Dennis Fimple

A longtime character actor who uniquely parlayed his job as a newspaper delivery man into a successful acting career, Dennis Fimple never failed to end his daily route by dropping a free newspaper and headshot at the office of General Services Studios' casting director. The gamble paid off, and the casting director eventually offered young Fimple a series of small roles in Petticoat Junction. Born to an electrician and beautician in Ventura, CA, and raised in nearby Taft, the aspiring young actor decided to pursue a career on stage and screen after portraying Tom Sawyer in a junior high school play. Enchanted with his ability to goof off on-stage without getting into trouble, Fimple would eventually earn a scholarship to San Jose State and major in speech and drama in addition to earning his teaching credential. Residing in the San Francisco Bay area and working in a Cheetos factory by day, the nighttime found the tireless Fimple appearing in dinner theaters. Realizing that in order to make it, a relocation was in order, Fimple packed his bags for Hollywood with initially discouraging results. A teacher by day and newspaper delivery man by night, Fimple would follow appearances in Petticoat Junction with roles in such popular small-screen series as Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. and Here Come the Brides. Roles in such features as Cactus in the Snow (1970) and Truck Stop Women (1974) followed shortly thereafter, and appearances in the following year's The Apple Dumpling Gang and the remake of King Kong (1976) found the rugged-looking actor's face gaining increasing exposure. Often cast as rough-and-tumble rural folk, Fimple remained a staple of television and film well into the new millennium. Following his final appearance in horror-rocker Rob Zombie's throwback fright-fest House of 1000 Corpses, Fimple died of natural causes at his Frazier Park, CA, home. He was 61.

~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide