Gerald McRaney Biography

(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Simon & Simon’, ‘Major Dad’ and ‘Promised Land’)

Birthday: August 19, 1947 (Leo)

Born In: Collins, Mississippi, United States

Gerald McRaney is an American actor who has been active in the film as well as the television industries for around five decades. He is known for playing several popular roles on television and winning multiple awards. He appeared in the detective series ‘Simon & Simon’ as ‘Rick Simon’ in the 1980s and played the lead role in the show ‘Major Dad’ in the ensuing decade. McRaney portrayed the character of ‘Russell Greene’ in the series ‘Promised Land’ and also featured in the show ‘Jericho’. As a young man, he studied at the University of Mississippi and worked in oil fields for a while before building a successful acting career. A much-decorated actor, McRaney was nominated twice at the Primetime Emmy Awards and ended up winning the prestigious award once for his role in the show ‘This Is Us’. He appeared in the popular political drama thriller ‘House of Cards’ and was nominated along with the cast at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Gerald Lee McRaney

Age: 77 Years, 77 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Delta Burke, Beverly Root (m. 1967–1971), Pat Moran (m. 1981–1989)

father: Clyde

mother: Edna McRaney

children: Angus McRaney, Jessica McRaney, Kate McRaney

Actors American Men

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Diseases & Disabilities: Lung Cancer

U.S. State: Mississippi

Notable Alumni: University Of Mississippi

More Facts

education: University Of Mississippi

  • 1

    Is Gerald McRaney still acting?

    Yes, Gerald McRaney is still actively acting in various television shows and movies.
  • 2

    What are some popular TV shows that Gerald McRaney has appeared in?

    Gerald McRaney is known for his roles in popular TV shows such as "This Is Us," "Designated Survivor," and "Jericho."
  • 3

    Has Gerald McRaney ever won any acting awards?

    Yes, Gerald McRaney has won several awards for his outstanding performances, including multiple Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
  • 4

    What is Gerald McRaney's most recent project?

    Gerald McRaney's most recent project is the TV series "NCIS: Los Angeles," where he has a recurring role as retired Navy Admiral Hollace Kilbride.
  • 5

    Is Gerald McRaney involved in any charity work?

    Yes, Gerald McRaney is known to be involved in various charity organizations and causes, supporting initiatives related to veterans' welfare and animal rights.
Childhood & Early Life
Gerald Lee McRaney was born on August 19, 1947, in Collins, Mississippi, to Edna McRaney and Clyde McRaney. As a youth, McRaney attended the University of Mississippi and later worked at odd jobs before opting to pursue a career in the show business.
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Film Career
Gerald McRaney made his silver screen debut in the 1969 film ‘Night of Bloody Horror’ as ‘Wesley Stuart’, the lead character, and later appeared in a few lesser-known films like ‘Women and Bloody Terror’, ‘Keep Off My Grass!’ and ‘The NeverEnding Story’.
He appeared in the 2010 action film ‘The A-Team’ alongside Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, and Jessica Biel. He also appeared in the romantic drama film ‘The Best of Me’.
McRaney appeared alongside Will Smith and Margot Robbie in the 2015 romantic crime thriller movie ‘Focus’. He also played a crucial role in the 2016 psychological horror film ‘The Disappointments Room’.
Television Career
Gerald McRaney is a well-known face in the television industry. He has appeared in several popular shows, playing critically acclaimed roles. He made his debut on television in 1972, appearing in the show ‘Night Gallery’. He appeared in three episodes of ‘Gunsmoke’ between 1973 and 1975.
In the mid and late-1970s, McRaney featured in several TV shows with supporting or special roles. Some of his notable works were in shows like ‘Barnaby Jones’, ‘The Law’, ‘The Streets of San Francisco’, ‘The Rockford Files’, ‘The Blue Knight’, ‘The Incredible Hulk’, and ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’.
In 1981, McRaney was cast in the role of ‘Richard "Rick" Simon’ in the detective television series ‘Simon & Simon’. McRaney and Jameson Parker portrayed the two title characters, who are brothers, in the show. The brothers try their best to run a private detective agency and meet with weird circumstances which often result in comic outcomes.
After the success of ‘Simon & Simon’, McRaney was offered another lead role, ‘Major John D. MacGillis’, in the sitcom ‘Major Dad’. For the duration of four years, he appeared in the show for a total of 96 episodes. The show featured Shanna Reed opposite him.
He appeared in ‘Touched by an Angel’ as ‘Dr. Joe Patcherik / Russell Greene’ and ‘Central Park West’ as ‘Adam Brock’ before reprising the role of ‘Russell Greene’ in the CBS drama series ‘Promised Land’. He was part of the show for 68 episodes between 1996 and 1999.
In the 2005-06 season of the American western television series ‘Deadwood’, McRaney played the role of ‘George Hearst’, a character based on the American businessman of the 19th century. The entire cast was nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.
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McRaney was again part of an ensemble that was nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He featured in the political drama series ‘House of Cards’ as ‘Raymond Tusk’ between 2013 and 2017.
Between 2016 and 2018, McRaney portrayed the role of ‘Dr. Nathan KatowskI’ in the NBC comedy-drama series ‘This Is Us’. He made guest appearances in the show for seven episodes. But those episodes were enough for him to win applause from the critics with his powerful acting skills. He was nominated at multiple award shows, including Primetime Emmy Awards and Online Film & Television Association awards.
Major Works
The character of ‘Richard "Rick" Simon’ in the show ‘Simon & Simon’ was Gerald McRaney’s first big success. He earned a lot of praise for his work in the show which ran for almost an entire decade. He made 156 appearances between 1981 and 1989.
McRaney delivered the best performance of his career in the show ‘This Is Us’ as ‘Dr. Nathan Katowski’ between 2016 and 2018. His character was not a regular presence in the show, but it had a significant impact on the storyline. His brilliant performance won him back-to-back nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards; he won the award once, in 2017.
Family & Personal Life
Gerald Lee McRaney has been married three times. His first marriage with Beverly A. Root took place in 1966 and ended in divorce in 1971. They had two children during their married life.
McRaney later married casting director Pat Moran in November 1981 and had a child together before divorcing in 1989.
His third and current marriage with actress Delta Burke took place in May 1989.
McRaney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004 and had surgery to remove the malignant tumor. He has recovered fully since then.
Facts About Gerald McRaney
Gerald McRaney is an avid collector of military memorabilia, with a particular fondness for items from World War II.
He is a skilled woodworker and enjoys creating furniture and other pieces in his spare time.
McRaney is a licensed pilot and often takes to the skies in his own plane for leisure.
He is a talented harmonica player and has been known to entertain friends and family with his musical skills.
Gerald McRaney has a soft spot for animals and is actively involved in supporting various animal welfare organizations.

Awards

Primetime Emmy Awards
2017 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series This Is Us (2016)

See the events in life of Gerald McRaney in Chronological Order

How To Cite

Article Title
- Gerald McRaney Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/gerald-mcraney-44667.php

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