Dennis Fimple was a talented and versatile actor who appeared in many TV shows and movies, such as Alias Smith and Jones, King Kong, and House of 1000 Corpses. He was known for his comedic skills and his ability to play scruffy rural characters. He died at the age of 61 on August 23, 2002, from complications of a car accident. This article will explore the details of his life, career, and tragic death.
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Early Life and Education
Dennis Clarke Fimple was born on November 11, 1940, in Ventura, California. He was raised in the nearby town of Taft, where his father, Elmer, was an electrician and his mother, Dolly, was a beautician. He developed an interest in acting after playing Tom Sawyer in a junior high school play. He graduated from Taft Union High School in 1958 and received a scholarship to attend San Jose State University, where he majored in drama and speech. He also earned a teaching certificate from the same university.
Acting Career
Fimple moved to Hollywood in the early 1960s, where he initially worked as a teacher and a delivery man before landing his first TV role in Petticoat Junction. He went on to appear in many popular shows, such as Here Come the Brides, MAS*H, The Rockford Files, Starsky and Hutch, Battlestar Galactica, The Dukes of Hazzard, Matt Houston, Highway to Heaven, Knight Rider, The A-Team, The Incredible Hulk, Simon & Simon, Sledge Hammer!, Quantum Leap, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and ER. He also had roles in films such as Truck Stop Women, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Mackintosh and T.J., Stay Hungry, King Kong, The Shadow of Chikara, Goin’ South, The Wild Women of Chastity Gulch, Maverick, and Bug Buster. He shared the lead in Bootleggers and Creature from Black Lake, and played the lovable but dim-witted Kyle Murty in seven episodes of the comedy/western series Alias Smith and Jones. In 1993-94, he appeared as Garral in seven episodes of the Beau Bridges/Lloyd Bridges comedy/western series Harts of the West. His last role was in the 2003 Rob Zombie horror film House of 1000 Corpses, as the foul-mouthed Grandpa Hugo.
Personal Life and Death
Fimple married Barbara Norene Pointer on March 20, 1965, and they had a son, Chris, who is also an actor. They divorced in 1970. Fimple was an avid reader and a collector of antiques and memorabilia. He died at his home in Frazier Park, California, on August 23, 2002, where he was recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident four days earlier. According to IMDb, he was involved in a collision with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 5 near Gorman. He was taken to the Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia, where he underwent surgery for a ruptured spleen and a broken leg. He was then transferred to his home, where he suffered a heart attack and passed away. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.
Legacy and Tributes
Fimple was a beloved actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a loyal fan base. He was praised for his comedic timing, his physical humor, and his ability to portray a wide range of characters. He was also a generous and kind person who loved his family and friends. He was honored with a star on the Taft Walk of Fame in 2008, and his name was added to the Taft Union High School Hall of Fame in 2010. His co-stars and colleagues also paid tribute to him after his death, such as Rob Zombie, who wrote on his website: “Dennis was one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He was not only a great actor, but a great friend. He will be missed by everyone who knew him.” Beau Bridges also expressed his condolences, saying: “Dennis was a wonderful actor and a great guy. He brought a lot of joy to the set of Harts of the West. He was a very special person and I will miss him dearly.”
Conclusion
Dennis Fimple was a talented and versatile actor who appeared in many TV shows and movies, such as Alias Smith and Jones, King Kong, and House of 1000 Corpses. He died at the age of 61 on August 23, 2002, from complications of a car accident. He was a beloved actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances and a loyal fan base. He was also a generous and kind person who loved his family and friends. He was honored with a star on the Taft Walk of Fame and his name was added to the Taft Union High School Hall of Fame. He was also remembered by his co-stars and colleagues, such as Rob Zombie and Beau Bridges, who paid tribute to him after his death.
