Editing Vernon Weddle

{{Cast Data
| image=James.jpg
| character= [[James (1980)|James]]
| series=1980
| born_month=8
| born_day=24
| born_year=1935
| death_month=
| death_day=
| death_year=
| nationality=US
| imdb=0917136
| sortkey=Weddle, Vernon
}}
'''Vernon Weddle''' (born '''Vernon Mansfield Weddle Jr.''', August 24, 1935)<ref group="footnotes" name="note_weddle_birthdate_variants">The 1940 U.S. Census records Weddle's age as 4, consistent with an August 1935 birth, but does not give a specific day. IMDb and a FamilySearch aggregation of public records (1999-2009) both give August 24, 1935, the date used here. A 1961 newspaper account of the premiere of "Guidebook to Bigamy" gives August 23, 1935.</ref> is an American actor who portrayed Sergeant [[James (1980)|James]], billed on screen as "1st Cop," in the ''[[Galactica 1980]]'' episode "[[Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I]]". 

== Career ==

=== Early life and education ===
He was born in [[w:Hattiesburg, Mississippi|Hattiesburg, Mississippi]], the son of Vernon M. Weddle Sr. and Grace G. Weddle.<ref name="familysearch_1940census_weddle_family_hattiesburg">{{cite web|title=United States, Census, 1940|url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYGZ-C5S|publisher=FamilySearch|quote=Entry for Vernon Weddle and Grace G Weddle, 1940|accessdate=6 July 2026}}</ref><ref name="familysearch_publicrecords_weddle_jr_fullname">{{cite web|title=United States, Public Records, 1970-2009|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KTGM-JST|publisher=FamilySearch|quote=Vernon Mansfield Weddle, 1999-2009|accessdate=6 July 2026}}</ref><ref name="imdb_weddle_bio_birth_hattiesburg">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0917136/bio/#:~:text=Hattiesburg%2C%20Mississippi|title=Vernon Weddle - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref><ref name="note_weddle_hattiesburg_family_census_confirmation">The 1940 U.S. Census lists the family resident in Hattiesburg's Ward 1 (Forrest County) both in 1940 and, per the census's residence-history field, as of 1935, the year of Weddle's birth. This confirms the "V. M. Weddle" family later documented in Texas City in 1970 (see Personal life) as the same family.</ref> Weddle moved to [[w:Texas|Texas]] with his family at the age of thirteen.<ref group="external" name="suntimes_okoboji_weddle_early_life_texas_move">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> He attended Lon Morris Junior College in [[w:Jacksonville, Texas|Jacksonville, Texas]], and graduated in the top ten percent of his class from the [[w:University of Texas at Austin|University of Texas at Austin]] in 1958.<ref group="external" name="suntimes_okoboji_weddle_education_lonmorris_ut">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> He then took a position as actor-in-residence and instructor in theatre arts at [[w:Stephens College|Stephens College]] in [[w:Columbia, Missouri|Columbia, Missouri]].<ref group="external" name="suntimes_okoboji_weddle_stephens_residency">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref>

=== Stage career ===
In 1961, Weddle and his wife. Geraldine "Gerri" Weddle ''née'' Peeples, premiered ''Guidebook to Bigamy'', a comedy they co-wrote, at the Okoboji Summer Theatre in [[w:Iowa|Iowa]].<ref group="production" name="suntimes_okoboji_guidebook_bigamy_premiere">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> Weddle wrote the dialogue in longhand and his wife handled the plotting. The finished script was their ninth complete draft, the product of roughly 2,000 pages written over the preceding year.<ref group="production" name="suntimes_okoboji_guidebook_bigamy_creation">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> The play centers on a psychologist, Charles Cook, who takes multiple wives to research his own theories on marriage "in the pure sense of the word."<ref group="production" name="suntimes_okoboji_guidebook_bigamy_plot_cook">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> Weddle played Cook opposite Anita Stewart as his neglected wife, with Miles Shearer, William C. Cragen, and Virginia True in supporting roles. Stage and screen actor [[w:Tom Ewell|Tom Ewell]] and Broadway producer [[w:Arthur Penn|Arthur Penn]] both requested copies of the script to study, though neither appeared in the Okoboji production.<ref group="production" name="suntimes_okoboji_guidebook_bigamy_cast_and_interest">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref><ref group="footnotes" name="note_weddle_guidebook_bigamy_ewell_correction">Some secondary sources describe Weddle as playing a supporting role in this production with Tom Ewell as the lead. The 1961 premiere account identifies Weddle as playing the lead role of Cook and does not list Ewell among the cast, instead noting that Ewell had requested a copy of the script to study.</ref>

