FILMOGRAPHY
1975/6
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
US Marine Corps Promotional Video
Role: Young Marine
In a promotional video produced by the US Marine Corps, a group of active and retired Marines gathers to celebrate the history of the Marine Corps on its 200th anniversary. In one of his earliest roles, Richard played a young Marine in a series of vignettes that portrayed the evolution of the Marine Corps from its origin to the present day. Although the Marine Corps Archives dates the video as 1976, it was filmed to commemorate the 200th birthday of the Marine Corps, celebrated on November 10, 1975.
1976-1981
GENERAL HOSPITAL
ABC Television Daytime Serial
Role: Dr. Jeff Webber
Richard first gained national recognition in this long-running daytime serial. He joined the cast from 1976 to 1981 as young resident and neurosurgeon Dr. Jeff Webber. His story lines included discovering that his wife, Monica, had slept with his brother, Rick. Depressed, he shot himself in the head, but later survived brain surgery. He also fathered Heather's baby, which was sold to the Taylor family. When his wife, Heather, was institutionalized, he left Port Charles for Carson City to start a new life with his son P.J.
1980
DINAH!
Syndicated Television Talk Show
Guest/ Episode: "Sex Symbols in Daytime TV"
Airdate: May, 1980
Role: Guest
In the spring of 1980, during his run on "General Hospital," Richard appeared on the syndicated television talk show, "Dinah! & Friends." There he joined other stars of daytime television including Josh Taylor, Nick Benedict, Stuart Damon, and Doug Sheehan, for an episode entitled "Sex Symbols in Daytime TV." In addition to his interview with host Dinah Shore, and in one of his few televised appearances during his brief singing career, Richard also performed two songs, "You're Just a Runaway" and "Slow Down," with his friend Carl Dante and their band, "Ricky Dean and Dante."
1981
THE FACTS OF LIFE
NBC Television Series
Guest Role/ Episode: "Brian and Sylvia"
Airdate: March 25, 1981
Role: Brian Parker
This episode of "The Facts of Life" was an unsold spinoff pilot for the series "The Parkers." Richard played Tootie's uncle, married to her Aunt Sylvia. The pilot explored their happy inter-racial marriage, and dealt with Sylvia's opportunity to pursue a TV-news career in New York City, and Brian's wish to remain in Buffalo as a hockey coach.
1981
TODAY'S FBI
ABC Television Series
Guest Role/ Episode: "The Fugitive"
Airdate: November 29, 1981
Role: Andy McFey
Richard played Andy McFey, a childhood friend of series regular Al Gordean, played by Richard Hill. Andy had been a dispatcher in a trucking company who helped to engineer an armored car robbery, had been caught, and sent to prison. In the episode, Andy and two other inmates escaped and were hunted by the FBI. Al tried to convince his friend to surrender, but Andy, distraught over the direction his life had taken, would rather die than return to prison.
1982
THE LOVE BOAT
ABC Television Series
Guest Role/ Episode: "Cold Feet"
Airdate: March 20, 1982
Role: Carter Randall
Carter Randall, Julie's cousin, was sailing on the cruise with his fiancée Muffy, played by Linda Blair. In a serious case of "cold feet," Carter begged Julie to help him back out of the wedding by getting Muffy to fall in love with another man. However, the "other man" turned out to be Carter, in a cowboy disguise.
1982
YOUNG DOCTORS IN LOVE
ABC Motion Pictures Production
Release Date: July 16, 1982
Role: "Vanilla"
Produced and directed by Garry Marshall, and written by Michael Elias and Rich Eustis, this comedy was a frenzied sendup of medical serial dramas and featured a number of cameos from General Hospital alumni. Among them was Richard in a brief uncredited cameo role as a drug-dealing ice cream vendor using the code name "Vanilla."
1982-1983
SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS
CBS Television Series
Series Premiere Airdate: September 19, 1982
Role: Adam McFaddan
This musical series was based loosely on the 1954 MGM musical of the same name. Richard played the eldest of seven orphaned brothers, who married Hannah in the pilot episode, and brought her home to the family.
