Guest stars
It might very well be "The Last Campaign" for incumbent Senator Virgil Thomas Blake, played by guest star E. G. Marshall. That is, if Assemblyman Phillip Wingate has his way, as portrayed by Stanley Tucci. Wingate has "dirt" on Blake and tries to use it, not only to force Blake to give up his seat, but also to compel Blake to publicly endorse Wingate for the election. However, Wingate's plan might go awry if Cindy has anything to say about it. As Wingate's aide, she stumbled upon the material he was planning to use to blackmail Blake, and she calls The Equalizer for help. [2] This is Laila Robins' television debut as Cindy Claussen, a year after her film debut in Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987). Nearly 33 years later, Robins also played CIA Director Suri Nance in the 2021 re-imagined series season one episode, "The Milk Run" (March, 2021).
South African stage actress Yvonne Bryceland guest stars as Darlene, Cindy's next door neighbor who witnessed medics carting Cindy away after an apparent drug overdose. Larry Keith guest stars as Dr. Quentin who runs the psychiatric ward where Cindy has been committed against her will at Wingate's orders. Maureen Anderman makes her last guest star appearance as Pete O'Phelan, who gets herself committed with Dr. Wolff's help to protect Cindy and to surveil Jay. After this episode, Anderman returned to her recurring role as Nina Shapiro on The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987–1991), and appeared in the Law & Order franchise. Co-stars include Jay Patterson as Jay Trescott who works for Wingate doing his dirty work, and the first of two appearances by Wendell Pierce as Dr. Wolff, who McCall finds running a neighborhood free clinic. His second appearance is in "Starfire." [13] Pierce's television debut was in the HBO anthology, Vietnam War Story (1987) in the third episode, "The Pass" along with Ching Valdes-Aran, who made her screen debut in the first season of The Equalizer in the second episode, "China Rain." [20] [21] [22] This marks Dr. Wolff as Pierce's second television role, and third screen role after his film debut in The Money Pit (1986). Supporting Chinese-American actress Freda Foh Shen plays Leslie, a reporter who questions Wingate's plans on running for the Senate. [2]
Demon Lords Goat, Cruz, and the rest of their gang use school grounds to intimidate students and gang rape Alicia (played by co-star Lucy Vargas). Director and playwright Seret Scott guest stars as the school Principal, Elena Rodriguez, in her second television role, and fourth overall screen appearance out of only ten in total. Rodriguez is at her wits end trying to keep the school both safe, and open, as it is being threatened with closure by School Board members. Complicating matters is neighborhood gangster boss Cristo, played by Keith David. Cristo wants to expand his narcotics operation into the school market, so he jumps-in Goat to run his own franchise for him. Cristo is Keith David's third television role after Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1983–1985), and The Oldest Rookie earlier in 1988. Reginald VelJohnson plays Arthur Williams, who tells Principal Rodriguez he has no choice but to close the school according to the Board's decision (VelJohnson also played D.J. Harmon Hunter in season one, "Lady Cop" [23] ). Both Rodriguez and McCall argue for more time to deal with the gang violence. Also guest starring is Chad Redding in her recurring role of Sgt. Alice Shepard, who uses her influence with the Gang Task Force to do a sweep of the school to confiscate firearms and other paraphernalia. [12]
Shepard also rounds up the Demon Lords so that McCall can teach a new course: Physical Science 800, with their first lesson in Thanatology, complete with a field trip to the morgue. This episode introduces the first of two appearances by Indian actor Harsh Nayyar as the Medical Examiner. He also appears later this season in "The Visitation." [3] Before they leave the morgue, the Demon Lords get a first-hand account of the "Sea of Fire" witnessed by former professional contract killer Phillip Borchek, as portrayed by guest star David Strathairn. Borcheck was shot in the face with a 38-caliber hand gun and nearly died, but not before getting a glimpse into the afterlife and what awaited him there if he didn't change his life-path. McCall uses Borcheck's compelling testimony to loosen Goat's grip over gang members. Co-stars include Tito Núñez as Goat, and Socorro Santiago as Mrs. Sanchez, the mother of Eduardo (played by supporting actor Jose Ynoa), who was stabbed by the Demon Lords in retaliation for reporting Alicia's rape to Principal Rodriguez. Other supporting actors include Sixto Ramos as Cruz, and in her screen debut, a brief appearance by Karina Arroyave as Girl #1. [12] Arroyave later had her film debut in Lean On Me (1989), and a regular role on As the World Turns as Bianca Marquez Walsh (1989–1993).
Narong Bansari, the son of Thai national Sirit Bansari, is "Riding the Elephant" [a] to catch his love Manika regardless of the consequences. [24] Both Narong and Manika are under "contract" to gangster Jimmy Thanarat for their entry into the United States, and their hope for eventual citizenship, but at what cost? Manika is ensconced by Jimmy at his Rose of Bankok massage parlor, and Narong is entrapped in a "stable" of kick-boxers at Jimmy's sports arena. Narong will do anything to escape, so long as he can buy Manika's freedom, thus the risky business; smuggling China white heroin for Jimmy, using his father's store as cover. Veteran actor James Hong guest stars as Sirit Bansari, who is very traditional in his observance of old-world customs. Russell Wong guest stars as Narong Bansari, who urges his father to forget the past and embrace the current realities of life in America. Narong and Sirit clash to the point where Narong is disowned. Beginning in 1994, Wong played Jian-Wa in the Vanishing Son television films and episodic series, among other roles. [25]
In her television debut, Elizabeth Sung guest stars as Manika who can't see a way out of her current predicament, so she calls The Equalizer. Sung made her film debut in Le Palanquin des larmes (récit) (Journey in Tears). [26] After her Equalizer role, Sung made an appearance on China Beach (1989). Mako guest stars as Jimmy Thanarat who is ruthless in his control over his slaves as they are worth more to him alive than dead. So when Sirit offers him a solid gold Buddha, a family heirloom worth more to Sirit sentimentally than its actual monetary value, Jimmy scoffs at Sirit's attempt to buy Manika's freedom, and holds Sirit hostage as well to force Narong's compliance, and the return of his heroin. Co-stars include Michael G. Chin as Noi, Everett Mendes III as Flack (who saw Sirit dispose of the heroin and took it for himself), and Raymond Moy as Kai. [25]
Bruce Payne guest stars as Greg Rivers, a manager for singers who specializes in teens. Rivers beings by ensuring their success so he can swindle most of their income. A "bad influence" he gets them hooked on drugs to make them reliant upon him. If and when they ever rebel, he discards them...even fatally. Singer Vitamin C guest stars in her second Equalizer appearance under her real name, Colleen Ann Fitzpatrick as Beverly Heat, who is a young singing star rising like she's "Eighteen with a Bullet." Beverly respects and idolizes the older, well-established Gina Rox, but she has no idea how badly Gina has been used and abused by Greg. Her mother tries to open her naive eyes, but it's no use; she won't hear it. Fitzpatrick previously made her television debut in season one playing Susan in "Last Call." [27] After her second Equalizer role, she played a Blues Singer in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991).
