Gregory Harrison

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gregory Harrison
Heather Menzies Gregory Harrison Logan's Run 1977.JPG
Harrison and Heather Menzies in Logan's Run (1977–78).
Born
Gregory Neale Harrison

(1950-05-31) May 31, 1950 (age 71)
Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California, United States
OccupationActor
Years active1973–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1980)​
Children4
Websitegregoryharrison.com

Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950)[1] is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Chandler in the 1987 film North Shore, as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John McIntyre (played by Pernell Roberts) on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D.(1979–86), and as ruthless business tycoon Michael Sharpe in the CBS series Falcon Crest (1989–1990). Since 2015, he has played Joe O'Toole, father of Oliver, in the Hallmark Channel expansion films of Signed, Sealed and Delivered.

Early life and career[]

Harrison was born in Avalon, California, in 1950, the son of Ed, a ship's captain and poet.[1][2]

Harrison served for two years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era as a medic.[3]

He was the title character on the 1977–78 science fiction series Logan's Run, after which he played the role of Levi Zendt on the 1978 NBC miniseries Centennial.

In 1979, after years of being a relatively unknown actor, Harrison finally won the role of surgeon Dr. George "Gonzo" Gates on Trapper John, M.D., starring opposite Pernell Roberts on the medical drama spun off from M*A*S*H.[4] Harrison had guest-starred on an episode of M*A*S*H the year after Wayne Rogers departed from his role as Trapper John on that series. Harrison remained as Gonzo on Trapper John until the middle of the show's seventh season, when he decided to leave for other ventures. The series continued for several more episodes without Harrison, but concluded its run at the end of the 1985–86 season. Harrison had been a fan of Roberts' role as the eldest son of the Cartwright family on the series Bonanza (1959–1973). The two remained friends until Roberts' death from pancreatic cancer on January 24, 2010.

Harrison's later role as stripper John Phillips in the 1981 TV movie For Ladies Only made him a favorite with women and gay men in the 1980s. He spoofed that role in the 1986 miniseries Fresno where his character appeared shirtless at every opportunity. Fresno was also a spoof of the prime-time series Falcon Crest, where Harrison became a regular three years later in the final season (1989–90).[5] As Falcon Crest ended production in early 1990, the series' parent studio, Lorimar Television, cast Harrison in its upcoming CBS sitcom The Family Man, from producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. The series, which premiered that fall, featured Harrison as a single fireman father raising his four children with the help of his father-in-law, played by Al Molinaro. Despite a few attempts by CBS to help it build an audience, The Family Man was cancelled after one season.

Harrison later joined the cast of NBC's Sisters for the 1994–95 season, playing Daniel Albright. In 1996, he starred opposite Eric Roberts in It's My Party, a film based on the true events of a man diagnosed with AIDS who planned a two-day party to say goodbye to his friends and family, and who then took his own life with pills.

He also starred in the WB Network's Safe Harbor and One Tree Hill and has made guest appearances on other shows such as Touched by an Angel, Judging Amy, Reunion, Joey, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Drop Dead Diva and Hot in Cleveland.

He has played the lead in a touring version of the musical Chicago and was the male lead in each film of the Au Pair trilogy. He also appeared as Benjamin Stone in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and created a role in the original Broadway production of Kander & Ebb's Steel Pier. In 2011 he had a guest-starring role as a doctor on ABC's Body of Proof.

Personal life[]

Harrison has been married since 1980 to actress Randi Oakes. The couple have four children, three girls and a boy. He lived in Gold Beach, Oregon, for 15 years; as of 2007, he lives in Eugene.[6]

Harrison became addicted to cocaine during the 1980s and was able to break the addiction with the help of the Betty Ford Center.[7]

Filmography[]

