Wendell Burton
Biography
Wendell Burton was an American actor and later a television executive whose career started on the stage, where he won the lead in the San Francisco musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Alan J. Pakula spotted him in that show and cast him as Jerry Payne, the college student, in The Sterile Cuckoo (1969), the film that made him best known, with Liza Minnelli as his co-star. In 1970 he toured with Butterflies Are Free, and he went on to appear in Fortune and Men's Eyes (1971) and the television movies Murder Once Removed (1971) and Go Ask Alice (1973). He played Private Wilson in a TV version of The Red Badge of Courage in 1974 and had a role in Heat (1986), taught acting in Hollywood, and later worked in television advertising sales.
69years old at death
- Born San Antonio
- Died Houston
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Also credited as Wendell Ray Burton
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 17 years1969 to 1986
Every film, newest first
- 1986HeatIMDb rating 5.7
- 1973Go Ask AliceIMDb rating 6.0
- 1969The Gypsy MothsIMDb rating 6.3
- 1969The Sterile CuckooIMDb rating 6.7
Genres
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First role
Wendell Burton got his start as an actor by landing the title part in the San Francisco stage version of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Big break
Director Alan J. Pakula spotted Burton during a run of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Pakula picked him, beating hundreds of actors with more experience, to play Jerry Payne, the college student Liza Minnelli's character loves, in The Sterile Cuckoo.
A role that slipped away
In the 1980s, Burton's career declined. This happened because of the roles he was offered and because he rejected parts he felt were morally unsuitable.
A change of course
In 1988 Burton started a job in television advertising sales, and he later rose to become the Family Channel's West Coast Director of Sales.
Wendell Burton movies on Netflix
Worked with
Wendell Burton made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Burt Reynolds's page
Gene Hackman's page
Burt Lancaster's page
William Shatner's page
Robert Carradine's page
Scott Wilson's page
Dick RichardsDirector, 1 film, 1986
All films by Dick Richards
Jerry JamesonDirector, 1 film, 1986
All films by Jerry Jameson
All films by John Frankenheimer
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.