Character actor G.D. Spradlin, who was the corrupt Senator Geary in "Godfather II" and General Corman, who sends Martin Sheen on his mission to assassinate Marlon Brando's Col, Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now", died at his ranch in San Luis Obispo, California, on July 24, 2011. He was 90. He was born Gervase Duan Spradlin in Daylight Township, Garvin County, Oklahoma, on August 31, 1920. He served in the Army Air Force in China during World War II. He earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma after the war, and became an attorney for Phillips Petroleum Co. He became an independent oil producer in the early 1950s, and was successful enough to retire in 1960. He began acting several years late on the local stage in Oklahoma City, where he was also an unsuccessful candidate for Mayor in 1965. He began his acting career in earnest the following year, and appeared frequently on television in episodes of such series as “The Iron Horse”, “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”, “I Spy", “The Outsider", “It Takes A Thief”, “Dragnet”, “Bonaza”, “Search”, “Kung Fu”, “City of Angels”, “Columbo”, “The Greatest American Hero”, and “Dark Skies”. He was also seen in the tele-films “Dial Hot Line” (1970), “Sam Hill: Who Killed Mr. Foster?” (1971), “Maneaters Are Loose!” (1978), James Michener’s “Space” (1985), “Dream West” (1986), “Resting Place” (1986), “Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder” (1987), “Carolina Skeletons” (1991), and “Riders of the Purple Sage” (1996). Spradlin was also noted for his roles as an authority fiqure in numerous films, including “Will Penny” (1968), “Hell’s Angels ‘69” (1969), “The Formula” (1980), “Wrong is Right” (1982), “Ed Wood" (1994) as the legendary schlock director’s financier, Reverend Lemon, “Nick of Time” (1995), and “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996).
Character actor G.D. Spradlin, who was the corrupt Senator Geary in "Godfather II" and General Corman, who sends Martin Sheen on his mission to assassinate Marlon Brando's Col, Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now", died at his ranch in San Luis Obispo, California, on July 24, 2011. He was 90. He was born Gervase Duan Spradlin in Daylight Township, Garvin County, Oklahoma, on August 31, 1920. He served in the Army Air Force in China during World War II. He earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma after the war, and became an attorney for Phillips Petroleum Co. He became an independent oil producer in the early 1950s, and was successful enough to retire in 1960. He began acting several years late on the local stage in Oklahoma City, where he was also an unsuccessful candidate for Mayor in 1965. He began his acting career in earnest the following year, and appeared frequently on television in episodes of such series as “The Iron Horse”, “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”, “I Spy", “The Outsider", “It Takes A Thief”, “Dragnet”, “Bonaza”, “Search”, “Kung Fu”, “City of Angels”, “Columbo”, “The Greatest American Hero”, and “Dark Skies”. He was also seen in the tele-films “Dial Hot Line” (1970), “Sam Hill: Who Killed Mr. Foster?” (1971), “Maneaters Are Loose!” (1978), James Michener’s “Space” (1985), “Dream West” (1986), “Resting Place” (1986), “Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder” (1987), “Carolina Skeletons” (1991), and “Riders of the Purple Sage” (1996). Spradlin was also noted for his roles as an authority fiqure in numerous films, including “Will Penny” (1968), “Hell’s Angels ‘69” (1969), “The Formula” (1980), “Wrong is Right” (1982), “Ed Wood" (1994) as the legendary schlock director’s financier, Reverend Lemon, “Nick of Time” (1995), and “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996). 
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