Editing David Huffman

{{Short description|American actor (1945–1985)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox person
|name          = David Huffman
|image         = 
|imagesize     = 
|caption       = 
|birth_date    = {{birth date|mf=yes|1945|05|10}}
|birth_place   = [[Berwyn, Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date    = {{death date and age|1985|02|27|1945|05|10|mf=yes}}
|death_place   = [[San Diego]], California, U.S.
|death_cause   = [[Homicide]]
|occupation    = Actor and producer
|years_active  = 1969–1985
|spouse        = {{marriage|[[Phyllis Huffman]]|1967}}
|children      = 2
}}

'''David Oliver Huffman''' (May 10, 1945 – February 27, 1985) was an American actor and producer.

==Personal life==
Huffman was born on May 10, 1945, in [[Berwyn, Illinois]], to Clarence and Opal Huffman (née Dippel).

Huffman married casting director [[Phyllis Huffman]] (''nee'' Grennan) in 1967,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19850329&id=5cUdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-GEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5201,9210158|title=10 Actors Get Multiple Roles at The Public|last=Blank|first=Ed|date=May 29, 1985|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=D4|access-date=June 9, 2014|via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> whom he had met as a student at [[Webster University]] in [[St. Louis, Missouri]]. The couple had two sons and remained married until Huffman's death in 1985.

Huffman was an avid sailor, recreational painter, and [[country music|country‐and‐western]] guitarist.<ref name="Damsker">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-01-me-23671-story.html|title=Actor's Stabbing Death in Park Mystifies Co-Workers, Officials|last1=Damsker|first1=Matt|last2=Weintraub|first2=Daniel M.|date=March 1, 1985|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/28/archives/new-face-david-huffman-exterrific-liar-gives-honesty-a-boost-in.html|title=New Face: David Huffman Ex-Terrific Liar Gives Honesty a Boost in Film|last=Bennetts|first=Leslie|date=July 28, 1978|newspaper=The New York Times|page=section C, page 12|access-date=January 5, 2020}}</ref>

==Murder==
On the morning of February 27, 1985, 16-year-old Genaro Samano Villanueva was taken into [[San Diego]] police custody after attempting to steal a radio from a car near his home. Released into the custody of his high school vice principal, Villanueva left school and went to [[Balboa Park (San Diego)|Balboa Park]]. There he was spotted by Canadian tourist Jack Beamer prowling around inside the [[motor home]] of Beamer's friends. After Beamer accosted him, Villanueva fled the scene.<ref name=latimes>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-14-me-26611-story.html|title=Huffman's Slaying: Strangers Cross Paths and Tragedy Strikes|last1=Harris|first1=Scott|last2=Reza|first2=H.G.|date=March 14, 1985|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|pages=1–2|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref>

Huffman, who was cast in the play ''[[Of Mice and Men (play)|Of Mice and Men]]'' at the [[Old Globe Theatre]] and was set to begin work on the television miniseries ''[[North and South (miniseries)|North and South]]'' the following week,<ref name="reading"/> had visited the theatre shortly before noon to share cookies with the cast and crew<ref name="Damsker"/> and was sitting in his van near the theatre playing his bagpipes when he saw Beamer confront  Villanueva. He gave chase in his vehicle, parking the van near the [[Spreckels Organ Pavilion]] and following Villanueva into the park. When he caught up with Villanueva, the two became involved in a physical altercation, during which Villanueva stabbed Huffman twice in the chest with a screwdriver. Huffman died of [[exsanguination]], likely within 30 to 45 seconds.<ref name=latimes/> His body was found less than an hour later in a Palm Canyon crevice by a group of children, although it was not positively identified until later that night.<ref name="Damsker"/>

On March 2 and 3, [[Crime Stoppers]] produced a reenactment of the crime that was shown on San Diego television and published in several national newspapers. The Canadian tourists whose motor home was burglarized saw Huffman's photo and death announcement in the newspaper and called police.<ref name=latimes/>

Villanueva was arrested on March 12 after a police officer recognized Villanueva from a composite sketch given to police by the Canadian tourist.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-13-mn-22120-story.html |title=Youth, 16, Held in Death of Actor David Huffman |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 14, 2012}}</ref><ref name="reading">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19850313&id=mBtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cj0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4285,1496875|title=Youth arrested in actor's murder|date=March 13, 1985|work=Reading Eagle|page=32|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref> On June 24, 1986, Villanueva was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison and admitted to the [[California State Prison, Centinela]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19860603&id=edYyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yKYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6021,3806947|title=Teen Sentenced In Actor's Slaying|date=June 3, 1986|work=Reading Eagle|page=3|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref> On December 9, 2011, he was denied parole for 15 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sandiegodaannualreport.com/2011/pages/divisions/case_issuance_extradition.html |title=San Diego County District Attorney 2011 Annual Report |publisher=San Diego County District Attorney |access-date=2013-09-17}}</ref>