Other guest stars include Amy Morton as Gina Rox, whose career is on the decline after spending years with Rivers, earning him money, and becoming his lover. In return, Rivers hooked her on heroin to maintain her compliance, hastening her deterioration and her demise at Rivers' hands. French-American actress Caroline Lagerfelt plays Evelyn, Beverly's concerned mother, who after finding her daughter drunk has had enough with her manipulative manager and calls The Equalizer to help her escape the life that has destroyed Gina Rox. Broadway baritone singer and actor Terrence Mann plays Graham, a former disc jockey whose career was ruined by Rivers. Mann also played the villain "Shadow Man" in season three, "Inner View." [28] Stand-up comedian and game show host Ken Ober co-starred as the DJ who plays Beverly Heat's new single on the air at WZAD and answers call-ins from fans, and from Mickey Kostmayer who uses the live broadcast to rattle Heat's malign manager. [29] Besides game and talks shows such as Star Search (1984) and MTV's cable show Remote Control (1987), this episode marks Ober's screen debut as an actor before a regular role as Nathan Merrick in the television series Parenthood (1990–1991).
Kasi Lemmons guest starred as Zandili, who is Scott McCall's current girlfriend in "Day of the Covenant." The episode title is a reference to the Day of the Vow, an important South African religious public holiday for Afrikaners. It originates from the 1838 Battle of Blood River at which more than 450 Voortrekkers vowed that if God rescued them from 16,000 Zulu warriors they would honor that day as a sabbath in remembrance. In 1994, after the end of apartheid, it was officially replaced by the Day of Reconciliation. [30] In the episode, Zandili plays the flute and insists she is only a student activist, never revealing anything about her past. But she lost her father to the Department of Cooperation and Development and has a vendetta against the man she holds responsible, the Deputy Director. Lemmons made her film debut in Spike Lee's School Daze earlier the same year, and appeared as Zandili in between playing Nella Franklin on As the World Turns (1987–1989). After The Equalizer Lemmons played Ardelia Mapp in The Silence of the Lambs (1991). David Leary guest stars as Anton Jooste, a National Intelligence Service operative at the South African Consulate. This is Leary's last of three Equalizer roles after playing Lawseth in season one, "Dead Drop" [31] and Marty Bennett in season two, "The Line." [32] Jihmi Kennedy guest stars as Ulysses, Mickey's Company contact who has been to South Africa five times, and delivers intelligence on Zandili indicating she's much more than a student activist. This is Kennedy's last of three Equalizer roles after co-starring in season two as Mosley in "Counterfire" [33] and Clarence Marshall in "Coal Black Soul." [34] After The Equalizer Kennedy played Shakey Williams in Tour of Duty (1989–1990) and Pvt. Jupiter Sharts in Glory (1989). [35] Austrian-American veteran actor Theodore Bikel guest stars as Voorhees, an Afrikaner who also has a vendetta, against Zandili whom he blames for the bomb that killed his wife while she was visiting him at his South African Police station. [19]
"Day of the Covenant" co-stars include Michael Genet as Ben, a fellow member of the African National Congress who warns Zandili that the ANC will not approve of or abide by any terrorist actions she might carry out on American soil. Tobin Bell co-stars as the Deputy Secretary, the target of Zandili's wrath. [19] Bell also played Agency operative Weber/Cronin in season three, "Mission: McCall." [36]
An operation is launched by Allenwaite that targets and kills Company agents, forcing Control to contact McCall. Richard Bright guest stars as Gropman, who hurries to Stone Freight for his "retirement" fund before making his escape. A former Company man, he is personal friend of Steven Parmelee. When McCall threatens to flush $50,000 down the toilet, Gropman gives up the name of the operation. Bright also played Vegas in season three, "No Place Like Home," [37] and Detective Sgt. Max Gallagher in Red Heat earlier in 1988. After his Equalizer appearance, he reprised his role as Al Neri in The Godfather Part III (1990). Tom Klunis guest stars as Parmelee, a KGB mole who launches an operation to purge the Company of his enemies so he can take over control as Company Director. Klunis also played Murdoch in season three, "Shadow Play." [38] Parmelee, is under orders from John Allenwaite, played by guest star Kevin Conway. Allenwaite has been developing a procedure to inject "Splinters" of the mind into his subjects to first break them, and then "repaint" them with any colors he wishes; i.e., brainwashing. Tracy Kolis co-stars as Serena, who appears to Mickey in a dream sequence while under Allenwaite's Spinter procedure. Serena is Mickey's former lover who died in Bucharest Romania in 1982, a defecting agent murdered by the KGB. After The Equalizer, Kolis had a recurring role as Rebecca Downey in Days of Our Lives (1989–90). Supporting actor Christopher Meloni makes an appearance as Team Leader in his screen debut. [39]
Tom Noonan guest stars in the "Making of a Martyr," as Brandon Thorton, a victim of gun violence, he has been paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair after having been shot through a door by a mental patient. Brandon tries to be supportive of his wife Barbara but believes she no longer loves him because of his broken body, so he pushes her away. This is only Noonan's third television role, after numerous films beginning in 1980. The year after his Equalizer role, Noonan played Cain in RoboCop 2 (1990). Barbara Williams guest stars as Sylvia Thorton, Brandon's wife, who has since become a gun control advocate, giving lectures using her husband's injury to drive home her point of view. William Converse-Roberts guest stars as John Kelly, who was also a victim of gun violence, but has turned violent arming himself to the teeth, and setting out to make Sylvia the target of his irrational power trip. [14] Converse-Roberts also played Will Rattigan in season three, "Suspicion of Innocence." [40]