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Harrad Experiment Student Film debut
1976 Jim the World's Greatest Jim Nolan
1977 Fraternity Row Zac Sterling
1984 Razorback Carl Winters
1987 North Shore Chandler
1992 Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger Dan
1993 Cadillac Girls Sam
1994 Tis a Gift to Be Simple Daniel Hanover Short film
1995 Hard Evidence Trent Turner
1996 It's My Party Brandon Theis
1998 Air Bud: Golden Receiver Dr. Patrick Sullivan Alternative title: Air Bud 2
2000 Canone Inverso - Making Love Jeno Piccolo Alternative title: The Inverse Canon
2009 Love N' Dancing Uncle Carl
Give 'Em Hell, Malone Whitmore
2014 The M Word Mack Riley
2016 Fair Haven Dr. Gallagher
2020 The Vanished Dr. Bradley Alternative title: Hour of Lead
Television films
Year Title Role Notes
1975 Trilogy of Terror Arthur Moore Segment: "Julie"
1977 The Gathering Bud Jr.
1979 The Best Place to Be Rick Jawlosky
1980 The Women's Room Ben Volper
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Captain Bob Lewis
1981 For Ladies Only John Phillips
1983 The Fighter Merle Banks
The Hasty Heart Sgt. Lachlen McLachlen
1985 Seduced Mike Riordan
1986 Oceans of Fire Ben Laforche
Picnic Hal Carter
1988 Hot Paint Willie
Red River Cherry Valance
1990 Dangerous Pursuit Political Assassin
Gary Nicholson
1991 Bare Essentials William "Bill" Buzell
1992 Breaking the Silence Paul Danner
Duplicates Bob Boxletter
Split Images Robbie Daniels
1993 Caught in the Act Scott McNally
A Family Torn Apart Tom Kelley Alternative title: Sudden Fury
1994 Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg Bruce Kellogg
Mortal Fear Philip Montgomery
A Christmas Romance Brian Harding
1995 A Dangerous Affair Robert Kenzer
Nothing Lasts Forever Dr. Benjamin "Ben" Wallace
1996 Summer of Fear Lucas Marshall
1997 When Secrets Kill Greg Newhall
1998 Running Wild Matt Robinson
Murder at 75 Birch Rick Todson
1999 First Daughter President Jonathan Hayes
Au Pair Oliver Caldwell
2000 First Target President Jonathan Hayes
2001 Au Pair II Oliver Caldwell
2002 First Shot President Jonathan Hayes
St. Sass Adam Patrick
2009 Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise Oliver Caldwell
2012 Undercover Bridesmaid Mr. Thompson
2013 After All These Years David Larabee
2014 The Nine Lives of Christmas Chief Sam
2015 Cloudy with a Chance of Love Grant
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told Joe O'Toole
2016 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million Joe O'Toole
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You Joe O'Toole
My Christmas Love Tom Manning
2017 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground Joe O'Toole
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again Joe O'Toole
2018 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar Joe O'Toole
2019 Love, Fall & Order Hank Hart
2021 Sweet Carolina Pete Wilder
Television series
Year Title Role Notes
1976 Barnaby Jones Ritchie Ridder Episode: "Blood Vengeance"
M*A*S*H Lt. Tony Baker Episode: "The Nurses"
1977–78 Logan's Run Logan 5 Main cast (14 episodes)
1978–79 Centennial Levi Zendt Miniseries
1979–86 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates Main cast (142 episodes)
1986 Fresno Torch Miniseries
1987 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Joseph (voice) Episode: "The Nativity"
1989–90 Falcon Crest Michael Sharpe Main cast (22 episodes)
1990–91 The Family Man Jack Taylor Main cast (22 episodes)
1995 500 Nations Narrator (voice) 8 episodes
Sisters Daniel Albright Recurring role (5 episodes)
Touched by an Angel Pete Taylor Episode: "There But for the Grace of God"
New York News Jack Reilly Main cast (13 episodes)
1996–97 Dark Skies Old John Loengard (voice) 20 episodes (uncredited)
1998 Touched by an Angel Richard Episode: "Flights of Angels"
The Outer Limits Dr. Larry Chambers Episode: "To Tell the Truth"
Dead Man's Gun Boucher / Trapper Episode: "The Trapper"
Maggie Winters Mr. Wiehe Episode: "And Those Who Can't"
1999 Safe Harbor Sheriff John Loring Main cast (10 episodes)
2000 Ed Nick Stanton Recurring role (5 episodes)
2000–01 Judging Amy Tom Gillette Recurring role (4 episodes)
2002 Touched by an Angel Don Episode: "Forever Young"
2002–03 Strong Medicine Dr. Randolf Kilner Recurring role (4 episodes)
2003 Miracles Sheriff Ed Prescott Episode: "The Bone Scatterer"
2005–06 Reunion Russell Brewster Recurring role (7 episodes)
Joey Dean Recurring role (5 episodes)
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nathan Speer Episode: "Clock"
2008 Rodney Duke Lewis Episode: "Potty Mouth"
2009 Drop Dead Diva Brandon Tharpe Episode: "Crazy"
Maneater Teddy Alpert Miniseries
2009–11 One Tree Hill Paul Norris Recurring role (11 episodes)
2010 CSI: NY Roland Carson Episode: "Out of the Sky"
2011 Hot in Cleveland Dave Episode: "Elka's Snowbird"
Body of Proof Dr. Cameron Fischer Episode: "Gross Anatomy"
2012 Outside the Box Thorn Episode: "Soylent Green"
Ringer Tim Arbogast Recurring role (5 episodes)
2013 Psych Ted Lomax Episode: "Nip and Suck It"
2014 Reckless Decatur "Dec" Fortnum Main cast (13 episodes)
2015 Castle Danny Valentine Episode: "Dead from New York"
NCIS Navy Capt. Roland Ebbakey Episode: "Viral"
2015–16 Rizzoli & Isles Ron Hanson Recurring role (6 episodes)
2017–19 Chesapeake Shores Thomas O'Brien Recurring role (13 episodes)
2017 The Middle Bennett Brooks Episode: "Meet the Parents"
2018–19 American Housewife Dan 2 episodes
2020–21 General Hospital Gregory Chase 18 episodes
2021 9-1-1 Phillip Buckley 2 episodes

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Brady, James (1990-02-25). "In Step With: Gregory Harrison". Parade. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  2. ^ "Gregory Harrison Biography (1950-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
  3. ^ Harris, Harry (December 3, 1979). "Hospital Routine Familiar to Actor Gregory Harrison". Boca Raton News. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  4. ^ Gross, Ed (February 5, 2020). "101 Classic (and Not-So-Classic) TV Shows From the 1970s". Closer Weekly. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  5. ^ "Deutscher FALCON CREST - Fanclub / German FALCON CREST Fan Club". www.falconcrest.org. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  6. ^ Wang, K.L. Connie (February 6, 2015). "Connie Chats with Gregory Harrison". Parade. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Simross, Lynn (September 5, 1989). "From Addict to Role Model Gregory Harrison Bares Soul to Help Drug-Abuse Victims". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""