Richard Biggs
Richard James Biggs II (March 18, 1960 – May 22, 2004) was an American television and stage actor, known for his roles on the television series Days of Our Lives and Babylon 5.
Richard Biggs | |
---|---|
Born | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | March 18, 1960
Died | May 22, 2004 44)[1] Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged
Alma mater | University of Southern California |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1985–2004 |
Spouse(s) | Lori Kay Biggs
( m. 1998; |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | Col. Richard Biggs Delores Biggs |
Early life
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Biggs attended the University of Southern California on scholarship, studying theatre.[1] He briefly taught at a Los Angeles high school before landing his first major television role, that of Dr. Marcus Hunter on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.[1]
Biggs was diagnosed with hearing problems when he was 13, and was partially deaf in one ear, completely deaf in the other.[1] He frequently used his celebrity status to raise money for the Aliso Academy,[2] a private school in Rancho Santa Margarita, California that serves deaf children.[4]
Career
From 1987 until 1994, Biggs played the role of Dr. Marcus Hunter on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.[5][6]
He appeared as Dr. Stephen Franklin on the hit science fiction series Babylon 5 (1994–1998), reprising the role in the final aired episode of the spin-off show, Crusade ("Each Night I Dream of Home").[6]
After Babylon 5, he played roles on Any Day Now[5][6] and Strong Medicine,[6][7] as well as the recurring role of Clayton Boudreaux on the soap opera Guiding Light.[6][7]
Biggs' stage credits include The Tempest, Cymbeline and The Taming of the Shrew.[8]
At the time of his death, he was a regular on the television series Strong Medicine; following his death, his character was killed in an off-screen traffic accident.[7][9] He also frequently guest starred as a local scientist on Tremors: The Series. Biggs' final film appearance was in We Interrupt This Program, a short film also featuring Biggs' Babylon 5 costar, Bruce Boxleitner, released as a companion piece to the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead on DVD. His final television appearance was as a guest star on a 2004 episode of the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, entitled "The Gary Grill" portraying an FBI agent, which was dedicated to his memory.[5][6]
Awards
- 1993 Soap Opera Digest Award for Supporting Actor[10]
Personal life
He married Lori Gebers on August 1, 1998. They had two children, Richard James III and Hunter Lee.[1]
Death
Biggs collapsed at his home in Los Angeles, and died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center of complications stemming from aortic dissection on May 22, 2004.[1]
Filmography
Movie Theater
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1987 | Walk Like a Man | Salesman | |
1988 | Miracle Mile | Brian Jones | |
2001 | Ablaze | Garrison |
TV
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Drake & Josh | FBI agent | Episode: The Gary Grill |
2000-2004 | Strong Medicine | Dr. Milo Morton. | recurring episodes |
References
- Woo, Elaine (May 28, 2004). "Richard Biggs, 44; Television Actor Known for Featured Roles in 'Babylon 5,' 'Days of Our Lives'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 28, 2004.
- Green, Michelle Erica. "Richard Biggs: Any Day Now, Back To Babylon". www.littlereview.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Aliso Academy For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing". TaxExemptWorld.com. November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- Stanton, Barry W. (January 4, 2018). "What Happened to Richard Biggs? – 2018 Update". Gazette Review. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Richard Biggs". IMDb. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Richard Biggs". Metacritic. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Richard Biggs Biography (1961-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
- "Fractured". Strong Medicine. Season 5. Episode 5.
- "'Days of Our Lives' named favorite soap opera". Point Pleasant Register. 55 (40). Associated Press. February 17, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved November 9, 2018 – via Google News.