Bruce Gray, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ Star, Dies at 81
The veteran actor, best known to fellow Canadians as the investment banker Adam Cunningham on 'Traders,' died Wednesday in Los Angeles.
He was not on the list.
Bruce Gray, known to Americans as the father of the groom in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) and to fellow Canadians for playing investment banker Adam Cunningham on the 1990s TV drama Traders, has died. He was 81.
Gray died Wednesday in Los Angeles after a battle with brain cancer, his Toronto agent Jennifer Goldhar confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
Born on Sept. 7, 1936, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Canadian parents, Gray returned at age 13 to Toronto, before completing high school at Humberside Collegiate and graduating from the University of Toronto with a psychology degree. In 1960, Gray headed to London, England, where he co-starred onstage with a young Donald Sutherland in Androcles and the Lion at the Mermaid Theatre.
During the rest of the 1960s, Gray divided his time between stage work on both sides of the border, and stints on soaps like General Hospital and All My Children. By 1970, Gray was living in New York City and doing national stage tours for Godspell, The Beggar’s Opera and My Fat Friend, performing opposite Patty Duke.
As a member of New York’s Circle Repertory Company, Gray played the title role in A.R. Gurney’s Who Killed Richard Cory? And he played Osric to William Hurt’s titular role in Hamlet in 1979, while also performing opposite Kim Hunter on the daytime soap The Edge of Night.
Gray returned to Toronto in 1977 to star on the Canadian TV series High Hopes, and in 1980 moved to Los Angeles to guest star on series like Beverly Hills 90210, Chicago Hope, Murphy Brown, Melrose Place, Nowhere Man, Wings and ER. His other TV credits included Picket Fences and playing Ted Hartley, Jessica Fletcher’s (Angela Lansbury) harried publisher, on Murder, She Wrote for 10 years from 1984.
Gray’s more recent parts included playing Yuthers on How I Met Your Mother, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and a co-starring role in the Canadian indie Don’t Talk to Irene.
“Bruce was not only an amazingly talented actor, but an incredible role model on set. He charmed the entire cast and crew of Don’t Talk to Irene with his warmth, generosity and incredible wit,” the movie’s producer, Alyson Richards, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Filmography
Film
Title Year Role Notes
Adulterous Affair 1966 Russ
Odd Birds 1985 Gower Champion
Let's Get Harry 1986 Ambassador Douglas
Dragnet 1987 Mayor Parvin
Eye of the Storm 1991 Father
For the Boys 1991 Sponsor #1, New York
My Family 1995 Mr. Gillespie
Up Close & Personal 1996 Gabe Lawrence
Spy Hard 1996 The President
Traveler's Rest 1996 Marty
The Peacemaker 1997 CNN Newscaster
Starship Troopers 1997 Sky Marshall Dienes
Whatever It Takes 1998 Carl Lica
Dementia 1999 Uncle George
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2002 Rodney Miller
Cube 2: Hypercube 2002 Colonel Thomas H. Maguire
S.W.A.T. 2003 Mr. Richard Segerstrom
Dark Waters 2003 Summerville
Monster-in-Law 2005 TV Executive
Cake 2005 Malcolm McGee
Evan Almighty 2007 Congressman Hughes
Is It Just Me? 2010 Ernie
Water for Elephants 2011 Proctor
Crazy Eyes 2012 Lawyer
All That Remains 2013 Stan Kucharski Short
Tentacle 8 2014 Man in Fisherman's Hat
Crimson Peak 2015 Ferguson
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 2016 Rodney Miller
