Gerald S. O’Loughlin, Star of 1970s ABC Cop Series ‘The Rookies,’ Dies at 93
He also starred in such films as 'In Cold Blood' and 'Ice Station Zebra' but turned down the lead role in 'The Love Boat.'
He was not on the list.
Gerald S. O’Loughlin, the veteran blue-collar character
actor perhaps best known for playing Lieutenant Ryker on the 1970s ABC cop show
The Rookies, has died. He was 93.
O’Loughlin died July 31 of natural causes at West Hills
Hospital in Los Angeles, his son, Christopher, said. His father was a resident
of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Retirement Home in Woodland Hills.
O’Loughlin played the real-life Harold Nye, who investigated
the murders of four members of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kan., in Truman
Copote’s In Cold Blood (1967), and appeared in such films as Joshua Logan’s
Ensign Pulver (1964), Ice Station Zebra (1968) with Rock Hudson and The
Organization (1971) opposite Sidney Poitier.
O’Loughlin also starred as neighbor Joe Kaplan in the 1980s
NBC family drama Our House, starring Wilford Brimley, and played John
Cappelletti Sr. in the tear-jerking 1977 CBS telefilm Something for Joey, which
centered on a Heisman Trophy-winning running back from Penn State and his
younger brother, who has leukemia.
The Rookies, about cops new to the job, ran on ABC from 1972
through 1976 and starred Georg Stanford Brown, Michael Ontkean and Kate
Jackson. His Ed Ryker was the voice of reason who guided his untested troops
with patience (and a dash of resignation).
“I sort of enjoyed being a lieutenant on The Rookies. Maybe
because I was a lieutenant in the Marine Corps,” he said in a 2011 interview.
“After The Rookies, they offered me The Love Boat [another show executive
produced by Aaron Spelling]. The part that Gavin MacLeod got,” but he turned it
down.
Asked why, he said: “Because I was insulted. This is a
dilemma that only an actor can get into. I play lieutenants with the police
department, I don’t play captains on an excursion cruiser! Playing The Rookies
was so embedded in me, I scorned the other one. Today, I wish I had not reacted
that way. I’d have a couple of million more dollars. I think they ran for eight
years.”
O’Loughlin was born in New York City and raised in Spring
Valley, N.Y. After serving with the Marines during World War II, he studied
with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York on the G.I.
Bill.
He then became a member of the famed Actors Studio when
Meisner recommended him to Lee Strasberg. (O’Loughlin’s longtime friend, Martin
Landau, moderated as O’Loughlin performed his final scene at the Studio on his
90th birthday).
O’Loughlin’s early acting years in New York included roles
on Broadway in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest with Kirk Douglas, in Golden Boy
with Lee J. Cobb and in the first revival of A Streetcar Named Desire as
Stanley opposite Tallulah Bankhead as Blanche. He won an Obie Award for his
work in Who’ll Save the Plowboy.
He also appeared in the William Inge play The Dark at the
Top of the Stairs, where he met his longtime companion, the future
Oscar-winning actress Sandy Dennis. (They lived in New York together for
several years.)
On filming In Cold Blood, “It was a little shocking, going
to the actual places where the murders took place in Kansas,” he recalled in
the 2011 interview. “It was a little spooky. We actually shot the murders in
the actual house where they took place. I was still drinking, so I had
hangovers sometimes.”
O’Loughlin, who moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s, was
married to veteran casting executive and casting director Meryl O’Loughlin. She
died in 2007.
In addition to his son, survivors include his daughter,
Laura; daughter-in-law, Colleen Clinton, an actress; and grandsons Finnian and
Maximilian.
A memorial service will be held on Sept. 12. For service
details, please contact Chris O’Loughlin at chrisoloughlin67@gmail.com or the
Motion Picture & Television Fund Retirement Home.
In lieu of flowers, his son asked that you “buy a good meal
for someone down on their luck.”
Actor (118 credits)
2008 Destinesia
(Short)
Melvin
2001 Judging Amy (TV
Series)
Mr. Sadler
- Romeo and Juliet Must Die - Well, Maybe Just Juliet (2001)
... Mr. Sadler
2001 Titans (TV
Series)
Priest
- She Stoops to Conquer (2001) ... Priest
2001 The Division (TV
Series)
Stanley Morrison
- What Sharp Teeth You Have (2001) ... Stanley Morrison
2000 3 Strikes
Judge (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
1999 Chicago Hope (TV
Series)
Jack
- Vanishing Acts (1999) ... Jack
1998 The Secret
Kingdom
Chartwell
1997 ER (TV Series)
George
- Ambush (1997) ... George
1996 Crime of the
Century (TV Movie)
Commissioner ORyan
1985-1993 Murder, She
Wrote (TV Series)
Father Timothy / Ben Oliver / Capt. Joe Rawlings / ...
