{{short description|American actor}} {{notability|date=May 2024}} {{BLP one source|date=December 2023}}{{Infobox person | name = George Woodard | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|06|18}} | birth_place = Waterbury Center, Vermont | occupation = Actor, director, dairy farmer | children = 1 | parents = {{plainlist| * Theresa Woodard * George Woodard Sr. }} | relatives = {{plainlist| * Steve (younger brother) * Bernard (elder brother) * Joanna (sister) }} }}'''George Woodard Jr.''' (born June 18, 1952 in Waterbury, Vermont) is an actor, musician, and dairy farmer.
== Early life == George Woodard Jr. was born on June 18, 1952 in Waterbury Center, Vermont to George and Theresa Woodard, both of whose parents were also farmers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=George Woodard realizes his dream of a second feature film, ‘The Farm Boy’ |url=https://www.waterburyroundabout.org/news-archive/george-woodard-realizes-his-dream-of-a-second-feature-film-the-farm-boy |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=Waterbury Roundabout |language=en-US}}</ref> He had two brothers, Steve and Bernard Woodard, and a sister, Joanna Woodard.<ref name=":0" /> He created various short films, documenting the life of a farmer in Vermont.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=David K. |date=2026-02-24 |title=Woodard discusses films, farms and more |url=https://hardwickgazette.org/2026/02/24/woodard-discusses-films-farms-and-more/ |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=The Hardwick Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> After watching the film ''The Miracle of Paradise Valley,'' Woodard took an interest in becoming an actor.<ref name=":1" /> This interest stemmed from him watching stage productions at the Hyde Park Opera House, which further persuaded him to take up acting as a career.<ref name=":1" />
He experimented with acting in high school<ref name=":1" />, taking part in high school and local summer stock plays and musicals, while rebuilding the family dairy business. Later he moved to Hollywood for three years to explore acting.<ref name=":1" /> In Hollywood, Woodard starred in a few low-budget films.<ref name=":1" /> The need for someone to lead the operation of the Woodard family farm brought him home to Vermont, where he ran the family's dairy business.<ref name=":1" />
He appeared in the films ''Time Chasers'', ''Ethan Frome'', ''My Mother's Early Lovers'', ''The Mudge Boy'', ''America's Heart and Soul'', along with a few TV commercials.<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Woodard {{!}} Actor, Director, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0940137/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> He also appeared as the host in several episodes of the children's educational television series ''Little Hardhats''.<ref>{{Citation |title=Little Hardhats |date=2025-12-21 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Little_Hardhats&oldid=1328742477 |access-date=2026-03-04 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2010, Woodard wrote the screenplay, directed, edited and acted in "The Summer of Walter Hacks," a coming of age story set in the long forgotten rural New England of the 1950s and features Henry, his son.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pastureproductions.com|title=The Summer of Walter Hacks|work=www.pastureproductions.com|accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref>
In 2023, he released his second feature film "The Farm Boy", a story set in the 1940's during World War ll about a boy growing up and working as a milkman on the family farm.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Cam |date=2022-11-12 |title=World War II-era film, ‘The Farm Boy’ produced in Vt. |url=https://www.wcax.com/2022/11/12/world-war-ii-era-film-farm-boy-produced-vt/ |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=WCAX Vermont |language=}}</ref> The story is based on Woodard's parents growing up on a farm.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Farm Boy |url=https://www.hangingmudflapproductions.com/ |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=The Farm Boy |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> The story features Henry Woodward, George's son, playing the role of Calvin Dillard, a Vermont farmer sent to Europe during World War ll.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Jim Lowe Staff |date=2023-03-18 |title=George Woodard’s ‘The Farm Boy’: WWII remakes Vermonters’ lives |url=https://www.timesargus.com/features/vermont_arts/george-woodard-s-the-farm-boy-wwii-remakes-vermonters-lives/article_34446d53-2719-5019-9467-fd028cb533dc.html |access-date=2026-03-04 |website=Times Argus |language=en}}</ref>
George Woodard Jr.'s mother died in 2004.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Fountain |first=Kristen |date=2012-11-15 |title=Woodard Farm in Waterbury celebrated for being in one family |url=https://www.vtcng.com/stowetoday/spotlight/woodard-farm-in-waterbury-celebrated-for-being-in-one-family/article_7e9c25f6-2e98-11e2-9ad4-001a4bcf887a.html |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=Vermont Community Newspaper Group |language=en}}</ref> His brother, Steve, died in 2011.<ref name=":3" />
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodard, George}} Category:American male film actors Category:Living people Category:People from Waterbury, Vermont Category:Male actors from Vermont Category:1952 births
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