Tom Lester

Thomas William Lester (September 23, 1938 – April 20, 2020) was an American actor and evangelist. He was best known for his role as farmhand Eb Dawson on the television show Green Acres. He appeared in two feature animal films, Gordy and Benji.

For the American football coach, see Tom Lester (American football).
Tom Lester
Lester in an undated photo
Born
Thomas William Lester

(1938-09-23)September 23, 1938
Laurel, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 2020(2020-04-20) (aged 81)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • evangelist
Years active1965–2014
Spouse(s)
Kaylie
(
m. 2007)
Signature

Early life and education

Lester was born in Laurel, Mississippi, one of two children (both sons) of Pat Lester (1913–2009), an accountant with Gulf Oil, and Mary Sue (Thornton) Lester (1914–2009), a manager with Home Interiors and Gifts.

In 1948, he became a born-again Christian, and became involved in the Baptist church.[1] At that time he said he thought the Lord's plan for his life would deliver him to Hollywood, California, to embark on an acting career. He discussed his plans and his dream of becoming an actor with his parents.[2]

After he graduated from Laurel High School, he attended the University of Mississippi, where he received a B.Sc. degree in chemistry and biology. He briefly attended graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi, but acting became his main interest. After college he taught school in Purcell, Oklahoma, but he left for Los Angeles. In his early 20s he attended the First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills, California.[2]

"Eb Dawson" role

After moving to Hollywood, Lester met radio and character actress Lurene Tuttle, who became his friend and acting coach. She suggested he begin work in the Little Theater, which he did, acting in showcases at the North Hollywood Playhouse.[3] In the early 1960s, Lester appeared in a play with CBS producer Paul Henning's daughter Linda Kaye Henning (Betty Jo Bradley of Petticoat Junction), and Lester soon found himself auditioning for the role of Eb Dawson, farmhand to Oliver Wendell Douglas (played by Eddie Albert) on Green Acres. Lester beat around 400 other actors to play the character after a screen test.[4]

Lester later said he won the role because he was the only actor who auditioned who knew how to milk a cow since he grew up on a farm in Mississippi. His recurring role soon became a regular character due to the character's and the show's popularity, which made Lester a household name.[4]

As several Green Acres characters also appeared in episodes of two other CBS series – Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies – Lester, as Eb Dawson, also occasionally appeared on those shows. Even during the height of Green Acres' popularity, Lester lived modestly in a small apartment over a garage in the San Fernando Valley. Each year during the show's summer hiatus he would travel the country and speak at churches, youth rallies and revival meetings and at one time worked for the Reverend Billy Graham's organization.[5]

Lester appeared in nearly every Green Acres episode between 1965–71, with the exception of the first half in the 1967–68 season when he was ill with mononucleosis. The show's explanation for Eb's absence was that he had eloped and was on his honeymoon. After six seasons, Green Acres was cancelled in 1971 as part of CBS's "rural purge".[6]

Career after Green Acres

After Green Acres, Lester was typecast as Eb Dawson. In 1990, he reunited with Albert and Gabor to reprise his role in Return to Green Acres.[7]

He returned to his parents' home in Laurel, Mississippi, but continued to do an occasional movie or TV role. During the mid-1970s to early 1980s, his roles included guest spots in Little House on the Prairie, Marcus Welby, M.D., Knight Rider and Love, American Style. In 1991 he played the adult Pete Maravich in the film about the future basketball hall-of-famer's youth, The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend.

In 2004, he was the voice of the unseen DJ for KCOW radio station in the movie Christmas Child (starring William R. Moses and Steven Curtis Chapman). In 2014, he starred with Ray Stevens and Victoria Jackson in the comedy Campin' Buddies.[8]

Lester was a farmer and for many years had been a Christian speaker who traveled the nation, preaching a message of faith and obedience.[2][9] He still participated in autograph shows and fan forums, often dressed as Eb Dawson.[10][11]

With the death of Mary Grace Canfield, who portrayed Ralph Monroe, on February 15, 2014, Lester was the last surviving regular cast member of Green Acres.[12][4]

