Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937)[1] is an American character actor.

Jordan Charney
Born (1937-04-01) April 1, 1937 (age 87)
OccupationActor
Years active1964–2007
Spouse
(m. 1966)
Children2

Early years edit

Born in New York City,[1] Charney studied at the Lincoln Center Training Theatre.[2]

Career edit

Many of his earliest roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Charney created the role of creepy Julian Dark in the early to mid-1960s on the CBS soap, The Secret Storm. He played Sam Lucas, a former convict who became a lawyer, in both Another World and its spin-off Somerset, playing the role from 1967 to 1974. He also appeared as Lt. Vince Wolek on One Life to Live (1975–1977). Other roles were on Love of Life and All My Children.

Charney portrayed newspaper editor Ted Bergman in the 1977 CBS series The Andros Targets.[3] In 1980, he played Capt. Roger Westerby, an old flame of Corabeth Godsey, in a season eight episode of The Waltons. He had a recurring role as Frank Angelino, Jack Tripper's boss, on Three's Company (1981–1983). He is often cast as a judge, attorney, prison warden, or police officer. He has made appearances on Falcon Crest, Dynasty, Night Court and 100 Centre Street, among many other series. He can also be seen in the recurring role of Judge Donald Karan on Law & Order.

Charney has also appeared in such films as The Hospital, Network, and Ghostbusters, and acted on the CBS Radio Mystery Theater.[4]

Charney, who is married to television director Nancy Cooperstein, has appeared Off-Broadway with Sabine Singh in The Gold Standard by Daniel Roberts.[citation needed]

In 1982 Charney became artistic director of Actors Alley theater in the San Fernando Valley in California. By November 1986 the group's membership had grown from 22 when he arrived to 70. It offered weekly classes for members and presented both free and paid-admission plays for the public.[2]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1971 Plaza Suite Jesse's Aide Uncredited
1971 The Hospital Hitchcock
1976 Network Harry Hunter
1980 Those Lips, Those Eyes Professor
1980 Witches' Brew Charlie Reynolds
1981 Separate Ways Harry Bartoff
1982 Frances Harold Clurman
1984 Ghostbusters Dean Yeager
1985 Creator Dr. Whitaker
1986 My Little Girl Dr. Gruner
2001 Queenie in Love Father
2007 Mo Dr. Leahman
2007 Anamorph Chairman

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Magnificent Yankee Halloran Television film
1965 Love of Life Dr. Tony Vento 18 episodes
1966 Hawk Intern Episode: "Death Comes Full Circle"
1967–1974 Another World Sam Lucas 10 episodes
1970 Somerset Episode #1.1
1974 Guiding Light Dr. Harold Eberhart 3 episodes
1976–1977 One Life to Live Vince Wolek #2 24 episodes
1977 The Andros Targets Ted Bergman Television film
1978 Who'll Save Our Children? John Drake
1979 Dallas Lieutenant Sutton / Detective Rollins 2 episodes
1979–1983 Three's Company Frank Angelino / Mr. Layton 12 episodes
1980 Marriage Is Alive and Well Fritz Television film
1980 The Waltons Capt. Roger Westerby Episode: "The Medal"
1980 The Ropers Mr. McLaughlin Episode: "The Other Woman"
1980 The Plutonium Incident Mr. Orr Television film
1981 Lou Grant Karl Buckner Episode: "Catch"
1981 Benson Jack Beddoes Episode: "The Governor's House Call"
1981 Private Benjamin Capt. Hookstratten Episode: "Judy Got Her Gun"
1981–1982 General Hospital Dr. Seymour Katz 13 episodes
1981–1985 Hill Street Blues Ed Chapel / Marty Dignan 4 episodes
1982 Hart to Hart Mr. Flowers Episode: "Blue and Broken-Harted"
1983 Blood Feud TV Commentator Television film
1983 Tucker's Witch Max Leopold Episode: "Formula for Revenge"
1984 Amazons Congressman Harris Stowe Television film
1984 Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter Harry Ascot
1984 Falcon Crest Norton Crane 6 episodes
1984 E/R Donald Episode: "Son of Sheinfeld"
1984 The Cartier Affair Ben Foley Television film
1984 The Impostor Barela
1985 Robert Kennedy and His Times Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. 3 episodes
1985 Kids Don't Tell Tatum Television film
1985 T. J. Hooker Captain Pankowitz Episode: "The Chicago Connection"
1985 Do You Remember Love Marvin Langdon Television film
1985 Santa Barbara Dr. Renfro 23 episodes
1985 Amos Commissioner Bert Daniels Television film
1985 Hunter Stu Episode: "Killer in a Halloween Mask"
1985 Crime of Innocence Spencer Mulholland Television film
1985 Final Jeopardy Mr. Clemens
1985 Glitter Vincent Episode: "Nightfall"
1985 Misfits of Science Dr. Moyer Episode: "Grand Theft Bunny"
1986 Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story Pete Stark Television film
1986 Our House Judge Albert Episode: "See You in Court"
1987 Shell Game Bob Kenton Episode: "Norman's Parking Ticket"
1987 Rags to Riches Harvey Episode: "Born to Ride"
1987 Home Fires Hal Robinson Television film
1987 Highway to Heaven Joe Eastwood Episode: "In with the 'In' Crowd"
1987–1988 Dynasty Bill Cochran 5 episodes
1987, 1991 L.A. Law Joseph Gennis / Samuel Adelson 2 episodes
1988 Knots Landing Abby's Lawyer Episode: "Lawfully Wedded"
1988 Baja Oklahoma Beecher Perry Television film
1988 The Bronx Zoo Mr. Ted Sharf Episode: "Behind Closed Doors"
1988 The Town Bully Harmon Gunderson Television film
1988 To Heal a Nation Spreiregen
1988 David Judge
1988 Night Court James McCracken Episode: "The Night Court Before Christmas"
1989 Capone Behind Bars J. Edgar Hoover Television film
1989 When He's Not a Stranger Chancellor Hammond
1989 Matlock Warden Paul Branden 2 episodes
1990 Mancuso, F.B.I. Jiri
1990 All My Children Kurt Bodine 11 episodes
1991 Her Wicked Ways Bernie Robbins Television film
1992–2006 Law & Order Judge Donald Karan / Dr. Mandell 9 episodes
1994 One West Waikiki Dr. Howard Braniff / Pathologist 2 episodes
1995 The Boys Are Back Bill Episode: "The French Class"
1995 Chicago Hope Mr. Harrod Episode: "The Ethics of Hope"
1996 Innocent Victims Judge Television film
1996 Baywatch Charlie Episode: "Baywatch Angels"
1997 Touched by an Angel Official Episode: "Charades"
2001 100 Centre Street Judge Kelleher 5 episodes
2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Melvin Colter Episode: "Homo Homini Lupus"
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Rory O'Halloran Episode: "Silence"

References edit

  1. ^ a b Willis, John (January 1, 2004). Theatre World 2000-2001: Special Tony Honor Edition. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 224. ISBN 1557835233 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Arkatov, Janice (November 25, 1986). "Challenge is up Charney's alley". Los Angeles Times. p. 2 - Part VI. Retrieved July 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (October 6, 2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Payton, Gordon; Jr, Martin Grams (September 17, 2015). The CBS Radio Mystery Theater: An Episode Guide and Handbook to Nine Years of Broadcasting, 1974-1982. McFarland. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-7864-9228-2. Retrieved July 10, 2023.

External links edit