paul Church
• The Black Bird (1975) — Brad McCormack
• The Domino Principle (1977) — Ditcher
• S.O.B. (1981) — Harold Harrigan
• Annie (1982) — Weasel
• Bridge Across Time (1985, TV Movie) — Ed Nebel
• Hunter's Blood (1986) — Al Coleman
• The Stepford Children (1987, TV Movie) — Frank Gregson
• Black Roses (1988) — Mayor Farnsworth
• Thelma & Louise (1991) — Major
• The Taking of Beverly Hills (1991) — Coach
• Cops n Roberts (1995)
• Recess: School's Out (2001) — Coach (voice)
• Teacher's Pet (2004) — Officer White (voice)

Selected television appearances

• Surfside 6 (1962) — Garth
• The Big Valley (1966) — Wes
• Cimarron Strip (1967) — Christie
• I Spy (1968) — Clay
• Daniel Boone (1968) — Mick O'Toole
• Adam-12 (1968) — Floyd Delman
• The Virginian (1968–1969) — Seth Pettit / Wrengell
• Here Come the Brides (1969) — Janitor / Gil
• The F.B.I. (1969) — Honky-tonk bookkeeper
• The Odd Couple (1970) — Cop
• Mission: Impossible (1970–1971) — Deputy Mayor Charles Peck / Florian Vaclav
• The Streets of San Francisco (1973) — Herman Ledeker, Bus Driver
• The Rookies (1972–1973) — Mr. Felker
• Columbo: Candidate for Crime (1973) — Harry Stone
• The Waltons (1974) — Red Turner
• The Partridge Family (1970–1974) — Coach / Monty
• Kung Fu (1974) — Dr. Tracer / Max Frazer
• Paper Moon (1974) — Angus
• Gunsmoke (1967–1975) — Dunbar / Jake Fielder / Harkey / Dirk / Speer / Harry / Bronk / Loomis / Guffy / Sugar John / Bo Warrick
• Petrocelli (1975–1976) — Lt. John Clifford / Lieutenant John Clifford / Phillip Armor
• Ellery Queen (1975–1976) — Frank Flannigan
• Police Story (1974–1977) — Lieutenant / Lieutenant Pete Telenda / Officer Turner / Alfonso Taluga / Morgan
• The Six Million Dollar Man (1977–1978) — Dan Kelly / Roy Palmer
• The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978) — J.J. Devlin
• Battlestar Galactica (1979) — General Maxwell
• How the West Was Won (1979) — Grimes
• The Rockford Files (1975–1979) — Col. John 'Howling Mad' Smith / Carl Wronko / DEA Agent Al Jollett / FBI Agent Patrick / P.I. Floyd Ross
• Walking Tall (1981) — Ed Morgan
• The Incredible Hulk (1981) — Johnny
• Fantasy Island (1981) — Fix
• Trapper John, M.D. (1982–1983) — The Chief / Mr. Stone
• Knots Landing (1983) — Sheriff Pickett
• Fame (1983-1985) — Principal Quentin Morloch
• Hardcastle and McCormick (1985) — Chuck Foster
• The A-Team (1985) — Park Ranger Roy Sherman
• Knight Rider (1986) — Nick O'Brien
• Remington Steele (1986) — Michael Harrigan
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King (1986) — Mr. Davis
• Falcon Crest (1987) — March Ridley
• Max Headroom (1987) — Gorrister
• Ohara (1987) — Crowley
• Highway to Heaven (1987) — Jack Kelly
• Simon & Simon (1982–1988) — Chester Sullivan — SIA Liaison / Chief of Security Warren Parton / Lloyd Getz
• Our House (1988) — Baxter
• Dynasty (1982–1988) — Lt. Holliman / Lieutenant
• The Highwayman (1988) — The Mayor
• Murphy's Law (1988) — Max Corkle
• Mancuso, F.B.I. (1989)
• The New Adam-12 (1991) — Mr. Crebs
• Matlock (1991) — Ned Salem
• Baywatch (1991–1992) — Lyle Connors
• Murder, She Wrote (1985–1992) — Lt. Catalano / Sheriff Tugman / Sid Sharkey / Grover Barth / Leo Kowalski
• Diagnosis: Murder (1994) — Rupert Leverton

External links

• Ken Swofford at IMDb