Terry O'Quinn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) O'Quinn in 2008 | |
| Born | Terrance Quinn (1952-07-15)July 15, 1952 (age 73) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Terrance Quinn (born July 15, 1952), known professionally asTerry O'Quinn, is an American actor. He won aPrimetime Emmy Award for his performance asJohn Locke on the TV seriesLost (2004–2010). In film, he also played the title role inThe Stepfather (1987) andHoward Hughes inThe Rocketeer (1991) with roles in other films such asHeaven's Gate (1980),Silver Bullet (1985),Young Guns (1988),Blind Fury (1989),Tombstone (1993) andPrimal Fear (1996).
Other prominent television roles includePeter Watts inMillennium (1996–1999), FBI Asst. Director Kendall inAlias (2002–2004), Commander Joe White inHawaii Five-0 (2011–2018), and Tom Tavner inPatriot (2015–2018).
O'Quinn was born at War Memorial Hospital inSault Ste. Marie, Michigan, one of 11 siblings, and grew up in nearbyNewberry, Michigan. He is ofIrish descent and was raisedCatholic.[1][2] He attendedCentral Michigan University inMount Pleasant, Michigan, and theUniversity of Iowa inIowa City. He changed his surname from Quinn to O'Quinn as another registered actor already had the name Terrance Quinn.[3]
In the 1970s, O'Quinn went to Baltimore to act in theCenter Stage production ofTartuffe. He remained at Center Stage for several years and often appeared with the late Tana Hicken, most notably as Benedick to herBeatrice inMuch Ado About Nothing. His first movie role was inHeaven's Gate.
O'Quinn began acting in the 1970s during his time atCentral Michigan University. He not only was an actor but also playwright/director. He wrote and directed the musicalOrchestrina. This musical featured five main characters: The Man (played byJeff Daniels), The Boy (Harold Downs), The Woman (Ann O'Donnell), The Girl (Debbie Penwarden), and The Drunk (James Hilliker), plus a female and a male chorus. He was roommates at CMU with actorBrad Slaight.[4]
Starting in 1980, O'Quinn has appeared in various feature films such asSilver Bullet,Tombstone,Heaven's Gate,Young Guns,Ghosts of Mississippi, withRutger Hauer inBlind Fury, and as Howard Hughes inThe Rocketeer.
O'Quinn also appeared in theCanadianhorror movie,Pin (1988) alongsideBritish-bornCanadian actor,David Hewlett.
His earlytelevision roles include guest appearances onTales of the Unexpected (episode "In the Bag"),Miami Vice (episode "Give a Little, Take a Little"),Moonlighting,Star Trek: The Next Generation (episode "The Pegasus"),The Twilight Zone (1985 revival; episode "Chameleon"),Homicide: Life on the Street (episode "Hate Crimes"), a recurring role onEarth 2, another recurring role as Captain (later Rear Admiral)Thomas Boone onJAG, as well as Colonel Will Ryan in episode 15 of season 1 on theJAG spin-off seriesNCIS (episode "Enigma").
Around 1995, O'Quinn made guest appearances inThe X-Files andHarsh Realm, produced by Chris Carter, who also cast him in the filmThe X-Files: Fight the Future and then once again in the final season. In 1996, O'Quinn started acting as Peter Watts in the television seriesMillennium, also produced byChris Carter. O'Quinn held this role for all three seasons of the series. O'Quinn holds the distinction of having played four different characters within the extendedX-Files/Millenniumcontinuum (the two shows being classed together since bothLance Henriksen's character ofFrank Black andCharles Nelson Reilly's character of Jose Chung have appeared in both shows).[5][6]
O'Quinn made his breakthrough by starring as the title character inThe Stepfather, a deranged serial killer going by the name "Jerry Blake" (his character's real name and identity are never revealed), who is obsessed with having an ideal family. When a widowed mother and daughter do not comply with his expectations, he spirals into a spell of madness and attempts to murder them. O'Quinn was praised by critics, includingRoger Ebert in theChicago Sun-Times, who commented, "The Stepfather has one wonderful element: Terry O'Quinn's performance."[7] Ebert wrote, "He is a journeyman actor from TV and many movies, usually in supporting roles and you may or may not recognize him. What's clear at once is that he is a strong actor and given this leading role he brings all kinds of creepy dimensions to it. He has the thankless assignment of showing us a completely hateful, repellent character – and he approaches the task as an exercise in cloying middle-class good manners."[7] O'Quinn was nominated for both aSaturn Award and anIndependent Spirit Award for his performance. A sequel,Stepfather II, was released two years later, in which his character escapes from an insane asylum. It grossed almost a million dollars less at the box office.[8][9] Not impressed with the second movie, O'Quinn declined to appear in its third installment, in which the stepfather character was portrayed byRobert Wightman.
