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Thomas William Lester (September 23, 1938 – April 20, 2020) was an American actor and Evangelism. He was best known for his role as farmhand Eb Dawson on the television show Green Acres as well as crossover appearances on Petticoat Junction, which was set near Green Acres' fictional town of Hooterville. He appeared in two feature animal films, Gordy and Benji.
In 1948, he became a born-again Christian, and became involved in the Baptist church. At that time he said he thought the Lord's plan for his life would deliver him to Hollywood, California, to embark on an acting career. He discussed his plans and his dream of becoming an actor with his parents.
After he graduated from Laurel High School, he attended the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, and received a B.Sc. degree in chemistry and biology. He briefly attended graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi, but acting became his main interest. After college he taught school in Purcell, Oklahoma, but he left for Los Angeles. In his early 20s he attended the First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills, California.
Lester later said he won the role because he was the only actor who auditioned who knew how to milk a cow 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.
As several 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 modestly in a small apartment over 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 worked for the Reverend Billy Graham's organization.
Lester appeared in nearly every Green Acres episode between 1965 and 1971, with the exception of the first half of the 1967–68 season when he was ill with 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".
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, . In 2004, he was the voice of the unseen DJ for radio station KCOW 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.
With the death of Mary Grace Canfield, who portrayed Ralph Monroe, on February 15, 2014, Lester was the last surviving regular cast member of Green Acres.
In 1997, Lester was the recipient of Mississippi's "Wildlife Farmer of the Year" award.
On April 20, 2020, Lester died from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 81. He was survived by his wife, Kaylie, and one brother.
| Main cast 150 episodes |
| 6 episodes |
| 3 episodes |
| 1 episode |
| 1 episode |
| TV movie |
| Episode: "A Christmas They Never Forgot" |
| 1 episode |
| 1 episode |
| TV movie |
| Voice |
| Also served as writer |
| Short |
| Also served as producer Final film role |
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