Gregory_Harrison

Gregory Harrison

Gregory Harrison

American actor (born 1950)


Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950)[1] is an American actor. He is known primarily for his roles as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John McIntyre (played by Pernell Roberts) on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D. (197986), and as ruthless business tycoon Michael Sharpe in the CBS series Falcon Crest (19891990). Since 2015, he has played Joe O'Toole, father of Oliver, in the Hallmark Channel expansion films of Signed, Sealed and Delivered. Beginning in 2020, he assumed the role of Gregory Chase on General Hospital.

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Early life and career

Harrison was born in Avalon, California in 1950, the middle child of Ed Harrison, a ship's captain and poet, and Donna Lee Nagely, an aspiring dancer; they eventually divorced. He has an older sister, Kathleen (born 1948), and a younger brother, Christopher (born 1961)[citation needed]. He served for two years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era as a medic.[2]

He portrayed the title character in the science fiction series Logan's Run (1977–78), after which he played Levi Zendt in the NBC miniseries Centennial (1978), based on James Michener's epic novel of the same name, which was first televised on NBC from October 1978 to February 1979.

He appeared on an episode of M*A*S*H before garnering fame in 1979 with the role of surgeon Dr. George "Gonzo" Gates on Trapper John, M.D., starring opposite Pernell Roberts. The medical drama was spun off from M*A*S*H.[3] Harrison remained as Gonzo on Trapper John until the middle of the show's seventh season, when he decided to leave for other ventures. The series continued for several more episodes without Harrison, but concluded its run at the end of the 1985–86 season.[citation needed]

Harrison's later role as stripper John Phillips in the 1981 TV movie For Ladies Only made him a favorite with women and gay men in the 1980s. He spoofed that role in the 1986 miniseries Fresno where his character appeared shirtless at every opportunity. Fresno was also a spoof of the prime-time series Falcon Crest, where Harrison became a regular three years later in the final season (1989–90).[4] As Falcon Crest ended production in early 1990, the series' parent studio, Lorimar Television, cast Harrison in its upcoming CBS sitcom The Family Man, from producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. The series, which premiered that fall, featured Harrison as a single fireman father raising his four children with the help of his father-in-law, played by Al Molinaro. Despite a few attempts by CBS to help it build an audience, The Family Man was cancelled after one season.[citation needed]

He later joined the cast of NBC's Sisters for the 1994–1995 season, playing Daniel Albright. In 1996, he starred with Eric Roberts in It's My Party, a film based on the true story of a man in the end stages of AIDS who planned a party to say goodbye to friends and family.[citation needed]

He starred in the WB Network's Safe Harbor and One Tree Hill and has made guest appearances on other shows such as Touched by an Angel, Judging Amy, Rizzoli & Isles, Reunion, Joey, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Drop Dead Diva and Hot in Cleveland.

He played Billy Flynn in a touring production of Chicago, and he was the male lead in each film of the Au Pair trilogy. He also appeared as Benjamin Stone in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and starred in the original Broadway production of Kander & Ebb's musical Steel Pier. In 2011, he had a guest-starring role as a doctor on ABC's Body of Proof. More recently, he appeared on General Hospital.[5]

Personal life

Harrison has been married since December 21, 1980 to actress Randi Oakes, who he met while competing on a 1979 edition of Battle of the Network Stars, with Harrison on the CBS team and Oakes on the NBC team.[6] Their marriage was kept secret from the public for several years.[7][8] The couple have four children, Emma Lee (born 1985), Lily Anne (born 1989), and Kate (born 1991).[9] The couple also adopted a son, Quinn Edgar. The couple originally lived together in Sherman Oaks, California,[10] but since the early 1990s, the family has lived in Southern Oregon; first in Gold Beach, Oregon for 15 years, then Eugene, Oregon.[11][12] [13] [14] [15]

Harrison became addicted to cocaine during the 1980s, and he broke the addiction with the help of the Betty Ford Center.[16]

Filmography

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References

  1. Brady, James (1990-02-25). "In Step With: Gregory Harrison". Parade. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  2. Harris, Harry (December 3, 1979). "Hospital Routine Familiar to Actor Gregory Harrison". Boca Raton News. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  3. Gross, Ed (February 5, 2020). "101 Classic (and Not-So-Classic) TV Shows From the 1970s". Closer Weekly. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. "Randi Oakes was there when the CHiPS fell". Lakeland Ledger. July 27, 1980. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  5. "Randi Oakes, Greg Harrison deny wedding bell rumors". Lakeland Ledger. December 24, 1980. p. 2A. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  6. Mills, Nancy (March 8, 1985). "Trapper's Sidekick Steps Out". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. TV42. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  7. "Harrison, Oakes are parents again". Lewiston Journal. Knight Ridder News Service. February 11, 1989. p. 6D. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  8. Gelt, Gary (December 21, 1980). "Actress finds bit of Iowa in Sherman Oaks; 'CHIPs' co-star loves seclusion". Los Angeles Times. p. L1. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  9. Wang, K.L. Connie (February 6, 2015). "Connie Chats with Gregory Harrison". Parade. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  10. Brady, James (February 25, 1990). "In Step With: Gregory Harrison". Parade. p. 18. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  11. Goldsborough, Bob (April 2, 2008). "Actor Gregory Harrison and his retired actress wife, Randi Oakes, list their estate in southeast Oregon for $5.9M". Big Time Listings. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  12. Smith, Azenith (December 18, 2007). "Hollywood actor speaks to area Rotarians". KCBY (CBS 11). Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  13. Ryon, Ruth (March 30, 2008). "Hot Property". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  14. Simross, Lynn (September 5, 1989). "From Addict to Role Model Gregory Harrison Bares Soul to Help Drug-Abuse Victims". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.

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