Ignatius Wolfington

Ignatius "Iggie" Wolfington (October 14, 1919 – September 30, 2004) was an American stage actor. He was the youngest member of the Wolfington family of Philadelphia, operators of a carriage business early in the 20th century and brother of the founder of Wolfington Body Company in Exton, Pennsylvania. He married Lynn Wood, an actress, about 1972.

Early life
Wolfington was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended West Philadelphia Catholic High School, then studied at the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama.

Wolfington served with distinction in the 102nd Infantry Division (United States) at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He received a battlefield commission as a first lieutenant. He was awarded the Silver Star for his role in saving thirty men. He also received the Purple Heart for wounds he received in battle. Upon his death, with the assistance of his nephew (Steve Bennett) arrangements were facilitated in order that Wolfington was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery attended by a large group of relatives. Lt. Wolfington's headstone witnesses his duty to the service of his country and the deep love he held for his country and the men he served with during his military career.

Career
A life member of The Actors Studio, Wolfington is best known for his role as Marcellus Washburn in the Broadway musical The Music Man, which earned him a nomination for the 1958 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. He played Mayor Shinn in the short-lived 1980 Broadway revival of The Music Man, starring Dick Van Dyke. He also played the role of Chef Ellsworth in "Mrs. McThing", a 1952 play which featured Helen Hayes.

Wolfington worked in the earliest days of live television, then became a familiar face on popular television shows like Gunsmoke, Get Smart, The Andy Griffith Show, The Waltons, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Fantasy Island, and The Rockford Files. He made a few television movies. He also appeared in TV commercials. Wolfington appeared in several motion pictures including Hex, Herbie Rides Again, Telefon and 1941.

Labor union officer
For many years, Wolfington was a council member of the Actors' Equity Association, a New York City-based labor union for stage actors. In 1969, he saw the need for a West Coast office of the Actors' Fund of America to provide medical and financial assistance to actors beyond New York. Until that time, stage actors outside of New York had experienced difficulty securing adequate support from the headquarters there. Wolfington handled over 10,000 cases in the fifteen years preceding his 2004 death in Studio City, California.

Awards
Wolfington received the following awards:
 * Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
 * Philip Loeb Humanitarian Award
 * Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award