Ben Jones obit

Ben Jones Dies: Cooter On ‘Dukes Of Hazzard,’ Georgia Congressman Was 84

 He was not on the list.

Ben Jones, known to millions as the affable — if mischievous — mechanic Cooter on The Dukes of Hazzard, died today at the age of 84. His wife, Alma Vitor, said that Jones had died of a massive heart attack while “resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees.”

Jones played “Crazy” Cooter Davenport on all seven seasons of the original show from 1979-1985 as well as in the made for TV “Reunion” movie in 1997 and the 2000 one-off Hazzard in Hollywood. While many may remember Cooter as a gregarious good ‘ol boy, the character had a wild, rebellious side in the first season of the show. Often called an “honorary Duke,” he owned the local garage which just happened to be across the street from the Sheriff’s station, allowing him to keep an eye on the comings and going for the Duke cousins.

Jones’ second act was an auspicious one. After serving as president of SAG’s Georgia Branch and as chairman of the Georgia Film Commission, Jones won the race for Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District in 1988. He was re-elected in 1990. While on Capitol Hill, Jones was Democratic whip, a member of the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and a member of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation. In 1994, he ran against Newt Gingrich in another district and lost.

Luke Duke himself, Tom Wopat, wrote on Instagram today, ‘The Dukes of Hazzard lost another integral part of their cast today. Ben Jones was a fine friend and a fierce advocate of all the best things we can offer in the entertainment business. He will be sorely missed.’

Here is the full text of Alma Vitor’s statement on social media:

I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing rich full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so so much.

Jones also served as the International Chief of Heritage Operations for the Sons of Confederate Veterans from July 2014 to late 2018, but was a member for over 15 years.

Jones was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, near McNair's Railroad Crossing, on August 30, 1941. His father was Hubert C. "Buck" Jones, a railroad section foreman and his mother was Ila Virginia Stephens, the daughter of a railroad section foreman. Within two weeks of his birth, his family moved to Portsmouth, Virginia. The Joneses lived in a "section house", a railroad company shack without indoor plumbing and electricity. That house was next to the Pinners Point Railyard that led to the shipping piers there. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1959 and worked at a number of odd jobs to save money for college. In 1960, he entered East Carolina College (now East Carolina University) and in 1961, he was accepted into the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, based upon his promise as a writer.

At Chapel Hill, Jones spent summers with the railroad on a work train that contracted to various railroads throughout the South. In 1962, while at UNC, he began acting with the Carolina Playmakers and was soon earning money at it in "summer stock" and at the outdoor drama "Unto These Hills" in Cherokee, North Carolina.

During the 1960s, Jones was deeply involved in the civil rights movement. He was arrested during sit-ins, and was attacked on two occasions by the KKK.

Jones appeared in over 100 theatrical productions, including stints at the Kennedy Center, the Berkshire Theatre Festival, and numerous regional theaters. He relocated to Atlanta in 1969 and acted there with the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Children's Theatre, The Theatre of the Stars, and The Winter Playhouse. He also toured for two years with Eva Marie Saint in national productions of Summer and Smoke and Desire Under the Elms. In Atlanta he appeared in numerous television and radio commercials and began landing supporting roles in films, including Smokey and the Bandit (with Burt Reynolds and Jerry Reed), The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (with James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor) and with Tim Conway in They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way.

In the mid-1970s, he had a supporting part in an independent film called The Moonrunners, written and directed by Atlantan Gy Waldron and featuring country star Waylon Jennings, composing the music and narration. It later served as the basis for "The Dukes of Hazzard", which began production in 1978 about two miles from Jones' then residence in Covington, Georgia. Jones was cast in the role of "Cooter" Davenport, the sidekick mechanic of cousins Bo and Luke Duke. The show immediately rose to the top of the Nielsen ratings. In the days before cable, satellite dishes, and the Internet, "The Dukes" commonly attracted 40 million viewers weekly on CBS-TV.

Jones continued to live in Georgia and commuted to Los Angeles for the continued filming of "The Dukes." He served as president of the Georgia Branch of the Screen Actors Guild and was appointed chairman of the Georgia Film Commission.

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1972    Together for Days       Douglas          

1972    The Bagel Report        Man with Women's Panties Fetish     

1975    Moonrunners   Fred    

1976    The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings Plantation Foreman     Uncredited

1977    Smokey and the Bandit           Trucker with the Redhead       Uncredited

1977    The Lincoln Conspiracy         Samuel Arnold           

1978    They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way        Lugs   

1983    Deep in the Heart        Chuck 

1984    On the Line     Texas Lawyer 

1988    Dakota Mr. Dakota     

1996    Jack     Mechanic         Part cut from film

1998    Primary Colors            Arlen Sporken

2000    Joe Gould's Secret       Southern Man at the Party     

2021    Unbreakable    Ben Jones       

Television

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1976    Movin' On       Thief    Episode: "Living It Up!"

