Richard Herd

Richard Herd
Herd in 2005
Born
Richard Thomas Herd Jr.

(1932-09-26)September 26, 1932
DiedMay 26, 2020(2020-05-26) (aged 87)
OccupationActor
Years active1970–2019
Spouses
Amilda Cuddy
(m. 1954; div. 1955)
Dolores Wozadlo
(m. 1957, divorced)
Patricia Crowder
(m. 1980)
Children2

Richard Thomas Herd Jr. (September 26, 1932 – May 26, 2020) was an American actor appearing in numerous supporting, recurring, and guest roles in television series and occasional film roles from the 1970s to the 2010s. He was well known in the science fiction community for his role in the 1983 NBC miniseries V and 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle, as John, the Visitors' Supreme Commander. Other major roles in his career included recurring parts on the NBC series seaQuest DSV as Admiral William Noyce; on Star Trek: Voyager as Admiral Owen Paris, the father of helmsman Tom Paris; and as George Costanza's boss Matt Wilhelm on Seinfeld. In two guest appearances on Quantum Leap, he played children's show host "Captain Galaxy", a would-be time traveler, and a miner named Ziggy Ziganovich. He also voiced Father Elijah in the Dead Money expansion for Fallout: New Vegas. Herd appeared at several fan conventions for his science fiction roles.[1]

Early life

Herd was born in Boston, the son of Katherine (Lydon) and Richard Herd Sr., a train engineer who died while serving in the Army during World War II.[2]

Herd was drafted during the Korean War, injuring his knee during basic training.[3] He served in the United States Army Ordnance Corps and was honorably discharged.[4][5][6][7][8] He then worked in Long Island, New York, for the United States Army Signal Corps as a civilian actor, along with Robert Ludlum, making Army training films.[3]

Career

Herd started his career as an actor on the New York stage.[9] He made his film debut in Hercules in New York (1970). Herd's first major film role was in the thriller The China Syndrome alongside Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas, where he played the character Evan McCormack, the corrupt Chairman of the California Gas & Electric Board. This role helped make him well-known outside the United States. He portrayed James W. McCord, Jr. in the Academy Award-winning All the President's Men (1976).

In addition to science fiction, he was a regular as Captain Dennis Sheridan on T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1983 (he continued to appear on the series sporadically until 1984), and appeared on Seinfeld as Mr. Wilhelm, George Costanza's boss at the Yankees. Guest appearances included M*A*S*H, The Rockford Files, The Feather and Father Gang, The Golden Girls, Starsky & Hutch, Quantum Leap, The A-Team, Midnight Caller, Hart to Hart, NYPD Blue, Renegade, Pacific Blue, and JAG.

In 2012, he played Judge Paul Landsman in the TV series CSI: Miami episode "Rest in Pieces".[citation needed] Herd portrayed Roman Armitage in Get Out (2017).[7]

Recognition

Herd was inducted into the National Broadcaster Hall of Fame for his work in Old Time Radio.[10]

Herd served as the third National Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild.[citation needed]

