RIP Stuart Nisbet
Los Angeles Times
June 30, 2016
It is with a very heavy heart that today we announce the passing of a local legend, actor, proud Scotsman, and wonderful family man, Stuart Nisbet. "Stu" Nisbet, age 82, passed peacefully into the arms of our Lord on June 23, 2016, at Verdugo Hills Hospital surrounded by his loving family.
Stuart was born on January 17, 1934 in Los Angeles, California to Emmet and Hazel Nisbet. He spent his early childhood in Bakersfield, CA and then moved to Glendale, where he spent the rest of his years. Stu studied Theatrical Arts at Los Angeles City College and at California State University, Los Angeles. After landing his first acting job in 1960, he then pursued a career in live theatre and television.
This successful career spanned nearly six decades. To his acting credits, Stuart will be remembered for his many movie roles in films, such as "The Graduate", "Earthquake", "Oh God", "The Fabulous Baker Boys", "Lucky Lady", and "Casino". He will also be remembered for his many recurring television roles in beloved classics such as "Dragnet", "The Virginian", "Bonanza", "Dennis the Menace", "Little House on the Prairie", "L.A. Law", "The Dukes of Hazzard", and "The Golden Girls". He also was the co-founder and owner of Baker-Nisbet, Inc. in Hollywood, California, a very successful casting agency for 24 years.
Stuart was extremely proud of his Scottish heritage and served as the President of the Nesbitt/Nisbet Society of North America for many years. His true passions included family, acting, and travel, having experienced much of the globe with his loving wife of nearly 55 years, Nancy Nisbet. Together, they traveled the four corners of the earth and the seven seas. To Stu, laughter was key, and as such, he was a dedicated member of several local improvisational Hollywood comedy groups.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Bill, Linda, and Scott; his grandchildren, Shane, Shilo, Brandy, and Hope; and his children-in-law, Denny and Delia. He loved to laugh, And lived to love¿ Oh, how he made us laugh! This special man is sorely missed by the many people who cared deeply for him. Rest now sweet Angel, we shall meet again! A private family celebration of Stuart's life will be held at 1443 Dorothy Drive, Glendale, CA 91202 on July 9th.
NISBET, Stuart
Born: 1/17/1934, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Died: 6/23/2016, Verdugo Hills, California, U.S.A.
Stuart Nisbet’s westerns – actor:
Two Faces West (TV) – 1961 (bartender)
The Virginian (TV) – 1962, 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970 (Bart, Tolliver, bartender)
Empire (TV) – 1963 (Fred)
Gunsmoke (TV) – 1964 (boarding house guest)
A Man Called Shenandoah (TV) – 1965 (doctor)
Death Valley Days (TV) – 1965, 1969 (George Mason)
Laredo (TV) – 1966 (Doc Severenson)
The Road West (TV) – 1966 (Deputy Gibson)
Dundee and the Culhane (TV) – 1967 (Clay)
Iron Horse (TV) – 1967 (Wayne)
Ride to Hangman’s Tree – 1967 (Russell)
The Shakiest Gun in the West – 1968 (man going upstairs)
The Outcasts (TV) – 1968 (posseman)
The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1968 (farmer)
The Silent Gun (TV) – 1969 (Simpson)
The High Chaparral (TV) – 1970 (Conlin)
The Intruders (TV) – 1970 (bartender)
Bonanza (TV) – 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 (Sergeant Hines, Paul Fletcher, Charlie, Wiley, storekeeper, Evans, Fred Tyson, Colter)
Hec Ramsey (TV) – 1973 (Willy)
Hearts of the West (TV) – 1975 (Lucky)
The Night Rider (TV) – 1979 (Doc Ellis)
Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1980 (Jenkins)
Father Murphy (TV) – 1982 (Spencer Nelson)
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV) – 1997 (Harry B. Smith)