Ted Wass
Ted Wass | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Wass October 27, 1952 Lakewood, Ohio, U.S. |
| Education | Art Institute of Chicago (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, television director |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse(s) | Nina Wass (1996–present) Janet Margolin (1979–1993) (her death) |
| Children | 3 |
Edward Wass (born October 27, 1952) is an American television director and former actor. He is best known for his roles as Danny Dallas on the series Soap (1977–1981) and as Nick Russo on the NBC sitcom Blossom (1991–1995). Since Blossom ended its run in 1995, Wass has retired from acting and has focused only on directing episodic television such as Spin City, The Big Bang Theory, Less than Perfect and 2 Broke Girls.[1]
Early life and education
Wass was born in Lakewood, Ohio[1][2] (just west of Cleveland). He was raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, (about 20 mi (32 km) west of Chicago) and graduated from Glenbard West High School there in 1970.[2][3] He attended Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University).[1]
Wass trained as an opera singer and was also involved in rock and roll as a lead singer and guitarist.[2]
Career
Acting
In 1976, Wass made his Broadway debut in the original Broadway production of Grease, playing Danny Zuko.[1]
He made his television debut as Danny Dallas on Soap opposite stage veteran Katherine Helmond from 1977 to 1981, filming 101 episodes.[1] He appeared on Broadway with his Soap co-star Diana Canova in Neil Simon's They're Playing Our Song.[4]
Wass starred in Curse of the Pink Panther (1983),[1] one of the post-Peter Sellers films in the franchise, as Detective Sergeant Clifton Sleigh, engaged by Police Chief Dreyfus to track down Inspector Clouseau.[5]
He played struggling musician Bobby Shelton (who trades his soul — and his family — to become ill-fated rock star "Billy Wayne") in the black comedy film Oh, God! You Devil (1984). He played a sports journalist caught up in a murder in female-Tarzan film Sheena (1984), which received five nominations in the Razzie Awards.[6]
In 1986, he starred in the TV movie Triplecross, directed by David Greene, in which he, Markie Post, and Gary Swanson are cops who receive a huge sum of money from a kidnap victim and become private detectives, competing against each other to solve cases.[7] This was intended as a pilot but the series was never picked up.
His last acting role was among his most prominent, playing the title character's father in Blossom (1991–1995), a sitcom about a teenage girl with two brothers being brought up by their single father.
Directing
Wass began directing while acting on the TV sitcom Blossom. Along with many TV movies, he has directed episodes of over 40 TV series.
Personal life
Wass' first wife was actress Janet Margolin, who died in December 1993 at age 50 from ovarian cancer.[2] Their two children are Julian (a composer) and Matilda.[2] His second wife is producer Nina Wass, whom he married in 1996. Together they have a daughter named Stella.[8]
Actor filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Family | Sam Trask | Episode: "A Safe House" |
| 1977 | Handle with Care | Cpl. Tillingham | Television pilot |
| 1977–1981 | Soap (TV series) | Danny Dallas | Main cast (77 episodes) |
| 1979 | The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal | Vinnie | Television film |
| 1979 | The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther | Simon | Television special |
| 1982 | I Was a Mail Order Bride | Robert Fitzgerald | Television film |
| 1983 | Baby Sister | David Mitchell | Television film |
| 1983 | Curse of the Pink Panther | Sgt. Clifton Sleigh | Feature film |
| 1984 | Sheena | Vic Casey | Feature film |
| 1984 | Oh, God! You Devil | Bobby Shelton | Feature film |
| 1985 | Sins of the Father | Gregory Scott Murchison | Television film |
| 1986 | The Longshot | Stump | Feature film |
| 1986 | Triplecross | Elliott Taffle | Television film |
| 1986 | The Canterville Ghost | Harry Canterville | Television film |
| 1986 | Sunday Drive | Paul Sheridan | Television film (The Disney Sunday Movie) |
| 1987 | CBS Summer Playhouse | Mickey | Episode: "Mickey and Nora" |
| 1988 | Shades of Love: Sunset Court | Dr. Jimmy Fielding | Television film |
