Woodrow Chambliss

Lewis Woodrow Chambliss (October 14, 1914 – January 8, 1981) was an American character actor who appeared in both feature films and television. He is perhaps best known for his appearances as several characters in the TV hit Gunsmoke, where he eventually settled into the recurring role of storekeeper Mr. Lathrop.

Early life Chambliss was born on October 14, 1914, in Bowie, Texas. He was the son of Lorenzo Dow “L.D.” and Lucinda “Lula Mae” Mae (Thornton) Chambliss, who had a farm outside Brownfield, Texas. He attended public schools in Brownfield and Baylor University, where his first contact with drama occurred as a prompter with the Baylor Little Theater. Intending to be a lawyer, Chambliss attended Baylor's law school, but a dramatics teacher at the university influenced him to change his major to theater arts. Receiving a scholarship in the summer of 1937 enabled him to go to Bath, England, as a drama exchange student and study with Michael Chekhov. He became a member of the Checkov Theater company

He made his Broadway debut in a 1939 Chekhov production of The Possessed. The cast also included his wife, Erika Kapralik, and actor Ford Rainey, but the play only ran for fourteen performances on Broadway.

During World War II, he worked at the Naval Construction Battalion Center Port Hueneme naval base in Port Hueneme, California. After the war, he and others from the Chekhov company established a repertory troupe that for four years performed in the Happy Valley Theater in Ojai, California. Chambliss went on to become the manager of the Senior Canyon Mutual Water Company prior to resuming his theater career. He continued appearing in film throughout the 1970s, with roles in Greaser's Palace, Cry for Me, Billy, The Devil's Rain and the jukebox musical comedy Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

In addition to his work on Gunsmoke, where he eventually settled into the recurring role of storekeeper Mr. Lathrop, he also had a recurring role as riverboat Captain Tom of the "Sultana" on the TV show Yancy Derringer.

He also appeared in two 1958 episodes of Perry Mason: as Phil Reese in "The Case of the Fugitive Nurse," and Fred Haley in "The Case of the Lucky Loser." In 1960, he appeared in Gene Barry's TV Western series Bat Masterson as town undertaker Mr. O’Malley (S2E20). In 1965, he appeared on The Andy Griffith Show in the episode, "Aunt Bee's Invisible Beau", as their butter-and-egg-man. He and wife Erika also appeared together as grandparents in the 1978 TV movie Forever. He also played the role of Zadok Walton, cousin to Grandpa Walton, on a Season 8 episode of The Waltons.

Personal life and death He was married to Romanian actress Erika Kapralik (September 6, 1911 – May 14, 1992 in Ojai, California). They had three children. He died on January 8, 1981, in Ojai of colon cancer. 1957 3:10 to Yuma Blacksmith Uncredited

1957 Zero Hour! Reporter Uncredited

1964 Invitation to a Gunfighter Townsman Uncredited

1965 Wild Seed Mr. Simms

1966 The Chase Salesman Uncredited

1971 Glen and Randa Sidney Miller

1972 Greaser's Palace Father

1972 Cry for Me, Billy Prospector

1973 Scorpio Uncredited

1978 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band Old Sgt. Pepper

1981 Second-Hand Hearts Deaf Attendant Posthumous release

1983 Reckless (aka Reckless and in Love) Posthumous release