Gregory Harrison

Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950) is an American actor. He is known primarily for his roles as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John McIntyre (played by Pernell Roberts) on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D. (1979–86), and as ruthless business tycoon Michael Sharpe in the CBS series Falcon Crest (1989–1990). Since 2015, Harrison has played Joe O'Toole, father of Oliver, in the Hallmark Channel expansion films of Signed, Sealed and Delivered. From 2020 to 2024, he assumed the role of Gregory Chase on General Hospital.

Early life Harrison was born in Avalon, California, on May 31, 1950. He was the middle child of Ed Harrison, a ship's captain and poet, and Donna Lee Nagely, an aspiring dancer; they eventually divorced. Harrison has an older sister, Kathleen (born 1948), and a younger brother, Christopher (born 1961). He served for two years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era as a medic.

Career Harrison portrayed the title character in the science fiction series Logan's Run (1977–78), after which he played Levi Zendt in the NBC miniseries Centennial (1978), based on James Michener's epic novel of the same name, which was first televised on NBC from October 1978 to February 1979.

Harrison appeared on an episode of M*A*S*H before garnering fame in 1979 with the role of surgeon Dr. George "Gonzo" Gates on Trapper John, M.D., starring opposite Pernell Roberts. The medical drama was spun off from M*A*S*H. Harrison remained as Gonzo on Trapper John until the middle of the show's seventh season, when he decided to leave for other ventures. The series continued for several more episodes without Harrison, but concluded its run at the end of the 1985–86 season.

Harrison's later role as stripper John Phillips in the 1981 TV movie For Ladies Only made him a favorite with women and gay men in the 1980s. Harrison spoofed that role in the 1986 miniseries Fresno, where his character appeared shirtless at every opportunity. Fresno was also a spoof of the prime-time series Falcon Crest, where Harrison became a regular three years later in the final season (1989–90). As Falcon Crest ended production in early 1990, the series' parent studio, Lorimar Television, cast Harrison in its upcoming CBS sitcom The Family Man, from producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. The series, which premiered that fall, featured Harrison as a single fireman father raising his four children with the help of his father-in-law, played by Al Molinaro. Despite a few attempts by CBS to help it build an audience, The Family Man was cancelled after one season.

Harrison later joined the cast of NBC's Sisters for the 1994–95 season, playing Daniel Albright. In 1996, he starred with Eric Roberts in It's My Party, a film based on the true story of a man in the end stages of AIDS who planned a party to say goodbye to friends and family.

From 1999 to 2009, Harrison played the male lead role of Oliver Caldwell in each film of the Au Pair trilogy. In 1999, Harrison starred as Sheriff Jon Loring in the WB Network's short-lived family drama Safe Harbor and had recurring roles in series such as One Tree Hill, Ringer, Rizzoli & Isles, and Chesapeake Shores. In 2011, he had a guest-starring role as a doctor on ABC's Body of Proof, and he has made guest appearances on many other shows such as Touched by an Angel, Judging Amy, Reunion, Joey, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Drop Dead Diva and Hot in Cleveland. In 2020, Harrison joined the cast of General Hospital, and played the role of Gregory Chase until he left the ABC soap opera in 2024. Since 2021, Harrison has appeared in the recurring role of Phillip Buckley, father of main characters Evan "Buck" Buckley and Maddie Buckley, in 9-1-1.

On stage, Harrison played Billy Flynn in the touring and Broadway productions of Chicago, and also appeared as Benjamin Stone in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and starred in the original Broadway production of Kander & Ebb's musical Steel Pier.

Personal life Harrison has been married since December 21, 1980 to actress Randi Oakes, whom he met while competing on a 1979 edition of Battle of the Network Stars, with Harrison on the CBS team and Oakes on the NBC team. Their marriage was kept secret from the public for several years. The couple have four children: daughters Emma Lee (born 1985), Lily Anne (born 1989), and Kate (born 1991); and adopted son Quinn Edgar. Since 2025, youngest daughter Kate, a model, has been married to actress Chloe Grace Moretz. Lily is engaged to and shares a son with actor Peter Facinelli. The couple originally lived together in Sherman Oaks, California, but since the early 1990s, they have lived in Southern Oregon; first in Gold Beach for 15 years, then Eugene.

