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J.D. Cannon, 83; Boss of ‘McCloud’ Was Prolific Veteran Character Actor

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From Times Staff and Wire Reports

J.D. Cannon, 83, a character actor who played Dennis Weaver’s NYPD boss on the TV series “McCloud” in the 1970s, died of undisclosed causes May 20 at his home in Hudson, N.Y.

Cannon played Chief of Detectives Peter B. Clifford on “McCloud,” the 1970-77 NBC police drama starring Weaver as a deputy U.S. marshal from Taos, N.M., who was on temporary assignment in Manhattan.

Between 1960 and 1991, Cannon made guest appearances on more than 85 television shows, including “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza,” “The Untouchables,” “The Defenders,” “The Fugitive,” “Remington Steele” and “The Fall Guy.”

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His credits also included the 1978 miniseries “Ike: The War Years” and the 1979 miniseries “Ike,” both starring Robert Duvall; and a number of feature films, including playing “Society Red” in “Cool Hand Luke,” the 1967 prison drama starring Paul Newman.

A native of Salmon, Idaho, Cannon graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and served in the Army during World War II.

His last screen appearance was in a 1991 episode of “Law & Order.”

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