Lewis Arquette
Lewis Michael Arquette (December 14, 1935 – February 10, 2001) was an American actor who worked in film and television. He played J.D. Pickett on the television series, The Waltons from 1978 to 1981, and appeared in several supporting roles throughout his career.
Also recorded as Lewis Michael Arquette
Lewis Arquette
- Birth Name
- Lewis Michael Arquette
- Born
- 14 December 1935
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
- Died
- 10 February 2001
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Lewis Michael Arquette (December 14, 1935 – February 10, 2001) was an American actor who worked in film and television. He played J.D. Pickett on the television series, The Waltons from 1978 to 1981, and appeared in several supporting roles throughout his career.
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wikidata · Q960993 · wikipedia · Lewis Arquette
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Lewis Michael Arquette • Born — 14 December 1935 • Birthplace — Chicago, Illinois, U.S. • Died — 10 February 2001 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Rose Hills Memorial Park • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1958–2001 • Children — 5, including Rosanna, Patricia, Alexis, and David • Father — Cliff Arquette
Early life
Early life
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Arquette was the only son of Mildred Nesbitt Le May and actor Cliff Arquette. He stated that he was named after explorer Meriwether Lewis, and claimed familial descent. Arquette graduated from Hollywood High School and went on to study at New York's Lee Strasberg Actor's Studio. From there, he moved to Chicago in the 1970s.
Career
Career
While living in Chicago, Arquette worked in theater management, serving as manager of The Second City theater for several years. There, he was involved in administration of the improvisational comedy company. In film and television, Arquette worked as a character actor who appeared in supporting roles across several decades. In addition to his recurring role as J. D. Pickett on The Waltons, he made guest appearances on television programs and appeared in feature films as authority figures, working-class characters, or other supporting roles. In addition to acting, Arquette performed as a musician and a puppeteer. In 1970, the family moved to a Subud commune (described by Patricia as a "hippie commune") in Front Royal, Virginia. His wife, Brenda Olivia "Mardi" (née Nowak), died in 1997 from breast cancer. She was Jewish and the daughter of a Holocaust refugee from Poland, while Lewis Arquette, raised a Catholic, was a convert to Islam.
Personal life
Personal life
His children are actors Patricia, Alexis, Rosanna, David, and Richmond Arquette. He is the former father-in-law of actress Courteney Cox, film composer James Newton Howard, and actors Thomas Jane and Nicolas Cage. While Arquette struggled with substance abuse throughout his life, he died in Los Angeles, California on February 10, 2001, at the age of 65, due to congestive heart failure.
Theme Park Attractions
Theme Park Attractions
• The Great Texas Longhorn Revue (1982–1988, Six Flags AstroWorld, Animatronic Show).... Slick Silver • The St. Louis River Revue (1987, SS Admiral, Animatronic Show).... Louie Wails
Producer
Producer
• The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show (1976) TV Series (executive producer)
Himself
Himself
• This Is Your Life – Cliff Arquette (1960) TV Episode.... Himself • The Jonathan Winters Show – Episode dated April 3, 1969 (1969) TV Episode.... Himself
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Lewis Michael Arquette. His recorded language was English. His recorded confession was Islam.
Identity
Identity
Lewis Arquette is recorded as actor, screenwriter, film producer and television producer.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2001
Lewis Arquette died at Los Angeles.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Chicago.
Birth place
Los Angeles.
Death place
Writer
• The Lorenzo and Henrietta Music Show (1976) TV Series (writer)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Filmreference.com. Lewis Arquette Film Reference biography.
- 2.Obituaries In The Performing Arts, 2001: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons And Pop Culture [PDF] [59qlae2nmna0]. vdoc.pub.
- 3.Articles.latimes.com. Lewis Arquette Obituary in Los Angeles Times. February 13, 2001.
- 4.Witness Post: Meriwether Lewis. Henry E. Hooper. 2020-07-13.
- 5.Finding Your Roots, February 9, 2016, PBS
- 6.Lewis Arquette, 65. The Washington Post. 2001-02-14. 0190-8286.
- 7.bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca. Item T0991:0001 – 0002 – Lewis Arquette interview.
- 8.Smith, Dinitia. None of That Sultry Innocence For a Change. The New York Times. August 20, 1995.
- 9.'Medium' Cool | the Jewish Exponent. www.jewishexponent.com.
- 10.Pfefferman, Naomi. Arquette Reconnects. The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. October 17, 2002.
- 11.Patricia Arquette – Cranky Critic® StarTalk – Movie Star Interviews. January 7, 2001.
- 12.USA WEEKEND Magazine
- 13.Hoggard, Liz. Patricia Arquette: The not-so-dippy hippie. The Independent. August 18, 2006.
- 14.The Associated Press. Lewis Arquette, 65, Actor in Family of Performers. NY Times. The New York Times Company. February 14, 2001.
- 15.Bender, Abbey. Meet the 5 Famous Arquette Siblings—Their Hollywood Legacy. Woman's World. 2025-09-20.
- 16.Patricia Arquette Reflects on How Her Dad's Alcoholism Helped Her Relate to Maggie in 'Murdaugh: Murder in the Family' (Exclusive). People.com.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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