J. Don Ferguson (November 21, 1933 – October 1, 2008), sometimes credited as “Don Ferguson”, was an American character actor who appeared in feature films and television programs. He was a prominent stage actor in Savannah, Georgia, regional stage theater productions. Ferguson also was an NCAA Basketball Tournament referee for ten years, and this experience led to his being cast in several related acting roles.
Filmography
Film
The Longest Yard (1974) as Football Referee (uncredited)
Gator (1976) as Bartender
The Lincoln Conspiracy (1977) as Lt. Luther Baker
Our Winning Season (1978) as Coach Michael Murphy
Norma Rae (1979) as Peter Gallat
The Prize Fighter (1979) as Referee #1
Little Darlings (1980) as Husband
The Long Riders (1980) as Preacher
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981) as Hawkins
The Loveless (1981) as Tarver
Sharky’s Machine (1981) as Rally Emcee
Tennessee Stallion (1982) as Fred
The American Snitch (1983) as Sonny Barton
Tank (1984) as Gov. Harold R. Sims, Tennessee
Kidco (1984) as TV Show Announcer
Maximum Overdrive (1986) as Andy
Running Mates (1986) as Robert Adams
Date with an Angel (1987) as Harlan Rafferty
Final Cut (1988) as Sheriff Thompson
Fast Food (1989) as Dean Witler
The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) as Bob
Freejack (1992) as Promoter
My Cousin Vinny (1992) as Guard #1
The Program (1993) as Referee
Radioland Murders (1994) as Johnny Ace, Hard Boiled Dick (as Don Ferguson)
The War (1994) as Mine Foreman
Something to Talk About (1995) as Announcer
Eddie (1996) as Game Referee
Fled (1996) as Chairman
Raney (1997) as Thurman Daddy Bell
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) as MC
Major League: Back to the Minors (1998) as Mick the Umpire
Remember the Titans (2000) as Executive Director
The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) as Citizen
Movievoyeur.com (2000) as Sheriff Ames
The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001) as Colonel Teague
Juwanna Mann (2002) as UBA Referee
The Second Chance (2006) as Jeremiah Jenkins (final film role)
Television
F. Scott Fitzgerald and ‘The Last of the Belles’ (1974, TV Movie) as Man in Speakeasy
The Greatest Gift (1974, TV Movie) as Jim Friedlin
Summer of My German Soldier (1978, TV Movie) as Mr. Jackson
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1979, TV Movie) as Mr. Donleavy
Barnaby Jones (1980, TV Series) as Ross Chapman
When the Circus Came to Town (1981, TV Movie) as Andre Probashka
Murder in Coweta County (1983, TV Movie) as Jim Hillin
Windmills of the Gods (1988, TV Series) as Ian Villers
Unconquered (1989, TV Movie) as Mr. Woods
Traveling Man (1989, TV Movie) as Riker
In the Heat of the Night (1989–1993, TV Series) as Rev. Winchell / Kevin Riley / Rev. Kenneth Haskell
Murder in Mississippi (1990, TV Movie)
When Will I Be Loved? (1990, TV Movie) as Man at Bar #1
In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas (1991, TV Movie) as James Blasingame
Nightmare in Columbia County (1991, aka Victim of Beauty, TV Movie) as Bob Smith
In the Line of Duty: Street War (1992, TV Movie) as Gun Shop Owner
I’ll Fly Away (1993, TV Series) as Harry Saunders
Linda (1993, TV Movie) as Davis Vernon
A Kiss to Die For (1993, TV Movie) as Harold Graham
Matlock (1993–1994, TV Series) as Reverend Wesley Masters / Mr. Walters / Mr. Bostwick
Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story (1995, TV Movie) as Wendy Blevins
From the Earth to the Moon (1998, TV Mini-Series) as Senator Stephen Young
External Links
Actor J. Don Ferguson – Wikipedia
