Jump to content

Gerald McRaney

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gerald McRaney
McRaney in July 2010
Born
Gerald Lee McRaney

(1947-08-19) August 19, 1947 (age 77)
Collins, Mississippi, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present
Spouses
  • Beverly Root
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1967; div. 1971)​
  • Pat Moran
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1981; div. 1989)​
  • ​
    (m. 1989)​
Children3

Gerald Lee McRaney (born August 19, 1947) is an American television and film actor. McRaney is best known as one of the stars of the television shows Simon & Simon, Major Dad, Promised Land and House of Cards. He most recently starred as Admiral Hollace Kilbride on NCIS: Los Angeles. He was a series regular in the first season of the CBS drama series Jericho and the final season of the HBO series Deadwood. He appeared in a recurring role as main antagonist Mason Wood in season eight of Castle. Recently, he played Barlow Connally in the A&E series Longmire and had a recurring role in the NBC series This Is Us as Dr. Nathan Katowski, a role which earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Early life

[edit]

McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, the son of Clyde and Edna McRaney.[citation needed] He is of Scottish and Choctaw ancestry.[1] He graduated from Long Beach High School in Long Beach, Mississippi, then attended the University of Mississippi. Before finding success as an actor, McRaney worked in the Louisiana oil fields.

Career

[edit]

In film, he starred in Night of Bloody Horror (1969), a low-budget slasher film in which he played the lead character Wesley Stuart.

On television, McRaney appeared in multiple episodes of shows such as Gunsmoke, Police Woman, and Barnaby Jones. He appeared in The Dukes of Hazzard in the episode "Hazzard Connection" (November 9, 1979), played a receptionist in two different episodes of The Rockford Files, and portrayed Tim Ryder, a heroin-addicted Vietnam War veteran in one episode of Hawaii Five-O. In addition, he starred in numerous episodes of The Incredible Hulk playing roles as a jealous boyfriend, a jealous race car driver, an angry police officer, and a disturbed police chief, and his miniseries roles include Dr. Henderson in Women in White (1979) and a town local, Harry Owens in Roots: The Next Generations (1979).

McRaney became known for his role as Rick Simon, co-starring alongside Jameson Parker, in the popular CBS detective series Simon & Simon from 1981 to 1989. During his time on the series, he appeared with Parker in the film Jackals (1986), and appeared twice on sitcom Designing Women. He then starred as Major John McGillis in the successful CBS family sitcom Major Dad (1989–1993), and Russell Greene in the CBS family drama Promised Land (1996–1999), a spinoff of the popular series Touched by an Angel where he originated the character. He also portrayed business mogul Adam Brock in the last eight episodes of Darren Star's primetime soap opera Central Park West, which ran on CBS from 1995 to 1996.

McRaney later appeared as General Alan Adamle in two episodes of the NBC drama The West Wing. He also played a prominent role in the third and final season of the HBO television series Deadwood (2005–2006), as gold prospector George Hearst; and starred in the CBS postapocalyptic series Jericho as Johnston Green.

Additionally, he has acted in many television films, such as: Not Our Son (1995); A Holiday Romance (1999); Going for Broke (2003); and Ike: Countdown to D-Day (2004), as General George S. Patton. He also starred in an episode of Diagnosis: Murder (episode 1.13 "Lily") as Det. Andy Ruggio and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (episode 9.24 "All In").

In the late 2000s, McRaney co-hosted the Outdoor Life Network hunting and shooting series The World of Beretta, drawing on his own sport interests. The series featured the sponsor's rifle and shotgun products in a number of hunting locations around the world, and often featured a celebrity shooter to hunt with McRaney.

In 2010, he starred as the villainous General Morrison in the film The A-Team (2010) and played a recurring role as CIA handler Carlton Shaw in the NBC action drama Undercovers. Also that year, he hosted a cable series on Spike TV that encouraged viewers Don't Be a Victim. One episode highlighted an instance wherein his longtime friend and Simon & Simon costar Jameson Parker was shot twice.[2]

In 2011, he began playing a recurring role as a judge on the US drama Fairly Legal. In 2012, McRaney played General Luntz in the movie Red Tails, and Calvin[3] in the film Heart of the Country. He played the wealthy, powerful real estate developer Barlow Connally in the A&E/Netflix series Longmire (2012–2015), and made several appearances in a guest role in the CBS comedy Mike & Molly (2012–2013). Later in 2013, he had a recurring role in the final season of the drama Southland.

