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Mitchell Ryan

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Mitchell Ryan
Mitchell Ryan in 1973
Born(1934-01-11)January 11, 1934
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 2022(2022-03-04) (aged 88)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2022
Spouse
Lynda Morse
​
​
(m. 1972; div. 1982)​
Barbara Albertine
​
(m. 1998)​
Children3

Mitchell Ryan (January 11, 1934[1] – March 4, 2022) was an American actor. His six decades of television credits, he is best known for playing Burke Devlin in the 1960s gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, and later for his co-starring role as Greg Montgomery (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

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Mitchell Ryan was born on January 11, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky.[2] His father was a salesman and his mother was a writer.[3] He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War.[2]

Career

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A life member of the Actors Studio,[4] Ryan's Broadway theatre credits include Wait Until Dark, Medea, and The Price.[5] His off-Broadway credits include Antony and Cleopatra (1963) and The Price (1979).[6]

Ryan was an original cast member of the cult TV soap opera Dark Shadows, playing Burke Devlin until he was dismissed from the show in June 1967 due to his alcoholism,[7][8][9] 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).[10]

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)[10]: 316  and played Blake Simmons in the drama Julie Farr, M.D. (1978–79) which paired him with lead actress Susan Sullivan who he reunited with to star together again in Dharma & Greg.[10]: 549 

Ryan portrayed Cooper Hawkins on the Western series The Chisholms (1980),[10]: 185–186  Sam Garrett on King's Crossing (1982)[10]: 567  Brennan Flannery on High Performance (1983),[10]: 459  Edward Wyler on Hot Pursuit (1984),[10]: 478  and Porter Tremont on 2000 Malibu Road (1992).[10]: 1122–1123 

Ryan's other acting credits include the films Liar Liar; Magnum Force playing as "Dirty Harry" Callahan (Clint Eastwood)'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, as Grant Everett in a two-part Silk Stalkings episode; and as Kyle Riker, the father of Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "The Icarus Factor"; Ryan had been considered for the part of series lead Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).[11] He also portrayed the roles of the abusive boyfriend of Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), Rex Huntington, in The Golden Girls season 6 episode "The Bloom is off the Rose", and Jack Hanlan, a police officer in "Emission Accomplished", a 1993 season 1 episode of NYPD Blue. The same year, Ryan played 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).

Ryan played the role of Greg Montgomery (Thomas Gibson)'s father, Edward Montgomery, on the comedy Dharma & Greg (1997–2002).[10]: 256  The following year, Ryan voiced Highfather on Justice League.

Ryan was the president of Screen Actors Guild Foundation.[12]

Personal life

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Ryan married Lynda Morse in 1972, and they had a son.[13] Ryan and Morse divorced in 1982, and Ryan married Barbara Albertine in 1998. They had two children and five grandchildren.

Ryan died of heart failure at his home in Los Angeles, California, on March 4, 2022, at the age of 88.[14]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1958 Thunder Road Jed Moultrie Uncredited
1970 Monte Walsh Shorty Austin
1971 My Old Man's Place Martin Flood
The Hunting Party Doc Harrison
Chandler Chuck Kincaid
1972 The Honkers Lowell
A Reflection of Fear Inspector McKenna
1973 High Plains Drifter Dave Drake
The Friends of Eddie Coyle Waters
Electra Glide in Blue Harvey Poole
Magnum Force Charlie McCoy
1976 Midway Aubrey Fitch Uncredited
Two-Minute Warning Priest
1987 Lethal Weapon General Peter McCallister
1989 Winter People Drury Campbell
1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III General Simms
The Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them Kenneth Davenport
1993 Hot Shots! Part Deux Gray Edwards
1994 Blue Sky Ray Stevens
Speechless Lloyd Wannamaker
1995 Judge Dredd Vartis Hammond
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Dr. Terrence Wynn
1996 Ed Abe Woods
1997 The Devil's Own Jim Kelly
Liar Liar Mr. Allan
Grosse Pointe Blank Bart Newberry
2005 Love for Rent Doctor Uncredited

