Loudon Snowden Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946) is an American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor.

Loudon Wainwright III (born September 5, 1946 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina) is an American songwriter, folk singer, humorist, and actor. He is the father of Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright . A graduate of St. Andrew’s School, Wainwright is best known for a 1972 novelty song hit Dead Skunk (In The Middle Of The Road) , with pianist Teddy Wender and for playing Captain Spalding (the “singing surgeon”) on three episodes of the American television show M*A*S*H in its third season (197