Dennis Weaver Net Worth 2026 Acting Fortune
Dennis Weaver built an estimated net worth of $16 million at the time of his death on February 24, 2006, through his legendary television and film career spanning over five decades. Born William Dennis Weaver on June 4, 1924, in Joplin, Missouri, the actor became a household name playing Chester Goode on the hit CBS Western series Gunsmoke during 1955 to 1964.
He won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1959 for this iconic role. His career continued soaring when he starred as Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud in the NBC police drama McCloud during 1970 to 1977, earning up to $100,000 per episode at the show’s peak.
He also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s breakthrough 1971 television film Duel and played a memorable role in Orson Welles’ 1958 film Touch of Evil. Beyond acting, Weaver served as president of the Screen Actors Guild during 1973 to 1975 and became a passionate environmental activist.
He founded the Institute of Ecolonomics in 1993 and lived in an eco friendly Earthship home in Ridgway, Colorado. A year before his death, he sold his Malibu property for $5 million and his Colorado property for $4.5 million. He died from prostate cancer at age 81, leaving behind a legacy in entertainment and environmental conservation.
Quick Facts About Dennis Weaver
| Fact | Detail |
| Full Name | William Dennis Weaver |
| Real Name | Billy Dennis Weaver (birth name) |
| Date of Birth | June 4, 1924 |
| Place of Birth | Joplin, Missouri, USA |
| Net Worth (at death 2006) | $16 million |
| Primary Occupations | Actor, Environmental Activist |
| Career Span | 1950 to 2006 |
| Notable Works | Gunsmoke, McCloud, Duel |
Who is Dennis Weaver
Dennis Weaver was an American actor best known for his roles in the television series Gunsmoke and McCloud. He was born in Joplin, Missouri to parents Walter Leon Weaver and Lenna Leora Prather. He attended Joplin Junior College before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he ran track and studied drama.
During World War II, he served as a pilot in the US Navy, flying Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter aircraft. After the war, he tried out for the 1948 Summer Olympics decathlon team but finished sixth and failed to qualify. He then enrolled in the Actors Studio in New York to pursue acting professionally.
His breakthrough came when he landed the role of limping deputy Chester Goode on Gunsmoke in 1955. The show became the highest rated and longest running live action series in US television history at that time.
Dennis Weaver Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Content Focus |
| Not applicable | N/A | Died before social media era | |
| Not applicable | N/A | Died before social media era | |
| Not applicable | N/A | Died before social media era | |
| Legacy | Fan pages exist | Various | Tribute pages maintained by fans |
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Early Life and Military Service
William Dennis Weaver was born on June 4, 1924, in Joplin, Missouri. His father Walter Leon Weaver worked as a doctor. His mother Lenna Leora Prather raised him during the Great Depression. He lived in Shreveport, Louisiana for several years before moving briefly to Manteca, California.
He attended Joplin Junior College and excelled in athletics. He then transferred to the University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he became a track star and set records in several events. During World War II, he served his country as a pilot in the United States Navy. He flew Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter aircraft in combat missions.
After the war ended, he married his childhood sweetheart Gerry Stowell in 1945. Under the name Billy D. Weaver, he tried out for the 1948 US Olympic team in the decathlon. He finished sixth behind 17 year old high school track star Bob Mathias but only the top three finishers qualified for the team.
Broadway and Early Acting Career
Dennis Weaver began his professional acting career on Broadway in New York. He served as an understudy to Lonny Chapman playing Turk Fisher in the play Come Back, Little Sheba in 1950. He eventually took over the role from Chapman in the national touring company.
He enrolled in the prestigious Actors Studio in New York, where he met actress Shelley Winters. During the early years of his acting career, he supported his family by working odd jobs. He sold vacuum cleaners, tricycles, and women’s hosiery door to door. In 1952, Shelley Winters helped him get a contract with Universal Studios.
He made his film debut that same year in the Western movie The Redhead from Wyoming. Over the next three years, he appeared in a series of movies including Horizons West, The Lawless Breed, and Column South. Despite these film roles, he still had to work odd jobs to make ends meet for his growing family.
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Gunsmoke Breakthrough and Emmy Win
In 1955, Dennis Weaver landed the career defining role of Chester Goode on the new CBS Western television series Gunsmoke. He played the limping, loyal assistant to Marshal Matt Dillon, portrayed by James Arness. The producer had him in mind for Chester but could not locate him initially. Weaver showed up to audition without ever having heard the radio show.