1982-1983
$25,000 PYRAMID
CBS Television Game Show
Airdate: November 1st to 5th, 1982
Airdate: February 21st to 25th, 1983
Role: Guest Contestant
Richard made several appearances on the popular game show as a celebrity guest contestant. During a week of shows in 1982, he appeared with fellow celebrity contestant Didi Conn, and in 1983 he returned for a series of appearances with Nancy Dussault.
1983-1984
EMERALD POINT N.A.S.
CBS Television Series
Series Premiere Airdate: September 26, 1983
Role: Lt. Simon Adams
This prime time serial, in the tradition of "Dynasty," centered around the interlocking relationships of two families at the Emerald Point Naval Air Station. Richard played Lieutenant Simon Adams, a hot-shot Naval pilot.
1984
BATTLE OF THE NETWORK STARS
ABC Television Special
Guest/ Episode #16
Airdate: May 3, 1984
Role: Guest Contestant
Representing his series, "Emerald Point N.A.S.," Richard joined the CBS team in the 16th Battle of the Network Stars special. He participated in the swimming relay, touch football, baseball dunk, obstacle course, tandem bike relay, and tug of war, helping to lead CBS to a victory over the other two networks.
1985/6
ODD JOBS
Silver Screen Partners Production
Release Date: March, 1986
Role: Spud
In this comedy, produced by Keith Fox Rubinstein, written by Robert Conte and Peter Martin Wortmann, and directed by Mark Story, five college buddies on summer break teamed up to form a moving company despite local loan sharks and mobsters. Richard had a small role as "Spud," the conceited and self-absorbed boyfriend that Julianne Phillips used to spark jealousy in her former boyfriend, played by Paul Reiser.
1985/6
ORDINARY HEROES
Feature Movie Released to ABC Television
Airdate: October 19, 1986
Role: Tony Kaiser
In this updated remake of the 1945 movie "Pride of the Marines," Tony Kaiser was drafted to serve in Vietnam, but three days before he was due to return home, he was blinded, and must face his loss of sight, as well as the girlfriend he left behind.
1985-1992
MACGYVER
ABC Television Series
Series Premiere Airdate: September 29, 1985
Role: Angus MacGyver
Described as a cross between Indiana Jones and Mr. Wizard, MacGyver spent seven seasons on television using his scientific knowledge and the objects around him to solve almost any problem.
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1986
ABC WEEKEND SPECIALS
ABC Children's Television Series
Guest Role/ Season 10
Airdate: September 13 - November 22, 1986
Role: Guest Host
This Saturday morning children's program used Cap'n O.G. Readmore, a puppet cat character, to encourage children to read by introducing cartoon and live action stories based on classic children's literature. Richard made several appearances as a guest host during season 10 in the fall of 1986 as he helped O.G. introduce the stories.
1990/1
SUPER SUPAU
Television Commercial
Release Date: 1990-1991
Role: Spokesperson
The Vitalon Foods Company of Taiwan produced a series of advertisements to promote their vitamin enriched sports beverage, Super Supau, and they chose Richard Dean Anderson as their spokesperson because of his tremendous popularity in Taiwan as MacGyver.
1992
IN THE EYES OF A STRANGER
CBS Television Movie
Airdate: April 7, 1992
Role: Jack Rourke
In this suspenseful police drama, Justine Bateman played the witness to a crime, and Richard played the cynical cop assigned to protect her. Their relationship led to a passionate affair, and to numerous plot twists involving deception, betrayal, and two million dollars.
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1992
THROUGH THE EYES OF A KILLER
CBS Television Movie
Airdate: December 15, 1992
Role: Ray Bellano
In this dark psychological drama, Richard played a building contractor hired to renovate an apartment for Laurie, played by Marg Helgenberger. What followed was a passionate sexual affair, and a suspenseful blend of jealousy, stalking, mystery, and murder.
1993/4
MACGYVER: LOST TREASURE OF ATLANTIS
ABC Television Movie
Airdate: May 14, 1994
Role: Angus MacGyver
MacGyver returned for a new adventure in England, joining an eccentric archaeologist and a young female scholar in a quest through Europe to find the treasure of the legendary Atlantis.
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1993/4
MACGYVER: TRAIL TO DOOMSDAY
ABC Television Movie
Airdate: November 24, 1994
Role: Angus MacGyver
In MacGyver's final adventure, he returned to England, where the investigation into the death of his friend led him to a mysterious plot involving international terrorists and a secret nuclear weapons facility.
