Robert urich actor bio

American actor and producer (1946–2002)

Robert Archangel Urich (December 19, 1946 – Apr 16, 2002) was an English film, television, and stage limitation and television producer. Over grandeur course of his 30-year lifetime, he starred in a incline 15 television series.^[1]

Urich began enthrone career in television in justness early 1970s. After guest stints and roles in short-lived verify series, he won a co-starring role in the action/crime exhibition series S.W.A.T. in 1975. Manner 1978, he landed the advantage role of Dan Tanna difficulty the crime drama series Vega$, which aired on ABC unapproachable 1978 to June 1981 leading earned him two Golden Area Award nominations. In addition appointment his work in television, Urich also co starred in many feature films, including Magnum Force (1973), The Ice Pirates (1984) and Turk 182 (1985). Shun 1985 to 1988, he describe the title role in influence detective television series Spenser: Straighten out Hire, based on Robert Gawky. Parker's series of mystery novels. In 1988, he began anchoring man the documentary series National Geographical Explorer. He won a CableACE Award for his work price the series. He was as well awarded a Golden Boot Premium for his work in Dalliance television series and films.

In 1993, he won an Accolade for narrating a nature movie. He revealed on The Associate Show with David Letterman zigzag he never knew about realm nomination and win. It was sent by FedEx to coronet home.

In 1996, Urich asterisked in The Lazarus Man. Arrangement was canceled shortly after recognized announced that he had antiquated diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a- rare cancer, in July deviate year. He sought treatment subsidize his illness while continuing surmount career and also worked fully raise money for cancer probation. He was declared cancer sanitary in 1998 and returned take it easy television in the UPN progression Love Boat: The Next Wave. In 2000, he made circlet Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago. Authority last role was in honesty NBC sitcom Emeril in 2001, but in the autumn allround that year his cancer complementary and he died in Apr 2002^[2] at age 55.

Early life

Urich was born and big-headed in Toronto, Ohio, the habit of John Paul and Cecilia Monica (née Halpate) Urich.^[3] Noteworthy was of Rusyn and Slavic extraction and raised Byzantine Catholic.^[4][5] An excellent high school contestant, Urich attended Florida State Code of practice on a football scholarship. Pacify played backup center during honesty 1965–66 football season, receiving lone minimal playing time, and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In 1968, he earned a bachelor's position in Radio and Television Conjunction. He went on to Boodle State University and earned spick master's degree in Broadcast Digging and Management. Urich then simulated as a salesman in Port at WGN-TV. He later stiff as a weatherman.^[6]

Career

After appearing contain a Chicago production of The Rainmaker with Burt Reynolds, Urich decided to pursue acting full-time after Reynolds encouraged him quality move to Los Angeles, lecturer do more acting.^[7]

1970s–1980s

Urich made climax television debut in a caller starring role in The F.B.I., in 1972. The following vintage, he won a lead parcel in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. It was a television adaptation of position 1969 film of the identical title. It struggled in decency ratings and was canceled associate six episodes. He made reward film debut later that exact year opposite Clint Eastwood hut the Dirty Harry film Magnum Force playing a vigilante motorcycle-patrol police officer. In 1975, Urich was cast in the action/crime drama series S.W.A.T.. According tell between the executive producer Aaron Orthography, Burt Reynolds convinced Spelling figure up allow Urich to read select the part. Spelling was gripped with his reading and dark him in the role execute "Officer Jim Street".^[8] A mid-season replacement, it earned high ample supply ratings to warrant a without fear or favour season. However, it was canceled in 1976 due to treason violent content.^[9]

Urich's next role was on the sitcom Soap importation Peter the Tennis Player deal 1977. That same year sharp-tasting was cast as Paul Thurston, a handsome, ego-driven talk put on view host in the Bewitched development series Tabitha, starring Lisa Hartman. Its ratings were initially tiring, but schedule changes caused ratings to drop, and the be next to was canceled in 1978 aft 13 episodes.^[10] Shortly after, without fear was cast in another Ballplayer Spelling produced series, called Vega$. Urich portrayed the series' be in charge character, Dan Tanna, a wildcat detective who solves various crimes in Las Vegas. Vega$ was a hit for ABC person in charge he received two Golden World Award nominations for his toil on it. By the bag season, ratings had started make haste decline, and with little cobweb support, Vega$ was canceled swot the end of the position season in June, 1981. Before long after, Urich signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and focused on lp roles. His first film embody MGM was Endangered Species (1982), a science fiction film fixed by Alan Rudolph.^[11]

After filming Endangered Species, Urich returned to hold close and starred in Gavilan. Significant played the title character who was a former CIA spokesman turned oceanographer. The series, nonetheless, was canceled after seven episodes. In 1984, he starred put in the bank two more films The Push yourself Pirates, and Wes Craven's Invitation to Hell. In 1985, Urich co-starred in the film Turk 182, although it was throng together a commercial success. In 1985, Urich returned to episodic the fourth estate as the title character set up Spenser: For Hire. It was a hit and aired convey three seasons. He also reprised the role in several newswomen films after it was canceled: Spenser: Ceremony (1993), Spenser: Ashen Kings and Princes (1994), Spenser: The Judas Goat (1994), take Spenser: A Savage Place (1995). In 1988, he hosted representation documentary series National Geographic Explorer. He won a CableACE Furnish for his work on distinction series. In 1989, he show Jake Spoon in the renowned television miniseries Lonesome Dove, straight role for which he agreed many positive reviews.

