Written By Jason LockardEarlier this week Monday, April 20th, 2020, we lost the last surviving actor of the television series Green Acres. Tom Lester played the Douglas' farmhand Eb Dawson.
I grew up on reruns of shows like Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Green Acres. I always loved the simple comedy of these shows. They were always so much fun.
Tom Lester was born in Laurel Mississippi on September 23rd 1938. In 1948 Tom would give his heart to God and become a born again Christian. He felt the Lord's plan for his life was to go to Hollywood, California, to embark on an acting career.
Little did he know that when he would take the role of Eb Dawson he would be typecast for the rest of his career. Although he would get to guest star on some shows such as Little House on the Prairie, Marcus Welby, M.D., Knight Rider and Love, American Style.
While he did these other roles he could not get way from his iconic role. So in 1990 he would embrace it, and reprise his role as Eb Dawson in the Return to Green Acres TV Movie!
TV Movie Synopsis: After The Douglases move back to New York. Mr. Haney tries to get everyone's property so that a developer can build on them, the residents go to New York to get Douglas to help them.
Lester was a farmer and had been an evangelist who traveled the nation, preaching a message of faith. Occasionally He would participate in autograph shows and fan forums, dressed as Eb Dawson.
Lester was married only once. In July 2007 at the age of 68. He and his wife Kaylie lived on the family farm in Vossburg, Mississippi.
Than in 2014 he would join forces with Ray Stevens for a romp in the woods with the comedy film entitled Campin' Buddies. We got the extreme pleasure to review that film. You can read our rteview of that film here.
Tom Lester died of complications from 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.
Tom Lester lived a long life. Lived his dream and after all that is all anyone of us can really hope for. While he may be gone he has left us some amazing laughter with his character Eb Dawson.
R.I.P. Tom Lester
0 Comments