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, 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‐and‐western guitarist.
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. 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.
Huffman, who was cast in the play Of Mice and Men at the Old Globe Theatre and was set to begin work on the television miniseries North and South the following week, had visited the theatre shortly before noon to share cookies with the cast and crew 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. 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.
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.
Villanueva was arrested on March 12 after a police officer recognized Villanueva from a composite sketch given to police by the Canadian tourist. On June 24, 1986, Villanueva was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison and admitted to the California State Prison, Centinela. On December 9, 2011, he was denied parole for 15 years.
Broadway stage credits Butterflies Are Free as Don Baker (October 21, 1969 – July 2, 1972)
Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1978 F.I.S.T. Abe Belkin 1978 Ice Castles Brian Dockett 1979 The Onion Field District Attorney Phil Halpin 1980 Leo and Loree Dennis 1981 Wolf Lake David 1981 Blood Beach Harry Caulder 1981 St Helens David Jackson 1982 Firefox Captain Buckholz 1983 Last Plane Out Jim Conley
+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Pueblo Seaman Television movie 1973 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 T. Byron Bentley Episode: "A Dangerous Age" 1974 Nakia Unknown Episode: "The Hostage" 1974 The Gun Wayne ABC Movie of the Week 1976 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 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 Tom Edison Television movie 1979 Lou Grant Daniel Todson Episode: "Hype" 1980 Baby Comes Home Jeff Winston Television movieProducer 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 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 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
External links
David Huffman(Aveleyman) David Huffman at Find A Grave Huffman and Gloria Swanson in 1972 play version Butterflies Are Free: Picture 1(archived) Picture 2(archived) Picture 3(archived)