Gregory Harrison
| Gregory Harrison | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gregory Neale Harrison May 31, 1950 Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | Randi Oakes (1980–present) |
| Website | |
| http://www.gregoryharrison.com/ | |
Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950)[1] is an American actor. He is known for his role as Chandler in the 1987 cult favorite North Shore and as Trapper John MacIntyre's (played by Pernell Roberts) young surgeon, Dr. George Alonzo 'Gonzo' Gates, on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D. (a role he played from 1979 to 1985).
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[edit] Early life and career
Harrison was born in Avalon, California, the son of Ed, a ship's captain and poet.[2] [1]
He was also the title character on the 1977-78 science fiction series Logan's Run, after which he played the role of Levi Zendt on the 1978 NBC miniseries Centennial and had a situation comedy on CBS called Family Man, in which he played a single-father fireman who was rearing three children. He also played a widowed sheriff rearing three children in his mother's motel called Safe Harbor (1999).
Harrison later won a role as Pernell Roberts's young surgeon, in a popular spin-off medical drama, which was taken from the long-running sitcom, M*A*S*H, on Trapper John, M.D., prior to guest-starring on an episode of its parent series, the year after Wayne Rogers left the show. His future mentor/lifelong fan, Roberts played Adam Cartwright on Bonanza - Lorne Greene's eldest son in the series. After six seasons, Harrison's mentor has decided to leave the show. Harrison once asked him why he left, and Roberts told him: "There’s an actor nine years older than me and I’m calling him Pa."
Then Harrison said of his TV boss of emergency medicine, who played the title character that Rogers once created for him, "Pernell was a wonderfully talented man," Harrison also said of him, "He had a lot of demons, but when he wasn’t fighting them, he was one of the most charming men I had even known. Incredibly bright. Things didn’t work out the way he had hoped they would, and he had to deal with that on some days. … He was sure he would have a good film career and stage career. But he wasn’t cut out for compromise, and network television then required lots of compromise."[3] Then midway throughout the final season, Harrison left the show to spend more time with his family, but continued to keep in touch with Pernell up until his mentor's death on January 24, 2010, which he mourned the loss of a great TV friend.
Harrison's later role as stripper John Phillips in the 1981 TV movie For Ladies Only made him a favorite with women and gay men in the 1980s. He spoofed that role in the 1986 miniseries Fresno where his character appeared shirtless at every opportunity. Harrison was a regular in the final season (1989–90) of Falcon Crest, opposite Jane Wyman, who was absent for nearly the remainder of the last season, due to her health problems.[4] In 1996, he starred opposite Eric Roberts in It's My Party, a film based on the true events of a man diagnosed with AIDS who planned a two-day party to say goodbye to his friends and family and then took his own life with pills.
He also starred in the WB Network's Safe Harbor and One Tree Hill and has made guest appearances on numerous other shows such as Touched by an Angel, Judging Amy, Reunion, Joey, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit , Drop Dead Diva,and Hot In Cleveland.
For the last few years he has played the lead in a touring version of the musical Chicago and was the male lead in each film of the Au Pair trilogy. He also appeared as Benjamin Stone in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and created a role in the original Broadway production of Kander & Ebb's Steel Pier. In 2011 he had a guest starring role as a doctor on ABC's Body of Proof.
In 2012, Harrison was in rehearsals for a musical version of a classic science fiction film with the Outside the Box Musical Theatre Company.[5]
[edit] Personal life
Harrison has been married to actress Randi Oakes (of CHiPs fame) since 1980. The couple have four children, three girls and a boy. He lived in Gold Beach, Oregon, for 15 years and now resides in Eugene.[6] He enjoys surfing and golf.
Harrison was addicted to cocaine during the 1980s; he was able to attain sobriety with the help of the Betty Ford Center.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ a b James Brady (1990-02-25). "In Step With: Gregory Harrison". The Times-News. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LuVPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5079,6505478&dq=randi-oakes&hl=en. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
- ^ "Gregory Harrison Biography (1950-)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/5/Gregory-Harrison.html. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/01/3401389/playing-a-different-tune.html#storylink=cpy
- ^ http://www.falconcrest.org/english/master.php?path=show/episodes/ai/bts/9
- ^ Meld je aan of registreer je om een reactie te plaatsen! (2012-01-01). "Outside the Box Episode 5". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgrhPYR5q5w&feature=channel_video_title. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ "Hollywood actor speaks to area rotarians". KCBY CBS 11. http://www.kcby.com/news/12607961.html. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
- ^ LYNN SIMROSS. "From Addict to Role Model Gregory Harrison Bares Soul to Help Drug-Abuse Victims :[Home Edition]. " Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) 5 Sep. 1989,Los Angeles Times, ProQuest. Web. 21 Oct. 2010.
