Warren J. Kemmerling

Warren Joseph Kemmerling (January 4, 1924 – January 3, 2005) was an American film, stage and television actor. He was best known for playing Major "Wild Bill" Walsh in the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Life and career Kemmerling was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Saint Louis University. He began his stage career in 1953, appearing in the stage play Me and Juliet. During his stage career, he appeared in numerous stage plays such as Anniversary Waltz, Orpheus Descending, Ankles Aweigh and Pipe Dream.

Later in his career, Kemmerling guest-starred in numerous television programs including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Tales of Wells Fargo, The Twilight Zone, Death Valley Days, The Fugitive, The Green Hornet, Lawman, Peter Gunn, The Jack Benny Program and The Virginian, In 1977, he played Major "Wild Bill" Walsh in the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind. He appeared in films such as The Cheyenne Social Club, Angel's Flight, 92 in the Shade, The Bermuda Triangle, Incident in an Alley and Hit!.