Scott Wilson, R.I.P. (The Walking Dead, CSI, In Cold Blood)

Cafe Society
1

Scott Wilson has died at the age of 76, apparently of leukemia.

I’d seen him in a few movies earlier, but I really started paying attention to him when he was on CSI. He had a recurring role as Catherine’s father, a sketchy casino owner named Sam Braun. Later I saw him in In Cold Blood (1967) as one of the murderers, Dick Hickock. I was absolutely blown away by his performance. I honestly thought he deserved at least an Oscar nomination for that role, which was only his second film gig ever. Most people probably remember him for The Walking Dead, but I gave up on that show before he became part of the cast.

In my opinion, he was a great actor, very much underappreciated. I can’t define screen presence, but whatever it is, he had it.

2

He first caught my eye in an episode of the '80’s Twilight Zone revival series.

3

Mr. Wilson is very good in The Grissom Gang (1971) as the psycho gang leader who kidnaps Kim Darby and falls for her. He is excellent in The Ninth Configuration (1980) - a high water mark in American surrealism - as an ex-astronaut turned loony bin inmate under the care of Stacy Keach (who’s even crazier). To “underappreciated,” I would add under-utilized.

4

He played Ashley Judd’s estranged father in, “Come Early Morning.” He was good; I wanted to punch his lights out.

5

Yep, i saw that. Sad. It was leukemia I think the article said. I loved him as Herschel in The Walking Dead. They said there is an episode in this season with him. I hope it’s already filmed and we get to see him again.

6

I couldn’t agree more about his work in the Ninth Configuration. He is the moral center of the film. Without him th he film would have been a ridiculous joke. He and Keack worked wonderfully together.