Jordan Charney

Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937) is an American character actor known for Ghostbusters, Network (1976) and Hill Street Blues (1981).

Early life Charney was born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 1, 1937, the son of Rose—née Resnick—and Abraham Charney. He is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School and of Brooklyn College, Majoring in speech and theatre, while also reinforcing his studies via summer stock engagements (primarily with the Woodstock Playhouse), Charney earned his BA in 1960 and made his Off-Broadway debut the following April in Edward Albee's Zoo Story, replacing Peter Mark Richman as Jerry. In 1962, Charney sought to further his education, as part of the Lincoln Center Training Program.

Career Many of Charney's earliest screen roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Charney created the role of creepy Julian Dark in the early to mid-1960s on the CBS soap, The Secret Storm. He played Sam Lucas, a former convict who became a lawyer, in both Another World and its spin-off Somerset, playing the role from 1967 to 1974. He also appeared as Lt. Vince Wolek on One Life to Live (1975–1977). Other roles were on Love of Life and All My Children.

Charney portrayed newspaper editor Ted Bergman in the 1977 CBS series The Andros Targets. In 1980, he played Capt. Roger Westerby, an old flame of Corabeth Godsey, in a season eight episode of The Waltons. He had a recurring role as Frank Angelino, Jack Tripper's boss, on Three's Company (1981–1983). He is often cast as a judge, attorney, prison warden, or police officer. He has made appearances on Knots Landing,Falcon Crest, Dynasty, Night Court and 100 Centre Street, among many other series. He can also be seen in the recurring role of Judge Donald Karan on Law & Order.

In 1982, Charney portrayed renowned theatre director and drama critic Harold Clurman in Universal's Frances Farmer biopic (alongside Jessica Lange as Farmer and Jeffrey DeMunn as Clifford Odets); he has also appeared in such films as The Hospital, Network, and Ghostbusters, and acted on the CBS Radio Mystery Theater.

1982 also marked the beginning of Charney's tenure as artistic director of Actors Alley theater in the San Fernando Valley in California. By November 1986 the group's membership had grown from 22 when he arrived to 70. It offered weekly classes for members and presented both free and paid-admission plays for the public.

Personal life Charney married television director / theatrical producer Nancy Cooperstein in November 1966. They have two children, including opera singer Allison Charney, and five grandchildren.

Filmography

Film

Television