Ken Howard
Ken Howard | |
---|---|
1st National President of theSAG-AFTRA | |
In office March 30, 2012 – March 23, 2016 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Gabrielle Carteris |
28th President of theScreen Actors Guild | |
In office September 24, 2009 – March 30, 2012 | |
Preceded by | Alan Rosenberg |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Kenneth Joseph Howard Jr. March 28, 1944 El Centro, California,U.S. |
Died | March 23, 2016 Valencia, California,U.S. | (aged 71)
Spouse(s) |
Linda Fetters (m.1992) |
Education | Amherst College(BA) (1966) Yale University Kent State University(MFA) (1999) |
Occupation |
|
Awards | Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1970:Child's Play Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming 1981:The Body Human Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie 2009:Grey Gardens |
1966–2015 | |
Kenneth Joseph Howard Jr.(March 28, 1944 – March 23, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his roles asThomas Jeffersonin1776(1972) and as high school basketball coach and formerChicago Bullsplayer Ken Reeves in the television showThe White Shadow(1978–1981). Howard won theTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Playin 1970 for his performance inChild's Play,and won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Moviefor his work inGrey Gardens(2009).
Howard had co-starring roles in the filmsTell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon(1970),Such Good Friends(1971), andThe Strange Vengeance of Rosalie(1972). In the 1980s, he worked mostly in television, winning aDaytime Emmy Awardfor the CBS afternoon specialThe Body Human: Facts for Boys(1980). He later appeared in numerous character parts in films such asClear and Present Danger(1994),The Net(1995),Michael Clayton(2007), andThe Judge(2014).
Howard was elected president of the actors'union,Screen Actors Guild(SAG), in September 2009[1]and reelected to a second term, in September 2011.[2]He was the last president of the Screen Actors Guild and the first president of the newly combinedSAG-AFTRAunion, after the Screen Actors Guild and theAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists(AFTRA) voted to merge in 2012. He was reelected in 2015.[3]
Early life
[edit]Howard was born on March 28, 1944, inEl Centro, California,the son of Martha Carey (née McDonald) and Kenneth Joseph Howard, a stockbroker,[4][5]being the elder of their two sons. His younger brother, the late Don Howard, was also an actor and director.[6][7]His approximately 6-foot 6-inch (1.98 m) stature earned him the nickname "Stork" as a high school student. He grew up inManhasset, New York,onLong Island.[8]
The nickname "The White Shadow" was given to him by the Long Island press in 1961, as, at age 17, Howard was the only white starter on theManhasset High Schoolvarsity basketball team.[9]
A member of theNational Honor Societyin high school, Howard turned down several offers of basketball scholarships in favor of a more focused academic education. He graduated in 1966 fromAmherst College,where he served as captain of the basketball team.[10]He was also a member of thea cappellasinging group The Zumbyes. He attendedYale School of Dramabut left to make hisBroadwaydebut before completing his master's degree[11]– which he achieved in 1999.
Theater
[edit]Howard began his career on Broadway inPromises, PromiseswithJerry Orbach.In 1970, he won aTony Awardas Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) forChild's Play.Howard later starred onBroadwayasThomas Jeffersonin1776and reprised the role in the1972 film.His other Broadway appearances includedSeesawin 1973 andThe Norman Conquests.Howard portrayed several U.S. presidents in the 1975 Broadway musical1600 Pennsylvania Avenueand appeared asWarren G. HardinginCamping with Henry and Tomin 1995.[12]He appeared in legitimate theater in many cities, most recently asTip O'Neillin a one-man showAccording to Tip,at theNew Repertory Theatrein Watertown, Massachusetts.[13]
Television
[edit]On television, Howard appeared as Ken Reeves, a Los Angeles high school basketball coach, inThe White Shadow,produced byBruce Paltrowin 1978. Howard had the starring role in the 1973 TV seriesAdam's Ribopposite his good friend (and Paltrow's wife)Blythe Danner,who also played wife Martha to his Thomas Jefferson in the film version of1776.He starred inThe Manhunter,a crime drama that was part of CBS's lineup for the 1974–75 television season.