Rules Don't Apply 2016 Baptist Preacher
Hard Corps 2016 Hal
Don't Talk to Irene 2017
Television
Title Year Role Notes
Breaking Up 1978 Vic TV movie
The Edge of Night 1979-1980 Owen Madison 89 episodes
Dallas 1981-1991 David Stanley / Dr. Alan Cosby / Richard Mertz 6 episodes
Drop-Out Father 1982 Austin Morrow TV movie
Knots Landing 1982-1984 Lawyer / Senator Riker / T.J. Escott 3 episodes
For Love and Honor 1983 Maj. Nordoff TV movie
Emerald Point N.A.S. 1983 Admiral Goddard 2 episodes
Invitation to Hell 1984 Larry Ferris TV movie
Murder, She Wrote 1984-1994 Ted Hartley / Dean Merrill / R. L. Pierson 5 episodes
The Young and the Restless 1986 Mark Wilcox 4 episodes
Alfred Hitchcock Presents 1986-1989 Billy Pearson / Bryan Holland 2 episodes
LBJ: The Early Years 1987 TV movie
Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future 1987-1988 Dr. Stuart Power / Mentor 11 episodes
Tour of Duty 1988 Lt. Col. Dalby 4 episodes
Drop-Out Mother 1988 TV movie
Matlock 1988-1991 James Hamilton / Mr. Reese 4 episodes
Generations 1989 Phillip Webb 19 episodes
Sinatra 1992 Fred Zinneman 2 episodes
A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story 1992 William Aaronwald TV movie
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster 1992 Gov. Steve Cowper TV movie
Picket Fences 1993 Mr. Fenn 2 episodes
J.F.K.: Reckless Youth 1993 Alex Kirk 2 episodes
A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle 1994 Amos Moore TV movie
Roswell 1994 Admiral TV movie
Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story 1995 Ed Holm TV movie
Melrose Place 1995-1997 Mr. Fielding's Doctor / Tom 2 episodes
Traders 1996-2000 Adam Cunningham 83 episodes
Babylon 5 1997 Interrogator 2 episodes
Thanks of a Grateful Nation 1998 Sen. Rockefeller TV movie
Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story 1998 Fielding TV movie
Dangerous Evidence: The Lori Jackson Story 1999 Colonel Harry TV movie
Happy Face Murders 1999 Ephraim Quince TV movie
When Andrew Came Home 2000 Dr. Matthews TV movie
The Last Debate 2000 Governor Paul L. Greene TV movie
A Glimpse of Hell 2001 Donald Meyer TV movie
Two for One 2001 Mr. Miller TV movie
The Red Sneakers 2002 Final Game Referee TV movie
Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story 2002 Third Trial Judge TV movie
Queer as Folk 2002 George Schickel 5 episodes
A Killing Spring 2002 Ed Kramer TV movie
Wall of Secrets 2003 Milton TV movie
Playmakers 2003 Gene Wilbanks 11 episodes
Chasing Freedom 2004 Philip Laughton TV movie
Charmed 2005 Kheel / Male Elder 2 episodes
Medium 2005-2011 Joe's Dad 11 episodes
Live Once, Die Twice 2006 Earl MacDuff TV movie
The Bold and the Beautiful 2006 Judge Morrissey 2 episodes
Recount 2008 Justice Anthony Kennedy TV movie
Anatomy of Hope 2009 Dr. Lawson TV movie
How I Met Your Mother 2011-2012 as Yuthers 4 episodes
Falling Skies 2011 Uncle Scott 8 episodes
Sons of Anarchy 2012 Dr. Hacker Episode: "Small World"
The Firm 2012 Nicholas Kinross Episode: "Chapter Seventeen"
Castle 2012 Charles Carson Episode: "A Dance with Death"
The Listener 2014 Judge Griffin Episode: "In Our Midst"
Married Without Kids 2015 Episode: "Dr. Barren"
Dig 2015 Issac Zohar Episode: "Sisters of Dinah"
Charming Christmas 2015 Harold Rossman TV movie
Timeless 2017 Old Ethan Cahill Episode: "The Red Scare"
Good Witch 2017 Pete Episode: "Good Witch Spellbound"
Chateau Laurier 2018 Mr. Mutchmur Episode: "A Found Bride", (final appearance)
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