1977    Nashville 99    Calvin Bonner Episode: "Joldy"

1978    The Magical World of Disney Sgt. Bingham  Episode: "The Million Dollar Dixie Deliverance"

1979–1985      The Dukes of Hazzard            Cooter / Jeeter 141 episodes

1983    Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince Various roles   4 episodes

1987    CBS Summer Playhouse         Emory Episode: "Travelin' Man"

1997    The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!       Rep. Cooter Davenport           Television film

1998    Sliders Sgt. Lou Dawson        Episode: "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"

1999    As the World Turns     Judge Manning            Episode dated January 19, 1999

2000    The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood         Cooter Davenport       Television film

2005    Surface            Grocery Clerk Episode #1.3

Discography

Year     Album Label   Role

1999    Cooter's Place Briar Patch      Ben Jones

2001    End of the Line           Ben Jones        Ben Jones & Cooter's Garage Band

2012    Southern to the Bone  Cooter's Place

2014    One for the Younguns Ben Jones

2017    Southern Accents

2018    If Not For You Ben Jones

2020    Play Me An Old Song Ben Jones & Cooter's Garage Band

2021    The Hazzard & Southern Railroad     Ben Jones

Christmas at Cooter's

2022    Good Ol' Buckaroos    Ben "Buster" Jones with Cooter's Wild West Band

Deep River      Ben Jones & Cooter's Garage Band

2023    Soft Southern Nights

2024    Rockabilly Road         Ben Jones

Video games

Year     Title     Role

1999    The Dukes of Hazzard: Racing for Home      Cooter Davenport

2000    The Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out

2004    The Dukes of Hazzard: Return of the General Lee

Tedde Moore obit

Tedde Moore, Dead at 79

 She was not on the list.

Tedde Moore was the actress best known for playing Miss Shields in A Christmas Story.

Tedde Moore Shebib (April 11, 1947-August 5, 2026) was a retired Canadian actress, script editor, creative consultant and acting instructor.

Moore was the daughter of Darwina (née Faessler) and actor and cultural icon Mavor Moore, the granddaughter of Canadian theatre legend Dora Mavor Moore, and the great-granddaughter of Scottish-born economist James Mavor.

She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and graduated in 1967 with the Principal's Medal of Honor.

Upon leaving RADA, she returned to Canada to star opposite Christopher Walken in the Stratford Festival's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Moore was best known for playing Miss Shields in the 1983 film A Christmas Story. She reprised her role in the 1994 film My Summer Story and is the only actor to have appeared in both films.

Her film credits include Second Wind (1976), Murder by Decree (1979), Overnight (1985), and Down the Road Again (2011).

In 2011, Moore starred as Mrs. Claus in the TV movie Mistletoe over Manhattan and as Nanny Shaw in the mini-series The Kennedys.

Moore and her life partner, filmmaker Donald Shebib, have two children — Noah and Suzanna — along with Moore's daughter, Zoë, from an earlier relationship with actor Patrick Christopher Carter. Moore also raised a foster daughter, Chaunce Drury.

Zoë is a writer/producer and Suzanna is a teacher. Noah, better known as 40, is the music engineer, producer, for the recording artist Drake.

Moore has five grandchildren.

 

Film

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1971    Rip-Off            Nancy 

1976    Second Wind   Paula  

1979    Murder by Decree       Mrs. Lees       

1981    The Amateur   Newscaster     

1983    A Christmas Story       Miss Shields   

1985    Overnight        Leslie  

1987    Rolling Vengeance      Misty's Mother           

Taking Care of Terrific            Mrs. Cameron TV movie

Mr. Nobody    Narrator           Short film

1992    Terror on Track 9        Bank Manager TV movie

1994    My Summer Story       Miss Shields   

1995    The Man in the Attic   Another wife   TV movie

1996    The Deliverance of Elaine      Mary Ann        TV movie

Gotti    Judge   TV movie

Undue Influence          Corrections Officer     TV movie

1999    God's New Plan          Kate Young     TV movie

2001    Focus   Woman #1 in Theater 

2002    Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story            Nurse Gowtand           TV movie

The Scream Team       Friendly Woman         TV movie

2003    Rolie Polie Olie: The Baby Bot Chase           Polie-Anna      TV movie

2008    A Christmas Story Documentary: Road Trip for Ralphie       Herself

The Untold Christmas Story   Herself

2009    Clarkworld      Herself

2011    Down the Road Again Annie Burns   

2012    The Cast of a Christmas Story: Where Are They Now?        Herself TV movie

2014    The Anniversary          Evelyn

2017    High-Rise Rescue       Maxine Smith 

Television

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1961    Encounter                    Episode: "Breaking Point"

1972-1975       Police Surgeon            Ruth/Mary/Wilma/Marta Morgan/Amy          5 episodes

1977    Sidestreet         Eleanor Slater  Episode: "Stakeout"

1980    The Littlest Hobo        Mrs. Baxter     Episode: "Snapshot"

For the Record                        Episode: "Lyon's Den"

1988    T. and T.          Mrs. Lewelyn  Episode: "And Baby Makes Nine"

1989-1990       Friday the 13th: The Series     Nurse Dana/Dr. Meade           2 episodes

1992    E.N.G. Dr. Holtfield    Episode: "Harvest"

1995    Avonlea           Guest #2          Episode: "What a Tangled Web We Weave"

1996    PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal      Sarah Kilmartin           Episode: "The Transient/Two Lost Old Men"

2001    RoboCop: Prime Directives    The Old Woman (CEO)          2 episodes

2002    Odyssey 5       Video Shrink   Episode: "L.D.U. 7"

2003-2004       Rolie Polie Olie          Polie-Anna      6 episodes

2005    This Is Wonderland                 1 episode

Little Einsteins                        Episode: "The Christmas Wish"

2011    The Kennedys Mrs. Shaw       3 episodes

Jon Cypher obit

Jon Cypher Dies: ‘Hill Street Blues’ Police Chief, ‘Major Dad’ Regular & ‘Masters Of The Universe’ Ally Was 94

 

He was not on the list.