Howard starred in the TV movieFather Damienin 1980 (in which he replacedDavid Janssenin the title role after Janssen died a few days after the movie started production) and won aDaytime Emmy Awardin 1981 for his performance as the ideal father in the CBS afternoon specialThe Body Human: Facts for Boys.Howard's additional credits included "Sidney Sheldon'sRage of Angels,1983 ", the 2000miniseriesPerfect Murder, Perfect Town,and the feature filmDreamer: Inspired by a True Story,both co-starringKris Kristofferson.He played the title character in the 1984 American Playhouse production ofMark Twain'sPudd'nhead Wilson,having earlier played Twain onBonanza.Later, he appeared asGarrett BoydstoninDynastyand its spin-offThe Colbys.In the early 1990s, he appeared onMurder, She Wroteand, from 2001–04, inCrossing Jordanas the title character's father. In 2007, he appeared in theJimmy SmitsseriesCane.
Howard guest-starred on numerous television dramas. He was guest villain inHart to Hart Returns,a 1993 made-for-TV movie. He also appeared in season one ofThe West Wingas President Bartlet's first choice for US Supreme Court Justice in the episode "The Short List".His other dramatic guest roles includedNYPD Blue,The Practice,Boston Legal,Cold Case,Dirty Sexy Money,Eli Stone,Brothers and Sisters,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,Curb Your Enthusiasm,Fairly Legal,Crossing Jordan,The Closer,Blue Bloods,The Golden Girls,The Office,and30 Rock.
Film
[edit]Howard made his movie debut in 1970, inTell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon,oppositeLiza Minnelli.Numerous dramatic and comedic movie roles followed, including:Otto Preminger'sSuch Good FriendswithDyan CannonandJennifer O'Neill,1776,The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie,Independence,Second Thoughts,OscarwithSylvester Stallonein 1991,Ulterior Motives,Clear and Present DangerwithHarrison Fordin 1994,The NetwithSandra Bullockin 1995,Tactical Assault,Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story,andIn Her Shoesin 2005.
In 2007, Howard appeared again with Stallone inRambo,and inGeorge Clooney'sMichael Clayton.In 2010, he starred inThe Numbers GamewithSteven Bauer.He next appeared asHarlan F. StoneinClint Eastwood'sJ. Edgar.
He gave an acclaimed performance asPhelan Bealein the 2009HBOfilmGrey Gardens,playing oppositeJessica Lange,for which he received anEmmy Award.[14]His last films wereBetter Living Through Chemistry(2013),A.C.O.D.(2013),The Judge(2014),The Wedding Ringer(2015) and thebiographicalcomedy-dramafilmJoy(2015).
Ken Howard was elected the National President of the Screen Actors Guild on September 24, 2009.
Author
[edit]Howard was the author of the 2003 bookAct Natural: How to Speak to Any Audience,[15]based on the drama courses he had taught atHarvard University.He was a popular reader for audiobooks.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Howard was married three times. His first wife was actressLouise Sorel(m. 1973–75). His second wife was writer and advice columnistMargo Lederer(m. 1977–91). His final marriage was to stuntwoman Linda Fetters Howard (m. 1992–2016).[16]
In 2000, Howard underwent akidney transplant;the donor was family friendJeannie Epper,[17]with whom Linda had worked in the stunt community.[18]
Death
[edit]In 2007, Howard was diagnosed withstage fourprostate cancer.In March 2016, he was hospitalized inValencia, California,withshingles,where he died on March 23, five days before his 72nd birthday.[19]He was the first and, as of 2024[update],the onlyScreen Actors Guildor SAG-AFTRA national president to die in office.
