Noble Willingham

Biography

Noble Willingham was an American actor who worked steadily in film and television. Born in Mineola, Texas, he taught government and economics before trying acting; an audition for The Last Picture Show (1971) won him a role, and that Texas production led to Paper Moon (1973). His later features included Greased Lightning (1977), The Boys in Company C (1978), The Howling (1981), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), City Slickers (1991), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Of Mice and Men (1992), Fire in the Sky (1993), Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994). On television he had a recurring part on Home Improvement and played C.D. Parker on Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 to 1999.

72years old at death

Born August 31, 1931Mineola
Died January 17, 2004Palm Springs
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Also credited as Noble Henry Willingham Jr.

Movie Career

Films: 24
Career span: 32 years1971 to 2003

Genres

Comedy58%, 14 films
Drama54%, 13 films
Action21%, 5 films
Biography17%, 4 films
Crime17%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Willingham was teaching government and economics at a Houston high school when he auditioned for The Last Picture Show, won the part, and landed another role in Paper Moon.

Noble Willingham movies on Netflix

Blind Horizon2003IMDb rating 5.5as Deputy Shirl Cash
South of Heaven, West of Hell2000IMDb rating 4.3as Sheriff Harris
Up Close & Personal1996IMDb rating 6.1as Buford Sells
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective1994IMDb rating 6.9as Riddle
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6as Clay Stone
Fire in the Sky1993IMDb rating 6.5as Blake Davis
Article 991992IMDb rating 6.2as Inspector General
Of Mice and Men1992IMDb rating 7.4as The Boss
The Distinguished Gentleman1992IMDb rating 5.9as Zeke Bridges
Career Opportunities1991IMDb rating 5.9as Roger Roy McClellan
City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8as Clay Stone
The Last Boy Scout1991IMDb rating 7.0as Sheldon Marcone
Blind Fury1989IMDb rating 6.3as MacCready
The Heist1989IMDb rating 6.0as Stuckey
Splash, Too1988IMDb rating 3.5as Karl Hooten
Born in East L.A.1987IMDb rating 6.1as Border Patrol Sergeant
Good Morning, Vietnam1987IMDb rating 7.3as Gen. Taylor
The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory1987IMDb rating 6.1as Dr. Pollard
First Monday in October1981IMDb rating 6.4as Nebraska Attorney
The Howling1981IMDb rating 6.5as Charlie Barton
The Boys in Company C1978IMDb rating 6.9as Sergeant Curry
Greased Lightning1977IMDb rating 6.4as Billy Joe Byrnes
Paper Moon1973IMDb rating 8.1as Mr. Robertson
The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0as Chester

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective1994 Comedyas Riddle
IMDb rating 6.9358K votes
The Last Boy Scout1991 Action, Comedy, Crimeas Sheldon Marcone
IMDb rating 7.0122K votes
Good Morning, Vietnam1987as Gen. Taylor
IMDb rating 7.3167K votes
Paper Moon1973as Mr. Robertson
IMDb rating 8.158K votes
City Slickers1991as Clay Stone
IMDb rating 6.868K votes
Blind Fury1989as MacCready
IMDb rating 6.321K votes
Fire in the Sky1993as Blake Davis
IMDb rating 6.532K votes
Of Mice and Men1992as The Boss
IMDb rating 7.452K votes

Most often with

Peter Bogdanovich directed two of these films. Daniel Stern appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Daniel Stern

Forest Whitaker

Jeffrey Tambor

Randy Quaid

Jack Palance

David Paymer

Peter BogdanovichDirector, 2 films

Films together

Daniel Stern3 films together, 1987 to 1994
Daniel Stern's page
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6Willingham as Clay StoneStern as Phil Berquist
- City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8Willingham as Clay StoneStern as Phil Berquist
- Born in East L.A.1987IMDb rating 6.1Willingham as Border Patrol SergeantStern as Jimmy
Forest Whitaker2 films together, 1987 to 1992
Forest Whitaker's page
- Article 991992IMDb rating 6.2Willingham as Inspector GeneralWhitaker as Dr. Sid Handleman
- Good Morning, Vietnam1987IMDb rating 7.3Willingham as Gen. TaylorWhitaker as Edward Garlick
Jeffrey Tambor2 films together, 1991 to 1992
Jeffrey Tambor's page
- Article 991992IMDb rating 6.2Willingham as Inspector GeneralTambor as Dr. Leo Krutz
- City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8Willingham as Clay StoneTambor as Lou
Randy Quaid2 films together, 1971 to 1973
Randy Quaid's page
- Paper Moon1973IMDb rating 8.1Willingham as Mr. RobertsonQuaid as Leroy
- The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0Willingham as ChesterQuaid as Lester Marlow
Jack Palance2 films together, 1991 to 1994
Jack Palance's page
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6Willingham as Clay StonePalance as Duke Washburn
- City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8Willingham as Clay StonePalance as Curly
David Paymer2 films together, 1991 to 1994
David Paymer's page
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994IMDb rating 5.6Willingham as Clay StonePaymer as Ira Shalowitz
- City Slickers1991IMDb rating 6.8Willingham as Clay StonePaymer as Ira Shalowitz
Peter BogdanovichDirector, 2 films, 1971 to 1973
All films by Peter Bogdanovich
- Paper Moon1973IMDb rating 8.1Willingham as Mr. Robertson
- The Last Picture Show1971IMDb rating 8.0Willingham as Chester
Also two films together11 more actors
- Kevin McCarthyThe Distinguished Gentleman (1992) and The Howling (1981)
- Billy CrystalCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Troy EvansAce Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) and Article 99 (1992)
- Josh MostelCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Bruno KirbyCity Slickers (1991) and Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
- John HillermanPaper Moon (1973) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- Hugh GillinFirst Monday in October (1981) and Paper Moon (1973)
- Danny NelsonCareer Opportunities (1991) and Greased Lightning (1977)
- Jessie Lee FultonPaper Moon (1973) and The Last Picture Show (1971)
- Patricia WettigCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
- Lindsay CrystalCity Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) and City Slickers (1991)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Noble Willingham's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$898 million

17 of the 24 films have a worldwide figure.

17Worldwide figure
1US gross only
3Never in cinemas
3Figure not found

Top grosser

City Slickers1991Clay Stone$179 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 86% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
City Slickers1991as Clay Stone
$179M19.9% of the total
2
Good Morning, Vietnam1987as Gen. Taylor
$124M13.8% of the total
3
The Last Boy Scout1991as Sheldon Marcone
$115M12.8% of the total
4
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective1994as Riddle
$107M11.9% of the total
5
Up Close & Personal1996as Buford Sells
$101M11.2% of the total
6
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994as Clay Stone
$72M8.0% of the total
7
The Distinguished Gentleman1992as Zeke Bridges
$47M5.2% of the total
8
Paper Moon1973as Mr. Robertson
$31M3.4% of the total