Rick Lenz (born November 21, 1939, Springfield, Illinois) [1] is an American actor, author and playwright. Lenz is known for his performances in the films Cactus Flower (1969), The Shootist (1976), and Melvin and Howard (1980).
Rick Lenz (born November 21, 1939, Springfield, Illinois) [1] is an American actor, author and playwright. Lenz is known for his performances in the films Cactus Flower (1969), The Shootist (1976), and Melvin and Howard (1980).
Lenz directed the Jackson, Michigan Civic Theater for two years before relocating to New York to seek work as an actor. In 1965 he made his Broadway debut in Mating Dance, starring Van Johnson. Though the show closed opening night, stage impresario David Merrick was in the audience, and soon afterward cast Lenz in the Broadway hit Cactus Flower as understudy for the juvenile lead role, Igor Sullivan. Lenz later took over the role and played it for a year. Film producer Mike Frankovich and Walter Matthau saw him in the part and cast him as Igor in the film version, with Goldie Hawn.
In the 1970s, Rick Lenz appeared in several Hollywood movies, including How Do I Love Thee? (1970), Scandalous John (1971), Where Does It Hurt? (1972), The Shootist (1976), The Little Dragons (1980) and Melvin and Howard (1980).
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Cactus Flower | Igor Sullivan | |
| 1970 | How Do I Love Thee? | Tom Waltz | |
| 1971 | Scandalous John | Jimmy Whitaker | |
| 1972 | Where Does It Hurt? | Lester Hammond | |
| 1976 | The Shootist | Dobkins | Credited as Richard Lenz |
| 1979 | The Little Dragons | Dick Forbinger | |
| 1980 | Melvin and Howard | Lawyer | |
| 2002 | Home Room | Bereaved Father | |
| 2002 | Tequila Express | Gov. Jeffries | |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-69 | Green Acres | Brian Williams/Young Man | 4 episodes |
| 1969 | Doc | Dr. Orville | Television Movie |
| 1972 | Ironside | Larry Van Buren | Episode: Achilles Heel |
| 1972 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Don Malory | Episode: Don and Denise |
| 1973 | Circle of Fear | Dr. Stephen Crosley | Episode: Square Parts |
| 1973 | Love, American Style | Mike | Episode: Love and the Growing Romance |
| 1971-74 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1972-74 | Hec Ramsey | Chief Oliver Stamp | 10 episodes |
| 1974 | Lucas Tanner | Chuck Lindstrom | Episode: A Question of Privacy |
| 1975 | Violence in Blue | Performer | Television Movie |
| 1975 | Ladies of the Corridor | Charles Nicols | Television Movie |
| 1975 | The Six Million Dollar Man | Michael Marchetti | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | Medical Story | Dr. Donahue | Episode: A Life in the Balance |
| 1975 | Police Woman | Nick Tibbett | Episode: Pattern for Evil |
| 1975 | Kate McShane | Performer | Episode: Publish or Perish |
| 1976 | Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman | Paramedic | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | The Bionic Woman | Dr. Michael Marchetti | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | McMillan & Wife | Father Matheson | Episode: Dark Sunrise |
| 1977 | The Streets of San Francisco | Dave | Episode: One Last Trick |
| 1978 | Fantasy Island | Adam Parks | Episode: Carnival/The Vaudevillians |
| 1980 | One Day at a Time | Arnold Bates | Episode: Triple Play |
| 1980 | Reunion | Walker Hanson | Television Movie |
| 1980 | Vega$ | Doctor | Episode: Black Cat Killer |
| 1981 | Elvis and the Beauty Queen | David Briggs | Television Film |
| 1981 | Dynasty | Dr. Jordan | 3 episodes |
| 1981 | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Tad | Episode: Dry Hole |
| 1981 | Advise to the Lovehorn | Prof. Jonas Miller | Television Movie |
| 1981 | T.J. Hooker | Dr. Damon Segal | Episode: God Bless the Child |
| 1982 | Lou Grant | Sam Valentine | Episode: Blacklist |
| 1982 | Insight | Brad | Episode: The Fiddler |
| 1982 | Cagney & Lacey | Colton Wyler | Episode: Hot Line |
| 1982 | Silver Spoons | Jack Thompson | Episode: The Best Christmas Ever |
| 1983 | Masquerade | Norman Weber | Episode: Diamonds |
| 1983 | The Greatest American Hero | Dr. Mor | Episode: Desperado |
