G.D. Spradlin | Character actor, 90

G.D. Spradlin, 90, a former lawyer and oil producer who found a second act as a prolific character actor, playing authority figures in such films as Apocalypse Now and The Godfather: Part II, died Sunday at his San Luis Obispo ranch in central California.

Born in Pauls Valley, Okla., Gervase Duan Spradlin turned to acting in his 40's after serving in the Army Air Forces in China during World War II, working as an attorney for Phillips Petroleum Co. and striking it rich as an independent oil producer. He also dabbled in politics as director of John F. Kennedy's 1960 presidential campaign in Oklahoma and had an unsuccessful run for mayor of Oklahoma City in 1965.

Mr. Spradlin got his start in acting after taking his daughter Wendy to audition for a local production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and wound up landing a part in the play himself.

When he moved his family to Los Angeles, he found steady work playing politicians, preachers, doctors, judges, and military officers.

His most notable parts include a corrupt senator in The Godfather: Part II and the Army general who sent Martin Sheen upriver to find and kill Marlon Brando's Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse Now.

Other film credits include The War of the Roses and Ed Wood. He retired after playing Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee in the 1999 comedy Dick. - AP