Mitchell Ryan

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Mitchell Ryan
Mitchell Ryan 1973.JPG
Ryan in 1973
Born (1934-01-11) January 11, 1934 (age 87)
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1958–present
Spouse(s)Lynda Morse (divorced)
Children3

Mitchell Ryan (born January 11, 1934) is an American film, television, and stage actor, who in his six decades of television is known for playing Burke Devlin in the 1960s gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, and later for his co-starring role as Thomas Gibson's father Edward Montgomery on Dharma & Greg. He also played the villainous General Peter McAllister in the 1987 buddy cop action film Lethal Weapon.

Early life[]

Ryan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] His father was a novelty salesman.[citation needed] He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.[1]After the Korean War, he went to the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, where he made his acting debut in Thunder Road along with the theatre's founder Robert Porterfield.

Career[]

A life member of the Actors Studio,[2] Ryan's Broadway theatre credits include Wait Until Dark, Medea, and The Price.[3] His off-Broadway credits include Antony and Cleopatra (1963) and The Price (1979).[4]

Ryan was an original cast member on the cult TV soap opera Dark Shadows, playing Burke Devlin until he was fired from the show in June 1967 due to his alcoholism,[5][6][7] and replaced by Anthony George.

In 1970, Ryan was in one episode of The High Chaparral as a character named Jelks, who was on the run from the law.

He appeared in an episode of Cannon, "Fool's Gold" in 1971, and in ABC's The Streets of San Francisco episode "The Unicorn". He portrayed the title character, Chase Reddick, on the crime drama Chase (1973–74).[8]

Mitchell Ryan in Chase

In 1975, Ryan played in Barnaby Jones, in the episode titled "Counterfall". He portrayed the leading character, Dan Walling, on Executive Suite (1976–77)[8]:316​ and played Blake Simmons in the drama Julie Farr, M.D. (1978–79).[8]:549​

Ryan portrayed Cooper Hawkins on the Western series The Chisholms (1980),[8]:185–186​ Sam Garrett on King's Crossing (1982)[8]:567​ Brennan Flannery on High Performance (1983),[8]:459​ Edward Wyler on Hot Pursuit (1984),[8]:478​ and Porter Tremont on 2000 Malibu Road (1992).[8]:1122–1123​

His other acting credits include the films Liar Liar; Magnum Force playing as Dirty Harry's ill-fated despondent best friend and fellow police officer, a motorcycle patrolman named Charlie McCoy; Lethal Weapon playing the key villain General Peter McAllister; Grosse Pointe Blank, Electra Glide in Blue, and Hot Shots! Part Deux playing senator Grey Edwards. In 1985, he portrayed Tillet Main, the patriarch of the Main family in the first North and South miniseries. In 1991, he played Ellis Blake in the sixth season Matlock episode "The Foursome".

Ryan appeared in NBC's The A-Team he played Ike Hagan episode "Waste 'Em", as Grant Everett in the two-part Silk Stalkings episode "Partners", and as Kyle Riker, the father of Commander William Riker, in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Icarus Factor"; Ryan had been considered for the part of series lead Captain Jean-Luc Picard.[9] He also portrayed the roles of the boyfriend of Blanche Deveraux in The Golden Girls and a police officer in a 1993 episode of NYPD Blue. The same year, Ryan was Dallas Shields in Renegade. He appeared in the 1983 episode of Hart to Hart 'Highland Fling'. In 1994, he appeared again in Hart to Hart in one of the made-for-TV movies, "Home Is Where the Hart Is". In 1995, he appeared in the films Judge Dredd and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers as Dr. Terence Wynn (played by Robert Phalen in the original Halloween film).

He played the role of Greg's father, Edward Montgomery, on the comedyDharma & Greg (1997–2002).[8]:256​ The following year, Ryan voiced Highfather on Justice League.

He was the president of Screen Actors Guild Foundation.[10]

Personal life[]

Ryan married Lynda Morse in 1972.[11] They later divorced. The couple had three children.[citation needed]

Filmography[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "'Chase' – Jack Webb's Newest Dramatic Series". Sunday News. Pennsylvania, Lancaster. September 30, 1973. p. 62. Retrieved May 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 279. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.
  3. ^ "Mitchell Ryan". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mitchell Ryan". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Lucille Lortel Foundation. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  5. ^ "MItchell Ryan – The Fall Of A Sparrow". www.mitchellryan.net. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Stars of Dark Shadows: Where Are They Now? Mitchell Ryan". www.darkshadowsonline.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Barnabas & Company: The Cast of the TV Classic Dark Shadows, Craig Hamrick & R. J. Jamison: Ryan is quoted as saying "I was so drunk that year, I barely remember what it was about" in a 1976 TV Guide interview
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 180. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  9. ^ "Letters of Note: STAR TREK/Casting". Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  10. ^ "Screen Actors Guild Foundation Launches Storyline Online II". Screen Actors Guild. June 21, 2003. Archived from the original on October 10, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  11. ^ California Marriage Index 1960–1985; Ancestry.com

External links[]

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