Personal life and death

Herd lived in Los Angeles with his wife of 40 years, Patricia Crowder Herd.[7] He died at his home from complications of colon cancer on May 26, 2020, aged 87.[2][7]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Hercules in New York Television Presenter
1976 All the President's Men James W. McCord, Jr.
1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Dr. Halle
1978 F.I.S.T Mike Monahan
1979 The China Syndrome Evan McCormack
The Onion Field Beat Cop
1980 Wolf Lake George
Schizoid Donahue
Private Benjamin General Foley
1981 Lovely But Deadly 'Honest Charley' Gilmarten
1983 Deal of the Century Lyle
1985 Trancers Chairman Spencer
Summer Rental Angus MacLachlan
1987 Planes, Trains and Automobiles Walt
1989 Gleaming the Cube Ed Lawndale
1990 Corporate Affairs Cyrus Kinkaid
The Judas Project Arthur Cunningham
1993 Skeeter Uncredited
1996 Sgt. Bilko Gen. Tennyson
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Henry Skerridge
1998 The Survivor Bradford
2000 Joseph: King of Dreams Jacob Voice
2003 Roddenberry on Patrol Captain Kirkus Video short
2005 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Commissioner Hans Raab
Confessions of a Pit Fighter Father Mark
Checkers Phillip
2006 Vic Richard Hanson Short
2007 TV Virus Professor Black
Anna Nicole J. Howard Marshall
Dog Days of Summer Frank Cooper
InAlienable Professor Randolph Barnett
2017 Get Out Roman Armitage
2018 The Oath Old Man
The Mule Tim Kennedy
2019 The Silent Natural Mr. Beagle Final role
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1973 Pueblo Lt. Cmdr. C. Clark TV movie
1975 Kojak Bob Episode: "A Question of Answers"
The Rockford Files Sheriff Cliff Gladish Episode: "Pastoria Prime Pick"
1976 Hazard's People Howard Frederickson TV movie
Captains and the Kings Talmadge Episode: "Chapter IV" (as Richard T. Herd)
1977 The Streets of San Francisco Greene Episode: "The Cannibals"
The Feather and Father Gang Applegate Episode: "The Golden Fleece"
Rafferty Episode: "Rafferty"
The Hunted Lady Capt. Wilson TV movie
1978 Dr. Scorpion Bill Worthington TV movie
Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid Donovan TV movie
Terror Out of the Sky Col. Mangus TV movie
Dr. Scorpion The Dane TV movie
1979 Eight Is Enough George McArthur Episode: "The Better Part of Valor"
Starsky & Hutch FBI Agent Smithers Episodes: "Targets Without a Badge: Part 2 and 3"
Ike: The War Years Gen. Omar Bradley Parts I, II, and III (miniseries)
The Lazarus Syndrome Morton Episode: "Malpractice"
Marciano John Furst TV movie
1979–1981 Hart to Hart Waldo Sommerton / Lieutenant Fredricks 2 episodes
1980 M*A*S*H Capt. Bill Snyder Episode: "Back Pay"
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb General Groves TV movie
Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story Chuck Noll TV movie
1980–1981 Dallas John Mackey 3 episodes
1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Dr. Smith Episode: "The Girls with the Stolen Bodies"
Elvis and the Beauty Queen Thompson TV movie
The Greatest American Hero Adam Taft Episode: "The Greatest American Hero"
Walking Tall Philip Ballard Episode: "Deadly Impact"
Strike Force Episode: "Kidnap"
1982 Farrell for the People Randolph Gardner (as Richard T. Herd) TV movie
The Devlin Connection Lt. Harvey Bukowski Episode: "Jennifer"
1982–1984 T. J. Hooker Capt. Dennis Sheridan 36 episodes
1982–1988 Simon & Simon Police Officer Harry Flank / Consul Dearborn / Kyle Edmunds 4 episodes
1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Dave Wellman Episode: "Dead Man's Hand"
V John TV miniseries
1984 Falcon Crest Calvin Kleeger 2 episodes
V: The Final Battle John TV miniseries
1984–1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Colonel Joe Bartz / Arthur Huntley / Lonnie Vanatta 2 episodes
1985 Matt Houston Patrick Moffett Episode: "The Beach Club Murders"
The A-Team Jonathan Durcell Episode: "Waste 'Em!"
Knight Rider Lyle Jastrow Episode: "Knight Strike"
1986 Dynasty Jim Ellison Episode: "The Cry"
Scarecrow and Mrs. King Jake Williamson Episode: "Photo Finish"
1986–1993 Murder, She Wrote Arnett Cobb / Harvey McKittrick 2 episodes
1987 Hill Street Blues Mike Episode: "Norman Conquest"
Rags to Riches Episode: "Foley vs. Foley"
Ohara Stillwell Episode: "Brian"
The Law and Harry McGraw General Buckram Episode: "Yankee Boodle Dandy"
Beauty and the Beast Richard Barnes Episode: "A Children's Story"
1988 Favorite Son Part One
My First Love Chet Townsend TV movie
1989 Matlock Police Capt. Edward Hanna / The Mad Hatter Episode: "The Captain"
The Golden Girls Ernie Episode: "The Impotence of Being Ernest"
Nashville Beat Chief Kincaid TV movie
Mancuso, FBI Red Burrows Episode: "Little Saigon"
1990 Knots Landing Dr. Aaron Stahl 2 episodes
