Richard Herd


Richard Thomas Herd Jr. 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 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. Herd has appeared at a number of fan conventions on the basis of his science fiction roles.

Early life

Herd was born in Boston, the son of Katherine and Richard Herd Sr., a train engineer who died while serving in World War II.

Career

He made his film debut in Hercules in New York. 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.
In addition to science fiction, he was a regular as Captain Dennis Sheridan on T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1983, 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 episode titled "Rest in Pieces". Herd portrayed Roman Armitage in Get Out.

Recognition

Herd was inducted into the National Broadcaster Hall of Fame for his work in Old Time Radio.
Herd served as the 3rd National Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild.

Personal life

Herd lived in Los Angeles with his wife Patricia Crowder Herd.

Death

Herd died from cancer at his home on May 26, 2020 at age 87.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973PuebloLt. Cmdr. C. ClarkTV movie
1975KojakBobEpisode: "A Question of Answers"
1975The Rockford FilesSheriff Cliff GladishEpisode: "Pastoria Prime Pick"
1976Hazard's PeopleHoward FredericksonTV movie
1976Captains and the KingsTalmadgeEpisode: "Chapter IV"
1977The Streets of San FranciscoGreeneEpisode: "The Cannibals"
1977The Feather and Father GangApplegateEpisode: "The Golden Fleece"
1977RaffertyEpisode: "Rafferty"
1977The Hunted LadyCapt. WilsonTV movie
1978Dr. ScorpionBill WorthingtonTV movie
1978Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape KidDonovanTV movie
1978Terror Out of the SkyCol. MangusTV movie
1978Dr. ScorpionThe DaneTV movie
1979Eight Is EnoughGeorge McArthurEpisode: "The Better Part of Valor"
1979Starsky & HutchFBI Agent SmithersEpisodes: "Targets Without a Badge: Part 2 and 3"
1979'Gen. Omar BradleyParts I, II, and III
1979The Lazarus SyndromeMortonEpisode: "Malpractice"
1979MarcianoJohn FurstTV movie
1979–1981Hart to HartWaldo Sommerton / Lieutenant Fredricks2 episodes
1980M*A*S*HCapt. Bill SnyderEpisode: "Back Pay"
1980'General GrovesTV movie
1980'Chuck NollTV movie
1980–1981DallasJohn Mackey3 episodes
1981The Misadventures of Sheriff LoboDr. SmithEpisode: "The Girls with the Stolen Bodies"
1981Elvis and the Beauty QueenThompsonTV movie
1981The Greatest American HeroAdam TaftEpisode: "The Greatest American Hero"
1981Walking TallPhilip BallardEpisode: "Deadly Impact"
1981Strike ForceEpisode: "Kidnap"
1982Farrell for the PeopleRandolph Gardner TV movie
1982The Devlin ConnectionLt. Harvey BukowskiEpisode: "Jennifer"
1982–1984T. J. HookerCapt. Dennis Sheridan36 episodes
1982–1988Simon & SimonPolice Officer Harry Flank / Consul Dearborn / Kyle Edmunds4 episodes
1983The Powers of Matthew StarDave WellmanEpisode: "Dead Man's Hand"
1983VJohnTV miniseries
1984Falcon CrestCalvin Kleeger2 episodes
1984V: The Final BattleJohnTV miniseries
1984–1985Hardcastle and McCormickColonel Joe Bartz / Arthur Huntley / Lonnie Vanatta2 episodes
1985Matt HoustonPatrick MoffettEpisode: "The Beach Club Murders"
1985The A-TeamJonathan DurcellEpisode: "Waste 'Em!"
1985Knight RiderLyle JastrowEpisode: "Knight Strike"
1986DynastyJim EllisonEpisode: "The Cry"
1986Scarecrow and Mrs. KingJake WilliamsonEpisode: "Photo Finish"
1986–1993Murder, She WroteArnett Cobb / Harvey McKittrick2 episodes
1987Hill Street BluesMikeEpisode: "Norman Conquest"
1987Rags to RichesEpisode: "Foley vs. Foley"
1987OharaStillwellEpisode: "Brian"