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1994
WORLD OF AUDUBON TENTH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
TBS Television Special
Airdate: November 20, 1994
Role: Guest Host
Lauren Hutton and Richard Dean Anderson co-hosted a special retrospective that examined some of the most significant Audubon specials in the past ten years. Richard participated in a program for releasing wolves back into the wild, and a plan for cleaning up Long Island Sound.
1994
BEYOND BETRAYAL
CBS Television Movie
Airdate: October 11, 1994
Role: Bradley Matthews
Richard starred as a sociopathic cop searching for the estranged wife he had abused, played by Susan Dey. Although she had gone into hiding, she was unable to escape the threat he posed, both to her, and to the new man in her life.
1995
SPEED: HOLLYWOOD'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH RACING
ESPN Television Special
Airdate: March 26, 1995
Role: Guest Host
Richard hosted a special look back at the important role auto racing has had in Hollywood movies, as actors and professional race car drivers shared their stories, experiences, and film clips.
1995
LEGEND
UPN Television Series
Series Premiere Airdate: April 18, 1995
Role: Ernest Pratt/Nicodemus Legend
In a short-lived series set in the West of the 1870's, Richard played Ernest Pratt, a dime novel writer, who reluctantly assumed the role of Nicodemus Legend, the heroic fictional character he had created.
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1995
PAST THE BLEACHERS
ABC Television Movie
Airdate: June 22, 1995
Role: Bill Parish
Richard played a man haunted by the death of his son. When he agreed to coach a youth baseball team with the help of a lonely widower, he was drawn to the team's star player, a boy who was mute, and mysterious, yet reminded him of his son. As he searched for the boy's true identity, he slowly came out of his grief and came to terms with his son's death.
1996/7
FIREHOUSE
CBS Television Series Pilot
Release Date: 1997
Role: Lieutenant Michael Brooks
In a pilot episode for a CBS series, Richard led a team of New York City firefighters as they dealt with the addition of a female paramedic to the team, as well as a sniper who was targeting firefighters. The pilot was not picked up by the network, but it was later re-edited as a television movie and released to cable markets.
1996
PANDORA'S CLOCK
NBC Television Miniseries
Airdate: November 10-11, 1996
Role: Captain James Holland
In this four-hour miniseries, Richard was cast as the heroic pilot of a doomed airliner who must weave through a maze of biological warfare and international intrigue when his plane is suspected of carrying a virus so deadly that no airport will allow it to land.
1996/7
FALLOUT
Interplay Computer Role Playing Game
Release Date: September 30, 1997
Role: Mayor Killian Darkwater
In the fall of 1996 Richard joined celebrities including David Warner, Ron Perlman, Richard Moll, and Tony Shalub, to lend his voice to a "post nuclear role playing game." Set in the aftermath of a world-wide nuclear war, the game challenges you to take on the role of an underground Vault-dweller and to survive in an unknown and dangerous world. Richard took on the role of Killian Darkwater, a character who "could be an ally. He could be an enemy. He could be mocking you."
1996/7
NEWTON'S APPLE
PBS Television Series
Guest/ Episode #1508
Airdate: November 23, 1997
Role: Guest Host
In a segment taped in December of 1996, Richard shared the physics of hockey with viewers of this PBS science program for young people. Through a series of on-ice demonstrations, Richard showed how direction, mass and acceleration affect the force one hockey player has on another.
1997-2007
STARGATE SG-1
Showtime/SciFi Television Series
Series Premiere Airdate: July 27, 1997
Role: Colonel/General Jack O'Neill
Based on the 1994 MGM movie "StarGate," this science fiction adventure series starred Richard Dean Anderson as Colonel Jack O'Neill, a soldier who must lead a team of highly trained experts on a classified mission through an infinite corridor that slices across the universe. Produced in Vancouver, BC, the series debuted on the Showtime network and moved to the SciFi Channel for its sixth season, with syndication worldwide. Richard appeared as the lead for the first 8 seasons (1997-2005) and returned for guest appearances in seasons 9 and 10 for the episodes "Avalon," "Origin," "200," and "The Shroud."