From 2013 to 2017, he appeared in the Netflix series House of Cards as the billionaire Raymond Tusk of an energy corporation specializing in nuclear power. He also made two appearances in a supporting role on the FX Network drama Justified. In 2015, he starred in the dark comedy Focus as Bucky Spurgeon and in Coat of Many Colors as Rev. Jake Owens, Dolly Parton's maternal grandfather and preacher. In 2016, he appeared as main antagonist and recurring character Mason Wood (LockSat) during the eighth and final season of Castle.

From 2016 to 2022, he appeared in the NBC series This Is Us as Dr. Nathan Katowski, a role for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award.[4] In 2018, he appeared in the USA Network series Shooter as Red Bama Sr.

McRaney appeared in a recurring role, on the CBS procedural drama, NCIS: Los Angeles, since 2014, playing U.S. Navy Vice Admiral (retired) Hollace Kilbride. In 2021, McRaney became a series regular with Admiral Kilbride being appointed the new director of the NCIS Special Projects Office in Los Angeles.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

McRaney married his third wife, actress Delta Burke, on May 28, 1989; they had met two years earlier during her guest appearance on a Simon & Simon episode. He appeared on the series in which she starred, Designing Women, as Dash Goff (who was named after a real person from Fayetteville, Arkansas, whom Delta Burke's fellow castmate, Annie Potts, had met while filming Pass the Ammo on location).

In 1992, McRaney served as Bacchus in the Krewe of Bacchus at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Having played a Marine Corps veteran on Simon & Simon and a Marine Corps officer on Major Dad, he has always been very supportive of veterans and soldiers, although he is not a veteran himself. He made many visits to support the soldiers in Operation Desert Storm. During one USO-sponsored trip, McRaney visited sailors and Marines on board ships ported in Toulon, France, on Thanksgiving of 1993 and signed autographs for the men on board the ships. While on board the USS Ashland, he autographed one sailor's cowboy hat. He also visited troops during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1993. In 1994 he visited troops of task force 1/87 deployed to Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy. McRaney chaired the Department of Veterans Affairs' 2002 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans campaign, honoring hospitalized veterans and promoting volunteerism at VA medical center.[6] He has appeared in commercials for the Wounded Warrior Project.[7]

In August 2004, McRaney underwent successful surgery for lung cancer, in Houston, Texas.[8]

Politics

[edit]

Endorsing incumbent Republican President George H. W. Bush for re-election in 1992, McRaney stated: "Most of my life I've been a Democrat, but the last several presidential elections have finally convinced me that I might as well go ahead and admit I'm a Republican."[9] His first presidential vote was for Democrat Hubert Humphrey in 1968.[9] At the 1992 Republican National Convention, McRaney introduced Second Lady Marilyn Quayle.[10] Appearing at a campaign event for George H. W. Bush, McRaney called opponent Bill Clinton an "overeducated moron".[11]

In 2008, McRaney supported Republican candidate John McCain for president.[12]

McRaney has appeared in TV commercials on behalf of the National Rifle Association of America dating back to 1987.[13][14]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1969 Night of Bloody Horror Wesley Stuart
1970 Women and Bloody Terror Terrance Bradford
1974 Keep Off My Grass! David Sherman
1977 The Brain Machine Willie West
1980 Hansel and Gretel Father
1984 The NeverEnding Story Barney Bux
1986 Jackals Jake Wheeler
2000 Comanche Col. Samuel Sturgis
2006 Saving Shiloh Ray Preston
2009 Get Low Rev. Gus Horton
2010 The A-Team General Russell Morrison
2011 J. Edgar Judge at Hauptmann Trial Uncredited
The Umpire Joseph Woodward Short film
2012 Red Tails Major General Luntz
2013 Heart of the Country Calvin
2014 The Best of Me Tuck Hostetler
2015 Focus Bucky Spurgeon/Owens
2016 The Disappointments Room Judge Ernest R. Blacker
2019 A Violent Separation Tom Campbell

