Richard Herd

Richard Thomas Herd Jr. (September 26, 1932 – May 26, 2020) was an American actor appearing in numerous supporting, recurring, and guest roles in television series and occasional film roles from the 1970s to the 2010s. He was well known in the science fiction community for his role in the 1983 NBC miniseries V and 1984 sequel V: The Final Battle, as John, the Visitors' Supreme Commander. Other major roles in his career included recurring parts on the NBC series seaQuest DSV as Admiral William Noyce; on Star Trek: Voyager as Admiral Owen Paris, the father of helmsman Tom Paris; and as George Costanza's boss Matt Wilhelm on Seinfeld. In two guest appearances on Quantum Leap, he played children's show host "Captain Galaxy", a would-be time traveler, and a miner named Ziggy Ziganovich. He also voiced Father Elijah in the Dead Money expansion for Fallout: New Vegas. Herd appeared at several fan conventions for his science fiction roles.

Early life Herd was born in Boston, the son of Katherine (Lydon) and Richard Herd Sr., a train engineer who died while serving in the Army during World War II.

Herd was drafted during the Korean War, injuring his knee during basic training. He served in the United States Army Ordnance Corps and was honorably discharged. He then worked in Long Island, New York, for the United States Army Signal Corps as a civilian actor, along with Robert Ludlum, making Army training films. He made his film debut in a minor role as a television presenter in Hercules in New York (1970), then portrayed Watergate burglar James W. McCord, Jr. in the Academy Award-winning All the President's Men (1976). Herd's first major film role was in the thriller The China Syndrome alongside Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas, where he played the character Evan McCormack, the corrupt Chairman of the California Gas & Electric Board. This role helped make him well known outside the United States.

In addition to science fiction, he was a regular as Captain Dennis Sheridan on T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1983 (he continued to appear on the series sporadically until 1984), and appeared on Seinfeld as Mr. Wilhelm, George Costanza's boss at the Yankees. Guest appearances included M*A*S*H, The Rockford Files, The Feather and Father Gang, The Golden Girls, Starsky & Hutch, Quantum Leap, The A-Team, Midnight Caller, Hart to Hart, NYPD Blue, Renegade, Pacific Blue, and JAG.

In 2012, he played Judge Paul Landsman in the TV series CSI: Miami episode "Rest in Pieces". Herd portrayed Roman Armitage in Get Out (2017).

Herd served as the third National Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild.

Personal life and death Herd lived in Los Angeles with his wife of 40 years, Patricia Crowder Herd. He died at his home from complications of colon cancer on May 26, 2020, aged 87.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1970 Hercules in New York Television Presenter 1976 All the President's Men James W. McCord, Jr. 1977 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden Dr. Halle 1978 F.I.S.T Mike Monahan 1979 The China Syndrome Evan McCormack The Onion Field Beat Cop 1980 Wolf Lake George Schizoid Donahue Private Benjamin General Foley 1981 Lovely But Deadly 'Honest Charley' Gilmarten 1983 Deal of the Century Lyle 1985 Trancers Chairman Spencer Summer Rental Angus MacLachlan 1987 Planes, Trains and Automobiles Walt 1989 Gleaming the Cube Ed Lawndale 1990 Corporate Affairs Cyrus Kinkaid The Judas Project Arthur Cunningham 1993 Skeeter Uncredited 1996 Sgt. Bilko Gen. Tennyson 1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Henry Skerridge 1998 The Survivor Bradford 2000 Joseph: King of Dreams Jacob Voice 2003 Roddenberry on Patrol Captain Kirkus Video short 2005 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari Commissioner Hans Raab Confessions of a Pit Fighter Father Mark Checkers Phillip 2006 Vic Richard Hanson Short 2007 TV Virus Professor Black Anna Nicole J. Howard Marshall Dog Days of Summer Frank Cooper InAlienable Professor Randolph Barnett 2017 Get Out Roman Armitage 2018 The Oath Old Man The Mule Tim Kennedy 2019 The Silent Natural Mr. Beagle Final role

