Robert Urich
Robert Urich | |
---|---|
Born | Robert Michael Urich December 19, 1946 Toronto, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | April 16, 2002 | (aged 55)
Resting place | Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada |
Other names | Robert York |
Alma mater | Florida State University Michigan State University |
Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
Years active | 1972–2002 |
Spouses |
|
Children | 3 |
Robert Michael Urich (December 19, 1946 – April 16, 2002) was an American film, television, and stage actor and television producer. Over the course of his 30-year career, he starred in a record 15 television series.[1]
Urich began his career in television in the early 1970s. After guest stints and roles in short-lived television series, he won a co-starring role in the action/crime drama series
In 1993, he won an
In 1996, Urich starred in The Lazarus Man. It was canceled shortly after he announced that he had been diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare cancer, in July that year. He sought treatment for his illness while continuing his career and also worked to raise money for cancer research. He was declared cancer free in 1998 and returned to television in the UPN series Love Boat: The Next Wave. In 2000, he made his Broadway debut as Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago. His last role was in the NBC sitcom Emeril in 2001, but in the autumn of that year his cancer returned and he died in April 2002 at age 55.
Early life
Urich was born and raised in Toronto, Ohio, the son of John Paul and Cecilia Monica (née Halpate) Urich.[2] He was of Rusyn and Slovak extraction and raised Byzantine Catholic.[3][4] An excellent high school athlete, Urich attended Florida State University on a football scholarship. He played backup center during the 1965–66 football season, receiving only minimal playing time, and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In 1968, he earned a bachelor's degree in Radio and Television Communications. He went on to Michigan State University and earned a master's degree in Broadcast Research and Management. Urich then worked as a salesman in Chicago at WGN-TV. He later worked as a weatherman.[5]
Career
After appearing in a Chicago production of The Rainmaker with Burt Reynolds, Urich decided to pursue acting full-time after Reynolds encouraged him to move to Los Angeles, and do more acting.[6]
1970s–1980s
Urich made his television debut in a guest starring role in The F.B.I., in 1972. The following year, he won a lead role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. It was a television adaptation of the 1969 film of the same title. It struggled in the ratings and was canceled after six episodes. He made his film debut later that same year opposite Clint Eastwood in 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 to the executive producer Aaron Spelling, Burt Reynolds convinced Spelling to allow Urich to read for the part. Spelling was impressed with his reading and cast him in the role of "Officer Jim Street".[7] A mid-season replacement, it earned high enough ratings to warrant a second season. However, it was canceled in 1976 due to its violent content.[8]
Urich's next role was on the sitcom
After filming Endangered Species, Urich returned to television and starred in
1990s–2000s
In the 1990s, Urich mainly appeared in television films and several short-lived television series. From 1990 to 1991, he starred in the sitcom
Personal life
Marriages and children
Urich's first marriage was to actress Barbara Rucker in 1968. They divorced in 1974. He married actress Heather Menzies (1949–2017) in 1975. They adopted three children. They remained married until his death in 2002.[3][20]
Illness and death
In July 1996, Urich announced his diagnosis with
In November 2001, Urich shared in an interview that doctors had found
Urich was cremated, and his ashes interred at the family's vacation home in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. A memorial stands in the West Lake Church of Christ Cemetery, near their vacation home.