Co-stars include a cameo of Sally Jessy Raphael as Herself, who is set to interview Sylvia in a televised debate against gun advocate Senator Harcourt, played by co-star Stephen James. James also played a Reporter in season three, "Blood and Wine." [41] Media personality Bobby Rivers co-stars as Chris Perley, who gives a radio interview with Sylvia leading up to her television debate. Supporting actors include Harry O'Reilly as a Policeman in his second television role, fourth overall after his film debut as Private Michael Duffy in Hamburger Hill (1987). After The Equalizer O'Reilly had a recurring role as Sgt. Charlie Hailey on Homefront (1991–1993). Bruce Kirkpatrick plays the Stage Manager (also as a Guard in season two, "Carnal Persuasion" [42] ). After The Equalizer, Kirkpatrick went on to have eleven different roles in the Law & Order franchise (2002–2022) and recurring roles in All My Children (2005) and The Wire (2008). [43] [44] And A.L. Sheppard plays a Forensic Detective. [14] Sheppard begins a recurring role as Detective Kelly beginning in "Lullaby of Darkness." [15]
J. Smith-Cameron guest stars as Natalie Santelli, who is trying to save her son Carlo Jr. (played by supporting actor Jordan Gochros) from "The Sins of Our Fathers," because Carlo Junior's father is mob boss Carlo Alberto "The Angel" Santelli, played by fellow guest star Al Shannon. Natalie knew when she married him that his father and grandfather were mobsters, but she believes him when he says that he wants to change all of that and "go legit." Smith-Cameron also played Vanessa in season one, "Mama's Boy" [45] and Susan Foxworth in season three, "Regrets Only." [46] Randy Danson guest stars as Sarah Booth, whose husband and son were shot by Carlo Senior in a restaurant eight years prior, thus the kidnapping. She wants to make him pay for what he did. Randall "Randy" Danson née Gosch was the first wife of Ted Danson (1970–1975). [47] After The Equalizer, Randy appeared in Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990), four roles in the Law & Order franchise (1991–2001), and as Lu Varga in Your Friends & Neighbors (2025). [48] Randy Danson also continued appearing on stage. [49] Tom Signorelli guest stars as Dio, who is Carlo Senior's right-hand man. [9] Signorelli also played Frankie Corso in season one, "The Confirmation Day." [50] A veteran actor, Tom Signorelli made his screen debut in 1963 on Wagon Train as Mike. [51] After The Equalizer, Signorelli played Pete DeBeau in Dream Street (1989), Mike in Dick Tracy (1990), and played roles in Law & Order (1990, 1996), among others.
"The Sins of Our Fathers" is the last of three guest star appearances by both Yvonne Wilder as McCall's housekeeper Lettie, and Austin Pendleton as Company computer hacker Johah, but also includes the first of three appearances by guest star Joe Morton as the Company's explosives expert, Carter Brock. "Brockie" as McCall refers to him, is a former Company man turned freelance, and he is responsible for executing the kidnapping, having employed ex-military to carry out the job. When McCall confronts him, he tells him "A guy's gotta eat." After three tours in Vietnam, he is struggling. McCall demands that Brock give Mickey the tape cassette recording of the job instructions which he received. Supporting actors include, Michael Sergio as Disimone in his third television role after Loving (1986–1987). After The Equalizer Sergio had a recurring role as Sgt. Abruzzi on Mathnet and Square One Television (1990–1992), then he branched into producing and directing. John Di Benedetto plays Blanda, his third screen role before his film debut in Renegades (1989). [9]
Jenny Agutter guest stars as Dr. Lauren Demeter who is doing her best to fight back against "The Visitation" of a contagious deadly strain of African orthopoxvirus loose in New York City. Dr. Demeter is an epidemiologist at the U.N.'s International Health Organization. Lauren is also one of McCall's old flames. James Tolkan guest stars as Ruger, an international arms dealer who has nerve gas he wants to move. When Lazar won't bite, Harriman cannot trust him to alert anyone else to the nerve gas. Thus he has Lazar killed. [3]
Other guest stars include Leonardo Cimino in the first of two appearances as Doctor Phil Molinari, who is with the Department of Health, Bureau of Contagious Diseases, helping the Medical Examiner and Dr. Demeter contain the outbreak. Cimino appears later this season in "17 Zebra," [4] and played mobster Thomas Marley Sr., the incarcerated father of Vincent D'Onofrio's character in season two, "Counterfire." [33] Martin Shakar plays Harriman, who is Rudy Bagler's cousin and a doctor who lost his license for performing unnecessary surgeries. He now practices "under the table." This is Shakar's third Equalizer role after playing Frank Morrow in season one, "Prelude," [52] and Kelly Stigman in season three, "Christmas Presence." [53] Shakar also plays Detective later this season in "Endgame." [17] Eddie Jones makes his first of three appearances this season as Lt. Brannigan. [3] Jones had previously appeared as Mr. Winslow in season two, "Joyride." [54]
Joseph Ragno plays Asa Lazar a small-time gun smuggler who has done a few jobs for the Company in the past. So Lazar want's nothing to do with nerve gas or other such WMDs, and yet he's sick with the virus, himself a victim of a bio-WMD. Randle Mell plays Tillerman, one of Harriman's thugs, the other being Garrick, played by Mike Starr. Tillerman winds up catching the virus. Supporting actors include: Harsh Nayyar in his second and last appearance as a Medical Examiner; Robert Burke as Carpenter, who has to hold off his press release for the Mayor to contain panic while McCall and the doctors track down those who have been exposed; and Cuban-Jewish actress Mel Gorham as a Mother of a child who has contracted the virus. As an illegal immigrant, there is a language barrier and the fear of deportation if she takes her baby to the hospital. Ken Solarino has an uncredited speaking role in "The Visitation" as Pete O'Phelan's bartender, Jeremy. [3]
