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My Favourite Martian - The late Ray Walston

© Tanya M. Blakeley

The late Ray Walston first became known to Sci-Fi fans as everyone's favourite Martian in the 1963 series, which ran until 1966, but that was just a small portion of his tremendous career, which spanned over six decades.

In those years he had roles on stage, screen and television, making his debut on stage in Houston in the late 1930s before moving on to New York to appear in hits like "South Pacific" and "The Front Page". He also made a legendary appearance in both the 1958 film and 1955 stage versions of the hit "Damn Yankees" as the devil, better know as Applegate.

Walston's long and varied career garnered him many awards over the years including a Tony for "Damn Yankees" and two Emmys for his "Picket Fences" performance as Judge Henry Bone (from 1992-96). His most recent appearance was on the hit series Ally McBeal, in the 1999 season premiere.

Other appearances for the legendary actor include two highly acclaimed roles in "Of Mice and Men" (with Gary Sinise in 1992) and Stephen King's mini-series "The Stand" (1994). As well as the 1996 movie "House Arrest", the 1992 feature "The Player", "One Special Victory" in 1991, " Fast Times at Ridgemont High" in 1982 and "Galaxy of Terror" in 1981.

Some thirty-six years after his 1963 role as Uncle Martin in "My Favourite Martian", in which he co-starred with Bill Bixby, he once again stepped into the role of a Martian in the feature film remake of "My Favourite Martian" with Christopher Lloyd as "Uncle Martin".

Many Sci-Fi fans fondly remember him, not only as "Uncle Martin", but also as "Boothby", the Starfleet Academy Gardner. "Boothby" made his first appearance on the hit Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1992 and reprised the role in Star Trek: Voyager.

Walston died on January 2nd at the age of 86 in Beverly Hills California, of natural causes. His family and all of his many fans will sadly miss him.

My favourite Ray Walston Quote:

On not acting as much as he would have liked to in recent years, he said:

"I do miss the soundstages and I do miss playing parts. But I can do without it."

Trivia Question:

What 1973 Robert Redford and Paul Newman feature film did Ray Walston have a role in?

Last Week's Answer:

Who directed the Xena: Warrior Princess episode "Hooves and Harlots"?

The episode was directed by Jace Alexander.

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