R. D. Call obit

R.D. Call Dies: ‘Into The Wild’, ‘Born On The Fourth Of July’ Actor Was 70

 

He was not on the list.

R.D. Call, an actor who appeared in seven Sean Penn films, a trio by director Walter Hill and such TV series as Walker, Texas Ranger and EZ Streets, died Feb. 27 of complications from back surgery in Layton, Utah. He was 70.

His death was announced by his family.

A student in the 1970s of Lee Strasberg’s acting school, Roy Dana Call made his TV debut in 1979 on CBS’ Barnaby Jones. Appearances on Little House on the Prairie, V, and Trapper John M.D. followed.

His long career as a character actor in films began in 1982 with Hill’s 48 Hrs. Call would work again with the director on 1985’s Brewster’s Millions and 1996’s Last Man Standing.

An even more prolific collaboration began with fellow actor Penn on 1986’s At Close Range, followed by Colors (1988), State of Grace (1990), The Weight of Water (2000), I Am Sam (2001) and Babel (2006). Call also appeared in 2007’s Into the Wild, directed by Penn.

Other credits include Born on the Fourth of July, Waterworld, Murder by Numbers, the 1991 TV-miniseries Golden Years, The X-Files and Burn Notice, among many others.

According to his family, Call was particularly proud of one accomplishment that didn’t involve acting: “R.D. fought an addiction with alcohol for many years. At one point he was at what he called ‘rock bottom’ and was heading either to possible suicide or recovery. Thanks to God he chose recovery and went into hospital rehab for many months. Coming out sober, R.D. joined Alcoholics Anonymous and celebrated his 26th year of sobriety this year. Last year he received his 27th year chip in Los Angeles.”

Call is survived by his brother Rick; sisters Quay and Cindy; his uncle Lane and aunt Evelyn.

 

Filmography

Year     Title            Role            Director           Notes

1979            Barnaby Jones Walsh            Winrich Kolbe            Episode: "False Witness"

1982    Little House on the Prairie            Dwayne          Michael Landon            Episode: "He Was Only Twelve: Part 1"

1982    48 Hrs.            Duty Sergeant            Walter Hill      

1985    V            Visitor Bringing Message            Cliff Bole            Episode: "The Champion"

1985            Trapper John, M.D.            Laundry Truck Driver            Leo Penn            Episode: "The Unholy Ghost"

1985            Brewster's Millions            Courtroom Guard            Walter Hill      

1986    At Close Range            Dickie            James Foley   

1986    The Children of Times Square            Walter - Rival Boss            Curtis Hanson TV movie

1987            Timestalkers     Bart            Michael Schultz TV movie

1987    No Man's Land            Frank Martin  Peter Werner

1988    Colors            Officer Rusty Baines            Dennis Hopper           

1988            Judgment in Berlin            Stephen N. Raboun            Leo Penn    

1988    War Party    Posse Member #1            Franc Roddam          

1988–1989            Knightwatch   Bates            Various            3 episodes

1989            Unconquered    Floyd Petrie, KKK Member            Dick Lowry  TV movie

1989    L.A. Takedown            Harry Dieter   Michael Mann   TV movie

1989    Born on the Fourth of July            Chaplain – Vietnam            Oliver Stone  

1990    Guns of Paradise            Fletcher           Michael Lange            Episode: "Devil's Escort"

1990    Young Guns II D.A. Rynerson            Geoff Murphy           

1990    State of Grace   Pat Nicholson, Frankie's Lieutenant            Phil Joanou

1991    Golden Years   Jude Andrews            Various            7 episodes

1991    Other People's Money Arthur            Norman Jewison        

1992    Cruel Doubt   District Attorney Mitchell Norton            Yves Simoneau            2 episodes

1993    Jack Reed: Badge of Honor  Lt. Lloyd Butler            Kevin Connor TV movie

1993–1998            Walker, Texas Ranger            Stan Gorman / Dave Kilmer  Michael Preece / Tony Mordente            2 episodes

1994            Murder, She Wrote            Joseph Kempinsky            Peter S. Fischer            Episode: "Deadly Assets"

1994    The X-Files     Sheriff Maurice Daniels Michael Lange            Episode: "Miracle Man"

1995            Waterworld            Enforcer           Kevin Reynolds         

1996    Last Man Standing            Jack McCool            Walter Hill      

1996–1997            EZ Streets  Michael "Fivers" Dugan            Various            9 episodes

1998    The Practice            Det. Morris  Michael Schultz            Episode: "The Pursuit of Dignity"

1998            Diagnosis: Murder            Eddie Wallace            Christopher Hibler            Episode: "Murder at the Finish Line"

1998    Logan's War: Bound by Honor  Albert Talgorno            Michael Preece  TV movie

1998            Malaika          Jack Grant    Marina Martins

2000    Family Law            Sergeant Rodriguez                 Episode: "Stealing Home"

2000    The Weight of Water   Coast Guard Officer            Kathryn Bigelow        

2001    I Am Sam     Cop at Park     Jessie Nelson

2002    Murder by Numbers            Captain Rod Cody            Barbet Schroeder       

2002    JAG            Master Chief Proctor            Michael Schultz            Episode: "The Killer"

2005            Supernatural    Sheriff Pierce   David Nutter            Episode: "Pilot"

2005    The Work and the Glory II: American Zion            Boggs            Sterling Van Wagenen  

2006    Dark Heart    Finn            Kevin Lewis  

2006    Babel            FBI Interrogation Officer            Alejandro González Iñárritu

2006    The Drop            Interviewer      Kevin Lewis  

2006    The Work and the Glory III: A House Divided            Boggs            Sterling Van Wagenen  

2007    Into the Wild     Bull            Sean Penn    

2008            Adventures in Appletown            Coach Joe       Robert Moresco         

2009    Follow the Prophet            General Davis    Drew Ann Rosenberg

2012    Burn Notice  Quinn            Alfredo Barrios Jr.            Episode: " Unchained"

2012    Silent Night in Muncie            Michael            Jon D. Wagner            Short

2012            Perception        Marcus            Stan Harrington       

2014    Castle            Quinn            Mickey Barbozza            Episode: "For Better or Worse" (as RD Call)

2015    Rogues of LA   Neal            Stuart Alexander            3 episodes

2015    Blue Telescope            John Fortuna            John D. Wagner           

2016    Code of Honor            Mayor Randolf            Michael Winnick           

2018    Not a Stranger            Sergeant Fitzgerald            James Russo   (final film role)