O'Quinn was approached by the director of the2009 reboot ofThe Stepfather,Nelson McCormick, to make a cameo appearance in the film but according to the producers O'Quinn turned down the offer.[10][11]
After a string of recurring appearances onAlias (2002–2003), as theFBI DirectorKendall, O'Quinn became a favorite of television producerJ. J. Abrams. Following a seven-episode guest run onThe West Wing in 2003–2004, O'Quinn received a call from Abrams indicating that the producer wanted to cast him in his new television dramaLost without any audition. In 2005, O'Quinn received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his work as John Locke on the seriesLost. O'Quinn admitted on theTV Guide Channel that he did not have much faith inLost at first, calling it "The MysteriousGilligan's Island ofDr. Moreau".[12] The show, however, became one of the most popular on television, and on September 16, 2007, he won anEmmy Award forOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role, and was nominated again for an Emmy for the role in 2010, which he did not win. In aTV.com interview O'Quinn commented that the reason he felt comfortable playing this character is because he's a bit like him.[13]
O'Quinn has made a number of television appearances sinceLost. From 2012 to 2013, O'Quinn starred in the short-lived series666 Park Avenue as Gavin Doran. In 2012, he appeared in the second season ofFalling Skies.[14] Additionally, O’Quinn starred for two seasons in Amazon Studios'Patriot.
In 2016, it was announced that O'Quinn would be joining the second season ofSecret and Lies.[15] In 2019, O'Quinn starred in the only season ofPerpetual Grace, LTD on Epix.
In February 2021, it was announced that O'Quinn was cast as Martin Queller in theNetflix thriller seriesPieces of Her, which is adapted from theKarin Slaughternovel of the same name.[16]
In October 2023, during New York Comic Con, it was announced that he would play the antagonist Major General Beale inThe Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, created byScott M. Gimple.
Terry joined theCameo platform shortly after its launch in 2017. He has since been creating videos for fans and donating all of the proceeds to theVirginia Beach SPCA. Terry has raised thousands of dollars on Cameo, and continues to create videos weekly.[17]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Heaven's Gate | Capt. Minardi | |
| 1983 | All the Right Moves | Freeman Smith | |
| Without a Trace | Parent | ||
| 1984 | Places in the Heart | Buddy Kelsey | |
| Mrs. Soffel | Detective Buck McGovern | ||
| 1985 | Silver Bullet | Sheriff Joe Haller | |
| Mischief | Claude Harbrough | ||
| 1986 | SpaceCamp | Launch Director | |
| 1987 | The Stepfather | Jerry Blake / Henry Morrison / Bill Hodgkins / The Stepfather | Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead Nominated—National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor |
| Black Widow | Bruce | ||
| 1988 | Young Guns | Alex McSween | |
| Pin | Dr. Linden | ||
| 1989 | Blind Fury | Frank Deveraux | |
| Stepfather II | Jerry Blake / Dr. Gene Clifford / The Stepfather | ||
| The Forgotten One | Bob Anderson | ||
| 1990 | Blood Oath | Major Beckett | |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | Howard Hughes | |
| Company Business | Colonel Pierce Grissom | ||
| 1992 | The Cutting Edge | Jack Moseley | |
| My Samurai | James McCrea | ||
| 1993 | Tombstone | Mayor John Clum | |
| Amityville: A New Generation | Detective Clark | Direct-to-video | |
| 1995 | Shadow Warriors | Dr. Connors | |