- A Killing in Cork (1993) ... Father Timothy
- Badge of Honor (1992) ... Ben Oliver
- Class Act (1989) ... Capt. Joe Rawlings
- Tough Guys Don't Die (1985) ... Ray Kravitz
1992 In the Arms of a
Killer (TV Movie)
Art Seidensticker
1990-1991 Equal
Justice (TV Series)
Ted Bauer / Mr. Bauer
- Part of the Plan (1991) ... Ted Bauer
- A Sucker's Bet (1990) ... Mr. Bauer
1990 Snoops (TV
Series)
Justice Henry Fortier
- Rough Justice (1990) ... Justice Henry Fortier
1986-1988 Our House
(TV Series)
Joe Kaplan
- Artful Dodging (1988) ... Joe Kaplan
- Neighborhood Watch (1988) ... Joe Kaplan
- The Fifth Beatle (1988) ... Joe Kaplan
- The Ashton Street Gang (1988) ... Joe Kaplan
- Out of Step (1988) ... Joe Kaplan
1986 Alvin Goes Back to School (TV Short)
Ben McMasters
1986 Bridges to Cross
(TV Series)
Jack Allward
- Looks Like Up to Me (1986) ... Jack Allward
1986 Perry Mason: The
Case of the Notorious Nun (TV Movie)
Monsignor Kyser
1986 Quicksilver
Mr. Casey
1986 Child's Cry (TV
Movie)
Sam Van Buren
1986 Under Siege (TV
Movie)
General Lord (uncredited)
1985 Brothers-in-Law
(TV Movie)
Bud Oliver
1985 T.J. Hooker (TV
Series)
Don Burnett
- Homecoming (1985) ... Don Burnett
1985 Highway to
Heaven (TV Series)
Mr. Henry Parks
- The Brightest Star (1985) ... Mr. Henry Parks
1984 City Heat
Counterman Louie
1984 Crimes of
Passion
Ben (uncredited)
1984 Riptide (TV
Series)
Brigadier General Doug 'Pittbull' Johnson
- The Orange Grove (1984) ... Brigadier General Doug
'Pittbull' Johnson
1984 Cover Up (TV Series)
Steinmetz
- Harper-Gate (1984) ... Steinmetz
1984 London and Davis
in New York (TV Movie)
Sam Gains
1983-1984 Automan (TV
Series)
Capt. E. G. Boyd
- Club Ten (1984) ... Capt. E. G. Boyd
- Death by Design (1984) ... Capt. E. G. Boyd
- Zippers (1984) ... Capt. E. G. Boyd
- Murder, Take One (1984) ... Capt. E. G. Boyd
- Murder MTV (1984) ... Capt. E. G. Boyd
1984 Too Close for Comfort (TV Series)
Frank
- Shipmates (1984) ... Frank
1983 Dusty (TV Movie)
Tim Halloran
1983 The Powers of
Matthew Star (TV Series)
Max
- Starr Knight (1983) ... Max
1983 Matt Houston (TV
Series)
Victor Macey
- A Deadly Parlay (1983) ... Victor Macey
1983 Simon &
Simon (TV Series)
Cleve Rafelson
- Room 3502 (1983) ... Cleve Rafelson
1977-1983 Quincy M.E.
(TV Series)
Arnold Chatham / Jake Carter / Adam Beal
- A Loss for Words (1983) ... Arnold Chatham
- Smoke Screen (1982) ... Jake Carter
- Holding Pattern (1977) ... Adam Beal
1982 Fame (TV Series)
Mr. Schwartz
- Homecoming (1982) ... Mr. Schwartz
1982 Frances
Lobotomy Doctor
1982 M*A*S*H (TV
Series)
Gen. Franklin Schwerin
- Bombshells (1982) ... Gen. Franklin Schwerin (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1982 The Blue and the
Gray (TV Mini Series)
Sgt. O'Toole
- Part 3 (1982) ... Sgt. O'Toole
- Part 2 (1982) ... Sgt. O'Toole
- Part 1 (1982) ... Sgt. O'Toole
1982 Code Red (TV
Series)
Sam Powell
- Riddle in the Flames (1982) ... Sam Powell
1982 Trapper John,
M.D. (TV Series)
Barnell
- Angel of Mercy (1982) ... Barnell
1981 McClain's Law
(TV Series)
Sid Lammon
- Pilot (1981) ... Sid Lammon
1981 Charlie's Angels
(TV Series)
Jake Webner
- Stuntwomen Angels (1981) ... Jake Webner
1981 A Matter of Life
and Death (TV Movie)
Mr. Duffy
1980 Pleasure Palace
(TV Movie)
Benny Marfo
1980 Wilson's Reward
(TV Movie)
Ginger Ted Wilson
1980 Detour to Terror
(TV Movie)
Martin Brain
1979 Blind Ambition