Katherine Cortez guest stars as Cecilia Romero, whose husband had a "Past Imperfect" that resulted in the FBI issuing an arrest warrant for murder and drug smuggling. It left her alone as a single mother raising her son Thomas (played by guest star Jose Edwin Soto) who is now ten years old, and believes his father died a hero as a freedom fighter. Katherine Cortez made her television debut on The Equalizer in season one co-starring as Cynthia in "Pretenders," [55] and guest starred as psychic Karen Alden in season three, "Inner View." [28] Héctor Elizondo guest stars as Ray Quintero, the person of interest to Federal authorities, and to the Company, who have joined forces to bring down the Darien Cartel. Ray was in fact a fighter, recruited by the Company from Special Forces, and sent undercover to penetrate the cartel. But Ray got in too deep. Now, he believes it's too late to extricate himself. He doesn't believe in heroes anymore. McCall tries to change his thinking, for his son's sake. [3]
Mark Margolis guest stars in his last and most substantial Equalizer appearance as series regular Jimmy, who has become a Big Brother to young Thomas and wants to take him on a Ski trip to Bear Mountain. Jimmy is "49 years old...divorced...and Thomas is a terrific kid." When Thomas overhears his mother talking about Ray, and what his father really did for a living, he intends to run away. But Jimmy dissuades him. After The Equalizer Margolis appeared in Glory and Quantum Leap (both in 1989), and as Dr. Nel Apgar in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990). More recently he has arguably become best known for his role of Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad (2009–2011) and Better Call Saul (2016–2022). Other guest stars include, the second appearance of Eddie Jones as Lt. Brannigan; Luther Munson, a Company "expert on strange and esoteric information" is played by Brad Sullivan; and Rudolph Willrich plays Elliott Jarvis, a Justice Department agent who says he wants Ray's testimony, but has another agenda. Co-stars include Kenneth J. McGregor as Corman and Anthony Powers as Garfield (also as Marco in "Joyride" [54] ). Supporting actors include Frank Adonis making his last of four Equalizer appearances as the Chauffeur who tries to kill Ray Quintero. After The Equalizer, Anthony Powers played Jimmy Two Times, and Frank Adonis played Anthony Stabile, in Goodfellas (1990). Joe Perce supports the cast as David Lance, who dies trying to abduct Thomas. Peter Mackenzie in his third television role plays 1st Man, an inept Company surveillance operative who is scolded by McCall and told to report in. Off-off-Broadway theatre expansionist Al Carmines, who is an ordained minister in real life, acts as the funeral priest at Ray's funeral, and tells them "a mystery" about the resurrection reading from the first Epistle to the Corinthians. [5]
In "Trial by Ordeal", stage, screen, and film star Sylvia Sidney guest stars as Judge at a Company Tribunal that puts Control on the hot seat...literally, the electric chair. Sidney, born in 1910, had her film debut in the 1920s while still a teenager. A year prior to her appearance on The Equalizer, she played Juno, the afterlife caseworker for the Maitlands in Beetlejuice (1988) for which she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. By the time "Trial by Ordeal" aired, she was 78 years old and still appearing in other films and television shows. Her final film role was Grandma Florence Norris in Mars Attacks! (1996), and her final television role was Clia on the revived Fantasy Island series (1998-1999). British actor Roy Dotrice guest stars as Charlie McGuinness, the Prosecutor. At the time, Doltrice had a recurring role as Jacob "Father" Wells in Beauty and the Beast (1987-1990). Roy Dotrice is the father of Michele Dotrice, Edward Woodward's second wife, who guest starred as Vanessa Daniels, the central character in season two, "Heartstrings". [56]
When first summoned by the court, Robert McCall, played by the show's star Edward Woodward, believes that it is he himself who is the target of the tribunal. Naturally, he's a bit put out, derisively calling it "a bloody kangaroo court." He informs the court it has no authority over him since he left the Company. However, the Judge reminds him that he took an oath 29 years prior, and he was never released from that vow. McCall soon learns that he is not on trial...yet! Special guest star Robert Lansing returns as Control, the defendant. Control is charged with starting his own network, independent of the Company but still utilizing its resources for his own agenda. During the course of the trial, footage from previous episodes is introduced as flashbacks to illustrate the evidence the Company has against Control...and McCall. It provides a retrospective of the series, while also integrating plot narrative. [57] The episodes used are as follows:
- "The Equalizer" (Pilot) S1.E1 - Control warns McCall not to resign. [58]
- "A Community of Civilized Men" screen stills [b] S2.E3 - McCall hands Control the "Genesis" list.
- "Counterfire" S2.E7 - Control uses his own network to extract McCall from arraignment.
- "First Light" S2.E20 - McCall reciprocates by clearing Control at a Senate Inquest.
- "Beyond Control" S2E13 - Control runs his own Exden Inc. to bypass Company oversight.
Enter the witness for the Prosecution, also starring Keith Szarabajka as Mickey Kostmayer. Unbeknownst to both Control and McCall, during the events in "Beyond Control" Mickey was secretly working for the Operations Director. Thus they know that Control "lost control" of the Exden files to his secretary John Ferman, a KGB mole. So, Mickey must testify against Control. Finally, Control's letter, the "Genesis" list is entered into evidence. It contains signatures from Control's network, the Sand Star Confederation, with a declaration that would seem to go against the Company's agenda. Before sentencing, Control makes his plea, to free the "Prisoners of Conscience" which is the name of an up-coming episode. [57]
There are no co-stars in "Trial by Ordeal." As with other television retrospectives, footage was reused. Screen end-credits list five actors who appeared before, none of whom delivered new lines or scenes. They were given a "with" supporting actor credit for "Trial by Ordeal." The actors from "First Light" were originally guest stars, Jerome Dempsey as Senator Claremont and Kaiulani Lee as Ms. Watson. Actors from "Counterfire" were originally co-stars Sully Boyar as Judge Maurice Sanderling and Virginia Sandifur as Baker, "with" Robert Trumbull as Hodges following afterward.