Jon Cypher, who played Chief Daniels in scores of Hill Street Blues episodes, was He-Man’s chief ally in 1987’s Masters of the Universe, starred on Major Dad and appeared in dozens of other TV series and films over nearly a half-century, died August 3 at his home in Central Point, Oregon. He was 94.

His family told local news outlet Ashland News that he died with his wife by his side but did not reveal a cause of death.

Cypher probably is best known for his role as the politics-savvy and sometimes duplicitous Police Chief Fletcher Daniels in more than 70 episodes of NBC’s 1980s cop drama Hill Street Blues from 1981-87. Although the series created by Steven Bochco-Michael Kozoll never was a big ratings hit — ranking only 27th among primetime series in its first season and never breaking the Top 20 in a three-network universe — its influence was undeniable as critics swooned. The series amassed 26 Emmys, dozens more nominations and was the first show to win four consecutive Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series, from 1981-84.

During Hill Street‘s run, Cypher was cast as He-Man key ally Duncan, aka Man-at-Arms, in the 1987 cult pic Masters of the Universe. Idris Elba plays the character in this year’s reboot starring Nicholas Galitzine. Another big role came around in 1990 when Cypher joined the CBS sitcom Major Dad as Brig. Gen. Marcus Craig for the show’s final three seasons into 1993.

But those career-defining parts came a quarter-century or more into his acting career.

Born on January 13, 1932, in New York City, Cypher’s first credit was playing Prince Christopher in CBS’ 1957 landmark live telecast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical Cinderella, which starred Julie Andrews and drew more than 100 million U.S. viewers. He then played the first nine Broadway roles, starting with The Disenchanted and including such 1960s productions as The Night of the Iguana, Man of La Mancha, The Great White Hope and 1776. His final Broadway credit was playing toy story owner Mr. MacMillan in the 1996 production of Big.

In the early 1960s, he was cast in the single-season CBS daytime soap Our Five Daughters — which debuted a year after the sitcom My Three Sons — beginning a string of roles in serials for Cypher. He went on to appear on the likes of General Hospital, As the World Turns and Santa Barbara, along with primetime soaps Dynasty, Dallas and Knots Landing.

Along the way, he guested on dozens of memorable TV hits from Mission: Impossible, Bonanza and The F.B.I. to The Rockford Files, The Love Boat and Knight Ryder to Hunter, The Commish, JAG, Law & Order, Walker, Texas Ranger and Murder, She Wrote.

Cypher’s first big-screen credit was a starring role in 1971’s Valdez Is Coming, playing a powerful rancher who falsely accuses a man of murder and forces the town sheriff (Burt Lancaster) to kill the guy. When the lawman asks for compensation for the fallen man’s widow, Cypher’s Frank Tanner summons a force to battle him. Future Law & Order Emmy winner and DGA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Edwin Sherin directed the film.

Cypher would appear in a number of other features during his long career, including Strictly Business and Off the Mark, but TV was his main medium. He also appeared in a number of telefilms such as Elvis & Me, Malice in Wonderland, Night Games and Juan Peron in Evita Peron. His final credit was playing a director in a pair of The Lot episodes in 2001.

He also was a singer — his Ashland News obit noted that he sang opera in four languages — and was the author of a book of limericks titled If You’re Not Depressed, You Oughta Be in Therapy.

Cypher is survived by his wife of 40 years, Carol Rosin. Information of other survivors was not available. He was to be buried at the Forest Conservation Burial Ground in Ashland, Oregon.

Actor

Great Performances (1971)

Great Performances

7.9

TV Series

The PrinceHimself

2004

1 episode

 

Jonathan Frakes and Linda Cardellini in The Lot (1999)

The Lot

7.1

TV Series

Director

2001

2 episodes

 

Tony Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, David Ajala, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Jerome KamenHarlan Graham

1995–2000

2 episodes

 

Thomas Dekker, Peter Scolari, Hillary Tuck, and Barbara Alyn Woods in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (1997)

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show

6.0

TV Series

Colonel Coleman

2000

1 episode

 

Batman Beyond (1999)

Batman Beyond

8.1

TV Series

SpellbinderDr. Ira Billings (voice)

1999–2000

3 episodes

 

Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

Walker, Texas Ranger

5.7

TV Series

Waylon Cox

1999

1 episode

 

Rescue 77 (1999)

Rescue 77

6.6

TV Series

Charles Bell

1999

3 episodes

 