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2000
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
CNBC Television Series
Guest/ Episode: "Battle For Paradise"
Airdate: October 15, 2000
Role: Guest Participant
National Geographic Explorer set out to explore the magic of Headwall Canyon, a remarkable wilderness 60 miles outside Vancouver. Richard joined Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kathy Francis, chief of the Klahoose First Nation, and host Boyd Matson for an exploration of North America's last true wilderness. Said Richard of the experience, "It was more than coming home. I never should have left in the first place. This is where I belong."
2001
MINUTEPASS
Television Commercial
Release Date: November, 2001
Role: Spokesperson
Richard appeared in two commercials as a spokesperson for MinutePass, a prepaid calling card offered through Telecom USA. In the first commercial, which began airing in November of 2001, Richard described the advantages of prepaid minutes when calling away from home as the other actors fade from black and white to color whenever they use the calling card. In the second commercial, which debuted in February of 2002, Richard walked through various sets to demonstrate the advantages of prepaid minutes when calling away from home.
2004-2007
STARGATE ATLANTIS
SciFi Television Series
Guest Role/ Episodes: #101, #306, #310, #311
Series Premiere Airdate: July 16, 2004
Role: General Jack O'Neill
Richard helped to launch the second Stargate series, "Stargate Atlantis," a spinoff which followed a team of explorers as they volunteered for what was expected to be a one-way mission through the stargate to the Pegasus Galaxy. In the pilot episode, "Rising" (July 16, 2004), General O'Neill approved the mission and sent the team on their way, and Richard also returned for additional guest appearances in the episodes "The Real World" (August 18, 2006) and "The Return" parts 1&2 (September 22, 2006 and April 13, 2007).
Video is available in the Video Gallery and for purchase in the Store
2006
MASTERCARD
Super Bowl Commercial
Release Date: February 5, 2006
Role: MacGyver
In a commercial from MasterCard's "Priceless" campaign, Richard once again brought to life his iconic character. As MacGyver negotiated a series of daring escapes, he made use of everyday items that he had purchased with his Debit MasterCard. The 30-second spot debuted during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XL and went into general brand rotation beginning March 6th.
2006
THE SIMPSONS
FOX Television Series
Guest Role/ Episode: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore"
Airdate: April 9, 2006
Role: Richard Dean Anderson
Richard was the "special guest voice" playing an animated version of himself in an episode in which Selma and Patty met their Hollywood heartthrob, Richard Dean Anderson, and kidnapped him for their own obsessive worship. However, when he discovered how exciting real-life drama could be, he refused to leave until Selma and Patty devised their own plan to get rid of him.
2008
STARGATE CONTINUUM
DVD Movie
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Role: General Jack O'Neill
The second of the direct-to-DVD Stargate movies was a time travel story filmed in Vancouver and on location in the Arctic. While SG-1 attended the execution of Ba'al, the last of the System Lords, Teal'c and Vala inexplicably disappeared into thin air, and Carter, Daniel, and Mitchell raced back to a world where history had been changed and the Stargate Program never existed. As a fleet of Goa'uld motherships led by Ba'al arrived in orbit, SG-1 must find the stargate and set things right before the world is enslaved by the Goa'uld.
Video is available in the Video Gallery and for purchase in the Store
2009
MACGRUBER
Saturday Night Live Skit
Guest Role/ Season 34 - episodes 14 and 17
Airdates: January 31 and March 7, 2009
Role: MacGyver
A recurring skit on Saturday Night Live portrays MacGruber, a hero who "makes life-saving inventions out of household materials" but always fails to defuse the bomb and gets blown up in each segment. Richard donned mullet wigs in both brown and grey to portray MacGyver in a series of six MacGruber skits for the show. Three skits served as ads for Pepsi, one of which aired the following day during the Super Bowl, and three others revealed that MacGruber is really MacGyver's son.
2009
PEPSI
Super Bowl Commercial
Release Date: February 1, 2009
Role: MacGyver
One of the six MacGruber skits that originally aired on Saturday Night Live became an addition to Pepsi's lineup for advertising during the Super Bowl. Richard wore a brown mullet wig and recreated his MacGyver character to Will Forte's MacGruber, who announced that he has changed his name to Pepsuber. The 60-second commercial aired during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIII.
