Hoke Howell

John Hoke Howell Jr. was born on August 27, 1929, in Sumner, Georgia, the son of John and Allene Howell. After serving in the United States Navy, he enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, from which he graduated in 1956. He went on to build a career spanning stage, film, and television before his death on May 9, 1997, in Burbank, California, at the age of 67.

Howell made his Broadway appearance in 1958, performing in the comedy Make a Million. His screen career began in 1961 with roles in two films released that year, The Hustler and Splendor in the Grass. That same year he made his television debut on the ABC situation comedy series The Hathaways.

Over the course of his career, Howell accumulated an extensive list of television guest appearances, including roles on Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, The Andy Griffith Show — where he portrayed the character Dud Wash — McHale's Navy, The Jack Benny Program, Lost in Space, The Untouchables, Green Acres, Happy Days, The Rookies, Columbo, and The Dukes of Hazzard. He held the recurring role of Ben Jenkins on the ABC western series Here Come the Brides.

His film appearances included Shenandoah, Framed, The Sidehackers, The Last of the Secret Agents?, Slaughter's Big Rip-Off, Humanoids from the Deep, The Glove, and Another 48 Hrs. His final screen credit was the 1997 film The Shooter, after which he retired from acting. Howell was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California.