Richard Jordan | |
|---|---|
 Jordan in 1981 | |
| Born | Robert Anson Jordan Jr.[1] (1937-07-19)July 19, 1937 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 30, 1993(1993-08-30) (aged 56) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1961–1993 |
| Spouse | |
| Partners |
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| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
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Robert Anson Jordan Jr.[1] (July 19, 1937 – August 30, 1993), known professionally asRichard Jordan, was an American actor. A long-time member of theNew York Shakespeare Festival, he performed in manyOff Broadway and Broadway plays. His films includeLogan's Run,Les Misérables,Old Boyfriends,Raise the Titanic,The Friends of Eddie Coyle,The Yakuza,Interiors,The Bunker,Dune,The Secret of My Success,Timebomb,The Hunt for Red October,Posse andGettysburg.
Jordan was born in New York City to Robert Anson Jordan fromBoston, Massachusetts, and Constance (née Hand) from New York.[1] His maternal grandfather wasLearned Hand, judge of theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and one of the most highly respected jurists in the United States. In 1942, when Jordan was five years old, his parents divorced. His mother marriedNewbold Morris, president of theNew York City Council. MayorFiorello H. La Guardia officiated at the ceremony held inGracie Mansion, the first marriage performed there.[2] Jordan attended theHotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. Following his graduation fromHarvard University in 1958,[1] he furthered his studies at the Universite du Theatre des Nations in Paris.[1]
Jordan told the friends he made early in his career that he took the stage name Richard because he wanted to avoid being confused with another actor named Robert Jordan. He continued to be known as Bob to those friends.[1][3]
In 1961, Jordan appeared on Broadway withArt Carney andElizabeth Ashley inTake Her, She's Mine. He also began working in television productions, appearing in episodes ofThe Defenders,Naked City,Ben Casey,Empire,[4] andThe Wide Country. He performed withJoseph Papp'sPublic Theater in productions ofShakespeare's plays, such asThe Tempest,The Merchant of Venice andAs You Like It. In 1966, Jordan returned to Broadway, at theMorosco Theatre appearing inGeneration withHenry Fonda.[5]
In 1970, Jordan made his film debut inLawman (1971),[3] andValdez Is Coming (1971),[4] withBurt Lancaster, and appeared oppositeRobert Mitchum twice: inThe Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973),[4] as the informant-Coyle's handler, a pragmatic U.S. Treasury agent; and inThe Yakuza (1975),[4] as the bodyguard of Mitchum's friend, George Tanner. He played a host of villains and mixed good guy-villains in films such as the westernRooster Cogburn (1975),[3] sci-fi adventureLogan's Run (1976), and theWoody Allen-directed dramaInteriors (1978).[3] He played the father of his own daughter, Nina inOld Boyfriends (1979), alongsideTalia Shire.[6]
While his film career developed, Jordan continued performing on the stage, joiningRalph Waite in the L.A. Actors' Theatre. He wrote, directed, and performed in plays such asVenus of Menschen Falls (1978).[7] In 1976, Jordan earned aGolden Globe award[1] for his role as Joseph Armagh, an Irish immigrant who fights his way to power and wealth inCaptains and the Kings.[3]
In the 1980s, Jordan performed in a number of feature films, such asRaise the Titanic (1980),[3]Flash of Green (1984),[4]Dune (1984),[3]The Mean Season (1985), andThe Secret of My Success (1987).[4] He co-starred in an acclaimed television production ofThe Bunker (1981),[3] playingAlbert Speer toAnthony Hopkins'sAdolf Hitler. In 10 episodes of the television seriesThe Equalizer (1987–1988),[4] he played the lead role while series starEdward Woodward recovered from a heart attack.[3]
On stage, Jordan won anObie award for his appearance in New York in the Czech playwrightVáclav Havel'sA Private View (1983),[4] and an L.A. Drama Critics' Award for directingLargo Desolato (1987), another Havel play. Jordan played Romero's friend, FatherRutilio Grande inRomero (1989).[3]
In 1990, Jordan directed a production ofMacbeth in New York City. He played U.S. National Security Advisor Jeffrey Pelt inThe Hunt for Red October.[4] He starred in a television production ofThree Hotels (1991),[4] and the 1991 "Deadline" episode ofTales from the Crypt.[4] InPosse (1993),[3][4]
Jordan's last film to be released wasGettysburg (1993), filmed during the summer of 1992.[8] He portrayed Brig. Gen.Lewis "Lo" Armistead, one of the Confederate officers who took part inPickett's Charge at thebattle of Gettysburg. Producer-directorRonald F. Maxwell dedicated the film to Jordan and to authorMichael Shaara, whose novelThe Killer Angels (1974) had been adapted for the film.[8]
Jordan's daughter Nina Jordan was born in 1964 during his 1964–1972 marriage to actressKathleen Widdoes.[1] Nina played Robert's daughter in the filmOld Boyfriends. His son Robert Hand Jordan was born in 1983 during his nine-year relationship with actressBlair Brown.[1] At the time of his death, Jordan was in a relationship with actressMarcia Cross.
