Ignatius Wolfington (October 14, 1919 – September 30, 2004) was an American actor. He was the youngest member of the prominent Wolfington family of Philadelphia, operators of a carriage business early in the 20th century and brother of the founder of Wolfington Body Company in
Exton, Pennsylvania
Exton is a census-designated place (CDP) in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population was 5,622 at the 2020 census. The Exton Square Mall and Main Street at Exton are both located within Exton along wi ...
. He married Lynn Wood, an actress, in 1972.
[Actors Equity Archive](_blank)
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Early life
Wolfington was born in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
. He attended West Philadelphia Catholic High School, then studied at the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama.102nd Infantry Division (United States)
The 102nd Infantry Division ("Ozark") was a unit of the United States Army in World War II. The unit is currently active as the 102nd Training Division (Maneuver Support).
Interwar period
The division was constituted in the Organized Reserve on ...
at the Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the last major German offensive (military), offensive military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western Front during World War II. The battle lasted fr ...
during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. He received a battlefield commission as a first lieutenant. He was awarded the Silver Star
The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
for his role in saving thirty men. He also received the Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, w ...
for wounds he received in battle. At his death he was buried with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...
.
Career
A life member of The Actors Studio
The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 44th Street (Manhattan), West 44th Street between Ninth Avenue (Manhattan), Ninth and Tenth Avenue (Manhattan), Tenth avenues in the ...
, Wolfington is best known for originating the role of Marcellus Washburn in the Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
**Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
musical ''The Music Man
''The Music Man'' is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and ...
'', starring Robert Preston, which earned Wolfington a nomination for the 1958 . Buddy Hackett was cast in the role for the 1962 movie version. Wolfington appeared as Mayor Shinn in the short-lived 1980 Broadway revival of ''The Music Man'', starring Dick Van Dyke. He also played the role of Chef Ellsworth in "Mrs. McThing",
Labor union officer
For many years, Wolfington was a council member of the Actors' Equity Association, a New York City-based labor union for stage actors. In 1969, he saw the need for a West Coast office of the Actors' Fund of America to provide medical and financial assistance to actors beyond New York. Until that time, stage actors outside of New York had experienced difficulty securing adequate support from the headquarters there. Wolfington handled over 10,000 cases in the fifteen years preceding his 2004 death in Studio City, California.
Filmography
Awards
Wolfington received the following awards:
*Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
*Philip Loeb Humanitarian Award
*Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award
References
External links
*
*
Obituary on the Actors Equity web site
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolfington, Ignatius
1919 births
2004 deaths
United States Army personnel of World War II
United States Army officers
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
Recipients of the Silver Star
Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
American male stage actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
Male actors from Philadelphia
20th-century American male actors