By 1966, Weddle had joined the summer repertory program at Allan Hancock College in [[w:Santa Maria, California|Santa Maria, California]], as its first visiting artist-in-residence, continuing his appointment at Stephens College during the academic year.<ref group="production" name="santayneznews_hancock_interim_theatre_1966_weddle_residency">{{cite news|title=Hancock Interim Theatre Sets Summer Productions|newspaper=Santa Ynez Valley News|date=23 June 1966|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/931442098/#:~:text=Vernon%20Weddle%2C%20actor%20in%20residence|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> In May 1967, he starred in ''Take Her, She's Mine'' at the Stephens Playhouse, playing one of the parents opposite Pamela Freihofer in the [[w:Phoebe Ephron|Phoebe]] and [[w:Henry Ephron|Henry Ephron]] comedy.<ref group="production" name="columbiatribune_take_her_shes_mine_weddle_lead_1967">{{cite news|title='Take Her, She's Mine' Closes Playhouse|newspaper=Columbia Daily Tribune|date=5 May 1967|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1018887247/#:~:text=stars%20Vernon%20Weddle|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> He returned to Allan Hancock College for a third summer residency in 1968, when he played Sir Peter Teazle in [[w:Richard Brinsley Sheridan|Richard Brinsley Sheridan]]'s ''[[w:The School for Scandal|The School for Scandal]]'', staged as the college's new thrust-stage theatre opened.<ref group="production" name="santamariatimes_school_for_scandal_weddle_teazle_1968">{{cite news|title='The School For Scandal' Upholds Quality Of Summer Repertory Play|author=Graziano, Joe|newspaper=Santa Maria Times|date=15 July 1968|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/569455990/#:~:text=Vernon%20Weddle%2C%20actor|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref><ref group="production" name="santamariatimes_three_artists_residence_weddle_history_1970">{{cite news|title=Three Artists In Residence Named For AHC Theatre Year|newspaper=Santa Maria Times|date=26 September 1970|page=31|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/446906681/#:~:text=In%201966%20Vernon%20Weddle|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> That same summer, fellow actor Kirk Mee joined the Hancock program. Both had previously worked with actor [[w:Monte_Markham|Monte Markham]] at Stephens College in 1960.<ref group="production" name="santamariatimes_markham_weddle_mee_stephens_1960">{{cite news|title=Television Star Admits Theatre Still First Love|author=White, Karen|newspaper=Santa Maria Times|date=17 August 1968|page=24|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/569458134/#:~:text=Vernon%20Weddle%2C%20are%20actors|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref>

Discussing that season's box-office results, Weddle noted that the Greek tragedy ''[[w:Oedipus Rex|Oedipus]]'' had proven unexpectedly popular with Hancock audiences.

{{quote|text=It reaffirms my faith that people are attracted to good drama and good theatre. It is really a tribute to the people of this community that they support the theatre so well.|source=Vernon Weddle<ref group="commentary" name="santamariatimes_weddle_oedipus_community_quote_1968">{{cite news|title=A Summer That Changed Lives|author=White, Karen|newspaper=Santa Maria Times|date=24 August 1968|page=20|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/569458324/#:~:text=It%20reaffirms%20my%20faith|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref>}}

=== Screen career ===
Weddle worked as a television and film character actor from the 1970s through 1990, often cast as doctors, officials, and other authority figures.

