Christopher Rich (American actor)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Rich Wilson (born September 16, 1953, in Dallas, Texas
) is an American
actor
, best known for his roles on Murphy Brown
(as Miller Redfield) and Reba
(as Reba's ex-husband, Brock Hart).
Another World
from 1981 to 1985. He also starred in the short-lived 1987-1988 series The Charmings
as Prince Eric Charming, with Caitlin O'Heaney
, Judy Parfitt
and Paul Winfield
.
In 1990, Rich played the role of popular cartoon character Archie Andrews
in the TV film Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
. The film was based on the characters of Archie Comics
. Rich then appeared in the 1993 film The Joy Luck Club
.
During the 90s, Rich had guest appearances in several television shows like Renegade
, The Nanny
, Suddenly Susan
, and ER
, among others. He also had recurring roles in The George Carlin Show
(as Dr. Neil Beck), Murphy Brown
(as Miller Redfield), and Nash Bridges
(as Agent David Katz).
In 2001, Rich joined the cast of Reba
playing Brock Hart, the ex-husband of the title character (played by Reba McEntire
). Rich stayed in the show until it was canceled in 2007.
During this time, Rich also had a recurring role on Boston Legal
playing attorney Melvin Palmer. After that, he also played Bree's book publisher Bruce on two episodes of ABC's Desperate Housewives
.
He currently plays the dad of Mel in the TV series Melissa and Joey
. He was married to Another World co-star Nancy Frangione
from 1982 until 1996. He is currently married to his second wife, Ewa Jesionowska, a finalist of Miss Poland 1985, and a former gymnast who participated at the 1980 Summer Olympics
in Moscow
. Rich has two children.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, best known for his roles on Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television...
(as Miller Redfield) and Reba
Reba (TV series)
Reba is an American sitcom starring Reba McEntire, which ran from 2001 to 2007. For the show's first five seasons, it ran on The WB, with the show transitioning to The CW in its last year.-Synopsis:...
(as Reba's ex-husband, Brock Hart).
Career
Rich first became popular playing the role of Alexander "Sandy" Cory on the daytime dramaSoap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
from 1981 to 1985. He also starred in the short-lived 1987-1988 series The Charmings
The Charmings
The Charmings is an American fantasy sitcom that aired from March 1987 to February 1988 on ABC.-Synopsis:The opening voice-over set-up the premise:...
as Prince Eric Charming, with Caitlin O'Heaney
Caitlin O'Heaney
Caitlin O'Heaney is an American TV, film and stage actress. O'Heaney has worked extensively in live theater, but is best known for playing Sarah Stickney White, the female lead on the ABC series Tales of the Gold Monkey in the early 1980s...
, Judy Parfitt
Judy Parfitt
Judy Parfitt is a BAFTA-nominated English theatre, film and television actress who began her career on stage in 1954.-Life and work:...
and Paul Winfield
Paul Winfield
Paul Edward Winfield was an American television, film, and stage actor. He was known for his portrayal of a Louisiana sharecropper who struggles to support his family during the Great Depression in the landmark film Sounder which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Winfield also portrayed Dr....
.
In 1990, Rich played the role of popular cartoon character Archie Andrews
Archie Andrews (comics)
Archie Andrews, created in 1941 by Vic Bloom and Bob Montana, is a fictional character in an American comic book series published by Archie Comics, as well as the long-running Archie Andrews radio series, a syndicated comic strip, The Archie Show, and Archie's Weird Mysteries.-Character and...
in the TV film Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again
Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again was a live-action television movie based on comic book characters published by Archie Comics...
. The film was based on the characters of Archie Comics
Archie Comics
Archie Comics is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the Village of Mamaroneck, Town of Mamaroneck, New York, known for its many series featuring the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge, Reggie Mantle and Jughead Jones. The characters were created by...
. Rich then appeared in the 1993 film The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club (film)
The Joy Luck Club is a 1993 American film about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers. It is based on the 1989 novel of the same name by Amy Tan, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ronald Bass. The film was produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Wayne Wang...
.
During the 90s, Rich had guest appearances in several television shows like Renegade
Renegade (TV series)
Renegade is an American television series that ran for 110 episodes spanning 5 seasons between September 19, 1992 and April 4, 1997.The series stars Lorenzo Lamas as Reno Raines, a police officer who is framed for a murder he didn't commit. Raines goes on the run and joins forces with Native...
, The Nanny
The Nanny (TV series)
The Nanny is an American television sitcom co-produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink, Inc., and Fran Drescher in association with TriStar Television for the CBS network...
, Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan
Suddenly Susan is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The show takes place at The Gate, a fictitious magazine which is based in San Francisco. Among the magazine's employees is Susan Keane , who always has been cared for by someone else...
, and ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, among others. He also had recurring roles in The George Carlin Show
The George Carlin Show
The George Carlin Show is an American sitcom that aired on the Fox network from January 1994 to July 1995. It was created jointly by veteran TV producer Sam Simon and the show's namesake, comedian George Carlin.-Synopsis:...
