Mitchell Ryan (January 11, 1934[1] – March 4, 2022) was an American actor. His six decades of television credits, he is known for playing Burke Devlin in the 1960s gothicsoap operaDark Shadows, and later for his co-starring role as Thomas Gibson's father Edward Montgomery on Dharma & Greg. He also played the villainous General Peter McAllister in the 1987 buddy cop action film Lethal Weapon.
A life member of the Actors Studio,[4] Ryan's Broadway theatre credits include Wait Until Dark, Medea, and The Price.[5] His off-Broadway credits include Antony and Cleopatra (1963) and The Price (1979).[6]
Ryan was an original cast member of the cult TV soap opera Dark Shadows, playing Burke Devlin until he was dismissed from the show in June 1967 due to his alcoholism,[7][8][9] and replaced by Anthony George.
In 1970, Ryan was in one episode of The High Chaparral as a character named Jelks, who was on the run from the law.
He appeared in an episode of Cannon, "Fool's Gold" in 1971, and in ABC's The Streets of San Francisco episode "The Unicorn". He portrayed the title character, Chase Reddick, on the crime drama Chase (1973–74).[10]
Mitchell Ryan in Chase
In 1975, Ryan played in Barnaby Jones, in the episode titled "Counterfall". He portrayed the leading character, Dan Walling, on Executive Suite (1976–77)[10]: 316 and played Blake Simmons in the drama Julie Farr, M.D. (1978–79).[10]: 549
His other acting credits include the films Liar Liar; Magnum Force playing as Dirty Harry's ill-fated despondent best friend and fellow police officer, a motorcycle patrolman named Charlie McCoy; Lethal Weapon playing the key villain General Peter McAllister; Grosse Pointe Blank; Electra Glide in Blue; and Hot Shots! Part Deux, playing Senator Grey Edwards. In 1985, he portrayed Tillet Main, the patriarch of the Main family in the first North and South miniseries. In 1991, he played Ellis Blake in the sixth season Matlock episode "The Foursome".
He played the role of Greg's father, Edward Montgomery, on the comedy Dharma & Greg (1997–2002).[10]: 256 The following year, Ryan voiced Highfather on Justice League.
Mitch Ryan married Lynda Morse in 1972 and they had a son named Tim Ryan.[13] He later married Barbara Albertine, and had five grandchildren. Ryan died of heart failure at his home in Los Angeles, California, on March 4, 2022, at the age of 88.[14]
^Barnabas & Company: The Cast of the TV Classic Dark Shadows, Craig Hamrick & R. J. Jamison: Ryan is quoted as saying "I was so drunk that year, I barely remember what it was about" in a 1976 TV Guide interview
^ abcdefghiTerrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 180. ISBN978-0-7864-6477-7.
^"Mitchell Ryan (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 30, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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