Regis Cordic

Regis John Cordic (May 15, 1926 – April 16, 1999) was an American radio personality and actor, also known and credited as Rege Cordic.

His career in entertainment was divided roughly in half. From 1948 to 1965, he was the dominant morning drive-time radio host in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From the late 1950s to the mid-1980s, he was a successful voice, television, and film actor in Los Angeles, California.

Move to Los Angeles

In 1965, CBS Radio offered Cordic the morning drive-time spot at KNX (AM) in Los Angeles. The spot was being vacated by Bob Crane, who was leaving radio to star in Hogan's Heroes. Cordic accepted the offer in July 1965, but KDKA owner Westinghouse Broadcasting Corporation refused to release Cordic from his contract until it ended in November 1965. KNX's morning ratings dropped precipitously during the four months that the show had no permanent host. They improved somewhat when Cordic arrived, but not enough to offset the drop, and the station switched to an all-news format after 18 months with Cordic as the morning host. The flair for Pittsburgh-centered satire, it seems, was difficult for Cordic to import to the more sophisticated Los Angeles radio market, despite the successes of similar personalities like Jim Hawthorne.

While he lived in Los Angeles, Cordic regularly flew back to Pittsburgh to tape segments for WTAE-TV's Sunday Afternoon Movie, giving detailed background information about the films presented.

Cordic, still being paid for the remaining time under his KNX contract, studied acting, and began to get television roles. He first appeared on television in The Monkees in 1967 and The Flying Nun in 1968. He had small parts in a few films, but was primarily a television actor. Over the years, he appeared several times on Gunsmoke, and also had roles in Kung Fu, Nichols, Columbo, Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, The Waltons, and McCloud, among many others.

From the late 1970s until 1991, he was heard in cartoon voice roles, starting with The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour in 1976, and also including Jabberjaw, Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Transformers, and a voice part in the 1977 animated film The Mouse and His Child. Cordic had an uncredited part as a featured party guest in Woody Allen's 1973 movie, Sleeper.

Cordic returned to morning radio for a brief time in late 1981, taking over at oldies station KRLA/Pasadena. He signed on for a year, but left the job after just four months. He spent the rest of his career doing voice-over work, lending his voice to many national commercials.

Cordic died in Los Angeles of brain cancer in 1999, one month short of his 73rd birthday. He was buried in Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1960 Omicron and the Sputnik Narrator/Omicron/Noodnicron Voice1967 The Monkees Doctor Season 2, Episode 15; "The Christmas Show"1968 The Monkees Narrator-Town Cryer Season 2, Episode 16; "Fairy Tale"1970 R. P. M. Minor Role Uncredited1971 The Seven Minutes Louis Polk 1973 Extreme Close-Up 1973 Detroit 9000 1973 Sleeper Party Guest Uncredited1973 Emergency! Patient Season 2, Episode 20; "Rip-Off"1974 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Marc Williams Season 4, Episode 16; "WJM Tries Harder"1974 Newman's Law Clement 1975 The Wild Party Mr. Murchison 1976 Obsession Newscaster 1977 The Mouse and His Child The Clock Voice1977 Telefon Doctor 1977 John Hus Cardinal Anthony 1979 Americathon Herb 1986 The Transformers: The Movie Quintesson Judge Voice Kolchak nightstalker, TV show