==Broadway stage credits==
*''[[Butterflies Are Free (play)|Butterflies Are Free]]'' as Don Baker (October 21, 1969 &ndash; July 2, 1972)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1978
| ''[[F.I.S.T. (film)|F.I.S.T.]]'' 
| Abe Belkin 
| 
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Ice Castles]]'' 
| Brian Dockett
| 
|-
| 1979
| ''[[The Onion Field (film)|The Onion Field]]'' 
| District Attorney Phil Halpin 
| 
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Wolf Lake (film)|Wolf Lake]]''
| David 
| 
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Leo and Loree]]''
| Dennis
| 
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Blood Beach]]''
| Harry Caulder 
|
|-
| 1981
| ''[[St. Helens (film)|St Helens]]''
| David Jackson
| 
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Firefox (film)|Firefox]]''
| Captain Buckholz 
| 
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Last Plane Out]]''
|  Jim Conley 
|
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Pueblo (film)|Pueblo]]''
| Seaman 
| Television movie
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Love Story (1973 TV series)|Love Story]]''
| David Ross
| Episode: "Mirabelle's Summer"
|-
| 1974
| ''[[F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'The Last of the Belles']]''
| Andy McKenna 
| Television movie
|-
| 1974
| ''The Yanks Are Coming''
| Unknown 
| Television movie
|-
| 1974
| ''Lincoln''
| [[Elmer E. Ellsworth]]
| Miniseries
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]''
| T. Byron Bentley 
| Episode: "A Dangerous Age"
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Nakia (TV series)|Nakia]]''
| Unknown 
| Episode: "The Hostage"
|-
| 1974
| ''[[The Gun (1974 film)|The Gun]]''
| Wayne 
| Television movie
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Eleanor and Franklin (miniseries)|Eleanor and Franklin]]''
| [[Elliott Roosevelt (socialite)]]
| Television movie
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Baretta]]''
| Jesse Bryant
| Episode: "The Blood Bond"
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Bert D'Angelo/Superstar]]''
| Unknown 
| Episode: "A Noise in the Street"

|-
| 1976
| ''[[Amelia Earhart (miniseries)|Amelia Earhart]]''
| Radio Operator
| Miniseries
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Look What's Happened to Rosemary's Baby]]''
| Peter Simon
| Television movie
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Captains and the Kings]]''
| Sean Armagh
| Miniseries
|-
| 1977
| ''[[Play of the Month]]''
| Chadwick Newsome
| Episode: "The Ambassadors"
|-
| 1977
| ''Testimony of Two Men''
| Harold Ferrier 
| Miniseries
|-
| 1977
| ''[[In the Matter of Karen Ann Quinlan]]''
| Paul Armstrong
| Television movie
|-
| 1978
| ''[[The Winds of Kitty Hawk]]''
| [[Orville Wright]]
| Television movie
|-
| 1979
| ''Tom Edison: The Boy Who Lit Up the World''
| [[Thomas Edison|Tom Edison]]
| Television movie
|-
| 1979
| ''[[Lou Grant (TV series)|Lou Grant]]''
| Daniel Todson
| Episode: "Hype"
|-
| 1980
| ''Baby Comes Home''
| Jeff Winston
| Television movie<br>Producer
|-
| 1981
| ''The Million Dollar Face''
| Christopher Ward 
| Television movie
|-
| 1981
| ''[[Sidney Shorr: A Girl's Best Friend]]''
| Jimmy
| Television movie
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Little House on the Prairie (TV series)|Little House on the Prairie]]''
| Reverend Addison Hale
| Episode: "Alden's Dilemma"
|-
| 1983
| ''Jane Doe''
| David
| Television movie
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Remington Steele]]''
| Wilson Jeffries
| Episode: "Vintage Steele"
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Trapper John, M.D.]]''
| Barry Laughton / Frank Maxwyn
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1983
| ''[[Sparkling Cyanide]]''
| Stephan Farraday
| Television movie
|-
| 1984
| ''[[T. J. Hooker]]''
| Dr. Don Travers
| Episode: "The Lipstick Killer"
|-
| 1984
| ''[[The Mississippi (TV series)|The Mississippi]]''
| Harley Morhaim
| Episode: "Going Back to Hannibal"
|-
| 1984
| ''[[Newhart]]''
| Ted Kingston
| Episode: "Cats"
|-
| 1984 
| ''When She Says No''
| Carl Jerome 
| Television movie
|-
| 1984
| ''Children in the Crossfire''
| Larry Malone 
| Television movie, (final film role)
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{IMDb name|0400267}}
*[http://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=8344 David Huffman](Aveleyman) 
*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5895283/david-huffman David Huffman at Find A Grave] 
*Huffman and Gloria Swanson in 1972 play version ''Butterflies Are Free'':
**[http://worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-1972-gloria-swanson-david-518995664 Picture 1](archived)
**[http://worthpoint.com/worthopedia/gloria-swanson-pamela-bellwood-david-417131256 Picture 2](archived)
**[http://worthpoint.com/worthopedia/gloria-swanson-david-huffman-broadway-52902898 Picture 3](archived)

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffman, David}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:1985 murders in the United States]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
[[Category:Deaths by stabbing in California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Berwyn, Illinois]]
[[Category:People murdered in California]]
[[Category:Murdered actors]]
[[Category:Television producers from Illinois]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]