Richard McKenzie

Richard McKenzie (June 2, 1930 – December 1, 2023) was an American character actor who is known for his guest role as Fred Bunker, younger brother of Archie Bunker on the hit CBS-TV sitcom series All in the Family in seasons 8 and 9, and season 4 of Archie Bunker's Place. He also appeared in other popular shows such as Quincy, M.E., Hawaii Five-O, Matlock and In the Heat of the Night.

Biography and career McKenzie's career began in television in a 1961 episode of the sitcom My Three Sons as Quinn. It would be another 14 years until Richard would make another television guest star appearance on the TV drama Doctors' Hospital in 1975 as Dr. Williams.

Throughout the 1970s, McKenzie would make guest appearances on many television shows. His most famous guest appearances in the 70's were on the television sitcoms Three's Company in 1978 as Chef Anton, All in the Family/Archie Bunker's Place in three episodes between 1978 and 1982 as Archie Bunker's younger brother Alfred "Fred" Bunker, and on two episodes of Carter County between 1978 and 1979 as Dr. Fenway. Throughout the 1970s, McKenzie would guest star in such shows as The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O, The Jeffersons, Roots, Sword of Justice, One Day at a Time, etc.

McKenzie would also have an extraordinary television career in the 1980s which also included two co-starring role in television shows. His first guest starring role was in the show Family in three different episodes as two different characters. His first co-starring role was in the 1980s short-lived series The Yeagers. The Yeagers was a drama centering on the life of the Yeager family and associates. The series produced only one episode in 1980. The series also co-starred David Ackroyd, Guy Boyd, and Andy Griffith. In 1982, McKenzie would again co-star in another short-lived series entitled It Takes Two. The series was about a couple, Sam and Molly Quinn who are too focused on their jobs to pay attention to their children or each other. He played Walter Chaiken in the series. The series aired for twenty-two episodes in one season, (1982–1983). The series also co-starred Richard Crenna, Patty Duke, and Helen Hunt. Some other of his memorable guest star roles in the 1980s include those in the shows Soap, CBS Afternoon Playhouse, Archie Bunker's Place, Knots Landing, Benson, Growing Pains, Too Close for Comfort, Matlock, ALF, etc.

In the 1990s, McKenzie would guest star on shows such as The Golden Girls, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, NYPD Blue, In the Heat of the Night, etc. His last appearance on television was in a 2002 episode of Judging Amy as Judge Novak.

McKenzie also appeared in many feature films and television films. He starred in more than 10 movies during the course of 22 years. His first movie role as "Behan" in the 1971 movie Doc. Some of his other memorable appearances in the movies included those in A.W.O.L. (1972), Man on a Swing (1974), Corvette Summer (1978), Being There (1979), The Doctor (1991), and Ghost in the Machine (1993). He also appeared in more than 20 TV movies. His first role was in Nicky's World (1974), as the role of Mr. Lanning, and his last role was in Deadly Medicine (1991), as the role of Brookshire.

McKenzie made his name in theater as well. His Broadway credits included That Championship Season, Uncle Vanya and many more.

McKenzie died on December 1, 2023, at the age of 93.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1971 Doc Behan 1972 A.W.O.L. Willy's Father 1972 The Stoolie Gun Store Clerk 1974 Man on a Swing Sam Gallagher 1978 Nowhere to Run Dr. Steinberg TV movie 1978 Corvette Summer Principal Bacon 1979 Being There Ron Steigler 1980 Gideon's Trumpet Judge McCrary TV movie 1981 First Monday in October Hostile Senator 1981 Callie & Son Donohue TV movie 1981 Splendor in the Grass Doc Smiley TV movie 1981 Dark Night of the Scarecrow Judge Henry 1982 Some Kind of Hero Psychiatrist 1983 Malibu Hunnicutt Powell TV movie 1987 Billionaire Boys Club Steven Raleigh TV movie 1988 Bird Southern Doctor 1988 Shootdown Overstar TV movie 1991 The Doctor Mr. Richards 1991 Deadly Medicine Brookshire TV movie 1991 Daddy Jeremy Bosworth TV movie 1993 Ghost in the Machine Frank Mallory

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1961 My Three Sons Quinn 1975 Doctor's Hospital Dr. Williams The Waltons Porter Sims Hawaii Five-O Gustave Lupin 1976 The Jeffersons Mr. Owens 1977 Roots Sam Harvey 2 episodes Kingston: Confidential Dunstan 1978 Quincy, M.E. Dr.Holmes Three's Company Chef Anton Sword of Justice Berardi 1978–1979 All in the Family Alfred "Fred" Bunker 2 episodes Carter County Dr. Fenway 2 episodes1979 One Day at a Time Herb Ike Col Offenheim California Fever Mr. Newman Soap The Doctor 1979–1980 Family Mr. McKinley/Mr. Stephens 3 episodes1980 The Yeagers Lester 1 episode; unsold pilot episode Stone Professor Frank One in a Million The Doctor 1980–1981 Soap Dr. Saxton 3 episodes 1981 It's a Living Will Frankel 1982 CBS Afternoon Playhouse Tom Gordon Bring 'Em Back Alive Arthur Archie Bunker's Place Alfred "Fred" Bunker 1982–1983 It Takes Two Walter Chaiken 22 episodes1983 Condo The Mississippi Wallenberg 1984 Oh Madeline Sam You Are the Jury Dr. Salton 1985 Knots Landing Judge Calvin Gillian Benson Senator Jenkins Hail to the Chief Gavin Phelps Stir Crazy Ed Grant Growing Pains Dr. McCloskey The Facts of Life The Inspector 1986 The Colbys Dr. Leonard Jamison 2 episodes MacGyver Willis Too Close for Comfort Bill Wagner Comedy Factory George Dent Highway to Heaven Professor Fish 1986–1987 Matlock Lt. Rupert Davis/Police Det. Rupert Davis 4 episodes1987 The Wizard Cummings 21 Jump Street Mr. John Madigan Valerie Mr. Baker Ohara Uncle Bob Throb Harry 1988 My Sister Sam It's a Living Mr. Mackinaw 2 episodes ALF Nick Susla 1989 Quantum Leap Fred Beaman 1990 The Golden Girls Jack 1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Judge Herman's Head Michael A. O'Connell Pros and Cons Ray Masters Empty Nest Rudnick 1991–1995 In the Heat of the Night Preston Donner 3 episodes 1992–1993 Civil Wars Judge Phil Macomber 2 episodes1993 Empty Nest Mr. Davidson 2 episodes NYPD Blue Arland Rickman 1994 Picket Fences Bishop John Marsh 1995 Grace Under Fire Henry 2002 Judging Amy Judge Novak (final appearance)