Mark Withers obit

Mark Withers, Actor on ‘Dynasty’ and ‘Kaz,’ Dies at 77

His credits also included roles on 'Days of Our Lives,' 'True Blood' and 'Stranger Things.' 

He was not on the list.

Mark Withers, who had recurring roles on such shows as Kaz, Dynasty and Days of Our Lives, has died. He was 77.

Withers died Nov. 22 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer, his daughter, Jessie Withers, told The Hollywood Reporter.

“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable,” she wrote in a tribute. His “enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends and fans alike.”

Withers portrayed Peter Colcourt on the Ron Leibman-starring CBS crime drama Kaz from 1978-79, Ted Dinard on ABC’s Dynasty in 1981 — he’s murdered by Blake Carrington (John Forsythe), leading to Joan Collins joining the series as Alexis Carrington — and Coach Locke on NBC’s Days of Our Lives from 1986-87.

He also appeared on dozens of other shows, including How the West Was Won, Wonder Woman, Best of the West, Magnum, P.I., The Dukes of Hazzard, Hart to Hart, It’s Your Move, Remington Steele, Dallas, Matlock, The King of Queens, Frasier, Criminal Minds, Ruby & Martin, Drop Dead Diva, True Blood, Castle, Reckless, Stranger Things and Sense8.

Born on June 25, 1947, in Binghamton, New York, Withers was a football star at Chenango Valley High School and received a scholarship to play at Penn State University. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in acting and directing from California State University Los Angeles and his master’s in theater performance from Minnesota State University.

He made his start in commercials, appearing in national campaigns for McDonald’s, Folger’s Coffee, Irish Spring soap, Tartar Control Crest toothpaste and American Airlines, among others. It wouldn’t be until years later that he landed on TV shows, eventually getting his SAG card.

As for films, Withers’ credits included Wild and Wooly, Something About Amelia, Her Life as a Man, Basic Training, Alex: The Life of a Child, The Ultimate Life, Turn Around Jake, The Phoenix Incident, Bolden and The Creatress.

In addition to his daughter, Withers is survived by his wife, Haiyan Liu Withers. Donations in his memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

 

Actor

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Bolden (2019)

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The Phoenix Incident (2015)

The Phoenix Incident

4.9

Bill Lauder

2015

 

Turn Around Jake (2014)

Turn Around Jake

5.5

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2014

 

Work from Home (2014)

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8.1

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2013

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The Ultimate Life (2013)

The Ultimate Life

6.1

Strang

2013

 

Anna Paquin, Ryan Kwanten, Stephen Moyer, Sam Trammell, Nelsan Ellis, and Rutina Wesley in True Blood (2008)

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7.5

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2013

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Ruby & Martin (2012)

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Criminal Minds

8.1

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Lou Manzoni

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Natasha Henstridge, Kristen Miller, and Natashia Williams in She Spies (2002)

She Spies

6.1

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2003

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Citizen X (2002)

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Video Game

Sentinel

2002

 

Jerry Stiller, Kevin James, and Leah Remini in The King of Queens (1998)

The King of Queens

7.4

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2002

1 episode

 

Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, and Jane Leeves in Frasier (1993)

Frasier

8.2

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Board Member

2001

1 episode

 

Southern Man (1998)

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5.8

L.J. (as Mark Bowers)

1998

 

Andy Griffith in Matlock (1986)

Matlock

7.1

TV Series

Judge

1989

1 episode

 

The New Gidget (1986)

The New Gidget

6.4

TV Series

Coach Hardesty

1987

1 episode

 

David Rappaport in The Wizard (1986)

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7.7

TV Series

Copeland

1987

1 episode

 

L.A. Law (1986)

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7.1

TV Series

Dr. Glasband

1987

1 episode

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.3

TV Series

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1986–1987

8 episodes

 

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Dallas

7.1

TV Series

Private Investigator

1987

1 episode

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

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6.9

TV Series

David Hendricks

1986

1 episode

 

Martha Smith and William B. Keene in Divorce Court (1984)

Divorce Court

5.6

TV Series

Dr. Ed Wells

1986

1 episode

 

Alex: The Life of a Child (1986)

Alex: The Life of a Child

8.1

TV Movie

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1986

 

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8.2

TV Series

Roger

1986

1 episode

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

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6.4

TV Series

Dennis Preston

1986

1 episode

 

Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist in Remington Steele (1982)

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7.3

TV Series

Norman Maxwell

1985

1 episode

 

Basic Training (1985)

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4.1

Captain Drysdale

1985

 

The Hugga Bunch (1985)

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7.1

TV Movie

Parker Severson

1985

 

Robin Wright, Judith Anderson, Valorie Armstrong, Melissa Reeves, Robert Alan Browne, Paul Burke, Ismael 'East' Carlo, Margarita Cordova, Nicolas Coster, Lane Davies, Richard Eden, Gina Gallego, Linda Gibboney, Andrea Howard, Ava Lazar, A Martinez, Todd McKee, John Allen Nelson, Rupert Ravens, Julie Ronnie, Kerry Sherman, Louise Sorel, Jonna Leigh Stack, Marcy Walker, and Dane Witherspoon in Santa Barbara (1984)

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5.7

TV Series

Doctor

1985

1 episode

 

It's Your Move (1984)

It's Your Move

8.2

TV Series

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1985

1 episode

 

Joan Collins in Her Life as a Man (1984)

Her Life as a Man

5.8

TV Movie

Tom

1984

 

Something About Amelia (1984)

Something About Amelia

6.7

TV Movie

Jensen

1984

 

Trauma Center (1983)

Trauma Center

6.4

TV Series

David McCaslin

1983

1 episode

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

Paul Waterman

1982

1 episode

 

Catherine Bach, Ben Jones, Denver Pyle, John Schneider, and Tom Wopat in The Dukes of Hazzard (1979)

The Dukes of Hazzard

7.1

TV Series

Dennis

1982

1 episode

 

Tom Selleck in Magnum, P.I. (1980)

Magnum, P.I.

7.5

TV Series

Dave Gilbert

1982

1 episode

 

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story (1981)

Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story

5.7

TV Movie

Billy Compton

1981

 

Tom Ewell, Leonard Frey, Joel Higgins, Meeno Peluce, and Carlene Watkins in Best of the West (1981)

Best of the West

7.6

TV Series

Nat Lindsay

1981

1 episode

 

Pernell Roberts in Trapper John, M.D. (1979)

Trapper John, M.D.

6.6

TV Series

Farrell

Addison Wesley Holmes III

1979–1981

2 episodes

 

The Greatest American Hero (1981)

The Greatest American Hero

7.3

TV Series

Shaeffer

1981

1 episode

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

Ted Dinard

Ted Dinard (photograph)

1981

6 episodes

 

Lorenzo Lamas, Marc McClure, Jimmy McNichol, and Michele Tobin in California Fever (1979)

California Fever

7.5

TV Mini Series

Sibley

1979

1 episode

 

Kaz (1978)

Kaz

7.6

TV Series

Peter Colcourt

1978–1979

23 episodes

 

Lynda Carter in Wonder Woman (1975)

Wonder Woman

7.0

TV Series

Luther

1978

1 episode

 

Wild and Wooly (1978)

Wild and Wooly

7.1

TV Movie

Will

1978

 

Bruce Boxleitner and James Arness in How the West Was Won (1976)

How the West Was Won

8.2

TV Series

Tobe Harker

1978

2 episodes

 

McNamara's Band (1977)

McNamara's Band

TV Movie

1977