| 1984 | Automan | Ronald Tilson | Episode: The Biggest Game in Town |
| 1984 | Airwolf | Moses | Episode: Proof Through the Night |
| 1984 | Magnum P.I. | Richard Hasley | Episode: Trans Quoc Jones |
| 1983-1985 | Simon & Simon | Various Roles | 3 episodes |
| 1985 | Malice in Wonderland | Iceman | Television Movie |
| 1986 | All Is Forgiven | Francois Ronning | Episode: On Air Commitment |
| 1986 | You Again? | Pierce | Episode: Marry Me a Little |
| 1986 | Falcon Crest | Dr. Jesset | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | In Self Defense | Chris Fowler | Television Movie |
| 1987 | The New Adventures of Beans Baxter | Benjamin Baxter Sr. | 4 episodes |
| 1988 | The Law & Harry McGraw | Charlie Garrett | Episode: Marginnis for the People |
| 1989 | Spooner | Performer | Television Movie |
| 1990 | The Trials of Rosie O'Neill | Conway | Episode: Mr. Right |
| 1991 | Shadow of a Doubt | Herb | Television Movie |
| 1992 | P.S.I. Luv U | Dr. Walter Flint | Episode: The Chameleon |
| 1992 | FBI: The Untold Stories | Bernie | Episode: Ring of Hostages |
| 1993 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Telltale Talk Show Host | Nick Scanlon | Television Movie |
| 1987-96 | Murder, She Wrote | Various Roles | 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Wings | Jerry | Episode: What about Larry? |
| 1997 | Home Improvement | Dr. Matthews | Episode: The Flirting Game |
| 1997 | Baywatch | Dr. Gold | Episode: Heal the Bay |
| 2001 | Strong Medicine | Joe Tucker | Episode: Drugstore Cowgirl |
| 2003 | The Practice | Airline Representative | Episode: The Heat of Passion |
| 2012 | Treelore Theatre | Lonny/Mack | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Mating Dance | Jeff | Eugene O'Neill Theatre, Broadway |
| 1965-68 | Cactus Flower | Igor | Royale Theatre, Broadway |
As of 2017, Lenz resides in Los Angeles with his spouse, Linda; the couple married in May 1982. [2] He has three children; sons Scott and Charlie, and daughter, Abigail. [2]
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor. One of the most widely recognized actors of his generation, the films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him the highest-grossing actor of all time. In 2022, he received the Academy Honorary Award as "a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide".
Walter Matthau was an American screen and stage actor, known for his "hangdog face" and for playing world-weary characters. He starred in 10 films alongside his real-life friend Jack Lemmon, including The Odd Couple (1968) and Grumpy Old Men (1993). The New York Times called this "one of Hollywood's most successful pairings". Among other accolades, he was an Academy Award, a two-time BAFTA Award, and two-time Tony Award winner.
Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC was an Anglo-South African actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films.
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor. With a career spanning seven decades, he is regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Michael J. Pollard was an American character actor. With his distinctive bulbous nose, dimpled chin and smirk, he gained a cult following, usually portraying quirky, off-beat, simplistic but likeable supporting characters. He was best known for his role as C.W. Moss, in the film Bonnie and Clyde (1967), which earned him critical acclaim along with nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Other notable appearances include The Wild Angels (1966), Hannibal Brooks (1969), Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1970), Dirty Little Billy (1972), Roxanne (1987), American Gothic (1988), and Tango & Cash (1989).
Betty Joan Perske, professionally known as Lauren Bacall, was an American actress. She was named the 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute. She received an Academy Honorary Award in 2009 in recognition of her contribution to the Golden Age of motion pictures. She was known for her alluring, sultry presence and her distinctive, husky voice. Bacall was one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema.
