Don Pedro Colley (August 30, 1938 – October 11, 2017) was an American character actor whose career spanned film and television. He is remembered for a string of memorable supporting parts in genre films and popular TV series from the late 1960s through the 1980s. Colley brought a strong screen presence to roles that ranged from westerns to science fiction, and he remains a familiar face to viewers of several cult and mainstream productions.

Early life and athletics

Colley was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon. During his college years he competed in athletics, including American football and track and field, and he pursued high-level competition that led to an unsuccessful try-out related to the 1960 Summer Olympics. His athletic background contributed to his physicality on screen and helped shape the types of roles he was later offered.

Career highlights

Colley established himself as a reliable supporting actor, often cast in roles that required an imposing or authoritative presence. Among his best-known performances are his recurring role as Gideon on the television series Daniel Boone, the character Ongaro in the science fiction film Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and the role of SRT in George Lucas's early feature THX 1138. He also appeared in blaxploitation-era cinema, notably as Joshua in The Legend of Nigger Charley, and played Sheriff Little in the 1980s run of The Dukes of Hazzard.

  • Gideon — television western appearances
  • Ongaro — Beneath the Planet of the Apes
  • SRT — THX 1138
  • Joshua — The Legend of Nigger Charley
  • Sheriff Little — The Dukes of Hazzard (1980s)

Acting style and reputation

As a character actor Colley was rarely the lead, but his work provided weight and texture to ensemble casts. Directors and casting agents frequently employed him in parts that benefited from a commanding figure or a memorable supporting personality. His filmography crosses several popular genres of the period — westerns, science fiction, action and films associated with the blaxploitation movement — which helped his face become widely recognized among different audiences.

Legacy and death

Colley continued to be cited by fans of the series and films in which he appeared, and his performances are often noted in retrospectives about the era of filmmaking and television in which he worked. He died on October 11, 2017, in Klamath Falls after a battle with cancer, at the age of 79. Obituaries and tributes emphasized his dependable presence as a supporting actor and the variety of his screen work.

Selected credits and further reading can be found through film and television reference sites and fan resources that document character actors of Colley’s era. For more on his most famous roles and the productions in which he appeared, see listings and archives linked to the titles mentioned above: Daniel Boone, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, THX 1138, and related references.