Actor Dana Craig Dies at 68

by Mike Barnes

The veteran theatrical performer also appeared in the film "Chaplin" and on such TV shows as "The Waltons" and "Murder, She Wrote."

Actor Dana Craig, who appeared in such films and plays as Chaplin and Picasso at the Lapin Agile during his five-decade career, has died. He was 68.

Craig died March 20 of a heart attack at his home in West Hills, Calif., his wife Bettyann said. His death came three days before he was to appear in Incorruptible at Pierce College in Woodland Hills; it would have been the 200th play of his career.

A native of Los Angeles who attended UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge, Craig stood out as the barfly Gaston in a 2002 Company Rep production of Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile at the El Portal Center for the Arts in North Hollywood.

He performed in Saint Joan with Richard Thomas at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, toured with Florence Henderson in The Sound of Music and appeared at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. He taught acting at Cal State Northridge.

In addition to Robert Downey Jr.'s Chaplin (1992), Craig had roles in such films as Book of Love(1990) and Running Time (1997) and appeared on television in The Waltons, Tales From the Crypt,Murphy Brown, Growing Pains, L.A. Law, Murder, She Wrote, Step by Step and The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.

He did extensive voiceover work and appeared in ads for the Got Milk? campaign and for the Sizzler restaurant chain.

Survivors also include his son, Dana Jr., his grandson, Ryan, his sister, Durrie, his brother, John, and several nieces and nephews.

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