George Segal Jr. was an American actor. He became popular in the 1960s and 1970s for playing both dramatic and comedic roles. After first rising to prominence with roles in acclaimed films such as Ship of Fools (1965) and King Rat (1965), he co-starred in the classic drama Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966).
Elliott Gould is an American actor.
Maxwell Caulfield is a British actor. He has appeared in Grease 2 (1982), Electric Dreams (1984), The Boys Next Door (1985), The Supernaturals (1986), Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat (1989), Waxwork 2 (1992), Gettysburg (1993), Empire Records (1995), The Real Blonde (1997), The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997), and in A Prince for Christmas (2015). In 2015, Caulfield toured Australia with his wife Juliet Mills and sister-in-law Hayley Mills in the comedy Legends! by Pulitzer Prize winner James Kirkwood. He voiced James Bond in the video game James Bond 007: Nightfire (2002).
Richard Samuel Benjamin is an American actor and film director. He has starred in a number of well-known films, including Goodbye, Columbus (1969), Catch-22 (1970), Portnoy's Complaint (1972), Westworld, The Last of Sheila and Saturday the 14th (1981). Benjamin was nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series for his performances in He & She (1968), opposite his wife Paula Prentiss.
Melvin and Howard (stylized as Melvin (and Howard)) is a 1980 American comedy-drama film directed by Jonathan Demme. The screenplay by Bo Goldman was inspired by real-life Utah service station owner Melvin Dummar, who was listed as the beneficiary of $156 million in a will allegedly handwritten by Howard Hughes that was discovered in the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City. A novelization of Goldman's script, which itself won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen, later was written by George Gipe. The film stars Paul Le Mat, Jason Robards, and Mary Steenburgen, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film was released on September 19, 1980, receiving positive reviews from critics.
Sam Levene was an American Broadway, films, radio, and television actor and director. In a career spanning over five decades, he appeared in over 50 comedy and drama theatrical stage productions. He also acted in over 50 films across the United States and abroad.
Jack Weston was an American actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1976 and a Tony Award in 1981.
Mike Frankovich, also known professionally as M. J. Frankovich, was an American football player turned film actor and producer. Frankovich was the adopted son of actor Joe E. Brown and his wife, Kathryn.
The Shootist is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name, and written by Miles Hood Swarthout and Scott Hale. The film stars John Wayne in his last film appearance before his death in 1979, Lauren Bacall, Ron Howard, James Stewart, Richard Boone, John Carradine, Scatman Crothers, Richard Lenz, Harry Morgan, Sheree North and Hugh O'Brian.
Gene Saks was an American director and actor. An inductee of the American Theater Hall of Fame, his acting career began with a Broadway debut in 1949. As a director, he was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning three for his direction of I Love My Wife, Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues. He also directed a number of films during his career. He was married to Bea Arthur from 1950 until 1978, and subsequently to Keren Saks from 1980 to his death in 2015.
Lee Grinner Pace is an American actor. He starred as Thranduil the Elvenking in The Hobbit trilogy and as Joe MacMillan in the period drama television series Halt and Catch Fire. He has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ronan the Accuser, a role he first played in Guardians of the Galaxy and reprised in Captain Marvel. Pace earned a 2008 Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Ned in the comedy-drama Pushing Daisies. Since 2021, he has starred as the galactic emperor Brother Day in the Foundation television series, based on the stories of Isaac Asimov.
Michael Lorenzo Urie is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Marc St. James on the ABC comedy drama television series Ugly Betty. He can be heard as Bobby Kerns in As the Curtain Rises, an original podcast soap opera from the Broadway Podcast Network.
Cactus Flower is a 1969 American screwball comedy film directed by Gene Saks, and starring Walter Matthau, Ingrid Bergman and Goldie Hawn, who won an Academy Award for her performance.
Burton Field Brinckerhoff is an American actor, director, and producer. He was nominated for a Tony Award for his role as Igor in the play Cactus Flower (1965–1968), a Daytime Emmy Award for directing an episode of the television series The ABC Afternoon Playbreak (1973), and three Primetime Emmy Awards for directing episodes of the television series Lou Grant (1978–1982).
My wife and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary next month [May 2012].
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
