Arthur Space
Best known as Doc Weaver on the long-running family adventure program "Lassie," Arthur Space began his acting career performing in summer stock theater, eventually working his way to Broadway. He made his film debut in 1941 with "Riot Squad," a low-rent thriller. The following year, Space made a big leap, appearing in "Rio Rita" opposite the legendary comedy team Abbott and Costello. He soon built a reputation for his abilities and by the end of the '40s, Space had appeared in nearly 100 films. In the '50s, he branched out into television with a part as a government agent on "The Amos 'n Andy Show." This began a lengthy career in television. By 1954, Space landed the role in the family classic "Lassie," and went on to a number of other popular television programs, including: the crime drama "Perry Mason," the western "The Big Valley," the action comedy "The Wild Wild West" In 1981, Space retired, making his last appearance on the crime drama "Walking Tall." Two years later, he died of cancer, leaving behind an impressive legacy that includes over 260 film and television roles.