(TV Mini Series)
John J. 'Jack' Caufield / John J. Caufield
- Part IV (1979) ... John J. 'Jack' Caufield
- Part III (1979) ... John J. 'Jack' Caufield
- Part II (1979) ... John J. 'Jack' Caufield
- Part I (1979) ... John J. Caufield
1979 Roots: The Next
Generations (TV Mini Series)
Captain Bowker
- Part IV (1918-1921) (1979) ... Captain Bowker
1979 Women in White
(TV Movie)
Richard Payson
1978 Crash (TV Movie)
Larry Cross
1978 The Eddie Capra
Mysteries (TV Series)
- Nightmare at Pendragon Castle (1978)
1978 Wheels (TV Mini
Series)
Rusty Horton
- Episode #1.1 (1978) ... Rusty Horton
1977 A Love Affair:
The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (TV Movie)
Joe McCarthy
1977 Something for
Joey (TV Movie)
John Cappelletti Sr
1977 Murder at the
World Series (TV Movie)
Moe Gold
1977 Twilight's Last
Gleaming
Brig. Gen. O'Rourke
1972-1976 The Rookies
(TV Series)
Lt. Ed Ryker / Lt. Ryker
- Journey to Oblivion (1976) ... Lt. Ed Ryker
- Deliver Me from Innocence (1976) ... Lt. Ed Ryker
- Blue Movie, Blue Death (1976) ... Lt. Ed Ryker
- The Mugging (1976) ... Lt. Ed Ryker
- From Out of the Darkness (1976) ... Lt. Ed Ryker
1972 The New Centurions
Vice Squad Member (uncredited)
1972 The Valachi
Papers
Ryan (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
1972 Room 222 (TV
Series)
Sid LeRoi
- The Quitter (1972) ... Sid LeRoi
1972 Cannon (TV
Series)
Cody Woodman
- A Flight of Hawks (1972) ... Cody Woodman
1966-1972 The F.B.I.
(TV Series)
Larry Kulhane / Victor Kiley / Carl Munger
- The Set-Up (1972) ... Larry Kulhane
- Fatal Impostor (1970) ... Victor Kiley
- Ordeal (1966) ... Carl Munger
1972 Cade's County
(TV Series)
Ed Kaproski
- Slay Ride: Part 2 (1972) ... Ed Kaproski
- Slay Ride: Part 1 (1972) ... Ed Kaproski
1971 Nichols (TV
Series)
Roarke
- The Marrying Fool (1971) ... Roarke
1971 Owen Marshall,
Counselor at Law (TV Series)
Sgt. Saul Morris
- The Baby Sitter (1971) ... Sgt. Saul Morris
1971 Sarge (TV
Series)
Sigmund Hess
- Quicksilver (1971) ... Sigmund Hess
1968-1971 Mission:
Impossible (TV Series)
Frank Delaney / Bert Gordon
- Shape-Up (1971) ... Frank Delaney
- The Killing (1968) ... Bert Gordon
1971 The Organization
Jack Pecora
1971 Desperate
Characters
Charlie
1970-1971 Men at Law
(TV Series)
Devlin McNeil / Thatcher
- One American (1971) ... Devlin McNeil
- The View from the Top (1971) ... Devlin McNeil
- Let the Dier Beware (1971) ... Devlin McNeil
- The Climate of Doubt (1971) ... Devlin McNeil
- The Pastures of Hell (1970) ... Thatcher
1971 Dan August (TV Series)
Dominic Lazar
- Death Chain (1971) ... Dominic Lazar
1969-1970 Ironside
(TV Series)
Lt. Jimmy Burwell / Sergeant Arnie Vernon
- The Man on the Inside (1970) ... Lt. Jimmy Burwell
- Not with a Whimper, But a Bang (1969) ... Sergeant Arnie
Vernon
1970 The Young
Lawyers (TV Series)
Pete Roberts
- The Russell Incident (1970) ... Pete Roberts
1969-1970 Hawaii
Five-O (TV Series)
Sam Kavanaugh / Carl Swanson / Charlie Swanson
- And a Time to Die... (1970) ... Sam Kavanaugh
- Six Kilos (1969) ... Carl Swanson
- The Box (1969) ... Charlie Swanson
1970 The Bold Ones:
The Senator (TV Series)
Sgt. Traynor
- To Taste of Death But Once (1970) ... Sgt. Traynor
1970 Then Came
Bronson (TV Series)
Herman Morse
- The Mary R (1970) ... Herman Morse
1970 The Virginian
(TV Series)
Lute Dormer Sr.
- Train of Darkness (1970) ... Lute Dormer Sr.