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1959 Brenner Detective Mack Episode: "Record of Arrest"
1961 'Way Out Bill Fontaine Episode: "Soft Focus"
1961–1963 Naked City Various 5 episodes
1961–1965 The Defenders Harry Cook/Jack Bostick 2 episodes
1966–1967 Dark Shadows Burke Devlin 107 episodes
1967 Coronet Blue Oscar Davis Episode: "Faces"
1967–1969 N.Y.P.D. Joseph Robert Maloney/Mr. Whitaker 2 episodes
1970 The High Chaparral Jelks Episode: "Jelks"
1971 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Brad Fletcher Episode: "Operation: Pay Off"
1971–1975 Cannon Alexander Roper/John Flatow/Ed Farrell 3 episodes
1973 The Fuzz Brothers Ben Television film
The Streets of San Francisco Abel Hoffman Episode: "The Unicorn"
1973–1974 Chase Captain Chase Reddick 23 episodes
1974 The Manhunter Tom Bailey Episode: "The Man Who Thought He Was Dillinger"
Kodiak Prisoner Episode: "Thunder Mountain"
1975 Barnaby Jones Dennis Kelly Episode: "Counterfall"
The Rockford Files Colonel Hopkins Episode: "2 Into 5.56 Won't Go"
The Entertainer Mr. Pasko Television film
Baretta Bax Baxter Episode: "Nobody in a Nothing Place"
1976 The Blue Knight Peter Stryker Episode: "Cop Killer"
The Hemingway Play Ernest Hemingway Television film
1976–1977 Executive Suite Dan Walling 18 episodes
1977 Most Wanted Keith Garner Episode: "The Spellbinder"
Escape from Bogen County Ambler Bowman Television film
Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion Jethro Lundy Television film
Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. Matthew Sullivan Television film
1978 Having Babies III Dr. Blake Simmons Television film
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Applegate Television film
Family Mike Dunston Episode: "Expectations"
1978–1979 Julie Farr, M.D. Dr. Blake Simmons 8 episodes
1979 Flesh & Blood Jack Fallon Television film
1980 The Chisholms Cooper Hawkins 9 episodes
Angel City Silas Creedy Television film
1981 The Choice Jerry Clements Television film
The Monkey Mission Keyes Television film
The Five of Me Dr. Ralph B. Allison Television film
Death of a Centerfold Hugh Hefner Television film
Of Mice and Men Slim Television film
1982 King's Crossing Sean Garrett Episode: "Long Ago Tomorrow"
1983 Uncommon Valor Chief Tom Riordan Television film
High Performance Brennan Flannery 2 episodes
Medea Jason Television film
The Gambler: The Adventure Continues Charlie McCourt Television film
Hart to Hart Ramsey MacLeish Episode: "Highland Fling"
1984 Hardcastle and McCormick Sheriff Stretch Carter 2 episodes
1985 Hotel Steve Cutler Episode: "Lifelines"
Dallas Captain Merwin Fogarty 3 episodes
Hot Pursuit Mr. Wyler 2 episodes
Fatal Vision Paul Strombaugh Episode: "1.2"
Robert Kennedy and His Times Robert McNamara Episode: "1.1"
Riptide Colonel John Litvak Episode: "Boz Busters"
The A-Team Ike Hagen Episode: "Waste 'Em!"
North and South Tillet Main 6 episodes
Hostage Flight Captain Malone Television film
Hell Town Howard Bane Episode: "My Girlfriend, Annie"
Northstar Colonel Even Marshall Television film
1985–1995 Murder, She Wrote Various 4 episodes
1986 All My Children Alex Hunter Episode: "1.4186"
Penalty Phase Donald Faulkner Television film
1987 St. Elsewhere George Deaton Episode: "Rites of Passage"
1988 The English Programme Slim 5 episodes
Favorite Son Vice President Dan Eastman Episode: "Part One"
1989 The Ryan White Story Tom Television film
Star Trek: The Next Generation Kyle Riker Episode: "The Icarus Factor"
Double Exposure: The Story of Margaret Bourke-White General George S. Patton Television film
Mission: Impossible Edgar Sheppard Episode: "Submarine"
Santa Barbara Anthony Tonell 36 episodes
