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Tom Lester Biography

Thomas William Lester (September 23, 1938 – April 20, 2020) was an American actor and evangelist, best known for his role as Eb Dawson, farmhand to Oliver Wendell Douglas (played by Eddie Albert) on the television series Green Acres. He appeared in two feature animal films, Gordy and Benji. Tom suffered from Parkison’s diseaseonApril20,2020, Nashville, Tennessee home of his fiance.

Tom Lester Death

Lester died of complications from Parkinson’s disease on April 20, 2020, 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.

Lester played farmhand Eb Dawson on the hit sitcom, Green Acres, from 1965 to 1971. Green Acres star Tom Lester has passed away at age 81 after suffering complications from Parkinson’s disease. From 1965 to 1971, Lester played farmhand Eb Dawson on the hit sitcom Green Acres.

Lester was the last surviving regular cast member of Green Acres, which followed a couple moving from New York City and onto a farm. On top of Green Acres, Lester played Eb in the Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies.  In addition to his long-time role on Green Acres, Lester made appearances on a number of other hit shows including Little House on the Prairie, Knight Rider, and the soap opera Santa Barbara.

Lester was also on the big screen. He played Riley in Benji, the film about the heroic stray dog, and also appeared in the 1994 comedy about a talking pig, Gordy. More recently he starred in the 2014 film Campin’ Buddies, which follows the antics of two ‘backwoods amigos.’

Tom Lester Age

Tom died at the age of 81, he was born on September 23rd, 1938 in Laurel, Mississippi.

Tom Lester Height

Tom has not shared his height with the public. His height will be listed once we have it from a credible source or once it is released to the public.

Tom Lester Wife

Tom was married to Kaylie Lester, Kaylie is an American actress known for appearing in movies like Badland and Staten Island. She is also known as the wife of the late actor Tom Lester.

Tom Lester Religion

Lester became a born-again Christian at age 10 and continued enjoying life on the farm in his later years, even winning Wildlife Farmer of the Year in 1997, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Tom Lester Actor

After moving to Hollywood, Lester met actress Lurene Tuttle, who became his friend and acting coach. She suggested he begin work in the Little Theater, which he did, acting in showcases at the North Hollywood Playhouse. In the early 1960s, Lester performed in a play with CBS producer Paul Henning’s daughter Linda Kaye Henning (Betty Jo Bradley of Petticoat Junction), and Lester soon found himself auditioning for the role of Eb Dawson on Green Acres. Lester beat 400 other actors to play the character after a screen test.

He got the role because he was the only one who could milk a cow in real life since he grew up on a farm in Mississippi. His recurring role soon became a regular character due to the character’s and the show’s popularity, which made Lester a household name.

Green Acres was the 11th-rated show in its debut season of 1965–66, according to the Nielsen ratings, climbed to #6 in 1966-67 and was #16 and #19, respectively, the following two seasons. As Green Acres characters also appeared in episodes of two other CBS series – Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies – Lester, as Eb Dawson, also occasionally appeared on those shows.

Even during the height of Green Acres’ popularity, Lester lived in a small apartment atop a garage in the San Fernando Valley. Each year during the show’s summer hiatus he would travel the country and speak at churches, youth rallies, and revival meetings and at one time was part of the Rev. Billy Graham’s organization.

Lester appeared in nearly every Green Acres episode between 1965–71, with the exception of the first half in the 1967–68 season when he suffered mononucleosis. The show’s explanation for Eb’s absence was that he had eloped and was on his honeymoon. After six seasons, Green Acres was cancelled in 1971 as part of CBS’s “rural purge”.

Tom Lester Net Worth

Tom has enjoyed a long career in his acting industry. Through proceeds from his work as an actor, he has been able to accumulate a huge fortune. Tom’s Net Worth is $24 million.

Tom Lester Green Acres

After Green Acres, Lester was forever typecast as Eb Dawson. In 1990, he reunited with Albert and Gabor to reprise his role in Return to Green Acres.

He returned to his parents’ home in Laurel, Mississippi, but continued to do an occasional movie or TV role. During the mid-1970s to early 1980s, his roles included guest spots in Little House on the Prairie, Marcus Welby, M.D., Knight Rider and Love, American Style. In 1991 he played the adult Pete Maravich in the film about the future basketball hall-of-famer’s youth, The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend.

In 2004, he was the voice of the unseen DJ for KCOW radio station in the movie Christmas Child (starring William R. Moses and Steven Curtis Chapman). In 2014, he starred with Ray Stevens and Victoria Jackson in the comedy Campin’ Buddies.

Lester was a farmer and for many years had been a Christian speaker who traveled the nation, preaching a message of faith and obedience. He still participated in autograph shows and fan forums, often dressed as Eb Dawson. In 1997, Lester was the recipient of Mississippi’s “Wildlife Farmer of the Year” award.

With the death of Mary Grace Canfield on February 15, 2014, who portrayed Ralph Monroe, Lester was the last surviving regular cast member of Green Acres.

Tom Lester Early Life

Originally from Laurel, Mississippi, where he was raised on his grandfather’s farm, Lester had big dreams for Hollywood. But not everyone in town thought he could make it. ‘I told them I was going out to Hollywood to become an actor and they all said, “You’re crazy,”‘ he remembered in an interview with Faith Forward.

‘You’ll never be able to do that. You’re too tall, too skinny, too ugly. You’ve got a Southern accent and you’ll never make it in the motion picture business. You don’t look like Rock Hudson.’ The criticism discouraged him from heading to Los Angeles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tom Lester

Who is Tom Lester?

Thomas William Lester (September 23, 1938 – April 20, 2020) was an American actor and evangelist, best known for his role as Eb Dawson, farmhand to Oliver Wendell Douglas (played by Eddie Albert) on the television series Green Acres. He appeared in two feature animal films, Gordy and Benji. Tom suffered from Parkison’s diseaseonApril20,2020, Nashville, Tennessee home of his fiance.

How old is Tom Lester?

Tom died at the age of 81, he was born on September 23rd, 1938 in Laurel, Mississippi. Lester was the last surviving regular cast member of Green Acres.

How tall is Tom Lester?

Tom has not shared his height with the public. His height will be listed once we have it from a credible source.

Is Tom Lester married?

Tom was married to Kaylie Lester, Kaylie is an American actress known for appearing in movies like Badland and Staten Island. She is also known as the wife of the late actor Tom Lester.

How much is Tom Lester worth?

Tom has enjoyed a long career in his acting industry. Through proceeds from his work as an actor, he has been able to accumulate a huge fortune. Tom’s Net Worth is $24 million.

Is Tom Lester dead or alive?

Tom is dead,  he died of complications from Parkinson’s disease on April 20, 2020, in the Nashville, Tennessee home of his fiancée and long-term caregiver, Jackie Peters. His death left many astonished.

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