1987The Law and Harry McGrawGeneral BuckramEpisode: "Yankee Boodle Dandy"
1987Beauty and the BeastRichard BarnesEpisode: "A Children's Story"
1988Favorite SonPart One
1988My First LoveChet TownsendTV movie
1989MatlockPolice Capt. Edward Hanna / The Mad HatterEpisode: "The Captain"
1989The Golden GirlsErnieEpisode: "The Impotence of Being Ernest"
1989Nashville BeatChief KincaidTV movie
1989Mancuso, FBIRed BurrowsEpisode: "Little Saigon"
1990Knots LandingDr. Aaron Stahl2 episodes
1990China BeachBartenderEpisode: "The Thanks of a Grateful Nation"
1990Midnight CallerMedinaEpisode: "Protection"
1990Fall from GraceRichard DortchTV movie
1990Jake and the FatmanFrank BronskiEpisode: "God Bless the Child"
1990Camp CucamongaThornton BradleyTV movie
1990'Ray GoodrichTV movie
1991Quantum LeapMoe SteinEpisode: "Future Boy - October 6, 1957"
1991Tales from the CryptPhil StoneEpisode: "Deadline"
1992'Robert MackleEpisode: "Buried Alive"
1992'Charles HackleyTV movie
1992RenegadeSheriff Frank BrownEpisode: "Mother Courage"
1992Majority RuleTV movie
1993'L'KorEpisodes: "Birthright, Part I"
"Birthright, Part II"
1993Quantum LeapZiggy Ziganovich / Moe SteinEpisode: "Mirror Image - August 8, 1953"
1993Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanDr. John HansenEpisodes: "Where the Heart Is: Parts 1 and 2
1993–1994SeaQuest DSVAdmiral Noyce / Secretary General Noyce12 episodes
1994Winnetka RoadMike3 episodes
1994The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.President Cleveland2 episodes
1994Robin's HoodsColonel BeckettEpisode: "To Heir Is Human"
1994The Gift of LoveTV movie
1994Cosmic SlopCardinal TV movie
1995The SecretaryChuck BosnellTV movie
1995ERDr. MurphyEpisode: "Men Plan, God Laughs"
1995–1998SeinfeldMatt Wilhelm11 episodes
1996A Case for LifeBud CromwellTV movie
1996Yesterday's TargetAaron WinfieldTV movie
1996Shattered MindChesterTV movie
1996Walker, Texas RangerGeneral GarrityEpisode: "Codename: Dragonfly"
1996Grace Under FirePolice captainEpisode: "Road to Nowhere"
1997Bruno the KidvoiceEpisode: "The Spy Just Like Me"
1997Journey of the HeartPrincipal MartinTV movie
1997–98Pacific BlueEthan Callaway2 episodes
1998Buffy the Vampire SlayerDr. BackerEpisode: ""Killed By Death"
1998I Married a MonsterDr. Paul Drummond, Kelly's UncleTV movie
1998'Archie MullenEpisode: "Write, She Murdered"
1998Caroline in the CityBarney BaxterEpisode: "Caroline and the Big Night"
1999A Fare to RememberMr. Jennings
1999–2001'Admiral Owen Paris4 episodes
2000JAGCharlie HoskinsEpisode: "The Bridge at Kang So Ri"
2001The FugitiveJackEpisode: "Jenny"
2001The Song of the LarkReverend LarsenTV movie
2002Family LawJudge Neil WalkerEpisode: "Big Brother"
2002The DistrictSam SheridanAndiEpisode: "Faith"
2003–2004EverwoodHerb Roberts2 episodes
2004The O.C.Bill Shaughnessy / Uncle ShaunEpisode: "The Telenovela"
2004NYPD BlueJimmy McGowan2 episodes
2005Ghost WhispererStephen DevineEpisode: "Hope and Mercy"
2007Desperate HousewivesHarry GauntEpisode: "Not While I'm Around"
2007Love's Unfolding DreamWindsor
2008Cold CaseGene Karnow '08Episode: "Shore Leave"
2010Elf Sparkle and the Special Red DressSparksVoice, TV movie
2012'Judge Paul LandsmanEpisode: "Rest in Pieces"
2012Betty White's Off Their RockersVarious6 episodes
2012OdessaBen
2013Rizzoli & IslesPatrick Doyle, Sr.Episode: "Partners in Crime"
2015'Owen Paris
2018ShamelessGeraldEpisode: "Church of Gay Jesus"
2018Hawaii Five-0Old MiltonEpisode: "Pua a'e la ka uwahi o ka moe"

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006Blue DragonNene (English version, Voice, Video Game
2010'Father Elijah - Dead Money DLCVoice, Video Game
2013BioShock Infinite''Preacher WhittingVoice, Video Game