RIP William Newman
The New York Times
June 1, 2015
William MacLeod Newman, age 80, passed away on May 27th at Hayes Manor Senior Residence in Philadelphia, after a prolonged struggle against the vascular affliction, Multi-Infarct Dementia.
He was born in Chicago on June 15th, 1934, and moved to Seattle in 1937. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1952, and the University of Washington in 1956. He was awarded a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship for advanced writing study at Columbia University from 1958-1960..
Through the late 50's and early 60's he served in the Armed Forces, married the former Julia Tayon, and taught English. In 1965 he secured an acting position with the Seattle Repertory Theatre which determined the course of his professional life for the next forty years.
He alternated between jobs with theater companies throughout the country including The Seattle Repertory, Baltimore Center Stage, Stephens College (Artist-in-Residence) of Columbia, MO, Minneapolis Guthrie Theater, Denver Center Theater, and Repertory Theater of St. Louis. In addition, he played Off- and On-Broadway in New York, some highlights being Beggar's Opera, Over Here, and Strangers. Among his numerous TV and film credits were Mosquito Coast, Mrs. Doubtfire, Tom & Huck, Silver Bullet, and The Postman Always Rings Twice. As much as he loved the work, he held the countless and varied friendships that the work provided, in equally high esteem.
He was known by friends and loved ones as a deeply spiritual man, and became a convinced Quaker in 1989, where he found much love and support in the spiritual communities of his Meetings on both coasts.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Margaret Ramsey of Ardmore, PA., his son, Liam Newman of Seattle, WA, his daughter, Katherine Newman of Los Angeles, CA., and his brother, Stephen Newman of New York, N.Y. A third child, Matthew, died of a fatal fall in 1976 at age 10.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 27, at 3 PM at Old Haverford Friends Meeting, 235 East Eagle Road in Havertown, PA. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be sent to The Friends Council on Education, 1507 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
NEWMAN, William (William MacLeod Newman)
Born: 6/15/1934, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Died: 5/27/2015, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
William Newman’s westerns – actor:
The Last Days of Frank and Jesse James (TV) – 1986 (Sheriff Timberlake)
Dead Man’s Revenge (TV) – 1994 (doctor)
Tom and Huck – 1995 (Doc Robinson)
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV) – 1995 (Abner Foley)