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Pueblo Lt. Cmdr. C. Clark TV movie 1975 Kojak Bob Episode: "A Question of Answers" The Rockford Files Sheriff Cliff Gladish Episode: "Pastoria Prime Pick" 1976 Hazard's People Howard Frederickson TV movie Captains and the Kings Talmadge Episode: "Chapter IV" (as Richard T. Herd) 1977 The Streets of San Francisco Greene Episode: "The Cannibals" The Feather and Father Gang Applegate Episode: "The Golden Fleece" Rafferty Episode: "Rafferty" The Hunted Lady Capt. Wilson TV movie 1978 Dr. Scorpion Bill Worthington TV movie Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid Donovan TV movie Terror Out of the Sky Col. Mangus TV movie Dr. Scorpion The Dane TV movie 1979 Eight Is Enough George McArthur Episode: "The Better Part of Valor" Starsky & Hutch FBI Agent Smithers Episodes: "Targets Without a Badge: Part 2 and 3" Ike: The War Years Gen. Omar Bradley Parts I, II, and III (miniseries) The Lazarus Syndrome Morton Episode: "Malpractice" Marciano John Furst TV movie 1979–1981 Hart to Hart Waldo Sommerton / Lieutenant Fredricks 2 episodes 1980 M*A*S*H Capt. Bill Snyder Episode: "Back Pay" Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb General Groves TV movie Fighting Back: The Rocky Bleier Story Chuck Noll TV movie 1980–1981 Dallas John Mackey 3 episodes 1981 The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo Dr. Smith Episode: "The Girls with the Stolen Bodies" Elvis and the Beauty Queen Thompson TV movie The Greatest American Hero Adam Taft Episode: "The Greatest American Hero" Walking Tall Philip Ballard Episode: "Deadly Impact" Strike Force Episode: "Kidnap" 1982 Farrell for the People Randolph Gardner (as Richard T. Herd) TV movie The Devlin Connection Lt. Harvey Bukowski Episode: "Jennifer" 1982–1984 T. J. Hooker Capt. Dennis Sheridan 36 episodes 1982–1988 Simon & Simon Police Officer Harry Flank / Consul Dearborn / Kyle Edmunds 4 episodes 1983 The Powers of Matthew Star Dave Wellman Episode: "Dead Man's Hand" V John TV miniseries 1984 Falcon Crest Calvin Kleeger 2 episodes V: The Final Battle John TV miniseries 1984–1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Colonel Joe Bartz / Arthur Huntley / Lonnie Vanatta 2 episodes 1985 Matt Houston Patrick Moffett Episode: "The Beach Club Murders" The A-Team Jonathan Durcell Episode: "Waste 'Em!" Knight Rider Lyle Jastrow Episode: "Knight Strike" 1986 Dynasty Jim Ellison Episode: "The Cry" Scarecrow and Mrs. King Jake Williamson Episode: "Photo Finish" 1986–1993 Murder, She Wrote Arnett Cobb / Harvey McKittrick 2 episodes 1987 Hill Street Blues Mike Episode: "Norman Conquest" Rags to Riches Episode: "Foley vs. Foley" Ohara Stillwell Episode: "Brian" The Law and Harry McGraw General Buckram Episode: "Yankee Boodle Dandy" Beauty and the Beast Richard Barnes Episode: "A Children's Story" 1988 Favorite Son Part One My First Love Chet Townsend TV movie 1989 Matlock Police Capt. Edward Hanna / The Mad Hatter Episode: "The Captain" The Golden Girls Ernie Episode: "The Impotence of Being Ernest" Nashville Beat Chief Kincaid TV movie Mancuso, FBI Red Burrows Episode: "Little Saigon" 1990 Knots Landing Dr. Aaron Stahl 2 episodes China Beach Bartender Episode: "The Thanks of a Grateful Nation" Midnight Caller Medina Episode: "Protection" Fall from Grace Richard Dortch TV