He gave Chester’s dialogue his best method acting delivery but the producer wanted something humorous. Weaver resurrected a dialect he remembered and nailed the audition. His character’s limp came about when the producer suggested sidekicks should have some diminishing trait. College decathlon champion Weaver settled on using a stiff leg, something simple and consistent he could maintain.
The show became a massive success and the highest rated live action series in US television history. He earned $300 per episode initially and later made $9,000 per week. He won an Emmy Award in 1959 for Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Series. He left Gunsmoke in 1964 after nine years to pursue other opportunities.
McCloud Success and Steven Spielberg Film
In 1970, Dennis Weaver landed the title role in the NBC police drama series McCloud. He played a Western deputy marshal turned NYPD special investigator in New York City. The show was loosely based on the Clint Eastwood film Coogan’s Bluff. His frequent use of the Southern phrase “There you go” became a catchphrase for the show.
McCloud became a big hit and ran until 1977. He earned up to $100,000 per episode at the height of the show’s popularity. He received two Emmy Award nominations for the role in 1974 and 1975. During the series in 1971, he starred in Duel, a television movie directed by a young Steven Spielberg.
Spielberg selected Weaver based on the intensity of his earlier performance in Touch of Evil. The film became Spielberg’s directorial debut and launched his legendary career. Weaver’s performance in Duel remains one of his most critically acclaimed roles.
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Environmental Activism and Ecolonomics
Dennis Weaver became deeply involved in environmental activism and sustainable living. In 1993, he founded the Institute of Ecolonomics, a nonprofit organization promoting alternative energy use. The term Ecolonomics combined the words ecology and economics. He advocated for hydrogen fuel, wind power, and other renewable energy sources.
In the late 1980s, he commissioned architect Michael Reynolds to design and build his new home in Ridgway, Colorado. The house incorporated recycled materials including old automobile tires and discarded cans. It featured passive solar power and other sustainable technologies. Weaver called his home Earthship, the same name given to Reynolds’ design concept.
He and his family lived at Earthship for over 14 years until 2004. He also founded LIFE (Love Is Feeding Everyone), a Los Angeles organization that provided food for 150,000 needy people weekly. He was involved with John Denver’s WindStar Foundation and the Humane Society’s annual Genesis Awards. He dedicated 175 acres in Colorado for a wildlife preserve.
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Later Career and Final Years
Dennis Weaver continued acting throughout the 1980s and 1990s, though less frequently than before. He starred in the short lived series Stone during 1980, playing a police sergeant turned crime novelist. He appeared in Buck James during the mid 1980s, playing a Texas surgeon and rancher.
He portrayed a Navy rear admiral in 22 episodes of Emerald Point NAS during 1983 to 1984. He starred in acclaimed television films including Amber Waves in 1980 with Kurt Russell. He played Dr. Samuel Mudd in The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd in 1980. In 1987, he received excellent reviews for Bluffing It, where he played an illiterate man.
In February 2002, he appeared on The Simpsons as the voice of aging cowboy Buck McCoy. He voiced a character in the 2004 Disney animated film Home on the Range. His final acting role came in 2005 on the ABC Family series Wildfire, where he played Henry Ritter. He died from prostate cancer at his home in Ridgway, Colorado on February 24, 2006 at age 81.
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Dennis Weaver Income Sources
| Income Source | Estimated Amount |
| Gunsmoke Salary (1955 to 1964) | $3 million to $4 million |
| McCloud Salary (1970 to 1977) | $5 million to $7 million |
| Film Appearances and TV Movies | $2 million to $3 million |
| Residuals and Royalties | $1 million to $2 million |
| Real Estate Sales (Malibu and Colorado) | $9.5 million |
| Voice Work and Guest Appearances | $500,000 to $1 million |
Net Worth Comparison with Western TV Stars
| Actor | Net Worth | Famous Role | Career Span |
| Dennis Weaver | $16 million | Chester Goode, Sam McCloud | 1950 to 2006 |
| James Arness | $8 million | Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke) | 1947 to 1994 |
| Burt Reynolds | $3 million | Various Western roles | 1958 to 2018 |
| Clint Eastwood | $375 million | Rawhide, Western films | 1955 to present |
FAQs About Dennis Weaver
Conclusion
Dennis Weaver’s $16 million net worth reflected his successful five decade career in television and film. His iconic roles in Gunsmoke and McCloud made him a beloved household name across America. Beyond acting, his environmental activism through the Institute of Ecolonomics showcased his commitment to sustainability. His legacy continues inspiring actors and environmentalists alike twenty years after his passing.
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