Gerald McRaney

Gerald McRaney is an American actor and director with a career spanning over five decades in film and television. He is best known for his roles as the charismatic Rick Simon on the adventure series Simon & Simon and the stern Major Dad on the sitcom of the same name. McRaney has earned critical acclaim in later years for his supporting work in acclaimed series such as House of Cards and This Is Us, the latter earning him a Primetime Emmy Award.

Early life and education

Gerald Lee McRaney was born in Collins, Mississippi, and raised in the small town of Gulfport. He developed an early interest in performance through participation in local theatre productions. After graduating from Gulfport High School, he initially attended the University of Mississippi but left to pursue acting professionally, moving to New Orleans and later Los Angeles to begin his career.

Career

McRaney's early career consisted of guest roles on numerous television series throughout the 1970s, including Gunsmoke, Hawaii Five-O, and The Incredible Hulk. His breakthrough came in 1981 when he was cast as private investigator Rick Simon on the CBS series Simon & Simon, which became a major hit and ran for eight seasons. Following its conclusion, he starred in and produced the popular CBS sitcom Major Dad, playing the titular Marine officer. He later had a leading role in the NBC drama Promised Land. In the 21st century, McRaney successfully transitioned to character actor roles, delivering notable performances as the ruthless political fixer Raymond Tusk on House of Cards and as Dr. Nathan Katowski on the critically acclaimed NBC drama This Is Us. His film work includes roles in The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter, The Jack Bull, and Focus. He has also directed episodes for several series, including Simon & Simon and Major Dad.

Personal life

McRaney has been married three times; his first marriage was to Beverly Root in 1967. He was later married to actress Pat Moran from 1981 until her death from cancer in 2021. In 1989, he married actress Delta Burke, whom he met when she guest-starred on Simon & Simon; they have remained together since. A devout Southern Baptist, McRaney is also an avid hunter and outdoorsman. In 2004, he was diagnosed with lung cancer, which was successfully treated, and he has since been an advocate for early detection and cancer research.

Filmography

A selected list of McRaney's acting credits includes the television series Simon & Simon (1981–1989), Major Dad (1989–1993), Promised Land (1996–1999), Deadwood (2005), House of Cards (2013–2018), and This Is Us (2016–2022). Notable television films include The Jack Bull (1999) and A Promise to Carolyn (1996). His feature film roles include The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter (1990), Focus (2001), and The A-Team (2010).

Awards and nominations

McRaney has received several major industry accolades for his work. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2017 for his portrayal of Dr. Nathan Katowski on This Is Us. He has also received multiple Satellite Award nominations for his role on House of Cards and a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for This Is Us. In 2018, he was honored with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star for his contributions to television.

Category:American television actors Category:American film actors Category:1947 births Category:Living people