(as Dr. Neil Beck), Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown
Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television...
(as Miller Redfield), and Nash Bridges
Nash Bridges
Nash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of...
(as Agent David Katz).
In 2001, Rich joined the cast of Reba
Reba (TV series)
Reba is an American sitcom starring Reba McEntire, which ran from 2001 to 2007. For the show's first five seasons, it ran on The WB, with the show transitioning to The CW in its last year.-Synopsis:...
playing Brock Hart, the ex-husband of the title character (played by Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
). Rich stayed in the show until it was canceled in 2007.
During this time, Rich also had a recurring role on Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
playing attorney Melvin Palmer. After that, he also played Bree's book publisher Bruce on two episodes of ABC's Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
.
He currently plays the dad of Mel in the TV series Melissa and Joey
Personal life
Rich attended the University of Texas and received a master's degree in theater arts from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. He was married to Another World co-star Nancy Frangione
Nancy Frangione
Nancy Frangione is an American soap opera actress. She is a graduate of Barnstable High School.-Career:...
from 1982 until 1996. He is currently married to his second wife, Ewa Jesionowska, a finalist of Miss Poland 1985, and a former gymnast who participated at the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Rich has two children.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Another World Another World (TV series) Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J... |
Sandy Cory | 4 episodes |
| 1983 | Stud with Sports Car | ||
| 1985 | Dr. Russell Sears | TV movie | |
| 1987 | Sweet Surrender Sweet Surrender (TV series) Sweet Surrender is an American television sitcom that aired for one season on NBC from 18 April, 1987 to 8 July, 1987.-Cast:* Mark Blum as Ken Holden* Dana Delany as Georgia Holden* Viveka Davis as Cak* David Doyle as Frank Macklin... |
Vaughn Parker | Episode: "Where There's a Will..." |
| 1987–1988 | Eric Charming | 19 episodes | |
| 1989 | Prisoners of Inertia | Dave | |
| 1989 | Hound Town | Napoleon (voice) | TV movie |
| 1989 | Baywatch Baywatch Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production... |
Derrick Benton | Episode: "The Drowning Pool" |
| 1989–1997 | Murphy Brown Murphy Brown Murphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television... |
Miller Redfield | 22 episodes |
| 1990 | Empty Nest Empty Nest Empty Nest is an American sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1988 to 1995. The series was created as a spin-off of The Golden Girls by creator and producer Susan Harris. For its first three seasons, Empty Nest was one of the year's top 10 most-watched programs... |
John | Episode: "Complainin' in the Rain" |
| 1990 | Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again was a live-action television movie based on comic book characters published by Archie Comics... |
Archie Andrews | TV movie |
| 1990 | ABC Afterschool Special ABC Afterschool Special The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were... |
Episode: "Testing Dirty" | |
| 1990 | In the Line of Duty: A Cop for the Killing | IA Officer #3 | TV movie |
| 1990 | Married People Married People Married People is an American television situation comedy that aired on ABC as part of its 1990-91 schedule.-Synopsis:The series follows three couples in different stages of their relationships who lived in the same building in New York City... |
Ned | Episode: "To Live and Drive in New York" |
| 1991 | Flight of the Intruder Flight of the Intruder Flight of the Intruder is a 1991 film directed by John Milius, which is based on the novel of the same name by A-6 Intruder pilot Stephen Coonts... |
Lt. Morgan 'Morg' McPherson | |
| 1991 | Babes Babes Babes is an American situation comedy series that ran for one season on the Fox Television Network from September 13, 1990 to August 10, 1991. It was created by Gail Parent and executive produced by Dolly Parton and Sandy Gallin's Sandollar Productions for Twentieth Century Fox Television... |
Episode: "11 Angry Men and Charlene" | |
| 1991 | In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas | Scott Faul | TV movie |
| 1991 | Lute Cantrell | TV movie | |
| 1992 | Sibs Sibs Sibs was an American sitcom broadcast by ABC as part of its 1991-92 prime time lineup.Sibs starred veteran actress Marsha Mason as Nora Rusico, a successful accountant and Alex Rocco as her longsuffering husband, Howie. The source of most of Howie's suffering was his wife's younger sisters , Audie... |
4 episodes | |
| 1993 | Almost Home | Jim Morgan | Episode: "Winner Take Millicent" |
| 1993 | Dream On Dream On (TV series) Dream On is an American adult-themed situation comedy about single New Yorker, Martin Tupper. The show used a gimmick where old black and white clips were used to punctuate the main character's feelings or thoughts... |
Mark | Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Dream On" |
| 1993 | Rich | ||
| 1993 | Doc McCoy | Episode: "A.K.A. Kansas" | |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 Babylon 5 Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262... |
