About Warren Oates
Warren Mercer Oates (July 5, 1928 – April 3, 1982) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles in Western and crime films, most notably in collaboration with directors Sam Peckinpah and Monte Hellman. He had starring roles in Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969) and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). Other of his most acclaimed performances was as officer Sam Wood in Norman Jewison's In the Heat of the Night (1967) and as Mr. Sargis in Terrence Malick's Badlands (1973). Associated with the New Hollywood movement of the 1960s and '70s, Oates starred in numerous films during the early 1970s that have since achieved cult status, such as The Hired Hand and Two-Lane Blacktop (1971), Cockfighter (1974), 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 of his was in the classic New Zealand film Sleeping Dogs (1977), in which he played the commander of the American forces in the country. Oates first met Peckinpah when he played a variety of guest roles in The Rifleman (1958–1963), a popular television series co-created and sometimes directed by Peckinpah. Film critic Leonard Maltin remarked that Oates' performance as GTO was as good as any he had seen and should have won the Oscar. 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). The film was a huge financial success, earning $85 million at the box office.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.