David Groh

David Lawrence Groh (May 21, 1939 – February 12, 2008) was an American actor best known for his portrayal of Joe Gerard in the 1970s television series Rhoda, opposite Valerie Harper.

Early life and career Groh was born in Brooklyn, the son of Mildred and Benjamin Groh. He had a sister, Marilyn. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, then enrolled at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he graduated with a degree in English literature. He made his television debut in silent walk-on parts in two episodes of the Gothic daytime soap opera Dark Shadows on ABC in 1968, but did not garner fame until Rhoda.

Career Groh co-starred in the sitcom Rhoda in which he played Joe Gerard, a New York City building demolition company owner who met and married Rhoda Morgenstern, the best friend of Mary Richards from CBS's The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The show premiered September 9, 1974, and Joe and Rhoda married in the seventh episode. The network gave the marriage much advance publicity, and the episode proved a ratings blockbuster, drawing some 50 million viewers to become one of television's most-watched single episodes.

In season three, the couple separated and later divorced. Groh was dropped to recurring status during season three, and he made only a few guest appearances that season before being written out of the show entirely. However, this change was not embraced by the show's audience and ratings began to decline sharply. Rhoda was eventually canceled in the fall of 1978. Groh starred in his own series, opposite Joan Hackett, in the short-lived Another Day, in the spring of 1978 and went on to make his Broadway theatre debut in Neil Simon's Chapter Two.

From 1983 to 1985, Groh played D.L. Brock in the ABC soap opera General Hospital, leaving the show to appear in the off Broadway play Be Happy for Me (1986). The New York Times drama critic Frank Rich found Groh "completely convincing as the brash gold-chain-and-bikini-clad Lothario". Other New York City theater credits include Road Show (1987), and The Twilight of the Golds (1993).

On television, Groh appeared in guest roles on such series as Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, L.A. Law, Baywatch, Law & Order, Murder, She Wrote, Melrose Place, The X-Files, and JAG. His film career includes appearances in Two-Minute Warning (1976), Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976), Victory at Entebbe (1976), A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich (1978), The Dream Merchants (1980), The Return of Superfly (1990), Get Shorty (1995), and several independent films.

Personal life Groh was a serious collector of antique furniture and folk art, much of which he kept in a second home in Connecticut. He mainly resided in Santa Monica, California, where he lived with his third wife, Kristin, and his son Spencer.

Death Groh died of kidney cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, on February 12, 2008, at the age of 68.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1970 Colpo rovente Don Carbo 1972 The Irish Whiskey Rebellion Maxie 1976 Two-Minute Warning Al 1976 Smash-Up on Interstate 5 Dale TV movie1976 Victory at Entebbe Benjamin Wise TV movie1978 A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich Cohen 1980 The Dream Merchants Rocco Salvatore 2 episodes1983–1985 General Hospital D.L. Brock Unknown episodes1986 Hotshot Jerry Norton 1990 Law & Order Dr. Jacob Lowenstein Episode: "Indifference"1990 The Return of Superfly Inspector Wolinski 1994 The Stoned Age Dad 1994 Law & Order Judge Joel Thayer Episode: "Censure"1995 Get Shorty Buddy Lupton Uncredited1996 White Cargo Tony 1997 Most Wanted TV Station Manager 1997 Acts of Betrayal Martin Crispin 1997 JAG Chief Petty Officer 'Dad' Harridan Episode: "Heroes"1997 Swimsuit: The Movie Dylan Perry 1998 Spoiler Uncle Hutchy 1999 Walker, Texas Ranger Vince Termin 1 episode1999 Every Dog Has Its Day Jack Sr. 2000 Blowback Capt. Barnett 2001 The Confidence Man The Lieutenant 2004 Law & Order Dr. Jacob Lowenstein Episode: "Fixed"2005 Crazylove Mr. Santalucci 2006 Late Night Girls Alan 2008 Mala wielka milosc Used Car Dealer 2008 Evilution Dr. Tyler 2010 Jelly Robert Gills (final film role)