Ron Eldard

Ronald Jason Eldard is an American former actor. , his last television appearance was a recurring role in the 2013 season of Justified, with his last film being the lead role in Higher Power.

Early life Eldard was born on Long Island, New York. He is the sixth of seven children, and has four sisters and two brothers. He is of Irish and Scottish descent. Eldard's mother died in a car accident when he was a child, and Eldard and his siblings were sent to live with various family members. He attended grade school in Utah while living with his aunt and uncle.

Career Eldard made his film debut in the comedy True Love (1989), written and directed by Nancy Savoca, and co-starring Annabella Sciorra. This film won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Eldard has performed on Broadway in critically acclaimed productions of On the Waterfront, Biloxi Blues, Bash: Latterday Plays, and Death of a Salesman. The latter two were filmed for Showtime productions.

Eldard is known for his film roles as Mickey Bunce in the cult comedy Drop Dead Fred (1991); as street thug John Reilly in Sleepers (1996), and as Dodge, a Marine Salvage Expert, in the horror film Ghost Ship (2002).

Beginning January 11, 2006, he starred as Father Flynn in the Tony Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning Broadway production of Doubt, opposite the British actress Dame Eileen Atkins. He was scheduled to assume the role for the January 10 performance, but was ill. The production closed July 2, 2006. In 2014, he starred in the indie horror film Poker Night.

Personal life Eldard was in a relationship with his ER co-star Julianna Margulies from 1991 to 2003.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1989 True Love Michael One Life to Live "Blade" Television series 1991 Drop Dead Fred Mickey Bunce 1992 Jumpin' Joe Joe Dugan Television film Arresting Behavior Officer Donny Walsh Television series Scent of a Woman Officer Gore 1993 TriBeCa Phil Television series 1993–1994 Bakersfield P.D. Detective Wade Preston Television series 1995 Sex & the Other Man Bill Jameson Pete 1995–1996 ER Paramedic Ray "Shep" Shepard Television series 1996 Bastard Out of Carolina Glen Waddell Sleepers John Reilly 1996–1997 Men Behaving Badly Kevin Murphy Television series 1998 Deep Impact Oren Monash When Trumpets Fade Private / Sergeant / Lieutenant David Manning Television film 1999 Homicide: Life on the Street Emmet Carey Television series Delivered Reed aka Death by Pizza Edward Harrington Mystery, Alaska Matt "Skank" Marden 2000 Death of a Salesman Biff Loman Television film 2001 Bash: Latter-Day Plays Television film Black Hawk Down Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant 2002 Just a Kiss Dag Ghost Ship Dodge 2003 House of Sand and Fog Deputy Sheriff Lester Burdon 2005 Fathers and Sons Tom Television film Blind Justice Detective Jim Dunbar Television series 2006 Freedomland Danny Martin Diggers Jack 2007 Demons Gus Television film Already Dead Thomas Archer 2008 Daniel Stone Television film 2009 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Geno Parnell Television series 2011 In Plain Sight Carl Harris Television series Super 8 Louis Dainard Roadie Jimmy Testagross 2013 Justified Colton "Colt" Rhodes Television series Jobs Rod Holt 2014 Poker Night Cunningham 2018 Odds Are... The Homeowner Higher Power Joe Steadman