1969 D.A.: Murder One
(TV Movie)
Sgt. Andrushian
1969 Medical Center
(TV Series)
Buddy Pakeman
- Emergency in Ward E (1969) ... Buddy Pakeman
1969 Riot
Grossman
1968 Judd for the
Defense (TV Series)
Ernie Jenkins
- A Swim with Sharks (1968) ... Ernie Jenkins
1968 Ice Station
Zebra
Lt. Cdr. Bob Raeburn
1968 Mannix (TV
Series)
Charlie Anderson
- Comes Up Rose (1968) ... Charlie Anderson
1968 Premiere (TV
Series)
Brandon
- Lassiter (1968) ... Brandon
1968 The Felony Squad
(TV Series)
Cal Wolff
- Nightmare on a Dead-End Street (1968) ... Cal Wolff
1968 Cimarron Strip
(TV Series)
Sgt. Maj. Chambers
- The Sound of a Drum (1968) ... Sgt. Maj. Chambers
1967 In Cold Blood
Harold Nye
1967 The Green Hornet
(TV Series)
Ben Wade
- The Hornet and the Firefly (1967) ... Ben Wade
1966 Run for Your
Life (TV Series)
Ralph Bronson / Timothy
- Tears from a Glass Eye (1966) ... Ralph Bronson / Timothy
1966 A Man Called
Adam
Red - the Sheriff
1966 A Fine Madness
Chester Quirk
1965 The Doctors (TV
Series)
Peter Banas
- Episode #1.625 (1965) ... Peter Banas
- Episode #1.621 (1965) ... Peter Banas
- Episode #1.612 (1965) ... Peter Banas
- Episode #1.608 (1965) ... Peter Banas
- Episode #1.572 (1965) ... Peter Banas
1965 Gunsmoke (TV Series)
Grant Shay
- Twenty Miles from Dodge (1965) ... Grant Shay
1965 For the People
(TV Series)
McVeigh
- To Prosecute All Crimes (1965) ... McVeigh
1962-1965 The
Defenders (TV Series)
Bart Steele / Bernie Jackman / Hank Robinson
- The Silent Killer (1965) ... Bart Steele (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
- Kill or Be Killed (1963) ... Bernie Jackman (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
- The Unwanted (1962) ... Hank Robinson (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1964 12 O'Clock High
(TV Series)
Maj. Joe Morse
- Here's to Courageous Cowards (1964) ... Maj. Joe Morse (as
Gerald O'Loughlin)
1964 Ensign Pulver
LaSueur (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
1959-1964 Brenner (TV
Series)
Plotkin / Jim Gaines
- Charlie Paradise: The Tragic Flute (1964) ... Plotkin (as
Gerald O'Loughlin)
- Blind Spot (1959) ... Jim Gaines
1964 Dr. Kildare (TV
Series)
Gus Pochek
- Speak Not in Angry Whispers (1964) ... Gus Pochek
1963 Alcoa Premiere
(TV Series)
Steve
- Of Struggle and Flight (1963) ... Steve (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1963 Naked City (TV
Series)
Mr. Hackett
- The Highest of Prizes (1963) ... Mr. Hackett (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1962 Ben Casey (TV
Series)
Joe Dawson
- Of All Save Pain Bereft (1962) ... Joe Dawson (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1962 Going My Way (TV
Series)
Mr. Bianchi
- A Man for Mary (1962) ... Mr. Bianchi
1961 The Asphalt
Jungle (TV Series)
Allie Jonay
- The Fighter (1961) ... Allie Jonay
1961 Our American
Heritage (TV Series)
Grogan
- The Secret Rebel (1961) ... Grogan
1961 Sunday Showcase
(TV Series)
Grogan
- Our American Heritage: The Secret Rebel (1961) ... Grogan
1961 The United
States Steel Hour (TV Series)
Joe
- The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon (1961) ... Joe (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1960-1961 Play of the
Week (TV Series)
Andy / Roses' husband
- A Clearing in the Woods (1961) ... Andy (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
- A Piece of Blue Sky (1960) ... Roses' husband (as Gerald
O'Loughlin)
1960 The Witness (TV
Series)
- Police Lt. Charles Becker (1960)
1958 Cop Hater
Detective Mike Maguire (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
1957 A Hatful of Rain
Chuch (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
1956 Lovers and
Lollipops
Larry (as Gerald O'Loughlin)
1952-1954 The Philco
Television Playhouse (TV Series)
- Statute of Limitations (1954)
- Three Sundays (1952)
- A Man's Game (1952)
1952-1953 Mister
Peepers (TV Series)
Bus Driver / Howard
- The Bus Trip (1953) ... Bus Driver
- Sis Peepers Visits (1952) ... Howard
1952 Goodyear
Playhouse (TV Series)
- The Darkness Below (1952)
- Tour of Duty (1952) ... (as Jerry O'Loughlin)
1952 Suspense (TV
Series)
- The Man in the Mirror (1952)
1952 Guiding Light
(TV Series)
Lt. Carl Wyatt (1965)