Actor/Environmentalist
Dennis Weaver To Visit Campus

News Release

The star of the hit TV show "McCloud" and sidekick from TV’s longest running series "Gunsmoke," will visit West Virginia University at Parkersburg May 1 and 2.

Emmy-award winning actor Dennis Weaver will meet with students, faculty and staff as well as various community leaders and friends of the college.

An environmental activist, Weaver is the founder of the Institute of Ecolonomics headquartered in Colorado. Ecolonomics is a phrase coined by Weaver and involves the promotion of maintaining natural resources in ways that are economically sound. Weaver serves as the Institute’s spokesperson.

"I first met Dennis when I was an academic vice president at Missouri Southern State College," WVU Parkersburg President Erik Bitterbaum said. He invited Weaver to visit the Parkersburg campus and share his thoughts regarding his acting career and ecolonomics.

"Dennis is interested in engaging people of all ages to be ecologically responsible," he noted. "While he continues to act, the Institute has become a passion of his."

Weaver created one of the most endearing sidekicks in the history of westerns as "Chester" on the TV series "Gunsmoke." He received an Emmy in 1959 for his portrayal. After nine years on the show, Weaver went on to star in such series as "Gentle Ben," Kentucky Jones," Emerald Point N.A.S.," "Stone," "Buck James," and "McCloud," the role that brought him three Emmy nominations.

In addition to appearing in various tv movies and miniseries, Weaver also appeared in Orson Welles’ 1957 classic, "Touch of Evil," and "The Bridges of Toko-Ri." He starred in such films as "Amber Waves, "Ishi: The Last of His Tribe," and the unforgettable "Duel," directed by Steven Spielberg.

He and his wife Gerry have three grown sons and the Weavers reside in Ridgway, CO.

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Editor’s Note: A press conference will be held with Dennis Weaver from 2 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 1, in Room 2536-38 in the main college building on the WVU Parkersburg campus.

Web site: http://www.dennisweaver.com (includes downloadable photos)

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For additional information, contact:
Connie Dziagwa
Director, Communications and Public Relations
WVU Parkersburg
(304-424-8203)

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