Legacy
Urich and Menzies-Urich helped to raise money for the Eccles Performing Arts Centers at the Park City High School in Park City, Utah. After his death, the school established the Robert Urich Scholarship fund in his honor.[23] In addition, Urich and Menzies-Urich established the Robert and Heather Urich Fund for Sarcoma Research at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also had cancer and was an ovarian cancer survivor. Menzies-Urich continued to work for the center, and died from brain cancer on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2017 , surrounded by their three children.[24]
Urich's hometown of Toronto, Ohio, named the Robert Urich Interchange in his honor. It connects the town to Ohio State Route 7. For his contribution to the television industry, Urich has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 7083 Hollywood Blvd.[1] Until Usher was added, he was the only person with a name starting with the letter U on the walk.[25][26][27]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | Magnum Force | Officer Mike Grimes | |
1982 | Endangered Species | Ruben Castle | |
1984 | The Ice Pirates | Jason | |
1984 | Invitation to Hell | Matt Winslow | |
1985 | Turk 182 | Terry Lynch | |
1988 | April Morning | Joseph | Credit at beginning only |
1989 | Dragon Fight | Airport Police | |
1992 | Jock: A True Tale of Friendship | Rocky | Alternative title: Jock of the Bushveld |
1994 | Jock of the Bushveld | Jack 'Rocky Mountain Jack' | |
1996 | Young Again | Michael Riley, Age 40 | |
1996 | The Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue | Angus Feagan | |
2002 | Clover Bend | Bill |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | The F.B.I. | Davie Stroud | Episode: "The Runner" |
1973 | Kung Fu
|
Greg Dundee | Episode: "Blood Brother" |
1973 | Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
|
Unknown | Episode: "A Girl Named Tham" |
1973 | Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice | Bob Sanders | 12 episodes |
1973 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Mike Lowry | Episode: "Death Is Only a Side Effect" |
1974 | Killdozer! | 'Mack' McCarthy | Television film |
1974 | Nakia | Unknown | Episode: "A Beginning in the Wilderness" |
1975 | The Specialists | Dr. William Nugent | Television film Credited as Robert York |
1975 | Gunsmoke | Manolo Etchahoun | Episode: "Manolo" |
1975–1976 | S.W.A.T. | Officer Jim Street | 37 episodes |
1977 | Bunco | Walker | Television film |
1977 | Soap | Peter Campbell, "The Tennis Player" | 8 episodes |
1977–1978 | Tabitha | Paul Thurston | 12 episodes |
1977–1978 | The Love Boat | Various Roles | 3 episodes |
1978 | Charlie's Angels | Dan Tanna | Episode: "Angels in Vegas" |
1978–1981 | Vega$ | Dan Tanna | 69 episodes |
1979 | When She Was Bad... | Bob Morgan | Television film |
1979 | Password Plus | Himself | Game Show Participant / Celebrity Guest Star |
1980 | The Shadow Box | Unknown | Television film Uncredited |
1980 | Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story | Rocky Bleier | Television film |
1981 | Killing at Hell's Gate | Charles Duke | Television film |
1982 | The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour | Unknown | Episode #1.2 |
1982 | Take Your Best Shot | Jess Marriner | Television film |
1982–1983 | Gavilan | Robert Gavilan | 13 episodes |
1983 | Princess Daisy | Patrick Shannon | Miniseries |
1984 | Mistral's Daughter | Jason Darcy | Miniseries |
1984 | His Mistress | Allen Beck | Television film |
1985 | Scandal Sheet | Ben Rowan | Television film |
1985–1988 | Spenser: For Hire | Spenser | 65 episodes |
1986 | The Defiant Ones | Johnny 'Joker' Johnson | Television film |
1986 | The Disney Sunday Movie
|
Michael Riley, Age 40 | Episode: "Young Again" |
1987 | Amerika | Peter Bradford | Miniseries |
1988 | Cheers | Himself | Episode: "Woody for Hire Meets Norman of the Apes" |
1988 | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Joseph Simmons | Episode: "April Morning" |
1988-1995 | National Geographic Explorer | Hosts Narrator | 110 episodes |
1989 | The Comeback | Scotty Malloy | Television film |
1989 | She Knows Too Much | Harry | Television film |
1989 | Lonesome Dove | Jake Spoon | Miniseries |
1989 | Night Walk | Detective Jake Simon | Television film |
1989 | Spooner | Harry Spooner / Michael Norlon | Television film |
1989 | Murder by Night | Allan Strong | Television film |
1990 | Blind Faith | Rob Marshall | Television miniseries |
1990 | A Quiet Little Neighborhood, a Perfect Little Murder | Ross Pegler | Television film |
1990 | 83 Hours 'Til Dawn | Bradley Burdock | Television film |
1990 | Carol & Company | Mr. Carmen | Episode: "Teacher, Teacher" |
1990–1991 | American Dreamer | Tom Nash | 17 episodes |
1991 | Stranger at My Door | Joe Fortier | Television film |
1991 | ...And Then She Was Gone | Jack Bauer | Television film |
1992 | Survive the Savage Sea | Jack Carpenter | Television film |
1992 | Blind Man's Bluff | Thomas Booker | Television film |
1992 | Double Edge | Harry Carter | Television film Alternative title: Hit Woman |
1992 | Revolver | Nick Suster | Television film |