Howie Seago guest stars as Ron, who, having been born deaf and abandoned by his parents, has a "Silent Fury" for the men who held his wife Jackie at knife-point and stole her wedding ring. He feels he should have been able to stop them. He distrusts any and all who aren't deaf. He even argues with Jackie, who can speak and doesn't want to associate exclusively with the deaf. Having grown up in foster homes and out on the streets, he doesn't trust McCall either and calls him a fake, wondering what McCall's services will cost them. Cynthia Nixon guest stars as Jackie, who lost her hearing after contracting yellow fever when she was eight years old, thus she can speak and read lips, unlike Ron. She takes the news of Valerie's heart attack emotionally as they were close, and Valerie was her matchmaker with Ron. She remembers the advert that she considered using once before, and calls The Equalizer. Jon Polito guest stars as David Pfieffer, Ron's friend and a volunteer at the Center for the Deaf. He has a troubled past with his deaf father, who's anger at his condition was redirected at his son. He believes the deaf "deserve everything they get...they all do." [6]
Other guest stars include Paul McCrane as Crocker, one of Pfieffer's pilferers, and Mark Boone Junior as Hall, another felon who fleeces the deaf, and absolutely will not go back to prison for it. Fearful of being identified by Ron, Hall goes after him. Eddie Jones plays Lt. Brannigan, his third appearance. Jeff Weiss guest stars as Fineberg, a Company scientist testing and perfecting sound-wave weapons, about which, he is pragmatic, not altruistic. He was rescued from a gulag by McCall, and gladly returns the favor. "I expected freedom, not utopia." Co-stars include: Bari Willerford as a Priest who presides over Ron and Jackie's wedding. This is Willerford's television debut, after which, he joined the cast of Square One Television and Mathnet as Benny Pill (1990–1992); Beth Ann Bull as Francine; and Peggy O'Gorman Hlibok as Valerie, who died from a heart attack after the robbery. [6]
Broadway actress Mary-Joan Negro guest stars as Rebecca Morrison, the belittled and battered wife and mother of young Mindy. Like too many abused women, she has been "conditioned" to stay, obey, and pretend they are the perfect family. Worse, she suffers from seizures from repeated head trauma, thus she relies on sedatives administered by her husband Joseph. Negro also played Irene Winters in season three, "The Child Broker." [59] Ellen Hamilton-Latzen guest stars as Mindy Morrison, who uses her active imagination to mentally escape the horrible abuse; her dolls "come to life" and tell her to flee upstairs to the Fun Room. Later the same year, Hamilton-Latzen became better known as Ruby Sue Johnson in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (December 1989). Guest star Stephen Lang plays the abusive Joseph Morrison, who tells Mindy he "hates disciplining" her but always buys her "a new doll" and the latest is a black-robed sorcerer, which also "comes to life" in a "Lullaby of Darkness" as the sinister avenger. [15]
Other guest stars include, Chad Redding as Sgt. Alice Shepard, and Jacqueline Brookes as Dr. Myrna Grayson (also as Phyllis Robertson in season three, "Christmas Presence" [53] ). As a psychologist, Dr. Grayson hides with hand puppet "Andy the Monkey" who talks to Mindy when she sleepwalks to the Fun Room, while McCall videotapes Mindy's reaction. In this way they obtain evidence of Joseph's abuse, which he shows to Sgt. Shepard. Robert X. Modica plays The Sorcerer, dressed all in black, hooded and faceless, he asks Mindy "Is there someone you want to kill?" and in her dream, she answers "Yes." In the end, The Sorcerer appears in a "waking dream" and urges her to fly from the top of the building to help her dolls far below. Modica also played Dawson in season one, "Back Home" [60] and Terrance Booth in season two, "First Light." [61] In her final screen role, Vivian Nathan guest stars as Mrs. Drake, the Morrison's worried neighbor, who has twice before called police to no avail, and calls The Equalizer. Gwyllum Evans guest stars as Dream Father, who along with Dream Mother, played by co-star Kate Dezina, comforts Mindy in times of crisis. Dezina also played Manon in "Memories of Manon" Part 2. [62] Also co-starring is A. L. Sheppard in the first of three appearances as Detective Kelly. [15]
Joe Seneca guest stars as Fossil Williams, a spiritual man who can quote scripture from memory, he runs the McKenzie Mission for the homeless in The Bowery neighborhood of New York City, otherwise known as Skid row. Fossil calls The Equalizer after a regular named Lucky (played by co-star Stephen Payne) dies from a heart attack. But Fossil has a doctor perform regular check-ups on visitors, and Lucky and three others were in good health, thus he suspects murder. A building superintendent finds Lucky passed out drunk in the doorway and calls 9-1-1 falsely reporting a heart attack in order to force Lucky's removal. "17 Zebra" is the call sign the dispatcher uses for the ambulance team of Gideon and Friedman, who affectionately call each other Tonto (Friedman) and Kemosabe (Gideon). [4]
Cordelia González guest stars as Donna Marie Estrelita Concepcion Friedman, whose long Puerto Rican-Jewish name is a source of wonder to her fellow paramedic, Edward F. Gideon played by guest star William Atherton. With only one year under her belt, Friedman looks up to Gideon, a veteran of twenty years nicked named "The Pride" for having been decorated several times. So she cannot believe it when McCall suggests he may have caused Lucky's death. Friedman eventually helps McCall after she observes Gideon's behavior, particularly when he is in the midst of traumatic flashbacks while dealing with the homeless, drunks, and addicts. González previously had a lead role as Raquel in La gran fiesta (1985) and appeared in Homeboy (1988). After The Equalizer she appeared in Born on the Fourth of July (1989). [63] McCall surmises that Gideon is suffering from burn-out and later learns it was compounded by the traumatic death of a little girl at the hands of a derelict. [4] Atherton also played Martin "Alpha" Loeber in the season three premiere "Blood and Wine." [41]