Crew Member | Episode: "Born to the Purple Born to the Purple "Born to the Purple" is an episode from the first season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. This episode is named after the Greek word Porphyrogenitos, referring to special birthright or privileged heritage, royal birth.-Synopsis:... " |
| 1994–1995 | Dr. Neil Beck | 27 episodes | |
| 1995 | Kurt Jacobs | Episode: "A Fine Friendship" | |
| 1995 | Dan Goodwin | Episode: "The Way Things Never Were" | |
| 1996 | Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Mr. Jones | Episode: "The Impossible Mission Episode" |
| 1996 | Renegade Renegade (TV series) Renegade is an American television series that ran for 110 episodes spanning 5 seasons between September 19, 1992 and April 4, 1997.The series stars Lorenzo Lamas as Reno Raines, a police officer who is framed for a murder he didn't commit. Raines goes on the run and joins forces with Native... |
Ted Fisher | Episode: "No Place Like Home" |
| 1996 | Bob | Episode: "A Brush with Bob" | |
| 1996 | Hope and Gloria Hope and Gloria Hope and Gloria is an American sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Television and aired on NBC from March 9, 1995, through June 22, 1996. The show was canceled after 35 episodes... |
Dr. Ben Shipley | Episode: "Tainted Love" |
| 1996 | Nash Bridges Nash Bridges Nash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of... |
Special Agent David Katz | Episode: "'Till Death Do Us Part" |
| 1997 | Nash Bridges Nash Bridges Nash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of... |
Special Agent David Katz | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 1997 | Critics and Other Freaks | Sandy | |
| 1998 | Alright Already | Lowell | Episode: "Again with the Astronaut" Episode: "Again with the White House" |
| 1998 | Suddenly Susan Suddenly Susan Suddenly Susan is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC from 1996 to 2000. The show takes place at The Gate, a fictitious magazine which is based in San Francisco. Among the magazine's employees is Susan Keane , who always has been cared for by someone else... |
Rep. Francis Shafer | Episode: "A Tale of Two Pants: Part 1" Episode: "A Tale of Two Pants: Part 2" |
| 1998 | Kyle Wentworth | Episode: "Sue You" | |
| 1998 | Nash Bridges Nash Bridges Nash Bridges is an American television police drama created by Carlton Cuse. The show starred Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as two Inspectors with the San Francisco Police Department's Special Investigations Unit. The show ran for six seasons on CBS from March 29, 1996 to May 4, 2001 with a total of... |
Special Agent David Katz | Episode: "The Tourist" |
| 1999 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | Matt | Episode: "Divorce, Downbeat and Distemper" |
| 1999 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series) Sabrina, the Teenage Witch is an American sitcom based on the Archie comic book series of the same name.The show stars Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina Spellman, a teenager with magical powers, who lives with her aunts Hilda and Zelda , and their magical talking cat Salem... |
John | Episode: "Love Means Having to Say You're Sorry" |
| 2000 | ER ER (TV series) ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television... |
Ron Perth | Episode: "Be Patient" |
| 2000 | Going Home | Jack | TV movie |
| 2001 | Jefferson | Episode: "Three Men and a Smoking Diaper" | |
| 2001–2007 | Reba Reba (TV series) Reba is an American sitcom starring Reba McEntire, which ran from 2001 to 2007. For the show's first five seasons, it ran on The WB, with the show transitioning to The CW in its last year.-Synopsis:... |
Brock Hart | 119 episodes |
| 2003 | Seventh Veil | ||
| 2005–2008 | Boston Legal Boston Legal Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC... |
Attorney Melvin Palmer | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Johnny Kad | Episode: "Fools in Love" | |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer... |
Coach Jimmy Miller | Episode: "Bloodsport" |
| 2009 | Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W... |
Bruce | Episode: "Crime Doesn't Pay Crime Doesn't Pay "Crime Doesn't Pay" is the 103rd episode of the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. It is the sixteenth episode of the show's fifth season and aired on March 8, 2009.-Plot:Mike moves in with Katherine and she decides to throw a housewarming party... " |
| 2010 | Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W... |
Bruce | Episode: "We All Deserve to Die We All Deserve to Die "We All Deserve to Die" is the 130th episode of the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. It is the nineteenth episode of the show's sixth season and aired on April 18, 2010... " |
| 2010–2011 | Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey Melissa & Joey is an ABC Family original television series starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence. It first aired on ABC Family on August 17, 2010... |
Russell Burke | Episodes in Season 1: "The Perfect Storm", "All Politics is Local" |
| 2011 | My Freakin' Family | Gary | TV movie, pre-production |
| 2011 | Shake It Up Shake It Up (TV series) Shake It Up is an American television sitcom airing on Disney Channel in the United States. The series premiered on November 7, 2010. Created by Chris Thompson and starring Bella Thorne and Zendaya, the show follows the adventures of Cece Jones and Rocky Blue as they star as background dancers on... |
Mayor | Episode: "Shake It Up, Up & Away" |