John Pleshette

Last updated
John Pleshette
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater Brown University
Occupation(s)Actor, screenwriter
Years active1964–present
Relatives Suzanne Pleshette (cousin)

John Pleshette is an American actor and screenwriter, best known for his role as Richard Avery on the television drama Knots Landing , and for portraying Lee Harvey Oswald in the TV movie The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald . [1] [2] Pleshette also wrote several scripts for Knots Landing in the 1980s.

Contents

Career

In a television acting career spanning decades, Pleshette has appeared in such shows as The Rockford Files ; Highway to Heaven ; Kojak ; Magnum P.I. ; Simon & Simon ; Murder, She Wrote ; MacGyver ; Beauty and the Beast ; L.A. Law ; The Larry Sanders Show ; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman ; ER ; NYPD Blue ; The Sopranos ; Law & Order: LA ; and Curb Your Enthusiasm .

Pleshette played Lee Harvey Oswald in the television film The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1977), and appeared in the TV miniseries Seventh Avenue the same year. In 1979, he was cast in the role of Richard Avery on Knots Landing . Series creator David Jacobs was acquainted with Pleshette's work, and Pleshette was married to literary agent Lynn Pleshette, Jacobs' ex-wife. Pleshette appeared on Knots Landing for four seasons (1979–83), and returned briefly in 1987. During the 1980s, he wrote several scripts for the series.[ citation needed ]

Pleshette also appeared in the Blake Edwards comedy S.O.B. (1981), [3] and Micki & Maude (1984). He appeared in the episode 'The Judas Bug" of the ABC crime drama The Feather and Father Gang in 1977, [4] and in MacGyver in the Season Two episode "D.O.A.: MacGyver".

Personal life

Pleshette is Jewish; his grandfather changed his surname from Kravitz to Pleshet when he immigrated to pre-state Palestine, adding the "te" later. [5] He is a cousin of the late actress Suzanne Pleshette. [6] He graduated from Brown University in 1964.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970 End of the Road Finkle
1972ParadesMurray
1972 The Irish Whiskey Rebellion Kinch
1978 House Calls Theatrical agent
1979 Rocky II Director
1981 S.O.B. Capitol Studios Vice-president
1984 Micki & Maude Hap Ludlow
1988 Paramedics Doctor Lido
1990Vietnam, TexasHarold
1993Eye of the StrangerJoe
1995 Born to Be Wild Donald Carr
1997The Curse of InfernoMr. Wizzard
1998 The Truman Show Network Executive
2003DetonatorStuart Newman
2003 The Failures Principal Holbrook
2007 Sex and Breakfast Older Man in Elevator
2009 Gentlemen Broncos Merve
2016The Wandering DayC S LongacreDirect-to-video

