Film Screening: A Tribute to Walter H. Capps

The Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life will present an online premiere film screening of “A Tribute to Walter H. Capps: Scholar, Teacher, Public Servant” on Oct. 21, 2026, at 6:00pm via Zoom Webinar (https://ucsb.zoom.us/j/87618628216).

There will be a post-screening conversation with contributors to the film, including Lois Capps, Laura Capps, Greg Johnson, Dusty Hoesly, and film director Julie Ross. This event is free and open to the public.

The 75-minute documentary introduces viewers to the life and legacy of Walter H. Capps. Capps was a professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from 1964–1996. His path-breaking scholarship helped define the interdisciplinary range of the field. Capps’ research and teaching focused on Christian ethical and intellectual traditions, mysticism, monasticism, theory and method in the study of religion, and religion and politics in America, among other topics. His most famous courses were “Religion and the Impact of Vietnam” and “Voices of the Stranger,” both of which enrolled nearly 900 students and featured guest speakers who shared their experiences with students. The Vietnam War course was featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes” news program and helped shape a national conversation about welcoming home veterans. His teaching and writing focused on empathy and understanding across cultural differences, fostering an ethic rooted in our common humanity.

Capps’ sustained contributions to the humanities earned him praise as one of our nation’s most distinguished humanists. He was a leader of the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, Institute for Religious Studies, Council for the Study of Religion, California Council for the Humanities, National Federation of State Humanities Councils, and La Casa de Maria. In 1996, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat (CA-22), where he served from January 1997 until his death in October of that year.

The film includes archival footage and photographs alongside interviews with family members, colleagues, and former students. Among those interviewed are Lois Capps, former U.S. Representative; Laura Capps, Second District Supervisor for Santa Barbara County; Bob Kerrey, former U.S. Senator and Governor; Lou Cannon, journalist and author; Tim Kring, TV showrunner; Shad Meshad, founder of the National Veterans Foundation; James Quay and Ralph Lewin, former executive directors of the California Council for the Humanities; and Henry T. Yang, former UCSB Chancellor.

The film also highlights Walter’s continuing legacy through the Walter H. Capps Center for the Study of Ethics, Religion, and Public Life at UCSB. The Capps Center promotes discussion of how ethical teachings and values relate to civic life — at the local, national, and global levels. The Capps Center is committed to the fundamental belief that public dialogue and an informed and engaged citizenry are vital to democratic society.

Working in collaboration with the Capps family, “A Tribute to Walter H. Capps: Scholar, Teacher, Public Servant” was produced by the Walter H. Capps Center and Black Diamond Productions. Based in Santa Barbara since 1991, Black Diamond Productions has been producing award-winning videos, commercials, TV programs, and documentaries worldwide.

The film is also available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq_x5-q2g5A.

https://www.cappscenter.ucsb.edu/news/film-screening-tribute-walter-h-capps-scholar-teacher-public-servant