By 1993, Jordan's health began to fail and he was diagnosed with a brain tumor.[3] Cast as Dr. Charles Nichols, he was filmingThe Fugitive in April 1993 when his illness forced him to withdraw. He was replaced byJeroen Krabbé.[3] He died on August 30, 1993, at the age of 56, cared for by his daughter Nina and his companion,Marcia Cross.[1][9]
A memorial in Jordan's honor was held at theMark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on October 8, 1993, the dayGettysburg was released.[10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Lawman | Crowe Wheelwright | |
| 1971 | Valdez Is Coming | R.L. Davis | |
| 1972 | The Trial of the Catonsville Nine | George Mische | |
| 1972 | Chato's Land | Earl Hooker | |
| 1973 | Kamouraska | Georges Nelson | |
| 1973 | The Friends of Eddie Coyle | Dave Foley | |
| 1974 | The Yakuza | Dusty | |
| 1975 | Rooster Cogburn | Hawk | |
| 1976 | Logan's Run | Francis | |
| 1977 | Alibis | Paul | |
| 1978 | Interiors | Frederick | |
| 1979 | Old Boyfriends | Jeff Turrin | |
| 1979 | A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square | Pinky | |
| 1980 | Raise the Titanic | Dirk Pitt | |
| 1984 | Dune | Duncan Idaho | |
| 1985 | The Mean Season | Alan Delour | |
| 1986 | The Men's Club | Kramer | |
| 1986 | Solarbabies | Grock | |
| 1987 | The Secret of My Success | Howard Prescott | |
| 1989 | Romero | Fr. Rutilio Grande, SJ | |
| 1990 | The Hunt for Red October | Jeffrey Pelt | |
| 1991 | Timebomb | Col. Taylor | |
| 1991 | Delusion | Executive in Conference Room | |
| 1991 | Shout | Eugene Benedict | |
| 1991 | Heaven Is a Playground | David Racine | |
| 1992 | Primary Motive | Chris Poulas | |
| 1993 | Posse | Sheriff Bates | |
| 1993 | Gettysburg | Brig. Gen.Lewis A. Armistead | Posthumous release |
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Kojak | Steve Macey | Dark Sunday Season 1 Episode 8 |
| 1976 | Captains and the Kings | Joseph Armagh | 8 episodes |
| 1978 | The Defection of Simas Kudirka | Commander Edward Devon | TV movie |
| 1978 | Les Misérables | Jean Valjean | TV movie |
| 1981 | The Bunker | Albert Speer | TV movie |
| 1984 | American Playhouse | Elmo Bliss | Episode: "A Flash of Green" |
| 1987 | The Murder of Mary Phagan | Hugh Dorsey | 2 episodes |
| 1987–1988 | The Equalizer | Harley Gage | 9 episodes
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