China Beach Bartender Episode: "The Thanks of a Grateful Nation"
Midnight Caller Medina Episode: "Protection"
Fall from Grace Richard Dortch TV movie
Jake and the Fatman Frank Bronski Episode: "God Bless the Child"
Camp Cucamonga Thornton Bradley TV movie
The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake Ray Goodrich TV movie
1991 Quantum Leap Moe Stein Episode: "Future Boy - October 6, 1957"
Tales from the Crypt Phil Stone Episode: "Deadline"
1992 FBI: The Untold Stories Robert Mackle Episode: "Buried Alive"
Seduction: Three Tales from the 'Inner Sanctum' Charles Hackley TV movie
Renegade Sheriff Frank Brown Episode: "Mother Courage"
Majority Rule TV movie
1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation L'Kor Episodes: "Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
Quantum Leap Ziggy Ziganovich / Moe Stein Episode: "Mirror Image - August 8, 1953"
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dr. John Hansen Episodes: "Where the Heart Is: Parts 1 and 2
1993–1994 SeaQuest DSV Admiral Noyce / Secretary General Noyce 12 episodes
1994 Winnetka Road Mike 3 episodes
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. President Cleveland 2 episodes
Robin's Hoods Colonel Beckett Episode: "To Heir Is Human"
The Gift of Love TV movie
Cosmic Slop Cardinal (segment "The First Commandment") TV movie
1995 The Secretary Chuck Bosnell TV movie
ER Dr. Murphy Episode: "Men Plan, God Laughs"
1995–1998 Seinfeld Matt Wilhelm 11 episodes
1996 A Case for Life Bud Cromwell TV movie
Yesterday's Target Aaron Winfield TV movie
Shattered Mind Chester TV movie
Walker, Texas Ranger General Garrity Episode: "Codename: Dragonfly"
Grace Under Fire Police captain Episode: "Road to Nowhere"
1997 Bruno the Kid voice Episode: "The Spy Just Like Me"
Journey of the Heart Principal Martin TV movie
1997–98 Pacific Blue Ethan Callaway 2 episodes
1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dr. Backer Episode: "Killed by Death"
I Married a Monster Dr. Paul Drummond, Kelly's Uncle TV movie
Diagnosis: Murder Archie Mullen Episode: "Write, She Murdered"
Caroline in the City Barney Baxter Episode: "Caroline and the Big Night"
1999 A Fare to Remember Mr. Jennings
1999–2001 Star Trek: Voyager Admiral Owen Paris 4 episodes
2000 JAG Charlie Hoskins Episode: "The Bridge at Kang So Ri"
2001 The Fugitive Jack Episode: "Jenny"
The Song of the Lark Reverend Larsen TV movie
2002 Family Law Judge Neil Walker Episode: "Big Brother"
The District Sam SheridanAndi Episode: "Faith"
2003–2004 Everwood Herb Roberts 2 episodes
2004 The O.C. Bill Shaughnessy / Uncle Shaun Episode: "The Telenovela"
NYPD Blue Jimmy McGowan 2 episodes
2005 Ghost Whisperer Stephen Devine Episode: "Hope and Mercy"
2007 Desperate Housewives Harry Gaunt Episode: "Not While I'm Around"
Love's Unfolding Dream Windsor
2008 Cold Case Gene Karnow '08 Episode: "Shore Leave"
2010 Elf Sparkle and the Special Red Dress Sparks Voice, TV movie
2012 CSI: Miami Judge Paul Landsman Episode: "Rest in Pieces"
Betty White's Off Their Rockers Various 6 episodes
Odessa Ben
2013 Rizzoli & Isles Patrick Doyle, Sr. Episode: "Partners in Crime"
2015 Star Trek: Renegades Owen Paris
2018 Shameless Gerald Episode: "Church of Gay Jesus"
Hawaii Five-0 Old Milton Episode: "Pua a'e la ka uwahi o ka moe"
Video Game
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Blue Dragon Nene (Old) (English version, Voice, Video Game
2010 Fallout: New Vegas Father Elijah - Dead Money DLC Voice, Video Game
2013 BioShock Infinite Preacher Whitting Voice, Video Game

References

  1. ^ "Richard Herd Interview at Blankmaninc.com". Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Sandomir, Richard (May 28, 2020). "Richard Herd, a Baffled Boss on 'Seinfeld,' Is Dead at 87". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  3. ^ a b Paul, Lewis. "Richard Herd", Tales for the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors form Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema (Jefferson, North Carolina, McFarland & Company, Inc., 2008), pages 98-100. ISBN 978-0-7864-2994-3
  4. ^ Herd, Richard 1932- (Richard T. Herd) Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Richard Herd, Mr. Wilhelm on Seinfeld and Get Out actor, dies at 87 Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  6. ^ Richard Herd Bio Emmys.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Koseluk, Chris (May 26, 2020). "Richard Herd, Mr. Wilhelm on 'Seinfeld,' Dies at 87". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  8. ^ Character Actor Richard Herd, Known for Star Trek and V, Dies at 87 Syfy. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "Richard Herd, Seinfeld actor who played Mr. Wilhelm dies at 87".
  10. ^ "Company Members". The Road Theatre Company.