| 1996 | Ghosts of Mississippi | Judge Hilburn | |
| Primal Fear | Bud Yancy | ||
| 1997 | Shadow Conspiracy | Frank Ridell | |
| 1998 | The X-Files | Darius Michaud | |
| 2000 | Rated X | J.R. Mitchell | |
| 2001 | American Outlaws | Rollin H. Parker | |
| 2002 | Hometown Legend | Buster Shuler | |
| 2003 | Old School | Goldberg | Uncredited |
| 2016 | New Life | Dr. Sumrall | |
| 2024 | Unsung Hero | Grandpa James |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | F.D.R.: The Last Year | James Roosevelt | Television |
| 1981 | The Doctors | Dr. Jerry Dancy | Soap opera |
| 1982 | Tales of the Unexpected | Cop | Episode: "In the Bag" |
| 1983 | Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number | Colonel Thomas Rhodes | Television film |
| ABC Afterschool Special | Mr. Jacobs | Episode: "The Hand Me Down Kid" | |
| 1984 | Miami Vice | Richard Cain | Episode: "Give a Little, Take a Little" |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Dr. Curt Lockridge | Episode: "Chameleon" |
| Right to Kill? | Jim Barrett | Television film | |
| An Early Frost | Dr. Redding | Television film | |
| Remington Steele | Chuck McBride | Episode: "Coffee, Tea or Steele" | |
| 1986 | Between Two Women | Dr. Wallace | Television film |
| Women of Valor | Major Tom Patterson | Television film | |
| 1987 | Moonlighting | Bryant Wilbourne | Episode: "Take a Left At the Altar" |
| At Mother's Request | Jeol Campbell | 2 episodes | |
| When the Time Comes | Wes Travis | Television film | |
| 1988 | Stranger on My Land | Connie Priest | Television film |
| A Year in the Life | Keith | Episode: "Fathers and Other Strangers" | |
| 1989 | Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North | Aaron Sykes | 2 episodes |
| Roe vs. Wade | Jay Floyd | Television film | |
| 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Vincent Novak | Episode: "You're Driving Me Crazy" |
| Perry Mason: The Case of the Desperate Deception | Curt Mitchell | Television film | |
| Kaleidoscope | Henry | Television film | |
| 1991 | Son of the Morning Star | GeneralAlfred Terry | 2 episodes |
| The Last to Go | Daniel | Television film | |
| Shoot First: A Cop's Vengeance | Sergeant Nicholas | Television film | |
| 1992 | Deliver Them from Evil: The Taking of Alta View | Sergeant Don Bell | Television film |
| Trial: The Price of Passion | Bob Altschuler | Television film | |
| L.A. Law | Nick Moats | Episode: "Beauty and the Breast" | |
| Sexual Advances | Cliff Ripley | Television film | |
| Wild Card | Barlow | Television film | |
| The Good Fight | Henry Cragin | Television film | |
| 1993 | Born Too Soon | Dr. Friedman | Television film |
| Visions of Murder | Admiral Truman Hager | Television film | |
| 1994 | A Friend to Die For | Principal Ed Saxe | Television film |
| MacShayne: Winner Takes All | Danny Legget | Television film | |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Admiral Erik Pressman | Episode: "The Pegasus" | |
| Heart of a Child | Gordon Holc | Television film | |
| Don't Talk to Strangers | Bonner | Television film | |
| Justice in a Small Town | Harris Wiley | Television film | |
| Tales from the Crypt | Inspector Martin Zeller | Episode: "The Bribe" | |
| Matlock | Malcolm Engle | Episode: "The Dare" | |
| 1994–1995 | Earth 2 | Reilly | 6 episodes |
| 1995 | The X-Files | Lt. Brian Tillman | Episode: "Aubrey" |
| Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder | Frank Darnell | Television film | |
| The Client | Bert Halliwell | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| Homicide: Life on the Street | Bailey Lafeld | Episode: "Hate Crimes" | |