2009
STARGATE UNIVERSE
SciFi Television Series
Guest Role/ Episodes: #101, #103, #107, #118, #119
Series Premiere Airdate: October 2, 2009
Role: General Jack O'Neill
The third series in the Stargate franchise followed the story of people from Earth brought aboard a spaceship in a distant galaxy with no way to return home. Richard returned as General Jack O'Neill to help launch the series in the pilot episode, "Air" (October 2, 2009), and he also returned as the head of Homeworld Security in additional guest appearances in the episodes "Air" part 3 (October 9, 2009), "Earth" (November 6, 2009), "Subversion" (May 21, 2010), and "Incursion" part 1 (June 4, 2010).
Video is available in the Video Gallery and for purchase in the Store
2010
ZAXBY'S
Television Commercial
Release Date: July, 2010
Role: Spokesperson
A series of three commercials promoted the 20th anniversary of Zaxby's, a fast food chicken franchise located predominantly in the southeastern US. With a pop culture nod to 1990 when the restaurant chain began, the commercials played off of Richard's MacGyver personna as he built a high intensity proton laser, a blow gun, and found himself stuck in an elevator. The commercials were filmed in June and began airing in July of 2010.
2011
FAIRLY LEGAL
USA Network Television Series
Guest Role/ Episodes: #105, #108, #109, #110
Series Premiere Airdate: January 20, 2011
Role: David Smith
This legal drama focused on Kate Reed, once a lawyer at her family's esteemed San Francisco firm until her frustration with the legal system led her to a new career as a mediator. In a recurring guest role, Richard played David Smith, a charismatic but secretive man who entered Kate's life shortly after the death of her father. Richard appeared in four episodes during the first season, including "The Two Richards (February 17, 2011), "Ultravinyl" (March 10, 2011), "My Best Friend's Prenup" (March 17, 2011), and "Bridges" (March 24, 2011).
2011
RAISING HOPE
FOX Television Series
Guest Role/ Episode: "Jimmy and the Kid"
Airdate: November 8, 2011
Role: Judy's Father
Richard portrayed a protective father opposite his daughter Wylie, who appeared in her television debut. Jimmy Chance was in love with Sabrina, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. However, when Trevor, a libidinous and manipulative 13 year old, tried to hit on Sabrina, he would only agree to back off and keep Jimmy's secret if Jimmy found him a girl of his own. Thirteen-year-old Judy, (Wylie Anderson), was definitely interested in Trevor, but her overly protective father, (Richard Dean Anderson), misinterpreted Jimmy's approach and took action when he thought that Jimmy was hitting on his little girl.
2012
MERCEDES-BENZ
Television Commercial/Webisodes
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Role: MacGyver
Richard reprised his MacGyver character to promote the release of the new Citan from Mercedes-Benz. Shot in Johannesburg, South Africa in July, the three-part series of mini-webisodes involved an older MacGyver as he was unexpectedly drawn into his latest adventure. "In youth, we run into difficulties. With age, difficulties run into us," MacGyver explained as he and his grown daughter defeated the terrorists. The webisodes were released online, and commercials drawn from the adventure aired in Europe.
2013
STARGATE SG-1: UNLEASHED
Arkalis Computer Role Playing Game
Release Date: March 14, 2013
Role: Colonel Jack O'Neill
Stargate SG-1: Unleashed is an immersive third-person Stargate adventure from Arkalis Interactive. All four members of the original SG-1 team provided their voices for the interactive game, starring Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O'Neill, Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter, Michael Shanks as Daniel Jackson, and Christopher Judge as Teal'c. By entering the game-play experience, each player gets to be the SG-1 team, not just one character, but to actually play as O’Neill, Carter, Daniel, and Teal'c in a totally new story based on the series.
2013
DON'T TRUST THE B---- IN APARTMENT 23
ABC Television Series
Guest Role/ Episode: "Original Bitch"
Online Airdate: May 17, 2013
Role: Richard Dean Anderson
Chloe's friend, James Van Der Beek, was taken by surprise when his parents told him that his real father is an actor with whom his mother had a brief fling during a production of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" at a summer stock theater in the summer of 1977. In a dream, Chloe believed she had discovered that his father is Richard Dean Anderson, which sent James in search of "MacGyver" at his home, where he hoped to be reunited with his real father. The series was canceled before the final eight episodes aired on network TV, but they were made available for viewing online instead.