Richard Masur

Richard Masur Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: November 20, 1948

Age: 76 years old

Birth Place: New York, New York

A familiar face to film and television fans for over three decades, Richard Masur was an Emmy- and Oscar-nominated character actor whose avuncular roles included turns on "Rhoda" (CBS, 1974-78), "One Day at a Time" (CBS, 1975-1984) and "The Burning Bed" (NBC, 1984) as well as commanding parts in feature films like "Risky Business" (1983), "License to Drive" (1988) and countless other projects.

The former stage actor branched into directing in the late 1980s, but remained faithful to his craft throughout most of his career, which included two terms as president of the Screen Actors Guild. His dependable and versatile talent made him a welcome presence on both the big and small screens and he never failed to elevate whatever project he was involved with.

Born in New York City on Nov. 20, 1948, Masur's father was a pharmacist, while his mother taught at a local high school. Initially, his career path was medicine, but he changed his major to theatre arts, which led to a scholarship at the Yale School of Drama followed by steady work on the stage. His Broadway debut came in 1973 with "The Changing Room;" producer Norman Lear saw his performance and was suitably impressed to offer him a guest spot on "All in the Family" (CBS, 1971-79). His turn as a mentally handicapped stockboy on the 1974 episode "Gloria's Boyfriend" spurred Masur to move to Los Angeles; within a year's time, he had racked up appearances on "M*A*S*H" (CBS, 1972-1983), "The Waltons" (CBS, 1972-1981), and his first series, "The Hot L Baltimore" (ABC, 1975), produced by Lear and based on the Off-Broadway play of the same name. His feature debut came in the failed comedy "Whiffs" (1975), which reunited Elliott Gould and Donald Sutherland from the theatrical version of "M*A*S*H" (1970).

Masur soon became a familiar presence in both features and on television. He was frequently cast as empathetic souls like Nick Lobo, deadpan accordionist and boyfriend to Brenda Morgenstern (Julie Kavner) on "Rhoda," Ann Romano's (Bonnie Franklin's) sympathetic boyfriend on "One Day at a Time," or Farrah Fawcett's public defender in the groundbreaking TV movie, "The Burning Bed" (1984), which earned him an Emmy nomination. But his versatility allowed him to play a wide range of roles - from the businesslike interviewer from Yale who visits new pimp-on-the-block Tom Cruise in "Risky Business" (1983) to the taciturn dog trainer in John Carpenter's "The Thing" (1982), to the hapless corporate vice-president who takes marching orders from his wife in the short-lived comedy series, "Empire" (CBS, 1984).

In 1986, Masur branched into directing with the short "Love Struck," which earned him an Oscar for Best Live Action Short. His debut foray into television directing - "Torn Between Two Fathers" (1989), an episode of the "ABC Afterschool Special" series (ABC, 1972-2005) - earned him a Directors Guild of America nomination. Episodes of "The Wonder Years" (ABC, 1986-1993) followed, but Masur concentrated his singular focus on continuing his acting career. Among his more memorable appearances during this fruitful period of the late 1980s were as Corey Haim's beleaguered dad in "License to Drive" (1988), Dan Aykroyd's surly brother in "My Girl" (1990), one of a string of town mayors on the critically acclaimed drama series, "Picket Fences" (CBS, 1992-96) who happen to gets memorably frozen alive, and a fugitive on the run in several episodes of "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-1994).

Spurred by a friend's suggestion and the abiding concern that he wanted to give back to an organization that had done so much for his career, Masur served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1995-99. In 1989, he ran for a seat on the Guild board and won; two years later he captured back-to-back tenures as 3rd Vice-President. Masur took the presidency of the Screen Actors Guild in 1995 and served two terms as its leader, with his key agenda being a merger with SAG and the American Federation of Television Radio and Artists (AFTRA). While the latter was rejected by members after a referendum vote in 1999, Masur did work on several significant committees; most notably the National Health Plan Ad Hoc Committee, where he served as national chair for six years. In 1999, Masur ran for a third term as president, but was unseated by actor William Daniels. He was the third incumbent president in SAG history to be defeated by a challenger.

His bureaucratic work done, Masur returned to a regular slate of guest appearances in films and on television after completing his stint as SAG president. He played celebrated sports columnist Milt Kahn in "61*" (2001), Billy Crystal's HBO drama about Yankees legends Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, and appeared as the ineffectual father of Aviva, the misguided central figure in Todd Solondz's "Palindromes" (2004). Television provided him with regular work, which included recurring guest appearances on "The Practice" (ABC, 1996-2004) and "All My Children" (ABC, 1970- ).

