Dick O'Neill
Richard Francis "Dick" O'Neill (August 29, 1928 – November 17, 1998)[2] was an American stage, film and television character actor best known for playing Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. He began his acting career as an original company member of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Dick O'Neill | |
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Backstage at the Kennedy Center | |
Born | Richard Francis O'Neill August 29, 1928 New York City, U.S. |
Died | November 17, 1998 70) Santa Monica, California, U.S. | (aged
Years active | 1957-1998 |
Spouse(s) | Susan Jacqueline Shaw (m. 1964)[1] |
Children | Gillian O'Neil, Caitlin O'Neill, Meghan O'Neill |
Biography
Early life and television roles
O'Neill studied at Syracuse University.[2] He served in the Navy then returned to the theater. In the late 1950s, he began appearing on television. His television credits include Car 54, Where Are You?, The Honeymooners, Barney Miller, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Kaz, M*A*S*H, The Feather and Father Gang,[3] The Facts of Life, Family Matters, Mad About You, Murder, She Wrote, Father Dowling Mysteries, Three's Company, Wonder Woman, One Day at a Time, Magnum, P.I., A Man Called Intrepid, Growing Pains, Dark Justice, Cheers, Dharma & Greg, Cybill, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Home Improvement. He was probably best known for his role as Charlie Cagney in the television series Cagney & Lacey. Before moving to California, he appeared on the Broadway stage in such plays as Promises, Promises, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and Skyscraper.
Film roles
His film credits include The Mugger (1958), To the Shores of Hell (1966), Gammera the Invincible (1966), Pretty Poison (1968), Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), The Front Page (1974), Posse (1975), St. Ives (1976), American Raspberry (1977), MacArthur (1977), The Buddy Holly Story (1978), House Calls (1978), The Jerk (1979), Wolfen (1981), Chiller (1985), Prizzi's Honor (1985), The Mosquito Coast (1986), She's Out of Control (1989) and Loose Cannons (1990).
Personal life
He met his wife Jackie Shaw O'Neill when they appeared together in a production of The Sound of Music. On November 17, 1998, O'Neill died of heart failure at the age of 70 at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica.[2]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | The Mugger | Sergeant Cassidy | |
1961 | Capture That Capsule | Al | |
1962 | Fallguy | ||
1966 | To the Shores of Hell | Maj. Fred Howard | |
1966 | Gammera the Invincible | Gen. O'Neill | US release only |
1968 | Pretty Poison | Bud Munsch | |
1971 | Some of My Best Friends Are... | Tim Holland | |
1972 | Hail | Attorney General | |
1974 | The Taking of Pelham One Two Three | Frank Correll | |
1974 | The Front Page | McHugh | |
1975 | Hustling | Keogh | TV film |
1975 | Posse | Wiley | |
1976 | St. Ives | Hesh | |
1977 | American Raspberry | Gen. Andrews | |
1977 | MacArthur | Col. Whitney | |
1978 | House Calls | Irwin Owett | |
1978 | The Buddy Holly Story | Sol Gittler | |
1979 | The Jerk | Frosty | |
1981 | Wolfen | Warren | |
1984 | Flashpoint | Hinshaw - Pedroza's Attorney | Uncredited |
1985 | The Facts of Life | Ted Metcalf | Season 6, episode 17: "2 Guys from Appleton" |
1985 | Turk 182 | Powerhouse chief | |
1985 | Chiller | Clarence Beeson | |
1985 | Prizzi's Honor | Bluestone | |
1985 | Cheers | Mr. Clavin | Season 4, episode 10: "The Barstoolie" |
1986 | The Mosquito Coast | Mr. Polski | |
1989 | She's Out of Control | Mr. Pearson | |
1990 | Loose Cannons | Captain | |
1994 | My Summer Story | Pulaski, Shopkeeper | |
1994 | ‘’The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’’ | Santa Claus | Season 5, episode 3: "Reality Bites" |
References
- "Dick O'Neill, 70, Actor Known For Role in 'Cagney and Lacey'". The New York Times. November 28, 1998. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- Oliver, Myrna (November 25, 1998). "Dick O'Neill; Veteran TV, Movie Actor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- stefaniepowersonline.com The Feather and Father Gang