Richard McKenzie (actor)

Richard McKenzie (June 2, 1930 – December 1, 2023) was an American character actor who is known for his guest role as Fred Bunker, younger brother of Archie Bunker on the hit CBS-TV sitcom series All in the Family in seasons 8 and 9, and season 4 of Archie Bunker's Place. He also appeared in other popular shows such as Quincy, M.E., Hawaii Five-O, Matlock and In the Heat of the Night.

Richard McKenzie
Born(1930-06-02)June 2, 1930
DiedDecember 1, 2023(2023-12-01) (aged 93)
OccupationActor
Years active1961, 1971–2002
TelevisionAll in the Family
Three's Company
It Takes Two
Matlock
In The Heat of The Night
SpouseAza Cefkin

Biography and career

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McKenzie's career began in television in a 1961 episode of the sitcom My Three Sons as Quinn. It would be another 14 years until Richard would make another television guest star appearance on the TV drama Doctors' Hospital in 1975 as Dr. Williams.

Throughout the 1970s, McKenzie would make guest appearances on many television shows. His most famous guest appearances in the 70's were on the television sitcoms Three's Company in 1978 as Chef Anton, All in the Family/Archie Bunker's Place in three episodes between 1978 and 1982 as Archie Bunker's younger brother Alfred "Fred" Bunker, and on two episodes of Carter County between 1978 and 1979 as Dr. Fenway. Throughout the 1970s, McKenzie would guest star in such shows as The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O, The Jeffersons, Roots, Sword of Justice, One Day at a Time, etc.

McKenzie would also have an extraordinary television career in the 1980s which also included two co-starring role in television shows. His first guest starring role was in the show Family in three different episodes as two different characters. His first co-starring role was in the 1980s short-lived series The Yeagers. The Yeagers was a drama centering on the life of the Yeager family and associates. The series produced only one episode in 1980. The series also co-starred David Ackroyd, Guy Boyd, and Andy Griffith.[1] In 1982, McKenzie would again co-star in another short-lived series entitled It Takes Two. The series was about a couple, Sam and Molly Quinn who are too focused on their jobs to pay attention to their children or each other. He played Walter Chaiken in the series. The series aired for twenty-two episodes in one season, (1982–1983). The series also co-starred Richard Crenna, Patty Duke, and Helen Hunt.[2][3] Some other of his memorable guest star roles in the 1980s include those in the shows Soap, CBS Afternoon Playhouse, Archie Bunker's Place, Knots Landing, Benson, Growing Pains, Too Close for Comfort, Matlock, ALF, etc.

In the 1990s, McKenzie would guest star on shows such as The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NYPD Blue, In the Heat of the Night, etc. His last appearance on television was in a 2002 episode of Judging Amy as Judge Novak.

McKenzie also appeared in many feature films and television films. He starred in more than 10 movies during the course of 22 years. His first movie role as "Behan" in the 1971 movie Doc. Some of his other memorable appearances in the movies included those in A.W.O.L. (1972), Man on a Swing (1974), Corvette Summer (1978), Being There (1979), The Doctor (1991), and Ghost in the Machine (1993). He also appeared in more than 20 TV movies. His first role was in Nicky's World (1974), as the role of Mr. Lanning, and his last role was in Deadly Medicine (1991), as the role of Brookshire.

McKenzie made his name in theater as well. His Broadway credits included That Championship Season, Uncle Vanya and many more.

McKenzie died on December 1, 2023, at the age of 93.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1971 Doc Behan
1972 A.W.O.L. Willy's Father
1972 The Stoolie Gun Store Clerk
1974 Man on a Swing Sam Gallagher
1978 Nowhere to Run Dr. Steinberg TV movie
1978 Corvette Summer Principal Bacon
1979 Being There Ron Steigler
1980 Gideon's Trumpet Judge McCrary TV movie
1981 First Monday in October Hostile Senator
1981 Callie & Son Donohue TV movie
1981 Splendor in the Grass Doc Smiley TV movie
1981 Dark Night of the Scarecrow Judge Henry
1982 Some Kind of Hero Psychiatrist
1983 Malibu Hunnicutt Powell TV movie
1987 Billionaire Boys Club Steven Raleigh TV movie
1988 Bird Southern Doctor
1988 Shootdown Overstar TV movie
1991 The Doctor Mr. Richards
1991 Deadly Medicine Brookshire TV movie
1991 Daddy Jeremy Bosworth TV movie
1993 Ghost in the Machine Frank Mallory

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1961 My Three Sons Quinn
1975 Doctor's Hospital Dr. Williams
The Waltons Porter Sims
Hawaii Five-O Gustave Lupin
1976 The Jeffersons Mr. Owens
1977 Roots Sam Harvey 2 episodes
Kingston: Confidential Dunstan
1978 Quincy, M.E. Dr.Holmes
Three's Company Chef Anton
Sword of Justice Berardi
1978–1979 All in the Family Alfred "Fred" Bunker 2 episodes
Carter County Dr. Fenway 2 episodes
1979 One Day at a Time Herb
Ike Col Offenheim
California Fever Mr. Newman
Soap The Doctor
1979–1980 Family Mr. McKinley/Mr. Stephens 3 episodes
1980 The Yeagers Lester 1 episode; unsold pilot episode
Stone Professor Frank
One in a Million The Doctor
1980–1981 Soap Dr. Saxton 3 episodes
1981 It's a Living Will Frankel
1982 CBS Afternoon Playhouse Tom Gordon
Bring 'Em Back Alive Arthur
Archie Bunker's Place Alfred "Fred" Bunker
1982–1983 It Takes Two Walter Chaiken 22 episodes
1983 Condo
The Mississippi Wallenberg
1984 Oh Madeline Sam
You Are the Jury Dr. Salton
1985 Knots Landing Judge Calvin Gillian
Benson Senator Jenkins
Hail to the Chief Gavin Phelps
Stir Crazy Ed Grant
Growing Pains Dr. McCloskey
The Facts of Life The Inspector
1986 The Colbys Dr. Leonard Jamison 2 episodes
MacGyver Willis
Too Close for Comfort Bill Wagner
Comedy Factory George Dent
Highway to Heaven Professor Fish
1986–1987 Matlock Lt. Rupert Davis/Police Det. Rupert Davis 4 episodes
1987 The Wizard Cummings
21 Jump Street Mr. John Madigan
Valerie Mr. Baker
Ohara Uncle Bob
Throb Harry
1988 My Sister Sam
It's a Living Mr. Mackinaw 2 episodes
ALF Nick Susla
1989 Quantum Leap Fred Beaman
1990 The Golden Girls Jack
1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Judge
Herman's Head Michael A. O'Connell
Pros and Cons Ray Masters
Empty Nest Rudnick
1991–1995 In the Heat of the Night Preston Donner 3 episodes
1992–1993 Civil Wars Judge Phil Macomber 2 episodes
1993 Empty Nest Mr. Davidson 2 episodes
NYPD Blue Arland Rickman
1994 Picket Fences Bishop John Marsh
1995 Grace Under Fire Henry
2002 Judging Amy Judge Novak (final appearance)

References

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  1. ^ Biography of The Yeagers (1980). IMDb.
  2. ^ Biography of It Takes Two (1982–1983). IMDb.
  3. ^ Richard McKenzie Filmography. M.imdb.com. Retrieved on 2015-12-12.
  4. ^ "Special Issue 2024 Magazine". SAG-AFTRA. p. 107. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

Further reading

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  • Patty Duke, Just Call Me Anna, Autobiography of Patty Duke (Random House LLC, Apr 13, 2011)
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