Hardball Captain Jake Griffin Episode: "The Fighting 52nd"
1989–1990 Jake and the Fatman Lieutenant Dan Gorecki/Ethan Mitchell 2 episodes
1990 Who's the Boss? Jack Episode: "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?"
Judgment Dave Davis Television film
L.A. Law Duncan Young Episode: "Smoke Gets In Your Thighs"
1991 The Golden Girls Rex Huntington Episode: "The Bloom is Off the Rose"
Hunter Tom Reed Episode: "Shadows of the Past"
Deadly Game Admiral Mark Nately Television film
In a Child's Name Peter Chappell 2 episodes
Matlock Ellis Blake Episode: "The Foursome"
1992 Civil Wars Judge Kosarin Episode: "Denise and De Nuptials"
Mann & Machine Bennet Tyler Episode: "Water, Water ,Everywhere"
The Young Riders Marshall Luke Murphy Episode: "Lessons Learned"
Dirty Work Frank Esposito Television film
2000 Malibu Road Porter Tremont 4 episodes
Majority Rule John Wade Television film
1993 Reasonable Doubts Hugh Mandrake Episode: "Wish You Were Here"
Star Harrison Barclay Television film
NYPD Blue Jack Hanlan Episode: "Emission Accomplished"
General Hospital Frank Smith 2 episodes
1993–1994 Renegade Dallas Bronson/Ted Shields 4 episodes
1994 Hart to Hart: Home is Where the Hart Is Chief Carson Television film
Walker, Texas Ranger Judge Riley Episode: "The Committee"
One West Waikiki Cosmetic Surgeon Episode: "'Til Death Do Us Part"
1995 Gramps Oliver Television film
The Single Guy Mr. Brimley 2 episodes
Silk Stalkings Grant Everett 2 episodes
1996 A Face to Die For Joe Thomas Television film
Raven Hawk White Television film
Champs Mr. Shuester Episode: "We'll Never Have Paris"
Wings Jonathan Clayton 3 episodes
1997 Dark Skies William Paley Episode: "To Prey in Darkness"
Spy Game Morganthal Episode: "What, Micah Worry?"
The Practice Judge George Nelson Episode: "The Civil Right"
1997–2002 Dharma & Greg Edward Montgomery 119 episodes
1998 Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story W. Averell Harriman Television film
1999 Aftershock: Earthquake in New York Frank Agostini 2 episodes
2003 Justice League Highfather (voice) Episode: "Twilight"[15]
2004 The West Wing Senator Roland Pierce Episode: "The Supremes"
The Drew Carey Show Woody Episode: "Drew Hunts Silver Fox"
2021 Smartphone Theatre Harry Episode: "What Friends Do (#Expendables)"

References

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  1. ^ Bio
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Medina, Eduardo (March 5, 2022). "Mitchell Ryan, Who Played the Villain in 'Lethal Weapon,' Dies at 88". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Mitchell Ryan". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  6. ^ "Mitchell Ryan". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Lucille Lortel Foundation. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  7. ^ "MItchell Ryan – The Fall Of A Sparrow". www.mitchellryan.net. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  8. ^ "The Stars of Dark Shadows: Where Are They Now? Mitchell Ryan". www.darkshadowsonline.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  9. ^ 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
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "Letters of Note: STAR TREK/Casting". Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ California Marriage Index 1960–1985; Ancestry.com
  14. ^ "Mitchell Ryan, Actor in 'Lethal Weapon' and 'Dharma & Greg,' Dies at 88". The Hollywood Reporter. March 5, 2022. Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  15. ^ "Mitchell Ryan (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 30, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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