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1964 The Patty Duke Show PeteEpisode: "Simon Says"
1967 Coronet Blue DanEpisode: "Faces"
1973 The Doctors Joe HilliganEpisode #1.2607
1974 Kojak ResidentEpisode: "You Can't Tell a Hurt Man How to Holler"
1975–1976 Doctors' Hospital Dr. Danvers6 episodes
1976 Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman Hugh Boswell9 episodes
1976Bell, Book and CandleNickyTelevision film
1977 Seventh Avenue Marty Cass3 episodes
1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Carl FryEpisode: "The Flickering Torch Mystery"
1977 The Feather and Father Gang SchecterEpisode: "The Judas Bug"
1977 The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald Television film
1978 The Users Kip Nathan
1978 The Rockford Files Danny Green / Julius 'Jay' Rockfelt2 episodes
1979–1987 Knots Landing Richard Avery77 episodes
1980Once Upon a FamilyWillie HedgesTelevision film
1980 Tenspeed and Brown Shoe Bill KingmanEpisode: "The Robin Tucker's Roseland Roof and Ballroom Murder"
1982 The Kid with the Broken Halo Jeff McNultyTelevision film
1983 Whiz Kids Richard ChapmanEpisode: "Red Star Rising"
1984Burning RageFrank VandenbergTelevision film
1984, 1986 Simon & Simon Dr. John Ashfield / Attorney Dorsey Pender2 episodes
1985 MacGruder and Loud Malcolm SkeatEpisode: "Pilot"
1985 Magnum, P.I. Steve ElliotEpisode: "Compulsion"
1985 Stormin' Home Al SingerTelevision film
1985 Malice in Wonderland Tommy Gallep
1986 Welcome Home, Bobby John Hammill
1986 Mrs. Delafield Wants to Marry David Elias
1986 Murder, She Wrote Nicky SapersteinEpisode: "Stage Struck"
1987 MacGyver Lancer / BensonEpisode: "D. O. A.: MacGyver"
1987, 1988 Highway to Heaven Stanley / Charley Trapola2 episodes
1988 Windmills of the Gods Eddie
1988 Shattered Innocence Mel ErmanTelevision film
1990Murder in ParadiseWagner Thorne
1990 Hunter Ron NiemanEpisode: "Final Confession"
1990 Beauty and the Beast Jimmy Faber2 episodes
1990, 1991 L.A. Law Mark Kumpel
1991Deadly GameTelevision filmTelevision film
1991–1993 Civil Wars Al Noonan4 episodes
1992 The Wonder Years Charlie Barrett2 episodes
1993Bloodlines: Murder in the FamilyNeil WoodmanTelevision film
1993 The Larry Sanders Show LeoEpisode: "Larry's Agent"
1993 Percy & Thunder Bill SlocumTelevision film
1994 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Detective Simpson2 episodes
1994, 1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Dr. Emil Hamilton
1995–1997 Murder One Gary Blondo15 episodes
1996 Diagnosis: Murder Dr. John FosterEpisode: "Murder in the Dark"
1996 The Sentinel Brother ChristopherEpisode: "Vow of Silence"
1997 Party of Five Professor ConklinEpisode: "I Declare"
1997 ER StuartEpisode: "Ambush"
1997Murder One: Diary of a Serial KillerGary Blondo6 episodes
1998 The Pretender Sean FlanaganEpisode: "A Stand-Up Guy"
1998 The Practice Attorney Nick JamisonEpisode: "Trees in the Forest"
1998 The Day Lincoln Was Shot William H. Seward Television film
1998 Mike Hammer, Private Eye Augustus Hancock "Auggie" Sterling II2 episodes
1998 Arliss OrsonEpisode: "My Job Is to Get Jobs"
1999 G vs E Wallace AugurEpisode: "Cliffhanger"
2001 NYPD Blue Gerald Holzman, Esq.Episode: "Thumb Enchanted Evening"
2001 James Dean Billy RoseTelevision film
2001 Curb Your Enthusiasm TherapistEpisode: "The Thong"
2002 For the People Dr. GoodwinEpisode: "Come Blow Your Whistle"
2004 The Sopranos Dr. Ira FriedEpisode: "All Happy Families"
2004 Helter Skelter Mr. KrenwikleTelevision film
2004 JAG Prosecutor Joe WilsonEpisode: "Camp Delta"
2005 NCIS Tom CrawleyEpisode: "Model Behavior"
2006, 2007 The Nine Mr. Kates2 episodes
2008 Eli Stone Judge NettlesEpisode: "Two Ministers"
2010Kosher PigPaul CohenTelevision film
2011 Law & Order: LA JudgeEpisode: "Reseda"
2012 American Horror Story: Asylum Committee ChairmanEpisode: "The Coat Hanger"
2013 Happily Divorced RabbiEpisode: "I Object!"
2013 Mistresses Judge KavanaughEpisode: "When One Door Closes..."

References

  1. "Picks and Pans Review: The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (part I)". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  2. "Kennedy memories: 25 for JFK - Photos - 8 of 25 - POLITICO.com". www.politico.com. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  3. "S.O.B. (1981)". IMDb.com. IMDb. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  4. "Stefanie Powers Official Website - Feather and Father Gang". Stefaniepowersonline.com. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  5. "'Screwing Stalin' Puts the Fun in Dysfunctional — Jewish Journal". Archived from the original on 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  6. "John Pleshette - Turner Classic Movies - TCM". Turner Classic Movies.