Ken Swofford | |
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| Born | Kenneth Charles Swofford (1933-07-25)July 25, 1933 Du Quoin, Illinois, U.S.[1] |
| Died | November 1, 2018(2018-11-01) (aged 85) |
| Alma mater | Southern Illinois University Carbondale (BSc) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1962–2004; 2018 |
| Known for | |
| 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. With his burly build and distinctive red hair he was often cast in villain, police officer or 'everyman' roles.
Between 1962 and 1995, Swofford's film credits includedThelma & Louise,Skyjacked,Black Roses andThe Andromeda Strain, while his TV career during the same period was prolific: he appeared on such television series asGunsmoke,Police Story,The Rockford Files,Simon & Simon,Fame,Switch,The Oregon Trail,Rich Man, Poor Man Book II,Murder, She Wrote, and as a cast member of the mystery seriesEllery Queen.
Ken Swofford graduated fromSouthern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in theater.[3]
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."[4]
He met and married Barbee Biggs in summer stock in 1958; the couple had several children. In aLos Angeles Times interview in 1985 titled "Autistic Youth Thrives in Large, Loving Family", the Swoffords discussed bringing up theirautistic son Brendan at home.[5]
In 1989, Swofford was convicted of felony drunk driving and sentenced to 28 months in prison,[6] after which he made a comeback and continued to work steadily until retiring in 1995.[7] In 2001, he supplied the voice of the coach inRecess: School's Out, and played Officer White inTeacher'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.
Swofford died on November 1, 2018, aged 85, inPacific Grove, California. His death was announced by his grandson Brandon onTwitter.[1]
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