John Quade
John William Saunders III (April 1, 1938 – August 9, 2009), better known by the stage name John Quade, was an American character actor who starred in film and in television.[1] He was best known for his role as Cholla, the leader of the motorcycle gang the Black Widows in the Clint Eastwood films Every Which Way but Loose (1978) and its sequel Any Which Way You Can (1980).[1]
John Quade | |
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John Quade as Cholla in Every Which Way but Loose | |
Born | John William Saunders April 1, 1938 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
Died | August 9, 2009 71) Rosamond, California, U.S. | (aged
Occupation | Film, television actor |
Years active | 1968–93 |
Spouse(s) | Gwendolyn Rice (1970-2009) (his death) |
Early life
Born in Kansas City, Kansas, Quade attended Perry Rural High School in Perry, Kansas before transferring to Highland Park High School in Topeka on September 7, 1954. While at Highland Park, he was a football tackle and also participated in basketball and track.[2] He was a member of the Stamp, Radio, and Chess/Checkers clubs. He graduated from Highland Park in May 1956.
Quade attended Washburn University in the fall semester of 1956. He worked for the Santa Fe Railway repair shop in Topeka and as an aerospace engineer before his movie debut in 1972.[2] In the mid-1960s he formed a partnership with rock and roller Zane Ashton (aka Bill Aken) in the production company "Progressive Sounds Of America." Most of their productions were done at Richie Podolor's American Recording including those with The Roosters, Fenwyck, Big Joe Long, and United Artist's country songstress Kathy Dee. Ashton was the adopted son of classical guitarist Francisco Mayorga and his actress wife Lupe, who initially helped open music business doors for the two partners. After a rapid rise from a one-room office in Maywood, California to a highrise suite of offices in Hollywood, they sold the company to the Pat Quinlan Agency in 1968, but the two remained friends for decades.
Acting career
Quade began acting on TV from 1968, and made his first film in 1972, usually as brutish villains or ruthless authority figures, and starred in High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales,[1] Every Which Way But Loose,[1] and Any Which Way You Can with Clint Eastwood.[1] He appeared in Papillon with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.[1] He appeared in many television movies and mini-series including Roots[1] and Dream West. Quade starred in two short-lived television series, Flatbush (1979) and Lucky Luke (1991).
He made many guest appearances on television shows ranging from Kojak, Bonanza,[1] Gunsmoke, Starsky & Hutch, The Rockford Files, The Dukes Of Hazzard (in the episode "Hazzard Connection"), Knight Rider (in the pilot episode "Knight of the Phoenix"), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (in the two-part episode "The Plot to Kill a City" as Quince, a telekinetic supervillain), Galactica 1980 (in the two-part episode “The Super Scouts” as the town sheriff), The A-Team (in the episodes "There's Always A Catch" and "Skins") and On the Air, to TV miniseries such as Roots, Dream West and Return to Lonesome Dove, Baywatch S1 Episode “We Need. vacation”
Activist
Quade was an outspoken opponent of the U.S. government and believed it had become drastically different from the Founding Fathers’ intent. He gave numerous lectures on what he believed was the New World Order of the current government. In short, he was opposed to Section 2 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, Social Security numbers, and driver's licenses. He was often referred to as an "actor, aerospace engineer, and Christian activist". He was a supporter of the Allodial Title belief in common law.
Death
On August 9, 2009, Quade died at his home in Rosamond, California, at the age of 71.
Selected filmography
- Melinda (1972) as Cop (uncredited)
- Hammer (1972) as Riley
- Bad Company (1972) as Nolan
- Goodnight, My Love (1972) as Edgar
- Deadhead Miles (1973) as Spud Holder
- High Plains Drifter (1973) as Jake Ross
- Brother on the Run (1973) as 'Fatback' - Hit Man
- The Blue Knight (1973) as Knobby Booker
- Papillon (1973) as Masked Breton
- The Sting (1973) as Riley
- Planet Earth (1974) as Kreeg Commandant
- The Swinging Cheerleaders (1974) as Belski
- Mr. Ricco (1975) as Arkansas
- Rancho Deluxe (1975) as Circular Face (uncredited)
- 92 in the Shade (1975) as Roy
- The Last Hard Men (1976) as Gant
- The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) as Comanchero Leader
- Special Delivery (1976) as Barney
- Roots (1977, TV Mini-Series) as Sheriff Biggs
- Night Drive (1977) as Old Drunk
- The Ghost of Flight 401 (1978) as Marshall
- Every Which Way but Loose (1978) as Cholla (Black Widows Leader)
- Any Which Way You Can (1980) as Cholla (Black Widows Leader)
- Galactica 1980 (1980, TV Series) as Sheriff
- Cattle Annie and Little Britches (1981) as Morgan
- No Man's Land (1984) as Henry Lambert
- Fury to Freedom (1985) as Mr. Ries
- The B.R.A.T. Patrol (1986) as 'Knife'
- La Bamba (1987) as Bartender
- Tigershark (1987) as 'Cowboy' Dave Reynolds
- The Tracker (1988) as Lomax (outlaw)
- The Giant of Thunder Mountain (1991) as Carl (Townsman)
- And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird (1991) as Walter Kotzwinkle
References
- McLellan, Dennis (August 13, 2009). "John Quade dies at 71; character actor specialized in playing heavies". The Los Angeles Times.
- Highlander 1992: Seventy-fifth Anniversary Edition; yearbook of Highland Park High School (Topeka, Kansas), pg. 12
External links
- John Quade on IMDb
- John Quade at AllMovie
- Celebrity Deaths - John Quade Includes videos, cause of death, & biography.