Tom Lester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Lester
Lester in an undated photo
Born	Thomas William Lester (1938-09-23)September 23, 1938 Laurel, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	April 20, 2020(2020-04-20) (aged 81) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Actor evangelist
Years active	1965–2014
Spouse(s)	Kaylie ​ (m. 2007)​
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Thomas William Lester (born September 23, 1938 – died April 20, 2020) was an American actor. He was also a Christian speaker. He became famous for his role as Eb Dawson, the helpful farmhand, on the TV show Green Acres. He also acted in two animal movies, Gordy and Benji.

Early Life and Education

Lester was born in Laurel, Mississippi. He was one of two sons. His father, Pat Lester, was an accountant. His mother, Mary Sue Lester, managed a home decor business.

In 1948, when he was ten, he became a Christian. He got involved in the Baptist church. He felt that his life's path would lead him to Hollywood to become an actor. He shared his dream with his parents.

After finishing Laurel High School, he went to the University of Mississippi. There, he studied chemistry and biology. He also joined the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He briefly attended graduate school at the University of Southern Mississippi. But acting became his main focus. After college, he taught school in Purcell, Oklahoma. Soon after, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Becoming "Eb Dawson"

After moving to Hollywood, Tom Lester met Lurene Tuttle. She was a radio and character actress. She became his friend and acting coach. She told him to start acting in small plays. He performed in showcases at the North Hollywood Playhouse.

In the early 1960s, Lester acted in a play. He was with Linda Kaye Henning, who was a CBS producer's daughter. She played Betty Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction. Soon, Lester got an audition for the role of Eb Dawson. Eb was the farmhand to Oliver Wendell Douglas, played by Eddie Albert, on Green Acres. Lester was chosen out of about 400 other actors for the part.

Lester later shared why he thought he got the role. He said he was the only actor who knew how to milk a cow. This was because he grew up on a farm in Mississippi. His role as Eb Dawson became very popular. He became a regular character on the show. This made Lester a well-known name.

Some characters from Green Acres also appeared on other CBS shows. These included Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies. So, Lester, as Eb Dawson, also appeared on those shows sometimes. Even when Green Acres was very popular, Lester lived simply. He stayed in a small apartment in the San Fernando Valley. Every summer, when the show was on break, he would travel. He spoke at churches, youth events, and revival meetings. He even worked for the Reverend Billy Graham's group for a time.

Lester was in almost every Green Acres episode from 1965 to 1971. He was absent for part of the 1967–68 season. This was because he was sick with mononucleosis. The show explained Eb's absence by saying he had eloped and was on his honeymoon. After six seasons, Green Acres was canceled in 1971. This was part of CBS's "rural purge" of country-themed shows.

Life After Green Acres

After Green Acres, Tom Lester was often seen only as Eb Dawson. This is called being typecast. In 1990, he reunited with Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor. He played Eb Dawson again in Return to Green Acres.

He moved back to his parents' home in Laurel, Mississippi. But he still took on occasional movie or TV roles. In the mid-1970s to early 1980s, he had guest roles. These included Little House on the Prairie, Marcus Welby, M.D., Knight Rider, and Love, American Style. In 1991, he played the adult Pete Maravich. This was in a movie about the famous basketball player's younger life, called The Pistol: The Birth of a Legend.

In 2004, he was the voice of a radio DJ in the movie Christmas Child. In 2014, he starred in the comedy Campin' Buddies. He was with Ray Stevens and Victoria Jackson. This was his last film role.

Lester was also a farmer. For many years, he traveled the country as a Christian speaker. He shared messages of faith. He also continued to attend fan events. He would often dress up as Eb Dawson.

After Mary Grace Canfield, who played Ralph Monroe, passed away in 2014, Lester was the last living regular cast member of Green Acres.

Friendship with Eddie Albert

Tom Lester thought of Eddie Albert as a "surrogate father." This means Albert was like a father figure to him. They both appeared as guest stars on The Beverly Hillbillies. This show featured Albert's good friend, Buddy Ebsen. When Green Acres was canceled in 1971, Albert and Lester stayed close friends. They kept in touch until Albert passed away in 2005. Both Albert and Lester attended Eva Gabor's funeral in 1995. On May 26, 2005, Albert died from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Lester was the only surviving Green Acres star who did not attend Albert's funeral.

Personal Life and Passing

Lester got married for the first and only time in July 2007. He was 68 years old. He and his wife, Kaylie, lived on his family's 250-acre farm in Vossburg, Mississippi.

In 1997, Lester received an award. He was named Mississippi's "Wildlife Farmer of the Year."

On April 20, 2020, Tom Lester passed away. He was 81. He died from problems related to Parkinson's disease. He was survived by his wife, Kaylie, and his brother.

Filmography