Walking to the Waterline (1998)

Walking to the Waterline

6.5

Fred Blumquist

1998

 

Catherine Bell, David James Elliott, and Tracey Needham in JAG (1995)

JAG

6.7

TV Series

Frank Burnett

1998

1 episode

 

Robert Davi and Ally Walker in Profiler (1996)

Profiler

7.2

TV Series

Judge Neil MacGruder

1997

1 episode

 

Pinky and the Brain (1995)

Pinky and the Brain

7.8

TV Series

Administrator (voice)

1997

1 episode

 

Jane Seymour, Chad Allen, Erika Flores, Joe Lando, and Shawn Toovey in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman

6.9

TV Series

Preston A. Lodge II

1996

1 episode

 

The Invaders (1995)

The Invaders

5.0

TV Mini Series

Sen. Alex Feinman

1995

2 episodes

 

Gene Barry and Peter Barton in Burke's Law (1994)

Burke's Law

6.6

TV Series

Ben Fletcher

1995

1 episode

 

Richard Eden in RoboCop (1994)

RoboCop

5.6

TV Series

General Eugene Omar

1994

1 episode

 

Michael Chiklis in The Commish (1991)

The Commish

7.1

TV Series

Bill Kelton

1994

1 episode

 

Annie Potts and Jay Thomas in Love & War (1992)

Love & War

6.7

TV Series

Anthony

1994

1 episode

 

Nicole Dubuc, Chelsea Hertford, Gerald McRaney, Shanna Reed, and Marisa Ryan in Major Dad (1989)

Major Dad

6.5

TV Series

Gen. Marcus C. Craig

1990–1993

69 episodes

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.3

TV Series

Capt. Rory O'NeilDefense Atty. Max FlynnNathan Swarthmore

1986–1993

3 episodes

 

Strictly Business (1991)

Strictly Business

5.5

Drake

1991

 

Snow Kill (1990)

Snow Kill

4.8

TV Movie

Reid

1990

 

The Sandgrass People (1990)

The Sandgrass People

5.9

Walter Carter

1990

 

The Hogan Family (1986)

The Hogan Family

6.6

TV Series

Mr. Edwards

1990

1 episode

 

Burt Reynolds in B.L. Stryker (1989)

B.L. Stryker

6.2

TV Series

Felix Renza

1990

1 episode

 

Steve Akahoshi, Tony Becker, Eric Bruskotter, Stephen Caffrey, Kevin Conroy, Stan Foster, Ramón Franco, Terence Knox, Joshua D. Maurer, and Miguel A. Núñez Jr. in Tour of Duty (1987)

Tour of Duty

8.3

TV Series

Major General GoldmanMG Goldman

1988–1989

2 episodes

 

Accidents (1989)

Accidents

4.5

James Hughes

1989

 

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)

Santa Barbara

5.7

TV Series

Dr. Arthur Donnelly

1988–1989

57 episodes

 

Mary Page Keller, Alison La Placa, Chris Lemmon, and Philip Charles MacKenzie in Open House (1989)

Open House

6.7

TV Series

John Green

1989

2 episodes

 

Spontaneous Combustion (1989)

Spontaneous Combustion

4.9

Dr. Marsh

1989

 

Mary Page Keller and Matthew Laurance in Duet (1987)

Duet

7.2

TV Series

John

1989

1 episode

 

Harry Hamlin and Linda Kozlowski in Favorite Son (1988)

Favorite Son

7.3

TV Mini Series

Bartholomew Scott

1988

1 episode

 

Lady Mobster (1988)

Lady Mobster

4.9

TV Movie

Alfred Mallory

1988

 

Probe (1988)

Probe

7.8

TV Series

Howard Millhouse

1988

2 episodes

 

Dale Midkiff and Susan Walters in Elvis and Me (1988)

Elvis and Me

7.0

TV Movie

Captain Joseph Paul Beaulieu

1988

 

Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer in Hunter (1984)

Hunter

6.9

TV Series

Alan Shadwell

1987

1 episode

 

Jerry Orbach and Barbara Babcock in The Law and Harry McGraw (1987)

The Law and Harry McGraw

7.5

TV Series

Sam Wallace

1987

1 episode

 

Terry Farrell, David D'Arnal, Clarence Gilyard Jr., and Mark Neely in Off the Mark (1987)

Off the Mark

5.3

John C. Roosevelt

1987

 

Brothers (1984)

Brothers

8.0

TV Series

Mr. Grant

1987

1 episode

 

Dolph Lundgren, Robert Duncan McNeill, and Courteney Cox in Masters of the Universe (1987)

Masters of the Universe

5.4

Man-at-Arms

1987

 

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

Hill Street Blues

8.2

TV Series

Chief Fletcher Daniels

1981–1987

71 episodes

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

Dirk E. MaurierDirk Maurier

1983–1987

10 episodes

 

True Confessions (1985)

True Confessions

5.5

TV Series

1986

1 episode

 

Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun (1986)

Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun

7.2

TV Movie

Dr. Peter Lattimore

1986

 

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

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

Richard Copeland

1986

1 episode

 

Lime Street (1985)

Lime Street

6.2

TV Series

Kyle Stoddard

1985

1 episode

 

Elizabeth Taylor and Jane Alexander in Malice in Wonderland (1985)

Malice in Wonderland

6.4

TV Movie

Dr. Harry 'Docky' Martin

1985

 

Joe Pesci and Victoria Jackson in Half Nelson (1985)

Half Nelson

6.7

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Lottery! (1983)

Lottery!