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1972 Night Gallery Tuttle Episode: "Deliveries in the Rear/Stop Killing Me/Dead Weight"
Alias Smith and Jones Telegrapher Episode: "The Day the Amnesty Came Through"
1973–75 Gunsmoke Gentry / Lonnie Colby / Pete Murphy 3 episodes
1974 Cannon Winston Episode: "Photo Finish"
The F.B.I. Sheriff's Deputy Episode: "Deadly Ambition"
Sons and Daughters Mr. Wilson Episode: "The Tryst"
The F.B.I. Story: The FBI Versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One Smith Television film
The Waltons Tim Collins Episode: "The Book"
1974–76 Barnaby Jones Pete / Dave Boyette / Jim Cabe 3 episodes
1975 Mannix Professor Jim Duncan Episode: "Edge of the Web"
The Law Hiller 3 episodes
Petrocelli Cliff / Santo 2 episodes
1975–76 The Streets of San Francisco Jeff Dixon / Buck 2 episodes
1975–77 The Rockford Files Irv / Manager / Jerryl / D.A. John Pleasance 4 episodes
1976 The Blue Knight Steinmetz 3 episodes
Police Woman Comet 2 episodes
Hawaii Five-O Tim Ryder Episode: "Target - A Cop"
1977 The Oregon Trail Daniel J. Morehead Episode: "Return of the Baby"
The Six Million Dollar Man Bob Marsh Episode: "To Catch the Eagle"
Switch Hit Man Episode: "Two on the Run"
The Fantastic Journey The Co-Pilot Episode: "The Innocent Prey"
Eight Is Enough Episode: "Mortgage Burnin' Blues"
CHiPs Demick Episode: "Aweigh We Go"
1977–80 The Incredible Hulk Denny Kayle / Sam Roberts / Colin Roark / Chief Frank Rhodes 4 episodes
1978 Baretta Tommy Episode: "Why Me?"
Logan's Run Gera Episode: "Turnabout"
The Jordan Chance Sid Burton Television film
1979 Women in White Dr. Gus Henderson Television film
Roots: The Next Generations Harry Owens Episode #1.2
How the West Was Won Thorne Episode: "Luke"
240-Robert Nick Episode: "Bank Job"
The Dukes of Hazzard First Workman Episode: "Hazzard Connection"
1980 The Aliens Are Coming Patrolman Ashley Television film
Where the Ladies Go Merle Johnson Television film
Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case Cliff Sulkes Television film
1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Jake Episode: "Keep on Buckin'"
The Seal Television film
1981–89 Simon & Simon Rick Simon 156 episodes
1982 It's Not Easy Jack Long Unaired pilot
Magnum, P.I. Rick Simon Episode: "Ki'is Don't Lie"
Memories Never Die Howdy Tilford Television film
1983 The Haunting Passion Dan Evans Television film
1984 City Killer Lieutenant "Eck" Eckford Television film
1986 Easy Prey Christopher Wilder Television film
1987 A Hobo's Christmas Charlie Television film
1987–88 Designing Women Dash Goff 2 episodes
1988 The People Across the Lake Chuck Yoman Television film
Where the Hell's That Gold?!!? Jones Television film
1989 Murder by Moonlight Dennis Huff Television film
1989–93 Major Dad Major John D. MacGillis 96 episodes. Also executive producer.
1990 Newhart Himself Episode: "Lights! Camera! Contractions!"; uncredited
Blind Vengeance Garr Hagar Television film
Vestige of Honor Major Falon Television film
1991 Love and Curses... And All That Jazz Ross Television film
Fatal Friendship Hank Landrum Television film
1993 Scattered Dreams George Messenger Television film
1994 Armed and Innocent Bobby Lee Holland Television film
Burke's Law Ronnie Gelico Episode: "Who Killed the Starlet?"
The Commish Father Eddie Baxter Episode: "Father Eddie"
Diagnosis: Murder Det. Andy Ruggio Episode: "Lily"
Motorcycle Gang Cal Morris Television film
Deadly Vows Tom Weston Television film
Someone She Knows Frank Mayfield Television film
1995 Jake Lassiter: Justice on the Bayou Jake Lassiter Television film
Coach Jim Collins Episode: "The Walk-On"
Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again Rick Simon Television film
Not Our Son George Keller Television film
Women of the House Dash Goff Episode: "The Afternoon Wife"
The Stranger Beside Me Dave Morgan Television film
ABC Afterschool Special Alex—As an Adult Episode: "Fast Forward"
Murder, She Wrote Terry Folger Episode: "A Quaking in Aspen"
Nothing Lasts Forever Dr. Lawrence Barker Television film
1995–98 Touched by an Angel Dr. Joe Patcherik / Russell Greene 5 episodes
1995–96 Central Park West Adam Brock 9 episodes
1996 Home of the Brave Russell Greene Television film
1996–99 Promised Land Russell Greene 68 episodes
1997 A Nightmare Come True Don Zarn Television film
A Thousand Men and a Baby Capt. John "Chick" Hayward Television film
1999 Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love Story Howard Danner Television film
A Holiday Romance Cal Peterson Television film
2000 Take Me Home: The John Denver Story Dutch Television film
2001 These Arms of Mine Mitchell Rankin Episode: "King of America"
JAG Sergeant Major Charvis Krohn 2 episodes
Danger Beneath the Sea Admiral Eugene Justice Television film
