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Chad Everett

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Chad Everett
Everett in 1975
Born
Raymon Lee Cramton

(1937-06-11)June 11, 1937[1]
South Bend,Indiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 24, 2012(2012-07-24)(aged 75)[1]
Los Angeles,California, U.S.
Other namesChas Everett
Chad York
EducationFordson High School
Alma materWayne State University
OccupationActor
Years active1960–2012
Spouse
​
​
(m.1966; died 2011)​
Children2

Raymon Lee Cramton(June 11, 1937 – July 24, 2012), known professionally asChad Everett,was an American actor who appeared in more than 40 films and television series. He played Dr. Joe Gannon in the television dramaMedical Center,which aired from 1969 to 1976.

Early life

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Everett's father was a racecar driver as well as a racing mechanic and an auto parts salesman.[2][3]Some confusion existed regarding the year of his birth. According toThe Washington Post,"many reference sources list Mr. Everett's date of birth as 1936, but legal records indicate he was born one year later. He routinely gave his age as consistent with a birth date in 1937."[4]His name was later changed to Chad Everett by his agentHenry Willson.[citation needed]

Everett said he did not mind the change because he was tired of explaining his real name: "Raymon-no-D, Cramton-no-P."[4]He was raised inDearborn, Michigan,where he attendedFordson High School.While there, he played on the football team as a quarterback and began acting in stage plays at age 14. During his junior year atWayne State Universityin Detroit, he joined a State Department–sponsored acting troupe that toured India. "I went into acting because I'm easily bored", Everett once said. "Acting seemed to give vent to a lot of different feelings."[4][5][6]He graduated from WSU with a degree in drama.[4]

Career

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Acting

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In 1961, Everett signed a seven-year contract toMGM.[7]

Everett's first notable role came in an episode of the 1960-1962 detective seriesSurfside 6.His first major role came a year later in the filmClaudelle Inglish,and he played a deputy in the short-lived 1963 ABC Western television seriesThe Dakotas.After appearing in a number of movies and television series in the later 1960s, he got his big break, landing the role of Dr. Joe Gannon on the medical dramaMedical Center,with costarJames Daly.[8]

He appeared in numerous films and television series, includingThe Singing Nun,Centennial,Hagen,Airplane II: The Sequel,Star Command,andMulholland Drive.He also appeared as aguest starin more than 40 television series such asRedigo;Melrose Place;The Nanny;Touched by an Angel;Diagnosis: Murder;Caroline in the City;Murder, She Wrote;The Red Skelton Show;The Man from U.N.C.L.E.;andRoute 66.

In 1986, Everett's star on theHollywood Walk of Famewas unveiled.[9]

In 1987, Everett supplied the voice of Ultraman Chuck in the English version of the animated movieUltraman: The Adventure Beginsand voiced several characters in the animated television seriesThe New Yogi Bear Show.He hostedTrinity Broadcasting Network'sMaster's Theater.[citation needed]He was selected by the family ofJohn Wayneto be the voice of theaudio-animatronicfigure of Wayne inDisney's Hollywood Studios'The Great Movie Ride.[10]Based onPatrick Wayne's suggestion, Everett also provided the voice of Wayne in a scene that only appears in the VHS version ofGremlins 2: The New Batch(replacing theHulk Hoganscene that appeared in the theatrical and DVD versions).

In 2001, Everett played one brief scene withNaomi WattsinDavid Lynch'sMulholland Drive.Salononline magazine cited this scene as "the heart of the movie".[citation needed]

Writing

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Everett authored and self-published a book of romantic poetry, which he dedicated to wife Shelby Grant.[9]

Singing

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He recorded a couple of albums,[11]includingAll Strung Outin 1971, for Marina, byMGM[12]coveringAin't No Sunshine.

Philanthropy

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For many years, Everett co-hosted the Labor DayJerry Lewis Telethon,which raises money and awareness for and about the affliction ofmuscular dystrophy.[4]

Personal life

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Everett married actressShelby GrantinTucson, Arizonaon May 22, 1966. Everett was on location in Tucson filming the 1967 movieReturn of the Gunfighterat the time of their wedding.[13]They had two daughters, Katherine and Shannon. The couple remained married for 45 years until her death after a brain aneurysm on June 25, 2011.[14][15]Everett credited his family with being a stabilizing force in his life, stating that even in the worst of times, Grant "never threatened to leave. She would tell me that she was there for me. If not for my family, I would have been in big trouble."[16]Grant noted his romanticism; he sent her so many flowers during their courtship that "my balcony looked like a burial ground." He also often wrote sentimental poems to Grant throughout their marriage, as well as to his daughters. The couple renewed their marriage vows every seven years.[17]

During an appearance onThe Dick Cavett Showthat aired on March 31, 1972, Everett notoriously listed his animals as "three horses and three dogs and a wife" and that his wife was "... the most beautiful animal I own." Fellow guestLily Tomlingasped, "You own? I have to leave!" and walked off the set. Everett later clarified that his wife owned him as well and reported that he felt chagrined by Tomlin's departure.[18]

