Gordon Clapp

Gordon Clapp
Born (1948-09-24) September 24, 1948 (age 76)
North Conway, New Hampshire, U.S.
Alma materWilliams College
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
Spouses
Deborah Taylor
​
​
(m. 1986; div. 1999)​
Elisabeth Gordon
​
(m. 2016)​

Gordon Clapp (born September 24, 1948) is an American actor best known for playing Det. Greg Medavoy for all 12 seasons of the television series NYPD Blue, winning an Emmy Award in 1998.[1]

Early life and education

Clapp was born in North Conway, New Hampshire. He graduated from Williams College in 1971.[2] At Williams College, he met frequent collaborators David Strathairn and John Sayles. Clapp also studied at The National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (Fall 1970).

Career

Clapp has appeared in numerous TV shows such as Check it Out! and Night Court as well as numerous stage plays. His film credits include Return of the Secaucus 7 (1979), Running (1979), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988, as Chicago White Sox catcher Ray Schalk), Termini Station (1989), The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), Rules of Engagement (2000), Sunshine State (2002), and Flags of Our Fathers (2006) as United States Marine Corps Gen. Holland Smith. He appeared in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Vortex." From 1993 to 2005, Clapp played Detective Greg Medavoy on "NYPD Blue." He won an Emmy for the role.

In 2007, he appeared as Coach Mad Maddox in The Game Plan. On Broadway, he most recently appeared in the revival of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play.[3] He also played Alan Silver in episode Holiday Spirit in Ghost Whisperer (3x10).

In 1995, he played Father Paul in Her Hidden Truth. In 2007 Clapp voiced Horny The Clown in the horror film Drive-Thru. Later that year, Clapp also appeared as Det Dick Walenski in "In Name and Blood," season 3 episode 2 of Criminal Minds. Clapp portrayed a corrupt police officer in a 2008 episode of Cold Case. He played the main antagonist Gen. Peter Randall in the Prototype video game. Clapp plays the father of Ellen (Rose Byrne) in the F/X show Damages.[4]

In 2014, Clapp began playing a recurring role as Chaplain Orlovsky in Chicago Fire.[5]

In 2021 Clapp had a modest but critical role in the acclaimed HBO series Mare of Easttown, playing key witness Pat Ross.[6]

Personal life

Clapp was previously married to actress Deborah Taylor from 1986 to 1999. He married Elisabeth Gordon, whom he met through a mutual friend, on November 5, 2016.[7]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Running Kenny
1980 Return of the Secaucus 7 Chip
1987 Matewan Tom Griggs
1988 Eight Men Out Ray Schalk
1989 Termini Station Harvey Dunshane
1989 Gross Anatomy Doctor
1994 April One Gordon Davies
1999 The Rage: Carrie 2 Eric's Father
2000 Rules of Engagement Harris
2001 Skeletons in the Closet Dan
2002 Sunshine State Earl Pinkney
2002 Moonlight Mile Tanner
2004 The Sure Hand of God Jefferson T. Stevens
2006 Flags of Our Fathers Holland Smith
2007 Drive-Thru Horny the Clown Voice
2007 The Game Plan Coach Mark Maddox
2009 Falling Up Colin O'Shea
2009 The Funk Parlor Detective Joseph Angeli
2010 The Grind Galt
2015 Peter and John Charles Roland
2015 The Perfect Guy Bill Forsythe
2016 Dead Billy Lucien
2021 Blood Brothers: Civil War Mr. Roland