2001–04 The West Wing USAF Lt Gen Alan Adamle 2 episodes
2002 Becoming Glen Television film
Third Watch Glen Hobart 2 episodes
Tornado Warning Dr. Jake Arledge Television film
Presidio Med Coach Fontina 2 episodes
2003 The Dan Show Ray Kennedy Television film
The Dead Zone Harrison Fisher Episode: "Scars"
Mister Sterling Burt Gammel 5 episodes
Going For Broke Jim Bancroft Television film
2004 One Tree Hill Royal Scott Episode: "Crash Course in Polite Conversations"
Ike: Countdown to D-Day George S. Patton Television film
Commando Nanny Ben Winter Unaired episodes
2005–06 Deadwood George Hearst 13 episodes
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2006)
2006–08 Jericho Johnston Green 23 episodes
2008 Women's Murder Club Martin Boxer 2 episodes
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Eli Schindler Episode: "All In"
2010–12 Undercovers Carlton Shaw 13 episodes
2011 Bird Dog Sam McGrath Television film
2011–12 Fairly Legal Judge David Nicastro 5 episodes
2012–13 Mike & Molly Captain Patrick Murphy 6 episodes
2012–15 Longmire Barlow Connally 8 episodes
2013 Justified Josiah Cairn 2 episodes
Southland Hicks 5 episodes
2013–17 House of Cards Raymond Tusk 16 episodes
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2014)
2014 Manhattan Sec. Hentry Stimson Episode: "Perestroika"
2014, 2018–19, 2021–23 NCIS: Los Angeles Ret. Navy Admiral Hollace Kilbride 54 episodes
2015 Agent X Malcolm Millar 10 episodes
Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors Rev. Jake Owens Television film
2016 Castle Mason Wood 2 episodes
2016–22 This Is Us Dr. Nathan Katowski 10 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (2017)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (2018)
2016 Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love Rev. Jake Owens Television film
2017 24: Legacy Henry Donovan 10 episodes
2018 Santa Clarita Diet Ed Thune Episode: "Pasión"
Shooter Red Bama Sr. 11 episodes
A Million Little Things Lenny Episode: "Friday Night Dinner"
2019 Deadwood: The Movie George Hearst Television film
Heartstrings Tom Episode: "If I Had Wings"
2020 Filthy Rich Eugene Monreaux 10 episodes
2021–22 Duncanville Dick Harris (voice) 3 episodes
2023 Family Guy Old West (voice) Episode: "Old West"
2025 Paradise Kane Bradford Cast regular
TBA Untitled Murdaugh Murders series Randolph Murdaugh Upcoming miniseries[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gerald McRaney Biography". Buddy TV Archived 2018-05-20 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Actor Testifies Against His Alleged Attacker Courts". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  3. ^ "Heart of the Country Film". heartofthecountrymovie.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. ^ Blyth, Antonia (September 10, 2017). "Gerald McRaney On Emmy Success With 'This Is Us', Possible Season 2 Return". Deadline. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  5. ^ Holmes, Martin (3 June 2021). "Gerald McRaney Promoted to Series Regular on 'NCIS: Los Angeles'". TV Insider. pp. https://www.tvinsider.com/1001002/gerald-mcraney-ncis-los-angeles/.
  6. ^ Gerald McRaney Helps VA Recruit Volunteers, Recognize Veterans. VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs news release, January 3, 2002.
  7. ^ "Wounded Warrior Project TV Commercial, 'Your Gift' Featuring Gerald McRaney". ispot.tv. October 28, 2018. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019.
  8. ^ "'Major Dad' star Gerald McRaney has cancer surgery". USA Today. The Associated Press. August 30, 2004. Archived from the original on March 25, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Endrst, James (September 7, 1992). "Real-life, TV Politics Similar For 'Major Dad'". Hartford Courant. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  10. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (August 20, 1992). "Marilyn Quayle Says the 1960s Had a Flip Side". The New York Times. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  11. ^ "Major Dad hurls major insults at democrat Clinton". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
  12. ^ Hayes, Stephen F. (August 26, 2008). "Celebrities for McCain". The Weekly Standard. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  13. ^ Stein, Jeannine (August 24, 1987). "Big-Gun Stars Draw the Big Shots". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  14. ^ Barkley, Meredith (June 13, 1990). "Police, NRA ads promote gun safety". News & Record. Greensboro, NC. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  15. ^ Otterson, Joe (April 25, 2025). "Gerald McRaney Joins Murdaugh Murders Series at Hulu (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerald_McRaney&oldid=1304607555"