Richard Gilliland
Richard Gilliland | |
---|---|
Born | Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | January 23, 1950
Died | March 18, 2021 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 71)
Years active | 1974–2021 |
Spouse | |
Children | 2 |
Richard Morris Gilliland (January 23, 1950 – March 18, 2021) was an American television and movie actor, best known as JD Shackleford in Designing Women (1986–1992).[1]
Life and career
[edit]Gilliland was born in Fort Worth, Texas to parents Richard Velton Gilliland and Betty Gene née Morris Gilliland.[2] He attended Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kansas, graduating in 1968. He was active in plays and musicals.[3] He studied drama at the University of Kansas for two years before transferring to the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago.[4] He left school his final year to become a member of the Chicago Free Street Theater. He joined the cast of Godspell in Chicago first as a disciple and then in the leading role before moving to Los Angeles in 1973.[3]
Gilliland first appeared onscreen in the 1970s.[4] His notable appearances include The Waltons, Thirtysomething, Party of Five, Little Women,[4] and a recurring role on Designing Women where he met actress Jean Smart, who starred as Charlene in that series.[5] On Designing Women he played J. D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of Annie Potts' character Mary Jo Shively. He and Smart married in 1987.[5] They have two sons, Connor Douglas (born 1989)[6] and Forrest who was adopted from China in May 2009.[7]
He played Ellis Kapp on The Unit and Captain Stan Cotter on 24 during season five, while his wife Jean Smart played First Lady Martha Logan in the same season.[8][9] He also had a recurring role as serial killer Jeffrey Speidel in the NBC series Matlock.
He died following a short illness in Los Angeles, California, on March 18, 2021, at the age of 71.[10][11]
Select TV and filmography
[edit]- The Streets of San Francisco (1974) (TV series)
- Bug (1975)
- Stay Hungry (1976)
- McMillan (1976–77) (TV series)
- The White Buffalo (1977)
- Operation Petticoat (1977–78) (TV series)
- Little Women (1978) (TV miniseries)
- The Waltons (1981) (TV series)
- Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)
- The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1983) (TV movie)
- Just Our Luck (1983) (TV series)
- Challenge of a Lifetime (1985) (TV movie)
- The Love Boat (1985) (TV series)
- Mary (1986) (TV series)
- Designing Women (1986–91) (TV series)
- Hunter (1987) (TV series)
- Police Story: Monster Manor (1988) as Mike
- Heartland (1989) (TV series)
- Thirtysomething (1989–90) (TV series)
- Murder, She Wrote (1991, 93) (TV series)
- Matlock (1991, '93, '95) (TV series)
- Winnetka Road (1994) (TV series)
- Touched by an Angel (1996) (TV series)
- Dark Skies (1996–97) (TV series)
- Early Edition (1997) (TV series)
- Star Kid (1997)
- Brooklyn South (1998) (TV series)
- The Practice (1998) (TV series)
- Party of Five (1997, '98) (TV series)
- Judging Amy (2000) (TV series)
- Becker (2001) (TV series)
- Vampire Clan (2002)
- Joan of Arcadia (2003) (TV series)
- Crossing Jordan (2004) (TV series)
- 24 (2006) (TV series)
- The Unit (2007) (TV series)
- Dexter (2009) (TV series)
- Desperate Housewives (2010) (TV series)
- Torchwood (2011) (TV series)
- Imposters (2017–18) (TV series)
- Case 347 (2020) (Movie)
References
[edit]- ^ Bosselman, Haley (March 26, 2021). "Richard Gilliland, Actor on 'Designing Women,' Dies at 71". Variety.
- ^ ""Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997," database, FamilySearch". www.ancestry.com. Richard Morris Gilliland, 23 Jan 1950; Ancestry citing Texas Department of State Health Services.
- ^ a b Nicely, Steve (October 23, 1977). "Watch Out, Ed Asner". The Kansas City Star. p. 4E.
- ^ a b c Scott, Vernon (February 19, 1979). "Richard Gilliland the Main Man for 'Little Women'". The Pittsburgh Press. p. B-17.
- ^ a b Henderson, Cydney (March 25, 2021). "'Rest peacefully dearest': Richard Gilliland, actor and husband to Jean Smart, dies at 71". USA Today.
- ^ "Jean Smart- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
- ^ Etienne, Vanessa; Gauk-Roger, Topher (February 28, 2022). "Jean Smart Says Being a Single Mother Has Been 'Unimaginable': 'Hardest Thing I've Ever Done'". PEOPLE.com.
- ^ "Richard Gilliland – Call Me Crazy: A Five Film Official Movie Site". Lifetime. April 20, 2013. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Gans, Andrew (January 2, 2007). "Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland Will Read Love Letters Feb. 10-11". Playbill. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (March 25, 2021). "Richard Gilliland, 'Designing Women' Actor and Husband of Jean Smart, Dies at 71". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ Seemayer, Zach. "Richard Gilliland, Actor and Husband of Jean Smart, Dead at 71". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved March 26, 2021.