1992–1993 | Crossroads | Johnny Hawkins | 9 episodes |
1993 | Evening Shade | Steve | Episode: "Frieda and the Preacher" |
1993 | Deadly Relations | Leonard J. Fagot | Television film |
1993 | Spenser: Ceremony | Spenser | Television film |
1993 | It Had to Be You | Mitch Quinn | 6 episodes |
1994 | Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes | Spenser | Television film |
1994 | To Save the Children | Jake Downey | Television film |
1994 | A Perfect Stranger | Alex Hale | Television film |
1994 | Spenser: The Judas Goat | Spenser | Television film |
1995 | Alien Encounters: From New Tomorrowland | Narrator | Disney television documentary |
1995 | Spenser: A Savage Place | Spenser | Television film |
1995 | A Horse for Danny | Eddie Fortuna | Television film |
1995 | She Stood Alone: The Tailhook Scandal | Admiral Williams | Television film |
1996 | Captains Courageous | Captain Matthew Troop | Television film |
1996 | The Lazarus Man | Lazarus / James Cathcart | 20 episodes |
1997 | The Nanny | Judge Jerry Moran | Episode: "Samson, He Denied Her" |
1997 | Final Descent
|
Captain Glen 'Lucky' Singer | Television film |
1998 | Invasion America | Briggs | Unknown episodes |
1998–1999 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Captain Jim Kennedy III | 25 episodes |
1999 | Final Run
|
Captain Glen 'Lucky' Singer | Television film |
1999 | Miracle on the 17th Green | Mitch McKinley | Television film |
2001 | Late Boomers | Dennis | Television film |
2001 | For Love of Olivia | Horton Roundtree | Television film |
2001 | Emeril | Jerry McKenney | 10 episodes |
2002 | The President's Man: A Line in the Sand | President Adam Mayfield | Television film |
2002 | Night of the Wolf | Purly Owens | Television film |
2002 | Aftermath | Jack | Television film (final film role) |
See also
References
- ^ a b King, Susan. "Hollywood Star Walk: Robert Urich". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Robert Michael Urich (b. 1946)". birth-records.mooseroots.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
- ^ a b Lipton, Michael A. (April 29, 2002). "Bright Knight". People. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
I was a very uptight Catholic boy who played by the rules
- ^ "ROBERT URICH". www.carpatho-rusyn.org. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Actor Robert Urich dead at 55". CNN. April 16, 2002. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ Huff, Richard (April 17, 2002). "Versatile, Engaging Robert Urich Mourned". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ISBN 978-0312313449.
- ISBN 978-1-846-03376-6.
- ISBN 978-0786493050.
- ^ Scott, Vernon (February 19, 1982). "Snubbing TV Offers...Robert Urich Wants Movies Only". The Durant Daily Democrat. United Press International. p. 7. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ISBN 978-0307483201.
- ^ a b Thomas, George M. (November 3, 1999). "Second Chances". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Urich suing over 'Lazarus Man'". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Wash. April 14, 2000. p. D2. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Elber, Lynn (April 18, 2002). "Actor Robert Urich dies from cancer at age 55". Portsmouth Daily Times. p. B5. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- Beaver County Times. p. D3. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ O'Haire, Patricia (January 11, 2000). "'Chicago' Is Urich's Kind Of Show". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (November 16, 1999). "Lewis, Urich and Visitor are New Trio in 'Chicago' Tour, in Detroit, Nov. 16–28". Playbill. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012.
- ^ Dillard, Sandra C. (October 17, 1999). "ALL JAZZED UP Robert Urich is keen on dancing in 'Chicago'", The Denver Post, p. H1
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (October 5, 2000). New Tour of Chicago Begins Oct. 6–7 in CT; Chita Will Join Troupe" Playbill. Archived October 19, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Robert Urich's Son on How His Dad's Battle With Cancer Inspired Him to Become a Doctor". Closer Weekly. December 25, 2019.
- ^ "Robert Urich, actor in 'Lonesome Dove', 'Spenser: For Hire', dies of cancer at 55". Lodi News-Sentinel. Associated Press. April 17, 2002. p. 7. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ King, Susan (April 17, 2002). "Robert Urich, 55; Popular Star of 'Vega$' and 'Spenser'". Los Angeles Times. p. B10. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ "Urich dies at age 55". Middlesboro Daily News. Associated Press. April 18, 2002. p. 3. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
- ^ Levin, Gary (December 25, 2017). "'Sound of Music' cast members mourn the death of Heather Menzies-Urich, who played Louisa". USA Today. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Holman, Jordyn (June 14, 2014). "Hollywood Walk of Fame 2015 Honorees Revealed". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ^ "Los Angeles Times Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ List of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame#U