William Windom (1923-2012)

USCF life member William Windom, the veteran character actor, died August 16, 2012 at his home in Woodacre, California. He was 88.

Windom was best known for his work on television, including episodes of the "Twilight Zone" and "Star Trek," and was for many years the recurring character of Dr. Seth Hazlitt on the Emmy-winning series "Murder, She Wrote."

He was born September 28, 1923 in New York City and attended Williams College in Massachusetts before joining the Army as a paratrooper in World War II. After the war, he began his acting career in 1946 as a member of the American Repertory Theater in New York, where he remained through 1961. He appeared in 18 Broadway plays and five off-Broadway productions, including "Henry VIII," "Twelfth Night," "Androcles and the Lion," "Time Remembered," "The World of Susie Wong" and "Come Blow Your Horn." Windom was an avid chess player, who was profiled twice in "Chess Life."

When he was an active player many years ago, one of his rated games was published in Chess Life as well as in the Los Angeles Times. Among fellow actors he engaged in the royal game was legendary actor John Wayne.

Obituary submitted by
George Mirijanian, Massachusetts Chess Association

William Windom may you rest in peace.