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Other Kingdom George Television film
1985 Hangin' In Mr. Hepburn Episode: "Dead Dogs Wag No Tails"
1985 Evergreen Palm Court Waiter Episode #1.1
1985 Letting Go Walter Television film
1985 ABC Weekend Special Cop Episode: "Pippi Longstocking"
1985–1988 Check It Out! Various roles 49 episodes
1986 The Right of the People Chris' Friend Television film
1987 Hands of a Stranger Sgt. Markey
1988 Katts and Dog Wayne Episode: "Birds of a Feather"
1988 Breaking All the Rules John Haney Television film
1989 Knightwatch Daniels 2 episodes
1989 Small Sacrifices Detective Doug Welch Television film
1989 The Private Capital Darcy
1990 Dear John Dave Travis Episode: "John's Friend"
1990 Family of Spies Capt. Burnett 2 episodes
1990 Blind Faith Det. O'Brien
1990 Night Court Ralph Shannon Episode: "I Said Dance!"
1990 Top Cops Dennis Dutra Episode: "Dennis Dutra"
1990 Cop Rock Philip Beamer Episode: "A Three-Corpse Meal"
1990 The Secret Life of Archie's Wife Stubbs Television film
1990, 1993 E.N.G. Various roles 2 episodes
1991 Fever Meeks Television film
1991 Mission of the Shark Elias
1992 The Wonder Years Bruce Leegee Episode: "Politics as Usual"
1992 Street Legal James Brackit 2 episodes
1993 Bonds of Love Evaluator Television film
1993 Kiss of a Killer Sullivan
1993 Civil Wars Al Blynn Episode: "Alien Aided Affection"
1993 Family of Strangers Del Television film
1993 Cheers Shiner Episode: "Look Before You Sleep"
1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Hadran Episode: "Vortex"
1993 FBI: The Untold Stories Gavin Episode: "The Sting"
1993 In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco Glenn Television film
1993 Wings Phil Episode: "Bye-Bye, Bunny"
1993–2005 NYPD Blue Greg Medavoy 256 episodes
1995 Abandoned and Deceived Donald Quinn Television film
1995 The Outer Limits Dr. Randall Strong Episode: "The Voice of Reason"
1995 Her Hidden Truth Father Paul Television film
1996 The Morrison Murders: Based on a True Story Sheriff Byron Calhoun
1997 Badge of Betrayal Thatcher
1997 Dead Man's Gun Raymond Walter Jakes Episode: "The Bounty Hunter"
2003 Less than Perfect Detective Martin Episode: "It Takes a Pillage"
2005 Without a Trace Bill Shields Episode: "The Innocents"
2005, 2006 Deadwood Gustave 2 episodes
2006 Law & Order: SVU Ted Carthage Episode: "Infected"
2006 Monk Francis Merrigan Episode: "Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink"
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Salvatore Heinz Episode: "Meet Market"
2007 Halfway Home Sandy Episode: "Halfway New Guy"
2007 Criminal Minds Det. Vic Wolynski Episode: "In Name and Blood"
2007 Private Practice Coach Mike Episode: "In Which Addison Finds a Showerhead"
2007 Ghost Whisperer Alan Silver Episode: "Holiday Spirit"
2007–2012 Damages Gary Parsons 3 episodes
2008 Cold Case Daniel O'Leary Episode: "Bad Reputation"
2009 Taking Chance Tom Garrett Television film
2011 In Plain Sight Ben Kulpak Episode: "I'm a Liver Not a Fighter"
2013 Perception Alan Kendricks Episode: "Ch-Ch-Changes"
2013 Grey's Anatomy Victor Kaufman Episode: "Somebody That I Used to Know"
2013 Mob City Carl Steckler 4 episodes
2014–2018 Chicago Fire Chaplain Orlovsky 11 episodes
2016 Elementary Deputy Chief Prosky Episode: "Henny Penny the Sky Is Falling"
2021 Mare of Easttown Pat Ross Episode: "Sore Must Be the Storm"
2021 American Rust Mr. Gelsey 4 episodes

References

  1. ^ "Possible Emmy move to HBO raises hackles". USA Today. November 13, 2002. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  2. ^ Karlin, Susan. "EPHS In Tinseltown" (PDF). williams.edu. Williams College.
  3. ^ "Light in the Piazza sweeps the Tonys". The Stage. London. June 6, 2005. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  4. ^ "A Pussycat Doll, Damages and Other Short Cuts". TV Guide. September 6, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  5. ^ Gelman, Vlada (2018-09-27). "Chicago Fire Casts The Flash Alum Teddy Sears as New Chaplain". TVLine. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  6. ^ Fogarty, Paul (2021-05-24). "Gordon Clapp in Mare of Easttown: NYPD Blue fans rejoice at episode 6 cameo". HITC. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
  7. ^ Corriveau, David (October 5, 2017). "New Hampshire Native Gordon Clapp Was Born to Portray Frost". Valley News. Lebanon, NH. Retrieved June 17, 2020.