Warren Oates

Warren Oates
Oates in 1963
Born
Warren Mercer Oates

(1928-07-05)July 5, 1928
DiedApril 3, 1982(1982-04-03) (aged 53)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1953–1982
Spouses
Teddy Louise Farmer
(m. 1959; div. 1966)
(m. 1969; div. 1974)
Judy A. Jones
(m. 1977)
Children4

Warren Mercer Oates (July 5, 1928 – April 3, 1982) was an American actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah, including The Wild Bunch (1969) and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). Another of his most acclaimed performances was as officer Sam Wood in In the Heat of the Night (1967). Oates starred in numerous films during the early 1970s that have since achieved cult status, such as The Hired Hand (1971), Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), and Race with the Devil (1975). Oates also portrayed John Dillinger in the biopic Dillinger (1973) and as the supporting character U.S. Army Sergeant Hulka in the military comedy Stripes (1981). Another notable appearance was in the classic New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs (1977), in which he played the commander of the American forces in the country.