George Gerdes (February 23, 1948 – January 1, 2021) was an American singer-songwriter and character actor.

George Gerdes
Born(1948-02-23)February 23, 1948
DiedJanuary 1, 2021(2021-01-01) (aged 72)
EducationCarnegie Mellon University

Early life and education

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He was born in Queens, New York City. He formed a group, the Alumicron Fab Tabs, with friend Loudon Wainwright III, before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 1969.

Career

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In the early 1970s, he recorded two albums, Obituary and Son of Obituary, for United Artists Records. His songs were praised by Joni Mitchell and Terre Roche, among others. His second album was produced by Nik Venet and featured session musicians including Charlie McCoy and Kenny Buttrey.[1][2]

To supplement his income from performing, he started taking acting jobs in the 1980s. He appeared in Sam Shepard's play Fool for Love, and Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men, both on Broadway. He also appeared in many television and film roles, including parts in The Squeeze (1987), Miami Vice (1987), Single White Female (1992), Amistad (1997), Hidalgo (2004) and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011).[1]

Personal life

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Gerdes died from a brain aneurysm in Glendale, California, on January 1, 2021, at the age of 72.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1968 Come Back Baby Thief
1987 The Squeeze Joe
1988 Call Me Fred
1989 Jacknife Tony
1992 Single White Female Super
1993 Boiling Point Henderson
1994 Iron Will Borg Guillarson
1996 Playing Dangerous 2 Mitch
1997 Amistad Marshal
1998 Spark Earl
1998 Hijack Luke Besser
1999 Stealth Fighter Alexander Chez / Clancy
1999 Bats Chaswick
2004 Hidalgo Major Whitside
2005 Buckaroo: The Movie Chalker
2005 Rumor Has It Charity Dinner Guests
2007 TV Virus Frank
2011 The Passing George Naibert
2011 Answers to Nothing Mr. Callahan
2011 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Udevalla Detective
2013 Saving Lincoln Copperhead Democrat
2020 The 11th Green Dwight D. Eisenhower

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Our Family Honor Pete Taylor Episode: "Homecoming"
1987 Miami Vice FBI Agent Episode: "Heroes of the Revolution"
1987 As the World Turns Chuck Episode #1.8285
1987 The Equalizer Russian Spy Episode: "Encounter in a Closed Room"
1988 Spenser: For Hire Ed Episode: "Watercolors"
1990 Hunter The Chemist Episode: "La Familia"
1992 Brooklyn Bridge Referee Episode: "On the Line"
1992 L.A. Law Detective Navie Episode: "Silence of the Lambskins"
1992 Seinfeld Man #1 Episode: "The Bubble Boy"
1993 Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman Pilot #1 Television film
1994 NYPD Blue Louis Foreman Episode: "Jumpin' Jack Fleishman"
1994 The X-Files Reverend Calvin Hartley Episode: "Miracle Man"
1994 Amelia Earhart: The Final Flight Itasca Radio Operator Television film
1994 Rebel Highway Lt. Clark Episode: "Jailbreakers / Rebelles"
1994 Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing Governor Donovan Television film
1995 Vanishing Son Billy Baker Episode: "Holy Ghosts"
1995 Renegade 'Preacher' Lomax Episode: "Ace in the Hole"
1996 Nowhere Man Sheriff Wilkes 2 episodes
1996 Picket Fences Homeless Victim Episode: "Liver Let Die"
1996, 1999 Chicago Hope Alex / Anton Zona 2 episodes
1997 Brooklyn South Defense Attorney Calloway Episode: "Touched by a Checkered Cab"
1998 Walker, Texas Ranger Scudder Episode: "The Wedding: Part 2"
1998 The Practice Gun Manufacturer Episode: "The Defender"
1999 7th Heaven Jeff Patterson Episode: "With Honors"
2000 Nash Bridges Douglas Bremer Episode: "Liar's Poker"
2000 Pensacola: Wings of Gold Col. Walters Episode: "Article 32"
2000 Cover Me Mr. Howard Episode: "The Line"
2001 Family Law Mark Brown Episode: "Planting Seeds"
2003 The District Elevator Maintenance Man Episode: "Blindsided"
2004 Alias Analyst Episode: "Full Disclosure"
2004 Line of Fire Chief Wood Episode: "The Senator"
2004 Cold Case Warden Wilbur Episode: "The House"
2005 Numbers Rail Cop Captain Episode: "Sabotage"
2006 Threshold Mr. Wheeler Episode: "Outbreak"
2006 What About Brian Bartender Episode: "What About Second Chances"
2007 ER Jim Riley 2 episodes
2008 General Hospital Bodie Sullivan Episode #1.11572
2009 The Unit Detective Episode: "The Spear of Destiny"
2009 Lost Mr. Springer Episode: "The Incident"
2009 True Blood Sid Matt Lancaster Episode: "Nothing But the Blood"
2011 Bones Dan Lambert Episode: "The Sin in the Sisterhood"
2011 Castle Mike Yanavich Episode: "Knockout"
2011 Dexter Landlord Episode: "The Angel of Death"
2011 Criminal Minds Lieutenant Shockley Tawes Episode: "Self Fulfilling Prophecy"
2012 NCIS: Los Angeles Floyd Hobbs Episode: "Neighborhood Watch"
2013 The Mentalist Miles MacCambridge Episode: "The Red Barn"
2015 NCIS Field Marshal Rand Episode: "Spinning Wheel"
2017–2019 Bosch Ray Scales 3 episodes
2020 Grey's Anatomy Norman Sholman Episode: "Save the Last Dance for Me"
2020 Perry Mason Old Polish Man Episode: "Chapter Six"

References

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