fat and stupid is no way to go through life, son

February 4, 2005 7:39 PM

RIP, Dean Wormer
posted by docpops (22 comments total)

so sad when people die... but so nice when there death results in a nice forward to the people you know and love...
posted by cusack at 7:46 PM on February 4, 2005

He's not dead, he's on double-secret respiration.

(he said, again)
posted by mr_crash_davis at 7:56 PM on February 4, 2005

Love your post title. I also remember him as the Mayor in "Dirty Harry."
posted by marxchivist at 8:02 PM on February 4, 2005

I'm picturing a tombstone inscribed "Perhaps Fat, Drunk & Stupid is a Good Way To Go Through Life."

I'm a sick man
posted by jonmc at 8:04 PM on February 4, 2005

Cut the horseshit, son. I've got their disciplinary files right here. Who dropped a whole truckload of fizzies into the swim meet? Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween, the trees are filled with underwear. Every spring, the toilets explode.
posted by spock at 8:05 PM on February 4, 2005

The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
posted by spock at 8:06 PM on February 4, 2005

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
posted by spock at 8:06 PM on February 4, 2005

Thanks for proving you can cut 'n paste, spock.
posted by spock at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2005

What can I say? I'm bored.
<sorry>
posted by spock at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2005

Yeah, this is sort of weird and sad. Animal House is still a vivid memory for me, if only because I was twelve years old and can still remember sitting next to my brother and dad laughing myself sick, except that I probably didn't know what I was laughing at most of the time.

I would love to see outtakes of filming. I imagine John Vernon had a hell of a time maintaining his composure.
posted by docpops at 8:12 PM on February 4, 2005

"Hey, what's this?"...................."A BIG ZIT!!!!!!"
posted by snsranch at 8:18 PM on February 4, 2005

Sure, Dean Wormer was a nice role, but what about Coach 'Bulldog' Malone in The Kinky Coaches and the Pom Pom Pussycats , Sherman Krader in Ernest Goes to Camp , Old Man in Sorority Boys, and appearances on what seems to be just about every TV crime series from the mid 70's through the mid 80's from Cannon to TJ Hooker?

Not the most memorable acting career, yet I'm still a little bummed that he's gone. He was always a good go-to guy when they needed a crooked politician, shady business man, or a horny prison warden.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:29 PM on February 4, 2005

RIP also Ossie Davis.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:48 PM on February 4, 2005

I also liked Mr. Vernon's appearance as Mr. Big in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.

Mr. Big: I know you're surprised that a big Hollywood star like me would appear in this movie. A lot of Hollywood stars have done exploitation films; like Angie Dickinson in 'Big Bad Mama'.

Jack Slade: Or Shelly Winters in 'Cleopatra Jones'!
posted by jonp72 at 9:02 PM on February 4, 2005

Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

R.I.P.
posted by tgyg at 9:03 PM on February 4, 2005

Goddamn. John Vernon and Ossie Davis on the same day. Rough times for very talented actors.

Vernon was a colossally good actor. In POINT BLANK and THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES he is the epitome of sinister. The guy made terrific use of his baritone voice, lending even his sniveling characters a sort of weird gravitas. One of the truly great character actors.

Re: Ossie Davis: known as an actor, he was a pretty interesting director, too. Check out COTTON COMES TO HARLEM for a very interesting use of rapid editing and rich, deep colors.
posted by Dr. Wu at 9:53 PM on February 4, 2005

Of course, the fact that John Vernon and Ossie Davis died on the same day means they're the same person. Like Jim Henson and Sammy Davis, Jr.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:57 PM on February 4, 2005

jonp72,

Junebug!



....how'd he goto the bafroom in that stuff?
posted by Hands of Manos at 9:57 PM on February 4, 2005

Of course, the fact that John Vernon and Ossie Davis died on the same day means they're the same person. Like Jim Henson and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Does that mean that they are both also Max Schmeling as well as Ernst Mayr?
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:18 PM on February 4, 2005

Also, does that mean that River Phoenix and Federico Fellini were the same person? 'Cause that shit is fucked up. And on Halloween, yet!
posted by Dr. Wu at 10:21 PM on February 4, 2005

Thanks for posting the Canadian obituary. The Associated Press couldn't get his hometown right, but of course I already knew he was from my hometown Regina. (And kudos to the Los Angeles Times for reporting the name of the tiny hamlet northeast of Regina where he grew up.)
posted by evilcolonel at 10:50 AM on February 5, 2005

"...and that foot...is me."
posted by Dr. Boom at 1:58 PM on February 5, 2005