David Huffman
David Huffman | |
---|---|
Born |
David Oliver Huffman May 10, 1945 Berwyn, Illinois, U.S. |
Died |
February 27, 1985 39) San Diego, California, U.S. | (aged
Cause of death | Homicide |
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1969–1984 |
Spouse(s) | Phyllis Huffman (m. 1967–85) |
Children | 2 |
David Oliver Huffman (May 10, 1945 – February 27, 1985) was an American stage, television and film actor.
Personal life
Huffman married casting director Phyllis Huffman (nee Grennan) in 1967.[1] The couple had two sons and remained married until Huffman's death in 1985.[2]
Murder
On the morning February 27, 1985, Huffman was fatally stabbed by a suspected burglar in San Diego. The suspected burglar, a 16-year-old named Genaro Samano Villanueva, had been living in San Diego with family members for approximately five months. He had dropped out of high school but re-enrolled and was due to return to school on February 27. Earlier that morning, Villanueva was taken into custody by police after attempting to steal a radio from a car near his home on India Street. Police released Villanueva into the custody of the vice principal of his high school and told him to return to class. Instead, Villanueva left school and went to Balboa Park where he was spotted by Canadian tourist Jack Beamer. Beamer, his wife and another couple were visiting San Diego and staying in motor homes at the park. Beamer saw Villanueva prowling around inside his friends' motor home and yelled at him causing Villanueva to flee the scene.[3]
At the time of his death, David Huffman was appearing in the play Of Mice and Men at the Old Globe Theatre. He had visited the theatre shortly before noon to share cookies with the cast and crew.[2] Huffman was sitting in his van near the theatre playing his bagpipes when he saw Beamer yell at Villanueva. He then gave chase in his vehicle before parking the van near the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and following Villanueva into the park. Huffman eventually caught up with the suspect and the two got into a physical altercation during which Villanueva stabbed Huffman twice in the chest with a screwdriver. Huffman died of exsanguination in 30 to 45 seconds.[3] Huffman's body was found less than an hour later in a gulley in Palm Canyon by a group of children visiting the park on a field trip. As he was not carrying identification at the time of his death, Huffman's body was not positively identified until later that night.[2] Police initially had no leads until the Canadian tourists whose motor home was being burglarized saw Huffman's photo and death announcement in the newspaper several days later and called police.[3]
Villanueva was arrested on March 12 after a police officer recognized Villanueva from a composite sketch given to police by the Canadian tourist.[4][5] In June 1986, Villanueva was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for Huffman's murder.[6] Huffman was set to begin work on the television miniseries North and South the following week.[5] In December 2011, Genaro Villanueva was denied parole for 15 years.[7]
Broadway stage credits
- Butterflies Are Free as Don Baker (October 21, 1969 – July 2, 1972)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | F.I.S.T. | Abe Belkin | |
1978 | Ice Castles | Brian Dockett | |
1979 | The Onion Field | Dist. Atty. Phil Halpin | |
1980 | Wolf Lake | David | |
1980 | Leo and Loree | Dennis | |
1981 | Blood Beach | Harry Caulder | |
1981 | St Helens | David Jackson | |
1982 | Firefox | Captain Buckholz | |
1983 | Last Plane Out | Jim Conley | |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | Pueblo | Seaman | Television movie |
1973 | Love Story | David Ross | Episode: "Mirabelle's Summer" |
1974 | F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles' | Andy McKenna | Television movie |
1974 | The Yanks Are Coming | Television movie | |
1974 | Lincoln | Ellmer Ellsworth | Miniseries |
1974 | Police Story | T. Byron Bentley | Episode: "A Dangerous Age" |
1974 | Nakia | Episode: "The Hostage" | |
1974 | The Gun | Wayne | Television movie |
1976 | Eleanor and Franklin | Elliott B. Roosevelt | Television movie |
1976 | Baretta | Jesse Bryant | Episode: "The Blood Bond" |
1976 | Bert D'Angelo/Superstar | Episode: "A Noise in the Street" | |
1976 | Amelia Earhart | Radio Operator | Miniseries |
1976 | Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby | Peter Simon | Television movie |
1976 | Captains and the Kings | Sean Armagh | Miniseries |
1977 | Play of the Month | Chadwick Newsome | Episode: "The Ambassadors" |
1977 | Testimony of Two Men | Harold Ferrier | Miniseries |
1977 | In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan | Paul Armstrong | Television movie |
1978 | The Winds of Kitty Hawk | Orville Wright | Television movie |
1979 | Tom Edison: The Boy Who Lit Up the World | Tom Edison | Television movie |
1979 | Lou Grant | Daniel Todson | Episode: "Hype" |
1980 | Baby Comes Home | Jeff Winston | Television movie Producer |
1981 | The Million Dollar Face | Christopher Ward | Television movie |
1981 | Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend | Jimmy | Television movie |
1982 | Little House on the Prairie | Reverend Addison Hale | Episode: "Alden's Dilemma" |
1983 | Jane Doe | David | Television movie |
1983 | Remington Steele | Wilson Jeffries | Episode: "Vintage Steele" |
1983 | Trapper John, M.D. | Barry Laughton Frank Maxwyn |
2 episodes |
1983 | Sparkling Cyanide | Stephan Farraday | Television movie |
1984 | T. J. Hooker | Dr. Don Travers | Episode: "The Lipstick Killer" |
1984 | The Mississippi | Harley Morhaim | Episode: "Going Back to Hannibal" |
1984 | Newhart | Ted Kingston | Episode: "Cats" |
1984 | When She Says No | Carl Jerome | Television movie |
1984 | Children in the Crossfire | Larry Malone | Television movie |
References
- ↑ Blank, Ed (May 29, 1985). "10 Actors Get Multiple Roles at The Public". The Pittsburgh Press. p. D4. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Damsker, Matt; Weintraub, Daniel M. (March 1, 1985). "Actor's Stabbing Death in Park Mystifies Co-Workers, Officials". Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- 1 2 3 Harris, Scott; Reza, H.G. (March 14, 1985). "Huffman's Slaying: Strangers Cross Paths and Tragedy Strikes". latimes.com. pp. 1–2. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Youth, 16, Held in Death of Actor David Huffman". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
- 1 2 "Youth arrested in actor's murder". Reading Eagle. March 13, 1985. p. 32. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Teen Sentenced In Actor's Slaying". Reading Eagle. June 3, 1986. p. 3. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ↑ "San Diego County District Attorney 2011 Annual Report". San Diego County District Attorney. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
External links
- David Huffman at the Internet Broadway Database
- David Huffman at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- David Huffman at the Internet Movie Database
- David Huffman at AllMovie
- David Huffman(Aveleyman)