George Clooney, in whose 2007 legal thriller,Michael Clayton,Howard appeared, remembered having met him for the first time, in 1983 at20th Century Fox,as a fan ofThe White Shadow.[20]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon | Arthur | |
1971 | Such Good Friends | Cal | |
1972 | The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie | Virgil | |
1776 | Thomas Jefferson | ||
1976 | Independence | Thomas Jefferson | Short film directed byJohn Huston.[21] |
1983 | Second Thoughts | John Michael | |
1991 | Oscar | Kirkwood | |
1993 | Ulterior Motives | Malcolm Carter | |
1994 | Clear and Present Danger | Committee Chairman | |
1995 | The Net | Michael Bergstrom | |
1998 | Tactical Assault | General Horace White | |
1999 | At First Sight | Virgil's Father | |
2004 | Stuck | Marty | Short film directed byClark Harris. |
Double Dare | Himself | Documentary film | |
2005 | Dreamer | Bill Ford | |
In Her Shoes | Michael Feller | ||
2006 | Arc | Santee | |
2007 | Michael Clayton | Don Jeffries | |
2008 | Rambo | Father Arthur Marsh | |
Under Still Waters | Conrad | ||
Smother | Gene Cooper | ||
2009 | Two:Thirteen | Sheriff Sedgewick | |
The Beacon | Officer Bobby Ford | ||
2010 | A The Numbers Game | Harold | |
2011 | J. Edgar | Harlan F. Stone | |
2012 | A Fighting Man | George | Short film |
Just an American | Dr. Sullivan | ||
2013 | A.C.O.D. | Gary | |
2014 | Better Living Through Chemistry | Walter Bishop | |
The Judge | Judge Warren | ||
2015 | The Wedding Ringer | Ed Palmer | |
Joy | Mop Executive | Final Film Role |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | N.Y.P.D. | Rick Crossfield | Episode: "Everybody Loved Him" |
1972 | Bonanza | Samuel Clemens | Episode: "The Twenty-Sixth Grave" |
Medical Center | Kevin Morgan | Episode: "The Outcast" | |
1973 | Adam's Rib | Adam Bonner | Contract role |
1974 | Manhunter | Dave Barrett | |
1974–75 | The Manhunter | Dave Barrett | Contract role |
1977 | The Court Martial of George Custer | Prosecuting attorney | Made-for-TV movie |
1978 | Superdome | Dave Walecki | Made-for-TV movie |
The Critical List | Nels Freiberg | Made-for-TV movie | |
A Real American Hero | Danny Boy Mitchell | Made-for-TV movie | |
1978–81 | The White Shadow | Ken Reeves | Contract role |
1980 | Father Damien: The Leper Priest | Father Damien | Made-for-TV movie |
1982 | Victims | Joe Buckley | Made-for-TV movie |
The Country Girl | Bernie Dodd | Made-for-TV movie | |
1983 | It's Not Easy | Jack Long | Contract role |
1983 | Rage of Angels | Adam Warner | Miniseries |
The Thorn Birds | Rainer Hartheim | Miniseries | |
1984 | Glitter | Senator | Episode: "Pilot" |
He's Not Your Son | Michael Saunders | Made-for-TV | |
American Playhouse | Pudd'nhead Wilson | Episode: "Pudd'nhead Wilson" | |
Hotel | Bill Tillery | Episode: "Passages" | |
1985–86 | Dynasty | Garrett Boydston | Recurring |
The Colbys | Recurring | ||
1985 | Hotel | Malcolm Taylor | Episode: "Missing Pieces" |
1986 | Rage of Angels: The Story Continues | Adam J. Warner | Made-for-TV-Movie |
Dream Girl, U.S.A. | TV Host | Contract role | |
1988 | American Playhouse | Sam Evans | Episode: "Strange Interlude" |
The Man in the Brown Suit | Gordon Race | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
1985–1989 | Murder, She Wrote | Various Roles | 6 episodes |
1991 | Deadly Nightmares | Dubois | Episode: "Homecoming" |
P.S. I Luv U | Jack Packer | Episode: "Pilot" | |
Murder in New Hampshire | Bill Smart | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
Memories of Midnight | Kirk Reynolds | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
1992 | The Golden Girls | Jerry | Episode: "The Commitments" |
Mastergate | Courtleigh Bishop | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
What Happened? | Host | Documentary | |
1993 | Batman: The Animated Series | Hartness | Episode: "See No Evil" |
Hart to Hart Returns | Dr. Paul Menard | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
1994 | One West Waikiki | Ronald Markham | Episode: "Til Death Do Us Part" |
Moment of Truth: To Walk Again | Ed Keating | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Voice | Episode: "A River Ran Through It" | |
1994–98 | Melrose Place | Mr. George Andrews | Recurring |
1995 | Op Center | The President | Miniseries |
Her Hidden Truth | Jack Devereaux | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
1996 | Diagnosis: Murder | Special Agent Dunleavy | Episode: "Murder Can Be Contagious" |
