Herman Raymond Walston (November , â€" January , ) was an American
actor and comedian, well known as the title character on My Favorite
Martian. His major film, television, and stage roles included Luther
Billis (South Pacific), Mr. Applegate (Damn Yankees), J. J. Singleton
(The Sting), Poopdeck Pappy (Popeye), Mr. Hand (Fast Times at
Ridgemont High), Candy (Of Mice and Men), Glen Bateman (The Stand),
and Judge Henry Bone (Picket Fences). He also played one of the miners
in Paint Your Wagon with Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood.Walston was
born on November , , in Laurel, Mississippi, the second son and
youngest of three children born to lumberjack Harry Norman Walston and
Mittie (née Kimball) Walston. He had an older sister, Carrie, and an
older brother, Earl. His family moved from Mississippi to New Orleans,
Louisiana, around .He started acting at an early age, beginning his
tenure as a spear carrier rounding out productions at many New Orleans
theaters. He mostly played small roles with stock companies, where he
not only starred in traveling shows, but also worked at a movie
theater, selling tickets and cleaning the stage floors. His family
moved to Dallas, Texas, where he joined a repertory theater company
under Margo Jones in . He stayed at the Houston Civic Theater six
years, "averaging roles a year."Walston was popular with Margo Jones'
team of actors before he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent
three years with the Cleveland Play House. He then traveled to New
York City, where he made his Broadway debut in a production of
Maurice Evans's The G.I. Hamlet. Three years later, Walston became one
of the first members admitted to the newly formed Actors Studio.
actor and comedian, well known as the title character on My Favorite
Martian. His major film, television, and stage roles included Luther
Billis (South Pacific), Mr. Applegate (Damn Yankees), J. J. Singleton
(The Sting), Poopdeck Pappy (Popeye), Mr. Hand (Fast Times at
Ridgemont High), Candy (Of Mice and Men), Glen Bateman (The Stand),
and Judge Henry Bone (Picket Fences). He also played one of the miners
in Paint Your Wagon with Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood.Walston was
born on November , , in Laurel, Mississippi, the second son and
youngest of three children born to lumberjack Harry Norman Walston and
Mittie (née Kimball) Walston. He had an older sister, Carrie, and an
older brother, Earl. His family moved from Mississippi to New Orleans,
Louisiana, around .He started acting at an early age, beginning his
tenure as a spear carrier rounding out productions at many New Orleans
theaters. He mostly played small roles with stock companies, where he
not only starred in traveling shows, but also worked at a movie
theater, selling tickets and cleaning the stage floors. His family
moved to Dallas, Texas, where he joined a repertory theater company
under Margo Jones in . He stayed at the Houston Civic Theater six
years, "averaging roles a year."Walston was popular with Margo Jones'
team of actors before he traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent
three years with the Cleveland Play House. He then traveled to New
York City, where he made his Broadway debut in a production of
Maurice Evans's The G.I. Hamlet. Three years later, Walston became one
of the first members admitted to the newly formed Actors Studio.
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