In The News

Actor Joe Conley passes away

Actor Joe Conley passes away

THE American actor Joe Conley, who appeared in the long-running TV series The Waltons, has passed away. He was 85.

Mr. Conley played the good-natured storekeeper Ike Godsey in the popular series which ran from 1972 until 1981. He appeared in a total of 172 episodes.

The series followed the Walton family and their friends from the Great Depression until the mid-1940s. 

After the series came to an end the characters were brought together in a number of TV movies in the 1980s and 1990s. Mr. Conley reprised his role of the shopkeeper in these productions which included A Wedding On Walton’s Mountain (1982) and A Walton Thanksgiving Reunion (1993).

Before landing the role of Ike, Mr. Conley had made appearances in a number of TV series and films, including Mister Ed, The Beverly Hillbillies and 80 Steps To Jonah (1969).

In later years, he continued to make a number of appearances on TV shows and also had a role in the 2000 film, Cast Away, which starred Tom Hanks.

He published his autobiography, Ike Godsey Of Walton’s Mountain, in 2009.

Among the many tributes was one from Ronnie Claire Edwards, who played his wife Corabeth on The Waltons. She said: “It was one of the greatest pleasures of my television career to play Corabeth opposite Joe because he made me so much better.

“He will be greatly missed but, thankfully, we may enjoy his work for years to come in the many reruns of The Waltons.” 

Mr. Conley passed away at a care home in California. He is survived by his wife Louise and children Erin, Julie, Jana and Kevin.

To view an interview in which Mr. Conley discusses his work on The Waltons, click here.

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