AfterMedical Centerended, Everett became frustrated when no movie roles were forthcoming and television roles were not working out. A long-time social drinker, he began drinking heavily. He was consuming a quart of vodka a day by the time he quit drinking in 1986. "I was a functional alcoholic." Shelby noted his alcohol-related mood swings and has said, "[F]inally I confronted him. I came into the bedroom with a big pot of coffee one morning and said 'we have a major problem to deal with here.'" A month later, Everett caught sight of himself on a video and did not like what he saw. "'Finally,' I said, 'I am really in trouble'. I stepped outside and I looked up and said 'Father, you take it. I can't handle it anymore.'" The next day, he told his daughters (who were living at home at the time), "I am addicted to alcohol, and I am not going away to detox. I am going to do it here so that you can see what happens to someone if you let a substance take control of you."[17]He attended his firstAlcoholics Anonymousmeeting the next day and claimed he never drank again, attributing his discipline to his Christian faith and his self-pride.[15][17]

Paternity lawsuit

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Beginning in 1973, actress Sheila Scott initiated court proceedings against Everett three times, claiming her son Dale (born 1973) was fathered by him. The lengthy and complicated paternity suit ended in 1984 when a California Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Everett. The court stated:

"From the evidence adduced, the jury concluded that Everett was not Dale's father despite the 94.67 percent probability of paternity from the HLA test"... "In this appeal, we affirm a judgment following a jury verdict finding the defendant and respondent not to be the father of the minor child."[19]

Everett refused to take any more tests regarding paternity. He entered into a private financial settlement with Scott in 1973 but steadfastly maintained he was not Dale's father.[20][21][19][22]In 1991, Scott was sentenced to three months' probation following a guilty verdict of "harassing" Everett for 18 years, including death threats against him and his wife. She was ordered to undergo psychological testing and never to publicly declare that Everett was Dale's father.[23][24]

Death

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Everett died on July 24, 2012, at his home in Los Angeles of lung cancer.[1]He was 75 years old.[4]

TV and filmography

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See also

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References

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  1. ^abcLA Times obit for Chad Everett,July 24, 2012
  2. ^Hevesi, Dennis (July 25, 2012)."Chad Everett, Dashing Dr. Gannon of 'Medical Center', Dies at 75".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 30,2012.
  3. ^"Chad Everett".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 30,2012.
  4. ^abcdefSchudel, Matt (July 25, 2012)."TV star Chad Everett dies at 75; best known for role in 'Medical Center'".The Washington Post.RetrievedNovember 30,2012.
  5. ^Erickson, Hal."Chad Everett Overview".Fandango.RetrievedFebruary 22,2024.
  6. ^"Hoosier Actors, Cont'd".When Movies Were Movies.Archived fromthe originalon 2005-09-08.Retrieved2005-08-31.
  7. ^Timber! Rubbing against the grain of a leading man who put the wood in Hollywoodby Chuck Stephens in the Sept/Oct 2012 issue ofFilm Comment
  8. ^Erickson, Hal.Chad Everett"Chad Everett".MovieWeb.Archived fromthe originalon 2011-05-12.Retrieved2011-01-22.
  9. ^ab"Chad Everett biodata".TV Guide.Archived fromthe originalon February 19, 2013.RetrievedNovember 28,2012.
  10. ^Barnes, Mike (July 24, 2012)."Chad Everett, Handsome Star of TV's 'Medical Center,' Dies at 75".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJuly 31,2020.
  11. ^Barnes, Mike (2012-07-24)."Chad Everett, Star of 'Medical Center,' Dies at 75".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2024-08-01.
  12. ^
  13. ^"Shelby Grant Everett (1936 - 2011) obituary".Ventura County Star.June 28, 2011.RetrievedJuly 7,2011.
  14. ^Stanley, Tim (July 2, 2011)."Actress from Wagoner led life of fame, philanthropy".Tulsa World.RetrievedJuly 7,2011.
  15. ^abLibov, Charlotte."Chad Everett's Death: Did Alcohol Cause '70s Hearthrob's Lung Cancer?".NewsMaxHealth.Archived fromthe originalon January 20, 2013.RetrievedNovember 28,2012.
  16. ^Silverman, Stephen M."Chad Everett Dies of Lung Cancer".People.RetrievedNovember 28,2012.
  17. ^abcLipton, Michael A."Tale of the Tape".People.Retrieved3 December2012.
  18. ^"Lily Tomlin WALKS OUT After Chad Everett's Sexist Remark!".The Dick Cavett Show.March 31, 1972.Retrieved2024-02-22– via YouTube.
  19. ^"Everett v. Everett".Justia US Law.RetrievedDecember 1,2012.
  20. ^"Everett v. Everett (1984)".Justia US Law.RetrievedDecember 1,2012.
  21. ^"Chad Everett".Gadsden Times.p. D5.RetrievedDecember 1,2012.
  22. ^"Woman Enters Guilty Plea For Threatening Everett".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedNovember 28,2012.
  23. ^"Actor Testifies About Death Threats".Associated Press News.Archived fromthe originalon October 7, 2022.RetrievedNovember 28,2012.
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