Born July 5, 1928 in Depoy, Ky. Warren Mercer Oates came to our screens in 1953 and began a career as one of the finest actors you might never have heard of.

From his debut through 1982, Oates delivered unforgettable performances in films such as: The Wild Bunch, In the Heat of the Night, Return of the Seven, and Two-Lane Blacktop. He became a frequent collaborator with two of the most influential filmmakers of his era—Sam Peckinpah and Monte Hellman—featuring in some of their most iconic works throughout the 60s and 70s.

Oates passed away in 1982 at the age of 53, leaving behind a legacy of gritty, soulful, and often overlooked brilliance.One of the finest actors in front of a camera has an ecclectic list of some fantastic performances that ought to be recognized by film fans at large.

This isn’t a comprehensive list, but it’s a passionate one. Listen with Matt, Todd and their guest Logan in as we celebrate the work of an industry legend who remains underseen by far too many audiences.

---------------Matt has over 100+ lists for movie suggestions on ⁠Letterboxd⁠You can reach out on Bluesky: @MovieMattSirois Terrible movies often find him, even under under the alias Marcus at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Movie Asylum of the Weird, Bad and Wonderful⁠.

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