Died November 2, 2011. Born November 3, 1923.

American character actor who played supporting roles in over 120 television shows and 35 films.

In 1966, he had a supporting role as Morton on the short-lived CBS sitcom The Jean Arthur Show starring Jean Arthur and Ron Harper. Between 1988 and 1994, he appeared in twelve episodes of the NBC legal drama L.A. Law as Judge Paul Hanson. He played popular and memorable characters on Lost in Space, M*A*S*H, and more. On September 22, 2000, Stone appeared as an ordinary, non-celebrity contestant on the popular game show Wheel of Fortune. He placed second, winning $4,250 in cash and a trip to Bermuda valued at $5,310.

One of his earlier notables came in 1971 when he played Sam Beauregarde, the father of Golden Ticket winner Violet Beauregarde, in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He was one of the last surviving parents from the movie.

Stone started his career as a young actor studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He performed in the West End, on Broadway, and toured around the world. He traveled for eight years in Australlia and New Zealand touring the musical South Pacific. He won a Tony Award in 1959 for Best Supporting Actor in The Redhead, a Bob Fosse musical. He also was in the Tony Nominated cast of Look Homeward, Angel in 1957, which premiered at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York. It won a Pulitzer Prize.

Stone's latest role came in 2006 at the age of 83, when he played a minor character in Surrender Dorothy. He passed away after a brief bout with cancer, one day before his 88th birthday.