Robert Joy returns in his recurring role of Jacob Stock to help McCall research the names of a total of four fatal heart attacks to find commonalities which lead them to Gideon. Leonardo Cimino makes his last Equalizer appearance, guest starring as Doctor Phil Molinari, who advises McCall on the most likely medicine that a paramedic might have access to, which could cause a heart attack. Supporting actors include Raymond Moy as the Superintendent, and Socorro Santiago as the Mother of the Little Girl (played by Diane Lozada) who was stabbed by the unremorseful man Gideon was then forced to treat. [4] Santiago also played Mrs. Sanchez in "Sea of Fire" [12] and later had a recurring role as Isabella Santos on All My Children (1994–2003)
Special guest star Michael Moriarty was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Wayne "Seti" Virgil in "Starfire" in which he portrayed an aerospace systems engineer who has undergone a traumatic psychotic break leading to the schizophrenic delusion that he is from another planet, sent to Earth to stop The Confederation of Vega from enacting an apocalyptic "end times" catastrophe. The trauma stems from the tragic explosion of a Vega-1 rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base that killed twelve ground crew, for which he feels guilty. Seti's self-appointed alias derives from the real-life organization SETI involved in the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence. George Plimpton guest stars as Clinton Brandauer, who, after Virgil's breakdown has positioned himself as the new Senior Engineer at their company, AeroDimensions, so that he can make millions of dollars in profit from a merger with Transnational Aviation, assuming that the Vega-1 failure will be covered up by Virgil's demise. [13]
Angela Goethals guest stars as Amber Sweeny, a young girl who befriends Seti as her new father figure. When the episode aired in April 1989, Goethals was only a month away from her twelfth birthday (May 1989). "Starfire" was Goethals' television debut after her film/screen debut in Rocket Gibraltar followed by Heartbreak Hotel , both in 1988. After The Equalizer, she appeared in Home Alone (1990) as Linnie McCallister the sister of Kevin played by another Equalizer actor, Macaulay Culkin. Deborah Hedwall guest starred as Claire Sweeny, Amber's single mother who becomes increasingly concerned for her daughter's safety after men try to kill Seti. It is Hedwall's fourth television role after her film/screen debut in Alone in the Dark (1982). After her Equalizer role, Hedwall had a recurring role as Gwen Bedford in I'll Fly Away (1991–1992), and won a 1992 Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actress for her role as Patricia in the off-Broadway play Sight Unseen . The play also featured Hedwall's husband and fellow Equalizer guest star, Dennis Boutsikaris. [64] Wendell Pierce makes his last appearance as psychologist Dr. Cameron Wolff, who diagnoses Virgil's condition and agrees to help him recover. [13]
In "Time Present...," guest star Brian Bedford plays Harold Ross, which is his alias after defecting to American. Ten years prior in "...Time Past," Harold was Emil Kostov, head of Covert Operations for Bulgarian Intelligence. As a musicologist, Ross has been helping Scott McCall further his music studies after having been introduced by Scott's father, Robert McCall. However, Emil's defection has caused problems for his family back in Bulgaria, and in particular for his younger brother Yorgi Kostov, played by guest star Dennis Boutsikaris. Yorgi followed Emil into intelligence work, and has had to prove his worth and loyalty to his nation, all the more so after his brother's defection. Yorgi is therefore determined to bring Emil back to Bulgaria for trial and execution to restore the family name. Scott is captured in the drama when Yorgi abducts Emil and takes them both back to the Bulgarian Embassy. [10] Bedford also played W. Donald Polk in season one "Bump and Run," [65] and Paul Coble in season two "Beyond Control." [66] Boutsikaris also played C.R. Heaton in season three, "In the Money." [67]
Shirley Knight guest stars as Kay, Robert McCall's ex-wife and mother to their son Scott. Kay is angry at Robert for Scott's abduction, and cannot understand why Robert would've introduced Scott to an ex-spy who placed him in such danger to begin with. Scott is an accomplished musician, and she doesn't want him following Robert's path into violence. She still resents Robert for not being present while their daughter's health deteriorated from cardiomyopathy, eventually leading to death. Knight was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her performance in "Time Present, Time Past." In the season one episode "Out of the Past" the role of Kay was played by guest star Sandy Dennis, her last television role before her death in 1992. In "Out of the Past," Kay was remarried to Walter Wesley played by Barry Primus, [68] although no reference is made to the remarriage in "Time Present, Time Past." Guest star Joe Morton makes his second appearance as Carter Brock, and Tom Mardirosian co-stars as Arnoff, a Bulgarian agent working with Yorgi. [10]
Guest stars Pat Hingle as Waldo Jarrell, and Tony Plana as Antonio Cruz, were both "Prisoners of Conscience" having been persecuted and imprisoned for the ideas they penned into the written word. Antonio Cruz is a Chilean poet who was previously jailed by the Central Nacional de Informaciones (CNI) (English: National Information Center), the secret police and intelligence agency guilty of kidnapping, torture, murder and disappearance of political opponents during Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship in Chile. Having fled to the United States, Cruz is now at university where Waldo Jarrell teaches. Antonio knows Mr. Jerrell is more than just a teacher and encourages him to begin writing again. But Waldo believes it to be out of the question, after having been blacklisted along with many other Hollywood screenwriters during the McCarthy era. Further, the humiliation of being jailed and forced to "name names" has estranged Waldo from his own son for forty years, so he looks on "Tony" as a surrogate son. When Antonio is taken by the CNI, he pleads with McCall to save Tony from death. [18]