| 1995–2002 | JAG | Capt./RAdm. Thomas Boone | 10 episodes |
| 1996 | Diagnosis: Murder | Dr. Ronald Trent | Episode: "The Murder Trade" |
| 1996–1999 | Millennium | Peter Watts | 41 episodes |
| 1997 | My Stepson, My Lover | Richard Cory | Television film |
| On the Edge of Innocence | David Walker | Television film | |
| Breast Men | Hersch Lawyer | Television film | |
| 1999 | Murder in a Small Town | Sidney Lassiter | Television film |
| 1999–2000 | Harsh Realm | General Omar Santiago | 9 episodes |
| 2001 | Roswell | Carl | Episode: "Michael, the Guys, and the Great Snapple Caper" |
| Semper Fi | Cliff's Father | Pilot | |
| WW3 | Eric Farrell | Television film | |
| 2002 | The X-Files | Shadow Man | Episode: "Trust No 1" |
| The Locket | Casey Keddington | Television film | |
| First Monday | Sheriff Carl Richards | Episode: "Strip Search" | |
| 2002–2004 | Alias | FBI Asst. Director Kendall | 18 episodes |
| 2003 | Phenomenon II | Military Officer Jack Hatch | Television film |
| 2003–2004 | The West Wing | General Nicholas Alexander | 7 episodes |
| 2004 | NCIS | Col. Will Ryan | Episode: "Enigma" |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Gordon Buchanan | Episode: "Mis-Labeled" | |
| 2004–2010 | Lost | John Locke/The Man in Black | 101 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated—Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor – Drama Series(2007, 2009–11) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series(2005, 2010) Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television(2006, 2008, 2011) Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Villain |
| 2007 | Masters of Science Fiction | Major Albert Skynner | Episode: "The Awakening" |
| 2011 | Taken from Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story | Mark Miller | Television film |
| Hallelujah | Del Roman | Pilot | |
| 2011–2018 | Hawaii Five-0 | Commander Joe White | 16 episodes |
| 2012 | Ring of Fire | Oliver Booth | 2 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Falling Skies | Arthur Manchester | 3 episodes Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television |
| 2012 | 666 Park Avenue | Gavin Doran | 13 episodes |
| 2014 | Gang Related | Sam Chapel | 12 episodes |
| Phineas and Ferb | Professor Mystery (voice) | Episode: "Lost in Danville" | |
| 2015 | The Adversaries | Charlie | Pilot |
| Full Circle | Jimmy Parerra | 6 episodes | |
| 2015–2018 | Patriot | Tom Tavner | 18 episodes |
| 2016 | Secrets and Lies | John Warner | 7 episodes |
| 2017 | The Blacklist | Howard Hargrave | Episode: "Isabella Stone (No. 34)"; uncredited |
| The Blacklist: Redemption | Howard Hargrave | 7 episodes | |
| Mysteries of the Missing[18] | Himself (host) | 8 episodes | |
| 2018 | Castle Rock[19] | Dale Lacy | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Perpetual Grace, LTD | Texas Ranger Wesley Walker | 10 episodes |
| Emergence | Richard Kindred | 5 episodes | |
| 2020–2022 | FBI: Most Wanted | Byron LaCroix | 9 episodes |
| 2021–2025 | Resident Alien | Peter Bach | 13 episodes |
| 2021 | Ultra City Smiths | Captain Krieger (voice) | 6 episodes |
| Christmas Sail | Dennis | Television film | |
| 2022 | Pieces of Her | Martin Queller | 6 episodes |
| 2024 | The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live | Johnathan Beale | 3 episodes |
He's come a long way, literally and figuratively, from his days in small-town Newberry, MI, where he was one of 11 children in a close-knit, Irish-Catholic family.
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