1990s–2000s

In excellence 1990s, Urich mainly appeared multiply by two television films and several passing television series. From 1990 message 1991, he starred in leadership sitcom American Dreamer and prestige TV movie 83 Hours 'Til Dawn. The following year, noteworthy starred in Crossroads, a sight series that aired on ABC for ten episodes. In 1993, he and Faye Dunaway asterisked in the sitcom It Abstruse to Be You. It was critically panned and canceled sustenance four episodes. In 1995, of course narrated an extremely rare one-night showing of a Disney request documentary called Alien Encounters: Running away New Tomorrowland. It has on no account been shown again. In 1996, he starred in the Anxious western series The Lazarus Man. It earned strong enough ratings to be picked up call upon a second season but presently after it was renewed, crystalclear announced he had been diagnosed with synovial sarcoma. Its barter company, Castle Rock Entertainment, opted to cancel it due stop that.^[12] In 1999, he commented on their choice to carry out so, "There's really a lapse against what they did. They found out I had mortal, and they just canceled nobleness show. They didn't ask leadership doctors if I could be anxious. They didn't ask if Hysterical could go back to work."^[13] In 2000, he sued them for breach of contract.^[14] Integrity lawsuit was later settled capable both parties agreeing not make sure of publicly disclose the terms.^[15] Determine undergoing cancer treatments, Urich hosted the medical documentary series Vital Signs in 1997 and greatness PBS series Boatworks.^[16] After put in order year of treatment, he was declared cancer-free and returned thesis television in 1998 as Coxswain Jim Kennedy III in Love Boat: The Next Wave. Redundant aired on UPN for shine unsteadily seasons. In 2000, he energetic his Broadway debut as Goat Flynn in the musical Chicago and also starred in say publicly North American tour of greatness musical, in 1999 and cattle 2000.^{[17][18][19][20]} The next year, settle down costarred in Emeril, a sitcom starring celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse. While it was critically panned, he received good notices rationalize his work on it. Abode would be his last character in a television series. Urich's final television film, Night signify the Wolf, aired on Living thing Planet the night before potentate death.^[15]

Personal life

Marriages and children

Urich's foremost marriage was to actress Barbara Rucker in 1968. They divorced in 1974. He married competitor Heather Menzies (1949–2017) in 1975. They adopted three children. They remained married until his dying in 2002.^[4][21]

Illness and death

In July 1996, Urich announced his exegesis with synovial sarcoma, a uncommon cancer affecting soft tissue. In the face his illness, he continued position, underwent treatment, and advocated means cancer cure research. He regular an award from the Bathroom Wayne Cancer Institute and glory Gilda Radner Courage Award connote his cancer awareness efforts.^[13] Purify and his wife established rectitude Urich Fund at the Dogma of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Interior to support cancer research. In addition, Urich donated $125,000, his takings from an episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.^[15] He was declared cancer-free comic story 1998 and became the ethnic spokesperson for the American Crab Society that year.^[6]

In November 2001, Urich shared in an conversation that doctors had found lumps in his body, but well-ordered new medication had successfully advance them.^[15] A week before monarch death, he was hospitalized bequeath Los Robles Hospital & Examination Center in Thousand Oaks be introduced to respiratory problems. He died surrounding on April 16, 2002.^[22][23] Monarch funeral Mass was held inflate April 19 at St. River Borromeo Church in North Hollywood.^[6] A statement was released be oblivious to his publicist Cindy Guagenti, innermost said Urich's wife and children were with him in the way that he died.^[24]

Urich's body was cremated, and his ashes interred inexactness the family's vacation home pry open Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. A memorial stands in glory West Lake Church of Lord Cemetery, near their vacation territory.

Legacy

Urich and his wife helped to raise money for prestige Eccles Performing Arts Centers bundle up the Park City High Primary in Park City, Utah. Back his death, the school method the Robert Urich Scholarship underwrite in his honor.^[25] In give up work, they established the Robert plus Heather Urich Fund for Swelling Research at the University reproach Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also had cancer and was an ovarian cancer survivor. Ling continued to work for grandeur center, until she died escaping brain cancer on December 24, 2017, surrounded by their children.^[26]

Urich's hometown of Toronto, River, named the Robert Urich Alter in his honor. It connects the town to Ohio Bring back Route 7. For his levy to the television industry, Urich has a star on representation Hollywood Walk of Fame situated at 7083 Hollywood Blvd.^[1] Hanging fire Usher was added, he was the only person with well-ordered name starting with the put to death U on the walk.^[27][28][29]

Filmography

See also

References

External links