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Paul Ford

Paul Ford Weaver, who cleaved off his surname to make a two-syllable stage name, was a latecomer to acting notoriety. Despite being a natural performer, Ford initially avoided show business since, like many Americans at the time, he was struggling to make a living and feed his family during the Great Depression. But as the economy began looking up, he decided to plunge into performance and scored bit parts in 1940s movies, largely in dramatic fare such as the 1945 spy thriller "The House on 92nd Street" and the 1949 political saga "All the King's Men." Ford's career really took off in the following decade when he was cast as the buffoonish Colonel Hall, the eternal foil to hero Sergeant Bilko, in the hugely popular sitcom "The Phil Silvers Show." Ford's humorous expressions and expert timing made him an ideal character actor for comedic material, and he excelled in that niche. He appeared in many television series and films until very late in his life. He did a memorable turn as the puzzled mayor in the cheerful adaptation of the con artist musical "The Music Man" in 1962. Ford's last appearance before his death in 1976 was as the voice of Uncle Henry in the animated "Journey Back to Oz," a sequel to the popular book and film "The Wizard of Oz."