Well known American character actor who came to specialize in authority figures whose ineptitude and pomposity was played for comic effect. Born Paul Ford Weaver in Baltimore , Maryland in 1901, he entered the field of acting in his 40's, and had an "overnight" success at age 54 when he had a role opposite Phil Silvers on Silver's "Sgt. Bilko" TV show. His signature role may well be the part of Mayor Shin in the film adaptaion of the Broadway show "The Music Man". Befuddled and tharted at every turn, Ford as Mayor Shin sputtered and fumed to great comic effect. Ford would have an active career in both films and television into the 1970's. He died in April, 1976
