RIP William Windom

[AndyC]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/arts/television/william-windom-everyman-actor-is-dead-at-88.html

Just found out about this today, which was a weird coincidence. I was watching The Doomsday Machine last night. Just felt like some orignal Trek, and I love that episode. I'm sure Windom's performance has a lot to do with that. Not just a lot of emotion, but a really convincing portrayal of post-traumatic stress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a73eE9d0ve8
Best part, for me, is right around 3:17 of this clip, when Kirk asks what happened to the crew.

[tracy]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/arts/television/william-windom-everyman-actor-is-dead-at-88.html

Just found out about this today, which was a weird coincidence. I was watching The Doomsday Machine last night. Just felt like some orignal Trek, and I love that episode. I'm sure Windom's performance has a lot to do with that. Not just a lot of emotion, but a really convincing portrayal of post-traumatic stress.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a73eE9d0ve8
Best part, for me, is right around 3:17 of this clip, when Kirk asks what happened to the crew.

That's a shame....and that's one of my favorite original episodes.

[alandhopewell]

     Mr. Windom also starred in an Emmy-nominated NIGHT GALLERY episode, "They're Tearing Down Tim Reily's Bar".


http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7mhqy_night-gallery-they-re-tearing-down_shortfilms

[Andrew]

That is one of my favorite episodes as well.  Mr. Windom's part as the guilt-ridden Captain of the other ship is excellent and really made the episode.

The idea of doomsday machines like that have always been interesting to me, probably as an offshoot of growing up during the last years of the Cold War.  The idea appears in some other books and stories, especially the Berserker stories by Saberhagen and the Forge of God/Anvil of Stars books by Greg Bear.

[Allhallowsday]

WILLIAM WINDOM did a lot of TV work.  He had his own series that I vaguely remember (based on the writings of JAMES THURBER I believe) "My World And Welcome To It". 

[BoyScoutKevin]

WILLIAM WINDOM did a lot of TV work.  He had his own series that I vaguely remember (based on the writings of JAMES THURBER I believe) "My World And Welcome To It". 

Is there a TV show that man did not appear on at one time or another? A man who could turn his skills to almost anything. Besides "My World and Welcome to It," which--yes, was based on the works of James Thurber--he was a regular or semi-regular on "Murder, She Wrote," "Parenthood," and "Brothers and Sisters," and he provided the voice of one of the characters on the animated series "Sonic the Hedgehog." But his TV career and acting career began back in 1949, when he played Tybalt on a TV production of "Romeo and Juliet." He will be missed.

R.I.P. Will.

[AndyC]

Yeah, I remember him being on Murder, She Wrote (my mom loved that show). Windom was definitely a "that guy" actor for me. I always noticed him on TV shows, even before I knew his name. I remember seeing him as a guest-star in the first A-Team episode and thinking "Hey, it's Commodore Decker."

Kind of interesting, I was just reading a bit about Windom's performance on Star Trek, and the background of that episode. I wasn't aware that the episode had been rewritten when he was cast. Decker was originally written for Robert Ryan, as more of a hard-nosed Captain Ahab type, out for revenge. When Ryan was unavailable, they cast Windom, and Decker was rewritten as the shell-shocked and guilt-ridden commander we all know.

[Allhallowsday]

I had to check out IMDB to remember - what I knew I should - that he appeared in one of my favorite movies: the made-for-TV THE HOMECOMING which some think of as the pilot of "The Waltons".  I really love that original movie and own it on VHS and DVD. 
Good night, WILLIAM WINDOM, a face and voice we're all familiar with and won't soon forget. 

[JaseSF]

R.I.P. William Windom who I agree gave some great performances in his many TV guest appearances over the years. Man, it's been a terrible year for former TV greats.

[Trevor]

RIP Commodore Decker 

[Warp Ninja X]

He was one of my favorite actors watching him on every tv show in 70's, 80's, and 90's. Mr. Windom was on one my favorite episode of The Greatest American Hero call News At Eleven playing an evil newscaster. R.I.P. Mr. Windom.

[Raffine]

The Doomsday Machine has always been one of my favorite Star Trek episodes.

The story goes the part of Decker was originally written as a standard overzealous captain. But when Windom was cast it was extensively rewritten because it was felt he could bring so much more to the role.

[alandhopewell]

     Me TV paid homage to Mr. Windom last night with this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pH0mwZ7yuU