Edward Woodard's son Tim Woodward guest stars as William McCall, Robert McCall's father who was murdered during the 1952 Egyptian revolution at Port Said next to the Mediterranean end of the Suez Canal. William was a Captain with the British Army responding to the coup d'état against King Farouk. William appears in a flashback to Robert's childhood, and again as an imaginary/ghost figure with whom Robert converses inside Pete O'Phelan's bar. Robert tells Control he had searched for William's killer for twenty years, but gave up after being told by the Company that Randall Payne had been gunned down. Robert is furious to learn he has been lied to for the past fifteen years, and that Randall Payne is not only still alive, but also working for the Company. Dan O'Herlihy guest stars as Randall Payne, who is in New York to torture Antonio to force him to "name names" so that he can change the outcome of the up-coming Chilean elections. Jaime Tirelli co-stars as a CNI Operative working for Payne. [18] Tirelli also played Ramon Scavosa in season one "The Lock Box." [69]
Special guest star Maureen Stapleton portrays Emmy Rutherford, a cleaning woman and avid detective novel aficionado who gets caught up, literally and figuratively, in "The Caper" that costs a man his life, and puts her own in danger after she witnesses his murder. She has already called the police numerous times in the past to report crimes that only exist in her overactive imagination. Therefore, Sgt. Alice Shepard (Chad Redding) is naturally dubious of Emmy's latest claims. McCall assigns a young operative to Emmy while he investigates. Laura San Giacomo guest stars as Trudy Collins, the energetic and eager Company agent assigned to guard Emmy. Graduating top of her class in marksmanship, her skills are put to the test. Richard Hamilton guest stars as Frank, Emmy's neighbor and handyman who would prefer that Emmy get her nose out of her books and pay more attention to him. Frank's life is also put in danger by Emmy's obsession to solve the murder herself. [16] Hamilton also played Otis Hendricks in season one "Breakpoint." [70]
Other "Caper" guest stars include Alberta Watson as Taffy Gould, an exotic dancer and Kenny Pack's girlfriend, who has a secret she withholds from McCall. Watson also played Carla Holden in season one "The Distant Fire." [71] Michael Wincott plays Jarrow, a British criminal who runs an international crew. Wincott also played the villain Jordan in season two "High Performance." [72] Co-stars include Lewis J. Stadlen as Danny, a small-time criminal out on parole who McCall leverages for information, and Zach Grenier as Pack who is the killer Emmy witnessed. [16] Both Stadlen (as Mr. Cooper) and Grenier (as Wirth) appeared in season two, "A Community of Civilized Men." [73]
John Shepherd guest stars as Michael Gianelli seeking the "Heart of Justice" against low-life thugs who gang raped his wife Cynthia and beat her into a brain dead coma to silence her testimony. A peaceful man, Michael struggles to enact vengeance. Paul Guilfoyle guest stars as Max Gorman, an ailing drug addict and rapist. Joseph Hindy guest stars as Victor Koslo, whose wife and child were killed by violent men. Koslo has become a heartless vigilante killer who monitors the courts for violent criminals released on technicalities, seeking his own vengeance. Hindy also played Mickey's Father in "Christmas Presence." [53] Actress and Jungian Analyst Margaret Klenck guest stars as Laura, who contacts The Equalizer to prevent Michael's vengeance and ensure her sister Cynthia's unborn child is delivered before she dies. Robert Joy reprises Company man Jacob Stock, and Eddie Jones makes his last of three appearances as Lt. Brannigan. After The Equalizer, Eddie Jones played Detective Ed Mattingly in Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990), and had regular appearances as Jonathan Kent in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993–1997), and as Charles Borden (The Official) in The Invisible Man (2000). Philip Bosco guest stars as Oscar, who works in the Criminal Data Analysis division of the Company. McCall tries to leverage his extra-marital affair to wrest a favor, but Oscar says his wife already knows. So McCall instead warns he'll reveal his mistress as a Cuban double-agent to elicit Oscar's cooperation. Bosco also played Brian Barclay in "Pretenders." [55] Roberta Maxwell guest stars as Justice Lindsey Smith, who by law must unfortunately dismiss the rape case because the car search was technically illegal. Co-stars include Vincent Gallo as Tony Santiago who raped and beat Cynthia, and Judith Malina as an Old Woman who witnesses Michael Gianelli aiming a gun at Tony, but doesn't see Koslo. In one of only three roles, after her screen debut in Doom Asylum (1988), supporting actress and model Patty Mullen plays Teresa, Oscar's mistress who he believes is named Michelle. [7]
Laurence Fishburne guest stars as Casey Taylor, a teacher on a teacher's salary who must move from an expensive but run-down city apartment to a better home in the Ridge Park neighborhood with is wife and child. A law-abiding citizen, he stops his car when he hears the siren and sees the lights of a police patrol car behind him. But they are not police; he is attacked by local skinheads who say the only way he can live in their neighborhood is to be white, as they pour white paint on Casey. Aleta Mitchell guest stars as Martha Taylor, who calls The Equalizer when her husband Casey threatens to buy a gun and take care of the skinheads himself if they attack again. Martha is also concerned for the safety of their baby. [8]
David Andrews guest stars as Dale Stevens, a low-level member of the KKK who vows to lynch all "Race Traitors" when the "day of the rope" arrives. Stevens is a "community" organizer who wants to set up his own network in multiple cities while liaising with other neo-Nazi groups to instigate race riots. Stevens gives speeches to indoctrinate, radicalize, and rally young working class locals to join the skinhead ranks and carry out violent attacks. Nick Kaminsky is one such as embittered youth, as is Chuck, played by co-star Morgan H. Margolis. While Nick is a neophyte, Chuck is already an active member of the skinhead cell that Stevens is trying to control. [8] Morgan is the son of Mark Margolis who plays the recurring character Jimmy. Andrews also played Del Larkin in "A Dance on the Dark Side." [74]
