Donald Yearnsley "Trey" Wilson III (January 21, 1948 – January 16, 1989) was an American character actor known for playing rural, authoritarian-type characters, most notably in comedies such as Raising Arizona and Bull Durham.
Early life and education Wilson was born Houston, Texas, in 1948, to Donald Yearnsley Wilson and Irene Louise Wilson. He attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire and then majored in English and theater at the University of Houston. He was a cousin of former Texas Republican State Senator Kim Brimer.
Career During his career, Wilson appeared in numerous stage productions and 30 films or television shows, including guest roles on Spenser: For Hire and The Equalizer. On stage, he co-starred in the ragtime-era musical Tintypes on Broadway, appeared in The Front Page at Lincoln Center and on Broadway, and appeared with Sandy Duncan in Peter Pan. He also appeared in Pat Benatar's music video "Love Is a Battlefield", as the father who throws her out of the house.
His most memorable roles in film were in Raising Arizona, as unpainted furniture store owner Nathan Arizona, and Bull Durham, as Joe Riggins, manager of the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team.
Personal life Wilson married Judy Blye, a well-known New York soap opera casting agent, on August 25, 1975. He was previously married to Cynthia June Brinson.
Death Wilson died at the age of 40 from a cerebral hemorrhage in New York City on January 16, 1989, and was buried at Forest Park Cemetery in Houston five days later, on what would have been his 41st birthday.
Released after his death, Wilson's final film was Great Balls of Fire!, the biopic of Jerry Lee Lewis, where he played American record producer Sam Phillips. He had been cast in the Coen brothers' film Miller's Crossing at the time of his death, and was replaced by Albert Finney. The end credits of The Silence of the Lambs and Miss Firecracker dedicate the films to him.
Filmography
Film
+ Year Title RoleNotes 1976 Drive-In Gifford 1977 Three Warriors Chuck 1978 Vampire Hookers Terry Wayne The Lord of the Rings Additional voices 1979 Three-Way Weekend Howard Creep 1984 Places in the Heart Additional voices A Soldier's Story Colonel Nivens 1985 The Protector Truck Driver Marie FBI Agent 1986 F/X Lt. Murdoch 1987 Raising Arizona Nathan Arizona, Sr. End of the Line Sheriff Maxie Howell The House on Carroll Street Lieutenant Sloan 1988 Bull Durham Jim "Skip" Riggins Married to the Mob Regional Director Franklin Twins Beetroot McKinley 1989 Miss Firecracker Benjamin Drapper Welcome Home Colonel Barnes Posthumous release Great Balls of Fire! Sam Phillips
Television
+ Year Title Role Notes 1985 Robert Kennedy and His Times Jimmy Hoffa 3 episodes 1986–87 Spenser: For Hire Jack Weller / Terry Vogel 2 episodes 1987 The Equalizer Peter Marstand Episode: "A Place to Stay" 1990 Law & Order Defense Attorney Eddie Cosmatos Episode: "Everybody's Favorite Bagman"
References
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