Harrison became addicted to cocaine during the 1980s, and he broke the addiction with the help of the Betty Ford Center.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1973 The Harrad Experiment Student 1976 Jim the World's Greatest Jim Nolan 1977 Fraternity Row Zac Sterling 1984 Razorback Carl Winters 1987 North Shore Chandler 1992 Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger Dan 1993 Cadillac Girls Sam 1995 Hard Evidence Trent Turner 1996 It's My Party Brandon Theis 1998 Air Bud: Golden Receiver Dr. Patrick Sullivan Alternative title: Air Bud 2 2000 Canone Inverso - Making Love Jeno Piccolo Alternative title: The Inverse Canon 2009 Love N' Dancing Uncle Carl Give 'Em Hell, Malone Whitmore 2014 The M Word Mack Riley 2016 Fair Haven Dr. Gallagher 2020 The Vanished Dr. Bradley Alternative title: Hour of LeadTelevision films Year Title Role Notes 1975 Trilogy of Terror Arthur Moore Segment: "Julie" 1977 The Gathering Bud Jr. 1979 The Best Place to Be Rick Jawlosky 1980 The Women's Room Ben Volper Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Captain Bob Lewis 1981 For Ladies Only John Phillips 1983 The Fighter Merle Banks The Hasty Heart Sgt. Lachlen McLachlen 1985 Seduced Mike Riordan 1986 Oceans of Fire Ben Laforche Picnic Hal Carter 1988 Hot Paint Willie Red River Cherry Valance Co-Producer 1990 Dangerous Pursuit Political Assassin Angel of Death Gary Nicholson 1991 Bare Essentials William "Bill" Buzell 1992 Breaking the Silence Paul Danner Duplicates Bob Boxletter Split Images Robbie Daniels 1993 Caught in the Act Scott McNally A Family Torn Apart Tom Kelley Alternative title: Sudden Fury 1994 Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg Bruce Kellogg Mortal Fear Philip Montgomery A Christmas Romance Brian Harding 1995 A Dangerous Affair Robert Kenzer Nothing Lasts Forever Dr. Benjamin "Ben" Wallace 1996 Summer of Fear Lucas Marshall 1997 When Secrets Kill Greg Newhall 1998 Running Wild Matt Robinson Murder at 75 Birch Rick Todson 1999 First Daughter President Jonathan Hayes Au Pair Oliver Caldwell 2000 First Target President Jonathan Hayes 2001 Au Pair II Oliver Caldwell 2002 First Shot President Jonathan Hayes St. Sass Adam Patrick 2009 Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise Oliver Caldwell 2012 Undercover Bridesmaid Mr. Thompson 2013 After All These Years David Larabee 2014 The Nine Lives of Christmas Chief Sam 2015 Cloudy with a Chance of Love Grant Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told Joe O'Toole 2016 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million Joe O'Toole Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You Joe O'Toole My Christmas Love Tom Manning 2017 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground Joe O'Toole Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again Joe O'Toole 2018 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar Joe O'Toole 2019 Love, Fall & Order Hank Hart 2021 Sweet Carolina Pete Wilder The Nine Kittens of Christmas Chief Sam Sequel to The Nine Lives of ChristmasTelevision series Year Title Role Notes 1976 Barnaby Jones Ritchie Ridder Episode: "Blood Vengeance" M*A*S*H Lt. Tony Baker Episode: "The Nurses" 1977–1978 Logan's Run Logan 5 Main role 1978–1979 Centennial Levi Zendt Miniseries 1979–1986 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates Main role (seasons 1–7) 1986 Fresno Torch Miniseries 1987 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Joseph Voice role; episode: "The Nativity" 1989–1990 Falcon Crest Michael Sharpe Main role 1990–1991 The Family Man Jack Taylor Main role 1995 500 Nations Narrator Voice role; 8 episodes Sisters Daniel Albright Recurring role (5 episodes) Touched by an Angel Pete Taylor Episode: "There But for the Grace of God" New York News Jack Reilly Main role 1996–1997 Dark Skies Old John Loengard Uncredited voice role; 20 episodes 1998 Touched by an Angel Richard Episode: "Flights of Angels" The Outer Limits Dr. Larry Chambers Episode: "To Tell the Truth" Dead Man's Gun Boucher / Trapper Episode: "The Trapper" Maggie Winters Mr. Wiehe Episode: "And Those Who Can't" 1999 Safe Harbor Sheriff John Loring Main role 2000 Ed Nick Stanton Recurring role (5 episodes) 2000–2001 Judging Amy Tom Gillette Recurring role (4 episodes) 2002 Touched by an Angel Don Episode: "Forever Young" 2002–2003 Strong Medicine Dr. Randolf Kilner Recurring role (4 episodes) 2003 Miracles Sheriff Ed Prescott Episode: "The Bone Scatterer" 2005–2006 Reunion Russell Brewster Recurring role (7 episodes) Joey Dean Recurring role (5 episodes) 2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nathan Speer Episode: "Clock" 2008 Rodney Duke Lewis Episode: "Potty Mouth" 2009 Drop Dead Diva Brandon Tharpe Episode: "Crazy" Maneater Teddy Alpert Miniseries 2009–2011 One Tree Hill Paul Norris Recurring role (11 episodes) 2010 CSI: NY Roland Carson Episode: "Out of the Sky" 2011 Hot in Cleveland Dave Episode: "Elka's Snowbird" Body of Proof Dr. Cameron Fischer Episode: "Gross Anatomy" 2012 Outside the Box Thorn Episode: "Soylent Green" Ringer Tim Arbogast Recurring role (5 episodes) 2013 Psych Ted Lomax Episode: "Nip and Suck It" 2014 Reckless Decatur "Dec" Fortnum Main role 2015 Castle Danny Valentine Episode: "Dead from New York" NCIS Navy Capt. Roland Ebbakey Episode: "Viral" 2015–2016 Rizzoli & Isles Ron Hanson Recurring role (6 episodes) 2017–2022 Chesapeake Shores Thomas O'Brien Recurring role (16 episodes) 2017 The Middle Bennett Brooks Episode: "Meet the Parents" 2018–2019 American Housewife Dan 2 episodes 2020–2024 General Hospital Gregory Chase Series regular 2021–present 9-1-1 Phillip Buckley 7 episodes