movie Jake and the Fatman Frank Bronski Episode: "God Bless the Child" Camp Cucamonga Thornton Bradley TV movie The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake Ray Goodrich TV movie 1991 Quantum Leap Moe Stein Episode: "Future Boy - October 6, 1957" Tales from the Crypt Phil Stone Episode: "Deadline" 1992 FBI: The Untold Stories Robert Mackle Episode: "Buried Alive" Seduction: Three Tales from the 'Inner Sanctum' Charles Hackley TV movie Renegade Sheriff Frank Brown Episode: "Mother Courage" Majority Rule TV movie 1993 Star Trek: The Next Generation L'Kor Episodes: "Birthright, Part I""Birthright, Part II" Quantum Leap Ziggy Ziganovich / Moe Stein Episode: "Mirror Image - August 8, 1953" Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Dr. John Hansen Episodes: "Where the Heart Is: Parts 1 and 2 1993–1994 SeaQuest DSV Admiral Noyce / Secretary General Noyce 12 episodes 1994 Winnetka Road Mike 3 episodes The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. President Cleveland 2 episodes Robin's Hoods Colonel Beckett Episode: "To Heir Is Human" The Gift of Love TV movie Cosmic Slop Cardinal (segment "The First Commandment") TV movie 1995 The Secretary Chuck Bosnell TV movie ER Dr. Murphy Episode: "Men Plan, God Laughs" 1995–1998 Seinfeld Matt Wilhelm 11 episodes 1996 A Case for Life Bud Cromwell TV movie Yesterday's Target Aaron Winfield TV movie Shattered Mind Chester TV movie Walker, Texas Ranger General Garrity Episode: "Codename: Dragonfly" Grace Under Fire Police captain Episode: "Road to Nowhere" 1997 Bruno the Kid voice Episode: "The Spy Just Like Me" Journey of the Heart Principal Martin TV movie 1997–98 Pacific Blue Ethan Callaway 2 episodes 1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Dr. Backer Episode: "Killed by Death" I Married a Monster Dr. Paul Drummond, Kelly's Uncle TV movie Diagnosis: Murder Archie Mullen Episode: "Write, She Murdered" Caroline in the City Barney Baxter Episode: "Caroline and the Big Night" 1999 A Fare to Remember Mr. Jennings 1999–2001 Star Trek: Voyager Admiral Owen Paris 4 episodes 2000 JAG Charlie Hoskins Episode: "The Bridge at Kang So Ri" 2001 The Fugitive Jack Episode: "Jenny" The Song of the Lark Reverend Larsen TV movie 2002 Family Law Judge Neil Walker Episode: "Big Brother" The District Sam SheridanAndi Episode: "Faith" 2003–2004 Everwood Herb Roberts 2 episodes 2004 The O.C. Bill Shaughnessy / Uncle Shaun Episode: "The Telenovela" NYPD Blue Jimmy McGowan 2 episodes 2005 Ghost Whisperer Stephen Devine Episode: "Hope and Mercy" 2007 Desperate Housewives Harry Gaunt Episode: "Not While I'm Around" Love's Unfolding Dream Windsor 2008 Cold Case Gene Karnow '08 Episode: "Shore Leave" 2010 Elf Sparkle and the Special Red Dress Sparks Voice, TV movie 2012 CSI: Miami Judge Paul Landsman Episode: "Rest in Pieces" Betty White's Off Their Rockers Various 6 episodes Odessa Ben 2013 Rizzoli & Isles Patrick Doyle, Sr. Episode: "Partners in Crime" 2015 Star Trek: Renegades Owen Paris 2018 Shameless Gerald Episode: "Church of Gay Jesus" Hawaii Five-0 Old Milton Episode: "Pua a'e la ka uwahi o ka moe"

+ Video Game Year Title Role Notes 2006 Blue Dragon Nene (Old) (English version, Voice, Video Game 2010 Fallout: New Vegas Father Elijah - Dead Money DLC Voice, Video Game 2013 BioShock Infinite Preacher Whitting Voice, Video Game