He appeared in three productions from [[Glen A. Larson]] in addition to ''Galactica 1980''. On ''[[w:B. J. and the Bear|B.J. and the Bear]]'' he played Delwood P. Manners in two second-season episodes, "Cain's Cruiser" (1979)<ref group="external" name="imdb_bjbear_cains_cruiser_manners">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517211/#:~:text=Delwood%20P.%20Manners|title=B.J. and the Bear: Cain's Cruiser (1979)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref> and "The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful" (1980).<ref group="external" name="imdb_bjbear_good_bad_beautiful_manners">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0517236/#:~:text=Delwood%20P.%20Manners|title=B.J. and the Bear: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful (1980)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref> He guest-starred in three episodes of ''[[w:Quincy, M.E.|Quincy, M.E.]]'' between 1977 and 1980, as Mr. Carew, Hal Peters, and Peter Harper.<ref group="external" name="imdb_weddle_credits_quincy_roles">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0917136/filmotype/actor#:~:text=Quincy%20M.E.|title=Vernon Weddle - Credits|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref> He also appeared as Dr. [[Buckwiki:Moray|Moray]] in the ''[[Buck Rogers in the 25th Century]]'' episode "[[Buckwiki:Mark of the Saurian|Mark of the Saurian]]" (1981).<ref group="external" name="imdb_buckrogers_saurian_moray">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0533104/#:~:text=Vernon%20Weddle,Dr.%20Moray|title=Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Mark of the Saurian (1981)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref>

In feature films, Weddle played Reverend Hubbard in ''[[w:Norma Rae|Norma Rae]]'' (1979)<ref group="external" name="imdb_normarae_hubbard_role">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079638/characters/nm0917136#:~:text=Vernon%20Weddle%20as%20Reverend%20Hubbard|title=Norma Rae (1979) - Vernon Weddle as Reverend Hubbard|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref> and General Washburne in ''[[w:Short Circuit (1986 film)|Short Circuit]]'' (1986).<ref group="external" name="imdb_shortcircuit_washburne_role">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091949/characters/nm0917136#:~:text=Vernon%20Weddle%20as%20General%20Washburne|title=Short Circuit (1986) - Vernon Weddle as General Washburne|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref> On ''[[w:Simon & Simon|Simon &amp; Simon]]'' he appeared in three episodes between 1982 and 1985 in separate roles.<ref group="external" name="imdb_weddle_name_simon_simon">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0917136/#:~:text=Simon%20%26%20Simon|title=Vernon Weddle|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref> His final credited screen role was a 1990 episode of ''[[w:Parker Lewis Can't Lose|Parker Lewis Can't Lose]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_weddle_name_parker_lewis_final">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0917136/#:~:text=Parker%20Lewis%20Can%27t%20Lose|title=Vernon Weddle|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=4 July 2026}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Weddle met his future wife, Gerri, while both were students at Lon Morris, where they appeared together in the musical ''Roberta''.<ref group="external" name="suntimes_okoboji_weddle_wife_meeting_roberta">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> Gerri Weddle, born Geraldine Peeples on November 5, 1936, in Dallas, Texas, was the daughter of Cecil E. Peeples and Gladys (Labenski) Peeples.<ref group="external" name="familysearch_texasbirthindex_geraldine_peeples">{{cite web|title=Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997|url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VDMK-B13|publisher=FamilySearch|quote=Entry for Geraldine Peeples and Cecil E Peeples, 05 Nov 1936|accessdate=6 July 2026}}</ref> Her father later served as president of Lon Morris Junior College. She graduated ''[[w:Cum_laude|cum laude]]'' from [[w:Southwestern University|Southwestern University]] in [[w:Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown, Texas]], in 1956.<ref group="external" name="suntimes_okoboji_weddle_wife_biography">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref> The couple had two sons, Richard and Kirk, and co-wrote ''Guidebook to Bigamy'' together (see: [[#Stage career|Stage career]]).<ref group="external" name="suntimes_okoboji_weddle_sons">{{cite news|title=Okoboji Theater Actors Play World Premier on Tuesday|newspaper=The Sunday Times|date=30 July 1961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z6ooAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA4|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref>

By 1970, Weddle's parents were living in [[w:Texas City, Texas|Texas City, Texas]], where his sister, Laura Hale, also resided.<ref group="external" name="galvestonnews_mainland_memos_weddle_family_texas_city_1970">{{cite news|title=Mainland Memos|author=Waring, Pat|newspaper=The Galveston Daily News|date=8 July 1970|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/30125141/#:~:text=V.%20M.%20WEDDLE|url-access=subscription|via=Newspapers.com|accessdate=5 July 2026}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=footnotes}}

== References ==

=== Production history ===
{{reflist|group=production}}

=== Commentary and interviews ===
{{reflist|group=commentary}}

=== External sources ===
{{reflist|group=external}}