WILL WRIGHT

March 26, 1891

was born in San Francisco, California. He was one of those familiar character actors who seems to have been born old. He specialized in playing crusty old codgers, rich skinflints, crooked small-town politicians, and the like.

Wright worked as a newspaperman before beginning a career in show business. He started his acting career in vaudeville and later moved to the stage. While on the NY stages, he picked up some film roles at Vitaphone Studios in Brooklyn. 

Wright made his west coast film debut in 1940 Blondie Plays Cupid. 

In 1942, he provided the voice of Friend Owl in Walt Disney’s animated film Bambi.

His first time working with Lucille Ball was on radio’s “Old Gold Comedy Theatre” production of “A Girl, A Guy, and A Gob” on February 11, 1945.

In 1949, he appeared (uncredited) with Lucille Ball in the film Miss Grant Takes Richmond.

He was seen twice on “I Love Lucy.” First, he played Mr. Walters, the locksmith from Yonkers, in “The Handcuffs” (ILL S2;E4), filmed on May 16, 1952, and first aired on October 6, 1952. 

Walters says that before becoming a locksmith he had show-business aspirations and once won an amateur dance contest.  

WALTERS: “My friends all said I’d make another Freddy Astaire.”

Wright return to the series to play Bent Fork sheriff (and father of Teensy and Weensy) in “Tennessee Bound” (ILL S4;E14), filmed on November 18, 1954, and first aired on January 24, 1955. 

He returned to Desilu Studios to film an episode of “Our Miss Brooks” aired in February 1956. 

From 1954 to 1958, he did three episodes of Desilu’s “December Bride” – all as different characters. 

In 1958 and 1961, he appeared on Desilu’s “The Real McCoys”. 

In a 1955 episode of “The Danny Thomas Show” (filmed at Desilu Studios) Wright was teamed with Kathryn Card (Mrs. McGillidcuddy) in an episode titled “A Trip To Wisconsin”. 

In 1960, Wright returned to “The Danny Thomas Show” to play Mr. Johnson, a citizen of Mayberry, in the episode “Danny Meets Andy Griffith”, which served as a pilot of “The Andy Griffith Show”. The episode has Danny jailed for going through a stop sign. 

When “The Andy Griffith Show” was picked up for series (filmed at Desilu), Wright played the character of department store owner Ben Weaver in three episodes in 1960, 1961, and 1962. 

In December 1961 he played Rob Petrie’s father on an episode of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (filmed at Desilu). 

His final role was (ironically) playing a dying grandfather on a May 1962 episode of “Bonanza.”  Will Wright passed away on June 19, 1962, at age 68. 

He was married to Nell Ida Peabody from 1920 until his death. They had one child together.