Santa Monica, Calif.–Richard Dysart, the Emmy-winning actor who portrayed the cranky senior partner Leland McKenzie in the slick, long-running NBC drama “L.A. Law,” died at his home here April 5 after a long illness. He was 86.
MSTies will recall that he played Leonard Driscoll in the pilot episode of the TV series “Gemini Man,” and scenes from that episode, featuring Dysart, were included in brief flashbacks in the movie in episode 814- RIDING WITH DEATH, although William Sylvester played Driscoll in the series, and is seen as Driscoll for most of the movie.
The Hollywood Reporter has an obit.
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Man, what’s with all the character actors dying? RIP, Mr Dysart. :-(
An APB has gone out for the elusive Robert Denby.
Rest in peace, Mr. Dysart.
I can’t be the only one who got this guy confused with Richard Baseheart. RIP to Mr. Dysart whose junk I was lucky enough to see in the appropriately enough titled “The Thing”.
RIP, Dr. Copper.
Thanks for everything, Richard!
Riding With Death? Rode With Death.
Yes, I too, remember him mostly from JC’s The Thing. RIP
Richard the Dyshearted
Gypsy must be really upset. Oh wait, she loves Richard Basehart. My bad. :)
The first time I saw him was when he played Benedict Arnold on You Are There. At least he went on to play Ike and President Truman. R.I.P.
Also loved him in Prophecy (1979). Sad day for me and my friends who loved watching that movie in undergrad
RIP Barbed Wire Salesman from Back to the Future III.
So long, Richard. Thanks for all your work.
I’m not convinced. It’s gotta be Robert Densby. Or….*maybe* as William Sylvester’s character said, just maybe, Dysart’s death was actually…an “OP-tical ILLUSION!!!!”
Aw, RIP Dr. Copper.
its call life, someday we all will die.
I remember him more from LA Law.
Sorry to hear that he is the third one gone.
They do tend to go in threes, do they not?
I think this gentleman was also in The 9th Configuration and Exorcist III. Both underrated little gems. I think Exorcist III is far better than the original and has some of the best serial killer monologues in film history delivered by Brad (Chucky) Dourf.
No, they tend to go in hearses.