Arli$$ | Rocky | Episode: "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" | |
The Client | Charlie Braxton | Episode: "Money Talks" | |
1997 | Something Borrowed, Something Blue | Senator John Farrell | Made-for-TV-Movie |
Diagnosis: Murder | David Clarke | Episode: "Slam Dunk Dead" | |
The Practice | Senator Frank Patanki | Episode: "Hide and Seek" | |
1999 | The West Wing | Judge Peyton Cabot Harrison III | Episode: "The Short List" |
A Vow To Cherish | John Brighton | Made-for-TV-Movie | |
2000 | The Practice | Defense Atty. Bradford | Episode: "Race Ipsa Loquitor" |
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town | Alex Hunter | Miniseries | |
2001–05 | Crossing Jordan | Max Cavanaugh | Recurring |
2001 | Family Law | Reardon | Episode: "Film at Eleven" |
Arli$$ | Coach Dreyfuss | Episode: "Of Cabbages and Kings" | |
2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Ken Abbot | Episodes: 2 episodes |
A Boyfriend for Christmas | Judge | Uncredited | |
2006 | The Office | Ed Truck | Episode: "The Carpet" |
George Lopez | Dr. Woodson | Episode: "The Kidney Stays in the Picture" | |
Ghost Whisperer | Judge Walter Merrick | Episode: "Fury" | |
Huff | Walt Callahan | 2 episodes | |
Conviction | Judge Hanford | Episode: "The Wall" | |
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Arlen Rieff | Episode: "Cage" | |
2007 | Sacrifices of the Heart | Thane Weston | Made-for-TV-movie |
The Nine | Alvy Munson | Episode: "Man of the Year" | |
Cane | Joe Samuels | Recurring | |
2008 | Brothers & Sisters | Boyd Taylor | Episode: "Double Negative" |
Eli Stone | Thomas Hayes | Episode: "Grace" | |
Boston Legal | Judge Walter Yardley | Episode: "Kill, Baby, Kill!" | |
Dirty Sexy Money | Evan Connello | Episode: "The Summer House" | |
2009 | Cold Case | Harry Kemp Jr. '58 | Episode: "Libertyville" |
Grey Gardens | Phelan Beale | Television Movie,HBO | |
2011–13 | 30 Rock | Hank Hooper | Recurring – 9 episodes |
2011 | The Council of Dads | Burt Wells | Made-for-TV movie |
Fairly Legal | Charles Pease | Episode: "Pilot" | |
The Closer | Wes Durant | Episode: "Star Turn" | |
2012 | The Young and the Restless | George Summers | 3 episodes |
Blue Bloods | Malcolm | Episode: "Nightmares" | |
Counter Culture | Ken | Made-for-TV movie | |
2014 | The McCarthys | Coach Colwell | Episode: "Pilot" |
Theatre
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968–72 | Promises, Promises | Bartender Eddie Karl Kubelik |
The Shubert Theatre,Broadway | [22] |
1969–72 | 1776 | Thomas Jefferson | 46th Street Theatre St. James Theatre Majestic Theatre,Broadway | |
1970 | Child's Play | Paul Reese | Royale Theatre,Broadway | |
1971 | JFK | Designer | Circle in the Square | |
1973 | Seesaw | Jerry Ryan | Uris Theatre Mark Hellinger Theatre | |
1975 | Little Black Sheep | Jack Hassler | Vivian Beaumont Theatre | |
1975–76 | The Norman Conquest Trilogy | Tom | Morosco Theatre | |
1976 | Equus | Performer | National Company | |
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue | The President | Mark Hellinger Theatre | ||
1988–90 | Rumors | Glenn Cooper | Broadhurst Theatre Ethel Barrymore Theatre | |
1995 | Camping with Henry and Tom | Warren G. Harding | Lucille Lortel Theatre | |
1996 | In the Moonlight Eddie | Director | Pasadena Playhouse | |
2007 | According to Tip | Tip O'Neil | New Repertory Theatre | |
2010 | Hopeless Romantic | Michael Hanley[23] | Center Stage Theater, Santa Barbara | |
2012 | Golden Child | Assistant Director | Pershing Square Signature Center The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Theatre World Awards | — | 1776 | Won | [24] |
1970 | Tony Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Child's Play | Won | [25] |
1981 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming – Performers | The Body Human(Episode: "Facts for Boys" ) | Won | [26] |
2009 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Grey Gardens | Nominated | [27] |
2009 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Won | [28] |
References
[edit]- ^"Ken Howard Elected as Screen Actors Guild President; Amy Aquino Elected as Secretary-Treasurer"(Press release). Screen Actors Guild. September 24, 2009.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^Weinstein, Joshua L. (September 22, 2011)."Ken Howard Re-Elected President of SAG".The Wrap.Reuters.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^ab"Ken Howard, Award Winning Actor and SAG-AFTRA President, Dead at 71".SAG-AFTRA.March 23, 2016.RetrievedMarch 25,2016.