6.9

TV Series

Dan Bradshaw

1984

1 episode

 

David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider (1982)

Knight Rider

6.9

TV Series

George Atherton

1983

1 episode

 

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

Trapper John, M.D.

6.6

TV Series

Marshall RandolphAndrew Forsyte

1981–1983

2 episodes

 

William Devane, Nicollette Sheridan, Kevin Dobson, Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

Knots Landing

7.0

TV Series

Jeff Munson

1982–1983

11 episodes

 

Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, Linda Gray, and Steve Kanaly in Dallas (1978)

Dallas

7.1

TV Series

1982

1 episode

 

Rock Hudson and Jack Scalia in The Devlin Connection (1982)

The Devlin Connection

6.2

TV Series

1982

1 episode

 

The Greatest American Hero (1981)

The Greatest American Hero

7.3

TV Series

Richard Beller

1982

1 episode

 

House Calls (1979)

House Calls

6.6

TV Series

1982

1 episode

 

Today's F.B.I. (1981)

Today's F.B.I.

7.0

TV Series

Le Duc

1982

1 episode

 

Finola Hughes, Maurice Benard, Steve Burton, Genie Francis, Laura Wright, Donnell Turner, Tanisha Harper, Josh Kelly, Eden McCoy, Josh Swickard, and Tabyana Ali in General Hospital (1963)

General Hospital

6.7

TV Series

Max Van Stadt

1981

24 episodes

 

Evita Peron (1981)

Evita Peron

5.8

TV Movie

Col. Imbert

1981

 

Hector Elizondo and Tom Mason in Freebie and the Bean (1980)

Freebie and the Bean

5.8

TV Series

Dwight Rollins

1980

1 episode

 

As the World Turns (1956)

As the World Turns

6.3

TV Series

Dr. Alexander Keith

1978–1979

3 episodes

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Russell Evans (as Jon Cyphers)

1979

1 episode

 

Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Michael Kelly

1977

2 episodes

 

Harold Gould and Stefanie Powers in The Feather and Father Gang (1976)

The Feather and Father Gang

6.9

TV Series

Cal Cooper

1977

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson in Police Woman (1974)

Police Woman

6.6

TV Series

Skip Arnold

1977

1 episode

 

The Food of the Gods (1976)

The Food of the Gods

4.7

Brian

1976

 

Jack Palance in Bronk (1975)

Bronk

6.8

TV Series

Lundeen

1976

1 episode

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

7.0

TV Series

Frank Dunlap

1976

1 episode

 

Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

Marcus Welby, M.D.

7.0

TV Series

Eric Brandon

1975

4 episodes

 

Hayley Mills, Jon Cypher, and David McCallum in The Kingfisher Caper (1975)

The Kingfisher Caper

4.2

Johnny Lance

1975

 

The Kid and the Killers (1974)

The Kid and the Killers

5.6

Roper

1974

 

The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Stafford

1974

1 episode

 

Ellen Geer in The Memory of Us (1974)

The Memory of Us

5.5

Brad

1974

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Sam Belson

1974

1 episode

 

Night Games (1974)

Night Games

7.2

TV Movie

Dale Hannigan

1974

 

William Conrad in Cannon (1971)

Cannon

6.8

TV Series

Lt. Lou Hayes

1974

1 episode

 

Blade (1973)

Blade

5.3

Petersen

1973

 

Lady Ice (1973)

Lady Ice

4.8

Eddie Stell

1973

 

Doris Day in The Doris Day Show (1968)

The Doris Day Show

7.2

TV Series

Sir Robert Kingsley

1971–1973

2 episodes

 

Circle of Fear (1972)

Circle of Fear

7.6

TV Series

Keith

1973

1 episode

 

Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Wallace HunterPhillip Lomax

1972

2 episodes

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

Col. Cody Ransom

1972

1 episode

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

Art Stafford

1972

1 episode

 

Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in McMillan & Wife (1971)

McMillan & Wife

7.2

TV Series

John Thomas Clark

1972

1 episode

 

Michael Sarrazin in Believe in Me (1971)

Believe in Me

5.7

Alan

1971

 

Valdez Is Coming (1971)

Valdez Is Coming

6.7

Frank Tanner

1971

 

Nanny and the Professor (1970)

Nanny and the Professor

7.2

TV Series

Professor Englund

1970

1 episode

 

Frank Converse in Coronet Blue (1967)

Coronet Blue

8.2

TV Series

Ewan McBurney

1967

1 episode

 

Flipper in Flipper (1964)

Flipper

6.4

TV Series

Jim Lorman

1964

1 episode

 

NBC Children's Theatre (1963)

NBC Children's Theatre

5.6

TV Series

King Richard

1964

1 episode

 