| 1988 | Pancho Barnes | Frank Clake | Television film |
| 1989 | Men (TV series) | Dr. Steven Ratajkowski | Main cast (6 episodes) |
| 1989 | Fine Gold | Andre | Feature film |
| 1990 | Sparks: The Price of Passion | Steve Warner | Television film |
| 1991–1995 | Blossom (TV series) | Nick Russo | Main cast (113 episodes) |
| 1993 | Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story | Bryan Norcross | Television film |
| 1993 | Danielle Steel's Star | Ernie | Television film |
Director filmography
| Year | Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blossom | TV series | 18 episodes | |
| Local Heroes | TV series | ||
| Coach | TV series | 1 episode | |
| Mr. Rhodes | TV series | 6 episodes | |
| The Jeff Foxworthy Show | TV series | 13 episodes | |
| Jenny | TV series | 1 episode | |
| Smart Guy | TV series | 5 episodes | |
| Soul Man | TV series | ||
| The Secret Lives of Men | TV series | ||
| Costello | TV series | 1 episode | |
| 1998–99 | Caroline in the City | TV series | 17 episodes |
| 1999 | Two of a Kind | TV series | 1 episode |
| Oh, Grow Up | TV series | ||
| Norm | TV series | 1 episode | |
| Stark Raving Mad | TV series | ||
| Then Came You | TV series | ||
| Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | TV series | ||
| My Wife and Kids | TV series | ||
| 2000–2002 | Spin City | TV series | 45 episodes |
| My Adventures in Television | TV series | ||
| Regular Joe | TV series | ||
| Married to the Kellys | TV series | ||
| I'm with Her | TV series | ||
| 2002–2006 | Less than Perfect | TV series | |
| 2006 | Crumbs | TV series | 10 episodes |
| 2006 | The Game | TV series | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | 'Til Death | TV series | |
| 2007–2013 | Rules of Engagement | TV series | 45 episodes |
| 2007 | The Big Bang Theory | TV series | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Two and a Half Men | TV series | 7 episodes |
| Gary Unmarried | TV series | ||
| 2007–2008 | Everybody Hates Chris | TV series | |
| 2009 | Scrubs | TV series | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Ruby & The Rockits | TV series | |
| 2009 | Brothers | TV series | |
| 2010 | Accidentally on Purpose | TV series | |
| $#*! My Dad Says | TV series | ||
| 2010 | Melissa & Joey | TV series | 9 episodes |
| 2011 | State of Georgia | TV series | 5 episodes |
| 2011–12 | 2 Broke Girls | TV series | 9 episodes |
| 2012 | Sullivan & Son | TV series | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Dads | TV series | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Undateable | TV series | 2 episodes |
| 2013–14 | Last Man Standing | TV series | |
| 2014–2015 | Mom | TV series | 16 episodes |
| 2015 | Cristela | TV series | |
| 2015 | Truth Be Told | TV series | |
| 2016 | The Odd Couple | TV series | 2 episodes |
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Lights shine on The Theatre School gala honorees". newsline.depaul.edu. DePaul University. March 29, 2012. Archived from the original on March 9, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Cavazos, Norma (November 20, 1994). "TV Questions". The News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. Knight-Ridder News Service. p. 168. Retrieved November 22, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "History". glenbard1958. Glenbard High School Class of 1958.
- ^ "Ted Wass". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- ^ Brunsdale, Mitzi M. (2010). Icons of Mystery and Crime Detection: From Sleuths to Superheroes. ABC-CLIO. p. 184. ISBN 9780313345319.
- ^ Wilson, Staci Layne (2007). Animal Movies Guide. p. 18. ISBN 9780967518534.
- ^ Roberts, Jerry (2009). "David Greene". Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 215. ISBN 9780810863781.
- ^ "Ted Wass Biography (1952-)". FilmReference.com.
External links
- Ted Wass at IMDb
- Ted Wass at the Internet Broadway Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1952 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American male actors
- Male actors from Illinois
- Male actors from Ohio
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American television directors
- DePaul University alumni
- People from Glen Ellyn, Illinois
- People from Lakewood, Ohio
- American people of Hungarian descent