However, he again put his compelling voice to work...narrating more than 30 best-selling audio books.
- ^Barnes, Mike (March 23, 2016)."Ken Howard, SAG-AFTRA President, Dies at 71".The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^"Ken Howard Biography (1944–2016)".Film Reference Library.RetrievedDecember 7,2012.
- ^Jones, Kenneth (September 1, 1999)."Actor and Stage Manager Don Howard is Dead at 47".Playbill.
- ^"William Shatner Biography (1931–)".Filmreference.
- ^Tarshis, Alex (November 10, 2005)."Hanging Out in the NBA TV Green Room With... Ken Howard".NBA.RetrievedNovember 23,2007.
- ^Perry, Douglas (March 24, 2016)."RIP Ken Howard; how his 1970s series 'The White Shadow' changed TV".The Oregonian.Portland.RetrievedMarch 25,2016.
- ^"Ken Howard".starpulse.Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2011.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^Erickson, Hal(May 20, 2013)."Ken Howard".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.Archived fromthe originalon May 21, 2013.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^"Plays—Camping with Henry and Tom".Mark St. Germain.Archived fromthe originalon February 25, 2013.RetrievedDecember 7,2012.
- ^Allis, Sam (June 15, 2008)."A new one-man show about late House speaker O'Neill seeks a broad-based constituency".The Boston Globe.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^O'Neill, Tom (September 20, 2009)."Biggest Emmy surprises: Ken Howard, Cherry Jones and...?".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^"Ken Howard profile".Screen Actors Guild.RetrievedDecember 7,2011.
- ^Olsen, Mark (March 24, 2016)."Ken Howard, actor and president of SAG-AFTRA, dies at 71".Los Angeles Times.
- ^Carney, Kat (July 11, 2003)."Headline News 'Crossing Jordan' star deals with personal drama".CNN.RetrievedAugust 26,2023.
- ^Steinhauer, Jennifer (July 30, 1995)."Women Who Burn, Run, Jump And Slide For a Living".New York Times.RetrievedAugust 26,2023.
- ^Feinberg, Scott; Rebecca Ford; Mia Galuppo (March 23, 2016)."Hollywood Remembers SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard: George Clooney, Alec Baldwin React".The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^Shenton, Zoe (March 24, 2016)."Ken Howard dead at 71 as Hollywood pays tribute to the" exceptional "actor".Daily Mirror.London.RetrievedMarch 24,2022.
- ^"Independence".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedMarch 23,2016.
- ^"Ken Howard (Performer)".Playbill.
- ^"Center Stage Theater, Santa Barbara, CA (805) 963-8198".Archived fromthe originalon August 22, 2018.RetrievedAugust 22,2018.
- ^"Theatre World Award Recipients".Theatre World Awards.RetrievedJuly 30,2023.
- ^"The Tony Award Nominations – 1970 Actor (Featured Role – Play)".Tony Awards.RetrievedJuly 30,2023.
- ^"Daytime Emmy Awards (1981)".IMDb.RetrievedJuly 30,2023.
- ^"13th Annual TV Awards (2008-09)".Online Film & Television Association.RetrievedJuly 30,2023.
- ^"Ken Howard".Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.July 11, 2023.RetrievedJuly 30,2023.
External links
[edit]- 1944 births
- 2016 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Activists from California
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American men's basketball players
- American trade union leaders
- Amherst College alumni
- Amherst Mammoths men's basketball players
- Basketball players from California
- Basketball players from New York City
- Deaths from prostate cancer in California
- Male actors from California
- Male actors from New York (state)
- Manhasset High School alumni
- Members of The Lambs Club
- Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners
- People from El Centro, California
- People from Manhasset, New York
- Presidents of SAG-AFTRA
- Presidents of the Screen Actors Guild
- Tony Award winners
- David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University alumni
- Comedians from California