Tom Lester, 81, last member of Green Acres cast

[KeithE4]

He died of complications related to Parkinson's Disease. He had become a preacher later in life, and had been a teacher in Oklahoma before going to Hollywood. RIP, Tom. ;'(

https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/tom-lester-dead-dies-green-acres-eb-1234585075/

 

[vchimpanzee]

I liked that show so much.

It's nice that he wasn't ashamed of having played that role.

 

[radioman148]

I liked the show too. I mainly watched it in reruns. Didn't see too many on the initial run.

 

[KeithE4]

I liked that show so much.

It's nice that he wasn't ashamed of having played that role.

Like Max Baer Jr., he was a highly intelligent and educated guy playing the role of a borderline-idiot. They cried about it all the way to the bank.

 

[gr8oldies]

I don't know about Lester, but Max felt the typecasting hurt his career.

Like Max Baer Jr., he was a highly intelligent and educated guy playing the role of a borderline-idiot. They cried about it all the way to the bank.

 

[CTListener]

I have a feeling the veteran actors involved in "Green Acres" -- Pat Buttram, Eddie Albert, Hank Patterson, etc. -- had a blast doing that absurdist take on the CBS rural comedy formula, kind of like the older stars who hammed it up as villains on "Batman." They had nothing to lose. But I can see younger actors like Lester regretting the roles as they tried to advance their careers.

 

[vchimpanzee]

I don't know about Lester, but Max felt the typecasting hurt his career.

When I finally got around to seeing the early episodes, I discovered they were very different. They didn't seem like dumb hicks at all. Even Jethro. They were all talented actors playing people who seemed realistic but cut off from the modern world.

 

[installLSC]

When I finally got around to seeing the early episodes, I discovered they were very different. They didn't seem like dumb hicks at all. Even Jethro. They were all talented actors playing people who seemed realistic but cut off from the modern world.

Even better by the final episodes of "Green Acres" Oliver started understanding the Hooterville mindset--which now meant outsiders found him crazy! And I remember an episode of "Beverly Hillbillies" in which the Clampetts mocked the Indian guru figure, which was fashionable amongst the "beautiful people" both on the show and in real life Hollywood.