Wikipedia / Jordan Charney
Wikipedia / Jordan Charney
Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937) is an American character actor known for Ghostbusters (1984), 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, where, in November 1957 and 1958, respectively, he portrayed the title character in productions of Coxe and Chapman's Billy Budd—adapted from Melville's like-named novel—and of Sophocles' tragedy, Oedipus Rex. 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
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1971 | Jesse's Aide | Uncredited | |
Hitchcock | |||
1976 | Harry Hunter | ||
1980 | Professor | ||
Charlie Reynolds | |||
1981 | Separate Ways | Harry Bartoff | |
1982 | |||
1984 | Dean Yeager | ||
1985 | Dr. Whitaker | ||
1986 | Dr. Gruner | ||
2001 | Queenie in Love | Father | |
2007 | Mo | Dr. Leahman | |
Chairman |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1965 | Halloran | Television film | |
Dr. Tony Vento | 18 episodes | ||
1966 | Intern | Episode: "Death Comes Full Circle" | |
1967–1974 | Sam Lucas | 10 episodes | |
1970 | Episode #1.1 | ||
1974 | Dr. Harold Eberhart | 3 episodes | |
1976–1977 | Vince Wolek #2 | 24 episodes | |
1977 | Ted Bergman | Television film | |
1978 | Who'll Save Our Children? | John Drake | |
1979 | Lieutenant Sutton / Detective Rollins | 2 episodes | |
1979–1983 | Frank Angelino / Mr. Layton | 12 episodes | |
1980 | Marriage Is Alive and Well | Fritz | Television film |
Capt. Roger Westerby | Episode: "The Medal" | ||
Mr. McLaughlin | Episode: "The Other Woman" | ||
The Plutonium Incident | Mr. Orr | Television film | |
1981 | Karl Buckner | Episode: "Catch" | |
Jack Beddoes | Episode: "The Governor's House Call" | ||
Capt. Hookstratten | Episode: "Judy Got Her Gun" | ||
1981–1982 | Dr. Seymour Katz | 13 episodes | |
1981–1985 | Ed Chapel / Marty Dignan | 4 episodes | |
1982 | Mr. Flowers | Episode: "Blue and Broken-Harted" | |
1983 | TV Commentator | Television film | |
Max Leopold | Episode: "Formula for Revenge" | ||
1984 | Congressman Harris Stowe | Television film | |
Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter | Harry Ascot | ||
Norton Crane | 6 episodes | ||
Donald | Episode: "Son of Sheinfeld" | ||
Ben Foley | Television film | ||
The Impostor | Barela | ||
1985 | 3 episodes | ||
Tatum | Television film | ||
Captain Pankowitz | Episode: "The Chicago Connection" | ||
Marvin Langdon | Television film | ||
Dr. Renfro | 23 episodes | ||
Commissioner Bert Daniels | Television film | ||
Stu | Episode: "Killer in a Halloween Mask" | ||
Crime of Innocence | Spencer Mulholland | Television film | |
Mr. Clemens | |||
Vincent | Episode: "Nightfall" | ||
Dr. Moyer | Episode: "Grand Theft Bunny" | ||
1986 | Pete Stark | Television film | |
Judge Albert | Episode: "See You in Court" | ||
1987 | Bob Kenton | Episode: "Norman's Parking Ticket" | |
Harvey | Episode: "Born to Ride" | ||
Home Fires | Hal Robinson | Television film | |
Joe Eastwood | Episode: "In with the 'In' Crowd" | ||
1987–1988 | Bill Cochran | 5 episodes | |
1987, 1991 | Joseph Gennis / Samuel Adelson | 2 episodes | |
1988 | Abby's Lawyer | Episode: "Lawfully Wedded" | |
Beecher Perry | Television film | ||
Mr. Ted Sharf | Episode: "Behind Closed Doors" | ||
The Town Bully | Harmon Gunderson | Television film | |
Spreiregen | |||
Judge | |||
James McCracken | Episode: "The Night Court Before Christmas" | ||
1989 | Capone Behind Bars | Television film | |
Chancellor Hammond | |||
Warden Paul Branden | 2 episodes | ||
1990 | Jiri | ||
Kurt Bodine | 11 episodes | ||
1991 | Bernie Robbins | Television film | |
1992–2006 | Judge Donald Karan / Dr. Mandell | 9 episodes | |
1994 | Dr. Howard Braniff / Pathologist | 2 episodes | |
1995 | Bill | Episode: "The French Class" | |
Mr. Harrod | Episode: "The Ethics of Hope" | ||
1996 | Innocent Victims | Judge | Television film |
Charlie | Episode: "Baywatch Angels" | ||
1997 | Official | Episode: "Charades" | |
2001 | Judge Kelleher | 5 episodes | |
2002 | Melvin Colter | Episode: "Homo Homini Lupus" | |
Rory O'Halloran | Episode: "Silence" |
References
External links