Our Five Daughters (1962)

Our Five Daughters

7.2

TV Series

Driscoll (1962)

1962

160 episodes

 

Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)

Armstrong Circle Theatre

7.5

TV Series

Richie BramanMiklos

1957

2 episodes

 

Kraft Mystery Theatre (1947)

The United States Steel Hour

8.0

TV Series

1957

1 episode

 

Cinderella (1957)

Cinderella

7.5

TV Movie

Prince Christopher Rupert Windemere Vladimir Karl Alexander François Reginald Launcelot Herman Gregory James

1957

 

Soundtrack

The 50th Annual Tony Awards (1996)

The 50th Annual Tony Awards

7.3

TV Special

performer: "Fun"

1996

 

Cinderella (1957)

Cinderella

7.5

TV Movie

performer: "Ten Minutes Ago", "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?"

1957

 

Self

Cinderella (1957)

A Lovely Night: The Making of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Television Classic

Short

Self

2005

 

The 50th Annual Tony Awards (1996)

The 50th Annual Tony Awards

7.3

TV Special

Self - Performer

1996

 

An Evening at the Improv (1981)

An Evening at the Improv

7.2

TV Series

Self - Host

1992

1 episode

 

Chuck Woolery in The Chuck Woolery Show (1991)

The Chuck Woolery Show

5.6

TV Series

Self

1991

1 episode

 

The 10th Annual People's Choice Awards (1984)

The 10th Annual People's Choice Awards

5.7

TV Special

Self - Accepting Award for Favourite TV Dramatic Program

1984

 

The 8th Annual People's Choice Awards

3.8

TV Special

Self - Accepting Award for Favourite Overall New TV Program

1982

 

Natalie Wood and Jacques Sernas in Camera Three (1954)

Camera Three

6.3

TV Series

Self

1968

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Gabriel Fernández-Gil, Juan Pérez, David Díaz, Luis Rodrigo, FJ García, Iñaki Reyna, Alvar Gordejuela, and Jon Koldo Etxebarria in Special Collector's Edition (2010)

Special Collector's Edition

6.9

TV Series

Duncan (Man-at-Arms) (archive footage, uncredited)

2011

1 episode

 

Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2007)

Cinemassacre's Monster Madness

8.7

TV Series

Self - Dr. Marsh (archive footage)

2009

1 episode

 

Robert Clohessy, Michael Warren, and Bruce Weitz in Hill Street Blues (1981)

Hill Street Blues

8.2

TV Series

Chief Fletcher Daniels (archive footage, uncredited)

1983–1984

2 episodes

Wai Ching Ho obit

Wai Ching Ho, the Legendary Madame Gao From Daredevil, Dies at 82

 She was not on the list.

Wai Ching Ho has died at the age of 82. Details surrounding her passing, including the date and cause of death, have not yet been made public. However, news of her death began circulating within the acting community, where collaborators from across her television, film, and stage career started sharing memories and tributes to an actor who spent nearly forty years shaping how Asian and Asian American characters were written and performed on major platforms. Ho was best known to modern audiences as Madame Gao, the soft-spoken crime boss she played across three seasons of Marvel Television’s Netflix era, but her career stretched back decades earlier through New York’s Off-Broadway scene, where she built her reputation long before Hell’s Kitchen came calling.

“I won’t ever forget you,” actor Peter Shinkoda wrote in a tribute on Instagram, becoming the first public figure to confirm Ho’s passing. “I learned every minute from you when we were together on and off set. We will meet again, my friend. You were beautiful.” Shinkoda’s message is particularly touching given the two actors’ Marvel history. On Daredevil and The Defenders, Shinkoda and Ho played the two central Asian crime figures operating in Hell’s Kitchen, Nobu Yoshioka and Madame Gao, at a time when Marvel Television gave few characters of East Asian descent this kind of narrative prominence. “My dear Wai, you deserve all the standing ovations- what a stellar human and a stellar artist. What an example of how to live,” actress Mahira Kakkar wrote in her own tribute. Kakkar starred alongside Ho in the National Asian American Theatre Company’s staging of Henry VI, across the production’s two-part adaptation of Shakespeare’s trilogy.

In the first season of Daredevil, Gao ran a heroin operation across Hell’s Kitchen while serving as one of the main crime bosses working under Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) underground alliance. In a world of bloodied fists and cracked skulls, Ho’s performance made clear that the character’s power came from patience and precision. Ho’s run with Marvel Television stretched across three series over three years, making Madame Gao one of the most consistently featured antagonists in Netflix’s corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ho reprised the role in Iron Fist opposite Danny Rand (Finn Jones) and again in The Defenders, where Gao aligned herself with Alexandra Reid (Sigourney Weaver). Later revealed as one of the five fingers of The Hand, Gao withstood a forced interrogation using sodium pentothal without effect, matched wits with trained fighters twice her size, and outmaneuvered nearly every rival who crossed her path. Her fate was left unresolved following the Defenders’ final confrontation with the Hand, seemingly crushed by an imploding building. Death is never permanent in Marvel stories, especially when they happen off-screen, which is why fans still hope to see Madame Gao reappear in the Defenders revival, Daredevil: Born Again.

