| Chad Everett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Raymon Lee Cramton June 11, 1936 South Bend, Indiana |
| Years active | 1961–2009 |
| Spouse | Shelby Grant (1966-2011) |
Chad Everett (born June 11, 1936) is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and television series but is probably best known for his role as Dr. Joe Gannon in the 1970s television drama Medical Center.
Contents |
Everett was born Raymon Lee Cramton in South Bend, Indiana, to Virdeen Ruth (née Hopper) and Harry Clyde "Ted" Cramton.[1] He was raised in Dearborn, Michigan, where he became interested in the theatre as a Fordson High School student.[2]
After attending Wayne State University,[3] he headed to Hollywood and obtained a contract with Warner Brothers studio. Agent Henry Willson signed him and changed his name to Chad Everett.[4] Everett claims he changed his name because he tired of explaining his real name, "Raymon-no-D, Cramton-no-P."[5]
Everett's first notable role came in an episode of the 1960s detective series Surfside 6. His first major role came a year later in the film Claudelle Inglish, and he subsequently played a deputy in the short-lived 1963 western television series The Dakotas, which also featured Jack Elam as a fellow lawman. After appearing in a number of movies and television series in the later 1960s, he got his big break, landing the role of Dr. Joe Gannon on the innovative medical drama, Medical Center, in 1969.[6]
Since then, he has appeared in numerous films and television series including Centennial, Hagen, Airplane II: The Sequel, Star Command, and Mulholland Drive. He has also appeared as a guest star on over 40 television series such as Melrose Place, The Nanny, Touched by an Angel, Diagnosis: Murder, Caroline in the City, Murder, She Wrote, The Red Skelton Show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and Route 66.
He also supplied the voice of Ultraman Chuck in the English version of the animated movie Ultraman: The Adventure Begins and voiced several characters in the animated television series The New Yogi Bear Show.
He hosts Trinity Broadcasting Network's "Master's Theater." He portrayed a closeted gay police officer on the December 3, 2006, episode Forever Blue of the television series, Cold Case.
Everett was selected by the family of John Wayne to be the voice of the animatronic figure of Wayne in Disney MGM Studios' Great Movie Ride.[7]
Everett married actress Shelby Grant in Tucson, Arizona, on May 22, 1966.[8] Everett was on location is Tucson filming the 1967 movie, Return of the Gunfighter, at the time of their wedding.[8] They had two daughters, Katherine Thorp and Shannon Everett. The couple remained married for 45 years until Grant's death on June 25, 2011.[9]
Everett battled alcoholism for many years before seeking treatment from Alcoholics Anonymous.[10] A Republican, he had a much publicized argument with feminist actress Lily Tomlin during the taping of the March 31, 1972, episode of The Dick Cavett Show. Tomlin became so enraged when Everett referred to his wife as "my property" that she stormed off the set and refused to return.[11]
Reporter Ronnie Simonsen’s admiration of Everett is an important part of How's Your News?, a documentary (about a group of mentally disabled news reporters touring the United States) in which Simonsen meets Everett near the end of the film.[12]