Friendship with Eddie Albert

Lester referred to Eddie Albert as his "surrogate father". The two guest-starred on The Beverly Hillbillies, which featured Albert's good friend, Buddy Ebsen, for one episode. When Green Acres was canceled in 1971, Albert and Lester remained close friends and continued to stay in touch until Albert's death in 2005.[13] Both Albert and Lester attended Gabor's funeral in 1995. On May 26, 2005, Albert died of complications from Alzheimer's disease and Lester was the only surviving Green Acres star not to attend Albert's funeral.[14]

Personal life and death

Lester was married for the only time in July 2007 at the age of 68. He and his wife Kaylie lived on the 250-acre family farm in Vossburg, Mississippi.[13]

In 1997, Lester was the recipient of Mississippi's "Wildlife Farmer of the Year" award.[15]

On April 20, 2020, Lester died from complications of Parkinson's disease in the Nashville, Tennessee, home of his fiancée and long-term caregiver, Jackie Peters. He was 81. He is survived by his brother, two great-nieces, one great-great niece, and one great-great nephew.[16][17][18]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1965–71Green AcresEb Dawson/Gus, Jr.Main Cast
150 episodes
1966–67Petticoat JunctionEb Dawson6 episodes
1968The Beverly HillbilliesEb Dawson3 episodes
1974Love, American StyleFleetus (from segment "Love and the Competitors")1 episode
1974Marcus Welby, M.D.Will MacAllister1 episode
1974BenjiRiley
1976Charo and the SergeantSgt. Hank PalmerTV Movie
1981Little House on the PrairieMr. Wilder1 episode
1982Knight RiderTed Moore1 episode
1987Santa Barbara2nd Deputy1 episode
1989IntruderOfficer Mathews
1990Return to Green AcresEb DawsonTV Movie
1991The Pistol: The Birth of a LegendPete Maravich (Adult)
1995GordyCousin Jake
2004Christmas ChildRadio AnnouncerVoice
2008Huntin' BuddiesTomAlso served as writer
2009Beyond the ForestMr. AlexanderShort
2014Campin' BuddiesTomAlso served as producer
Final film role

References
  1. Spinner, Chuck. "A Book of Prayers: To the Heavens From the Stars". AuthorHouse. Retrieved June 8, 2018 – via Google Books.
  2. "'Green Acres' Star Tom Lester". Americanprofile.com. March 5, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  3. "There's a surprising link between Green Acres' Eb Dawson and The Andy Griffith Show's Barney Fife". Me-TV Network. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  4. "Even at the height of Green Acres fame, Tom Lester lived above a garage". Me-TV Network. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  5. "Rome News-Tribune - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  6. "Television's Rural Purge Reflected a Change in Social Mood - Elliott Wave International". Elliottwave.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  7. "Return To Green Acres". Maggiore.net. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  8. Walsh, S.M. (April 20, 2020). "Tom Lester Dead: 'Green Acres' Actor Dies at 81". Heavy. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  9. Video on YouTube
  10. "Green Acres Recent Encounters". Maggiore.net. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  11. "My Green Acres book signing in Laurel - BOOK SIGNING - Sally Rideout Smith left author of "My Green Acres " was joined by Tom Lester right who played "Eb" on the popular TV sitcom "Green Acres" for her book signing Thursday April 25 at the Baptist..." Impactads.com. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  12. "The People of Hooterville". Maggiore.net. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  13. "Whatever Happened To Eb from 'Green Acres'". KXRB 1140 AM/100.5 FM - South Dakota's Country Leader. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  14. "Cast of Green Acres". RetroStarz.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  15. Israel, Brian. "Connection Magazine, The Premier Good News Publication". Connectionmagazine.org. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  16. Shafer, Ellise; Shafer, Ellise (20 April 2020). "'Green Acres' Actor Tom Lester Dies at 81". Variety. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  17. "Tom Lester, the Wide-Eyed Farmhand Eb Dawson on 'Green Acres,' Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  18. "Tom Lester, 'Green Acres' star, dies at 81 at Nashville home". WKRN News 2. 20 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
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