Beyond the MCU, Ho’s screen work included a supporting role in Hustlers and voice work as Grandma Wu in Pixar’s Turning Red, alongside a long-running presence across the Law & Order franchise that continued as recently as 2025. At the time of her death, she had an upcoming role in the short film Here and Again, still in post-production.

 

Actress

Here and Again

Ama

Post-productionShort

 

Aunties (2026)

Aunties

Podcast Series

Auntie Mei

2026

 

Radha Mitchell in The Gardener (2026)

The Gardener

5.1

Anna

2026

 

Capture (2025)

Capture

Short

Mrs. Feng

2025

 

Tony Goldwyn, Maura Tierney, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, David Ajala, and Odelya Halevi in Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Li TanMrs. NgaiOwner ...

1992–2025

4 episodes

 

Nervous Energy (2025)

Nervous Energy

6.7

Short

Narrator

2025

 

Terry Chen and Mia SwamiNathan in Sight (2023)

Sight

6.6

Alian

2023

 

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building (2021)

Only Murders in the Building

8.0

TV Series

Mei Mei

2023

1 episode

 

Georgina Campbell in Lovely, Dark, and Deep (2023)

Lovely, Dark, and Deep

4.9

Zhang

2023

 

Awkwafina in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (2020)

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens

7.5

TV Series

Li-WeiGrandma #1

2020–2023

5 episodes

 

Christopher Meloni in Law & Order: Organized Crime (2021)

Law & Order: Organized Crime

7.7

TV Series

Sister Shu

2023

1 episode

 

Tzi Ma, Perry Yung, Kathleen Kwan, and Ronny Chieng in A Father's Son (2022)

A Father's Son

8.4

Short

Soo Hing Li

2022

 

Sami Ma and Karen Tsen Lee in Tender Ears (2022)

Tender Ears

Short

Teresa

2022

 

Judy Lei, Leonard Wu, and Vanessa Kai in The World's Greatest (2022)

The World's Greatest

Ms. Mui

2022

 

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Tristan Allerick Chen, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, and Rosalie Chiang in Turning Red (2022)

Turning Red

6.9

GrandmaGrandma Panda (voice)

2022

 

Song & Grace

Short

SongGrandmother

2021

 

Sanjit De Silva, Angel Desai, Wai Ching Ho, Florencia Lozano, Geoffrey Owens, Malka Wallick, Geneva Carr, Estelle Bajou, Mara Kassin, Elizabeth Narciso, Jonathan Chekroune, Sarah E. Williams, and Michelle Bossy in klutz. (2019)

klutz.

Short

Ailene

2019

 

Jennifer Lopez, Keke Palmer, Constance Wu, Lili Reinhart, Lizzo, and Cardi B in Hustlers (2019)

Hustlers

6.3

Destiny's Grandmother

2019

 

Two Sentence Horror Stories (2017)

Two Sentence Horror Stories

5.7

TV Series

Ma

2019

1 episode

 

Tsai Chin in Lucky Grandma (2019)

Lucky Grandma

6.3

Lei Lei the Fortune Teller

2019

 

Ryan Eggold in New Amsterdam (2018)

New Amsterdam

7.9

TV Series

June Chiang

2018

1 episode

 

Tony Danza and Josh Groban in The Good Cop (2018)

The Good Cop

7.0

TV Series

Dr. Kim

2018

1 episode

 

Justin Chon and Ellie Bamber in High Resolution (2018)

High Resolution

4.0

Paul's Mother

2018

 

Taye Diggs, Lucy Liu, Glen Powell, and Zoey Deutch in Set It Up (2018)

Set It Up

6.5

Kirsten's Mom (uncredited)

2018

 

Patrick Heusinger and Kat Foster in Accommodations (2018)

Accommodations

4.1

Chun

2018

 

Lucille Soong, Randall Park, Constance Wu, Forrest Wheeler, Ian Chen, and Hudson Yang in Fresh Off the Boat (2015)

Fresh Off the Boat

7.7

TV Series

Big Auntie

2016–2018

2 episodes

 

Keir Dullea, Kate Middleton, Celina Jade, and Jon Fletcher in April Flowers (2017)

April Flowers

5.8

Future April

2017

 

Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, and Finn Jones in The Defenders (2017)

The Defenders

7.2

TV Mini Series

Madame GaoMadam Gao

2017

6 episodes

 

Finn Jones in Iron Fist (2017)

Iron Fist

6.4

TV Series

Madame Gao

2017

9 episodes

 

Charlie Cox in Daredevil (2015)

Daredevil

8.6

TV Series

Madame Gao

2015–2016

6 episodes

 

Adam Goldberg, Michael Ian Black, Jim Gaffigan, Ashley Williams, and Tongayi Chirisa in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015)

The Jim Gaffigan Show

7.5

TV Series

Nai Nai Chow

2015

1 episode

 

Kate Mulgrew, Natasha Lyonne, Selenis Leyva, Laura Prepon, Taylor Schilling, Uzo Aduba, Dascha Polanco, and Danielle Brooks in Orange Is the New Black (2013)

Orange Is the New Black

8.0

TV Series

Mrs. Hu

2015

1 episode

 

Taylor Lautner in Tracers (2015)

Tracers

5.6

Chen

2015

 

Gregg Sulkin, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Grant Gustin, and Ben Rosenfield in Affluenza (2014)

Affluenza

4.8

Mary

2014

 

Cantonese Style! (2014)

Cantonese Style!