Michael Cerveris guest stars as Nick Kaminsky who wants someone to pay for the death of his brother, John, who was shot to death two months prior by a black man committing a robbery at his mother's tavern, with only $100 in the register. Cerveris also played Frank Fipps in "Last Call." [27] In one of her last three television roles, Verna Bloom guest stars as Ellen Kaminsky, Nick's mother, who operates the local tavern, leasing it from a Jewish owner. While she doesn't hate the owner, she doesn't like the decline of local businesses, which she partly attributes to the influx of "the blacks." But she doesn't want her son Nick to be full of hate and vengeance, so she works with Mickey to turn him away from the skinheads. Bloom also played Marian Grey in "Target of Choice." [75] Other guest stars include Robert Joy in his last appearance as Jacob Stock. Joy had roles in four films, all released in 1989, the year "Race Traitors" aired. After The Equalizer Joy became well-known as medical examiner Sid Hammerback on CSI: NY (2005–2013). Caroline Kava plays Barbara Ashton who quit the Company, and whose son McCall and Mickey once helped out of a jam. In return, Barbara creates a backstory for McCall's new identity as a powerful European Nazi so he can put a stop to Stevens by tricking him. Kava also played a Mercenary Recruiter in "Shades of Darkness." [76] In one of only a handful of screen appearances, baritone opera singer and stage actor Bruce Hubbard plays Detective Warren who helps McCall in the investigation and arrests the perpetrators. [8] Hubbard also played a club Manager in "Solo." [77]
Supporting cast includes Sheila Stainback of INN / USA Tonight and of WPIX New York Tonight, who appears as a Newscaster on the tavern television. In season three, Stainback also played an Anchorperson in "Blood and Wine," [41] and appeared in cameo as Herself in "Inner View." [28] The Velvet Underground founder John Cale plays an unnamed Aryan Leader, from whom Stevens is petitioning for financial and political support to expand his own network and power base. [8]
Guest stars Elizabeth Berridge as Susan Wilhite and Amy Morton as Linda Wilhite are the intended victims in an "Endgame" planed by wargame strategist Ernest Rasher, played by Josef Sommer. Rasher's son was a U.S. Army Colonel imprisoned for stealing weapons to sell on the black market. Linda was responsible for his incarceration five years prior. Rasher's son hanged himself in jail, so he wants revenge and hires Dodd to frame Linda's jealous sister Susan for murder by rigging the third shot of her paintball gun to fire a .44 Magnum cartridge to kill a random opponent. Afterwards, Rasher kills Dodd and frames Linda for it. Finally, Rasher reveals a terrible secret about Susan to Linda, hoping that Linda will either kill her sister and thus be convicted of murder, or commit suicide like his son. Morton also played Gina Rox in "Eighteen with a Bullet." [29] Other guest stars include Lewis Van Bergen as Stuart Dodd, the hit-man Rasher hires to kill Susan (also as Johnny Sax in "Always a Lady" [78] ), Martin Shakar as the Detective who questions Susan regarding the shooting (also as Frank Morrow in "Prelude," [52] Kelly Stigman in "Christmas Presence," [53] and Harriman in "The Visitation" [3] ), and Chad Redding reprising her role as Sgt. Alice Shepard. [17]
Philip Kraus Co-stars as Charlie Arnold, Susan's boss (also as Durkin in "Beyond Control," [66] and Dr. Gary Foxworth in "Regrets Only" [46] ). In his screen debut, Nick Bakay co-stars as a Yellow Team Member of the paintball group. After The Equalizer, Bakay had recurring roles as Stu Dunfy on In Living Color (1993–1994), and as Salem Saberhagen in Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996–2003). A.L. Sheppard also reprises his role as Detective Kelly. [17]
Ving Rhames guest stars as Luther "Million" Paxton, who uses his hooligan "Suicide Squad" of former athletes to "run interference" in drug deals with his buyers, keeping Paxton clean of direct involvement. Paxton says his nickname "Million" is because "Working for me is like having a million dollars in the bank." He launders his illegal proceeds through the Cayman Islands, and back into his health clubs, running his drugs out of his flagship gym on 47th street. He enjoys corrupting athletes like Willie because they, "think they own the Earth...I love their expressions when they realize they're just as dirty as everyone else." Million manipulates Willie into becoming the latest member of his Suicide Squad, with no way out but self-destruction. Adam Coleman Howard guest stars as Willie Halsey who is failing at academics with a 1.7 GPA. He struggles to finish his papers, half of which are written by his sister. Further, he now has a bad knee hampering his athletic performance. Thus he fears, not only will he lose his athletic scholarship, but he might not even graduate. He turns to his father, Joe Halsey, played by guest star Robert Swan, suggesting he help him with his sign business to make an honest living. But Joe's business is on the decline, and he wants a better life for his son. Thus he pushes Willie harder than he should, not recognizing he may lose Willie to the "easy money" of "thug life" dealing drugs. [11]
Other guest stars include Joe Morton who reprises his role as Carter Brock, and David Harris as Hammer, one of Million's minions who is known around the school as "a regular supermarket" from which athletes buy performance-enhancers such as anabolic steroids, and "anything else" he might have. Alyson Kirk plays Mary Lou Halsey, Willie's sister, who knows that Hammer sells to students. Concerned for Willie, she calls The Equalizer. Kirk also played Lynn Rowan in season one "A Place to Stay" [79] after her television film debut as Missy Westin in It Came Upon the Midnight Clear (1984) with Mickey Rooney. [80] In her final screen role, Regina Baff plays Kitty Halsey, Willie's concerned mother. Baff also played Susan Donahue in season one "Unpunished Crimes." [81] Leo Burmester guest stars as Coach Bell who only has so many slots for football scholarships, so he cuts Willie from the team to allow a better performer to succeed. McCall convinces Bell to reinstate Willie, at least until he improves his grades. Keith Szarabajka receives a screen credit but his character Mickey Kostmayer does not appear in "Suicide Squad," making "Endgame" his final appearance on The Equalizer. Dan Moran made his screen debut in 1986 on The Equalizer in the season one episode "Out of the Past" as a Pizza Employee. [68] Moran co-stars in "Suicide Squad" as Pete, the high school "Doc" that checks Willie's knee injury. [11] After The Equalizer, Moran had six Law & Order franchise roles (1990–2008), [82] [83] and appeared on Homicide: Life on the Street (1993). [84]