Short

Bessie

2014

 

Listen Up Philip (2014)

Listen Up Philip

6.3

Helen (uncredited)

2014

 

Compulsive Love (2013)

Compulsive Love

TV Series

Lily's Mom

2013

1 episode

 

Half of Her

Short

Ms. Yang

2012

 

Sweatshop Kid (2012)

Sweatshop Kid

Short

Grandmother

2012

 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Premium Rush (2012)

Premium Rush

6.5

Sister Chen

2012

 

Mariska Hargitay in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

8.1

TV Series

Gladys TangSusan Guan

2001–2011

2 episodes

 

Tina Chen, Ron Nakahara, and Ed Lin in The Potential Wives of Norman Mao (2011)

The Potential Wives of Norman Mao

Short

Ling Ling Ng

2011

 

Three Minutes (2010)

Three Minutes

Short

Mother

2010

 

Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, and Will Estes in Blue Bloods (2010)

Blue Bloods

7.7

TV Series

Stranger (uncredited)

2010

1 episode

 

Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, and Teresa Palmer in The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

6.1

Chinese Woman

2010

 

5 Lessons and 9 Questions About Chinatown

Short

(voice)

2009

 

2B (2009)

2B

6.9

Expert #4Dr.Tanaka

2009

 

Flight of the Conchords (2007)

Flight of the Conchords

8.5

TV Series

Mrs. Lee

2009

1 episode

 

Crystal Chiu and Michael Chen in Children of Invention (2009)

Children of Invention

6.5

Doris

2009

 

Pierce Brosnan, Susan Sarandon, and Carey Mulligan in The Greatest (2009)

The Greatest

6.6

Piano Teacher

2009

 

Resolve

Short

Fong

2008

 

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in New Amsterdam (2008)

New Amsterdam

7.3

TV Series

Asian Woman

2008

1 episode

 

Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Shoshannah Stern, Chi Ling Chiu, and Nick Kroll in Adventures of Power (2008)

Adventures of Power

5.8

Yolanda Fong

2008

 

Year of the Fish (2007)

Year of the Fish

6.4

Seamstress #2

2007

 

William Hurt, Julianna Margulies, Rita Wilson, and Michelle Trachtenberg in Beautiful Ohio (2006)

Beautiful Ohio

5.7

Elderly Woman

2006

 

Vincent D'Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

7.6

TV Series

Mrs. WongJane Yu

2001–2006

2 episodes

 

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

9.4

Video Game

Pedestrian (voice)

2004

 

A Boy and a Girl (2003)

A Boy and a Girl

2.3

Short

Mama

2003

 

Robot Stories (2003)

Robot Stories

6.0

Bernice

2003

 

Oliver Platt, Annabella Sciorra, Robert Loggia, and L. Scott Caldwell in Queens Supreme (2003)

Queens Supreme

7.4

TV Series

Foreperson #1

2003

1 episode

 

Lili Taylor, Bebe Neuwirth, Oliver Platt, and Tom Conti in Deadline (2000)

Deadline

6.4

TV Series

Doctor

2000

1 episode

 

Jenna Elfman, Edward Norton, and Ben Stiller in Keeping the Faith (2000)

Keeping the Faith

6.4

Confessional Woman #2

2000

 

Michelle Forbes, Billy Burke, Joelle Carter, Martin Donovan, Ted Levine, and Michael Jai White in Wonderland (2000)

Wonderland

7.6

TV Series

2000

1 episode

 

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Camryn Manheim, Jane Adams, and Dylan Baker in Happiness (1998)

Happiness

7.7

Student #1

1998

 

Renée Zellweger in A Price Above Rubies (1998)

A Price Above Rubies

6.5

Lady Vendor

1998

 

Dellaventura (1997)

Dellaventura

7.1

TV Series

Kimi Chang

1998

1 episode

 

2 Mayhem 3 (1996)

2 Mayhem 3

8.3

1996

 

Swans Crossing (1992)

Swans Crossing

7.5

TV Series

Dr. Kamber

1992

2 episodes

 

Whoopi Goldberg, Teri Hatcher, Kevin Kline, Elisabeth Shue, Robert Downey Jr., and Sally Field in Soapdish (1991)

Soapdish

6.6

Fan

1991

 

One Life to Live (1968)

One Life to Live

6.9

TV Series

Kim

1983–1990

7 episodes

 

Tim Robbins and Robin Williams in Cadillac Man (1990)

Cadillac Man

5.8

Asian Wife

1990

 

Soundtrack

Flight of the Conchords (2007)

Flight of the Conchords

8.5

TV Series

performer: "Stay Cool"

2009

1 episode

 

Self

The Wives of Henry Yuk (2011)

The Wives of Henry Yuk

Video

Self

2011