Credits

Before/During/After

Actor
Stan
Movie
2021

Magnum P.I.Stream

Guest Star
David
Series
2018

Summer Camp IslandStream

Actor
Series
2018

Hudson

Actor
Jerry
Movie
2018

Kevin (Probably) Saves the WorldStream

Guest Star
Dr. Sloane
Series
2017
63%

Chicago JusticeStream

Guest Star
Series
2017
73%

Quick Fix

Actor
Robert
Movie
2017

BullStream

Guest Star
Dr. Declan Mittman
Series
2016

Don't Think Twice

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Lou
Movie
2016

Lonely Boys

Actor
Irving
Movie
2016

Younger: Extras

Actor
Show
2015

Mr. RobotStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
94%

YoungerStream

Guest Star
Edward
Series
2015
97%

TumbledownStream

Actor
Bruce
Movie
2015
70%

TransparentStream

Guest Star
Buzzy Rackless
Series
2014
91%

Orange Is the New BlackStream

Guest Star
Series
2013
90%

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Jacob Weiss
Series
2012
95%

GirlsStream

Guest Star
Rich Glatter
Series
2012
89%

Blue BloodsStream

Guest Star
Series
2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Geoffrey Solomon
Series
2009
93%

Vote and Die: Liszt for President

Actor
Rease Cunningham
Movie
2008

Lovely by Surprise

Actor
Dave
Movie
2007

Palindromes

Actor
Steve Victor
Movie
2004

61*Stream

Actor
Milt Kahn
Movie
2001
86%

Noriega: God's Favorite

Actor
Mark
Movie
2000

Family Law

Actor
Series
1999

Family Law

Guest Star
Series
1999

Play It to the Bone

Actor
Artie
Movie
1999

Significant Others

Actor
Show
1998

Significant Others

Guest Star
Show
1998

The PracticeStream

Guest Star
Series
1997

Fire Down BelowStream

Actor
Phil Pratt
Movie
1997
14%

Undue Influence

Actor
Show
1996

MultiplicityStream

Actor
Del King
Movie
1996
45%

The Face on the Milk Carton

Actor
Jonathan Sands
Movie
1995

Forget Paris

Actor
Craig
Movie
1995

Hiroshima

Actor
Gen. Leslie R. Groves
Movie
1995

It Was Him or Us

Actor
Walter Pomeroy
Movie
1995

La Búsqueda de Grace

Actor
Movie
1994

Buscando a Grace

Actor
Movie
1994

Search for Grace

Actor
Dr. Randolph
Movie
1994

The Man Without a FaceStream

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Prof. Carl Hartley
Movie
1993
67%

Six Degrees of SeparationStream

Actor
Dr. Fine
Movie
1993
88%

My Girl 2Stream

Actor
Phil Sultenfuss
Movie
1993
27%

Picket FencesStream

Guest Star
Series
1992
82%

Encino ManStream

Actor
Mr. Morgan
Movie
1992
14%

Amazing Stories: The Movie IV

Actor
Trent Tinker
Movie
1991

My GirlStream

Actor
Phil Sultenfuss
Movie
1991
50%

Going Under

Actor
Defense Contractor
Movie
1991

ItStream

Actor
Stanley Uris
Miniseries
1990

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Au bord du gouffre

Actor
Movie
1990

Flashback

Actor
Barry
Movie
1990

The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake

Actor
Kevin Conrad
Movie
1990

IT

Actor
Stanley Uris
Movie
1990

Sight Unseen

Actor
Dr. Meltzner
Movie
1990

Le Grand tremblement de terre de Los Angeles

Actor
Movie
1990

Third Degree Burn

Actor
Clay Reynolds
Movie
1989

Le crime oublié

Actor
Movie
1989

Far From Home

Actor
Duckett
Movie
1989

Settle the Score

Actor
Lincoln Whately
Movie
1989

Cast the First Stone

Actor
Refson
Movie
1989

Nudo Sangriento

Actor
Movie
1989

Matlock: The Informer

Actor
Attorney David O'Malley
Movie
1989

The Wonder YearsStream

Director
Series
1988

Shoot to Kill

Actor
Norman
Movie
1988

Higher Ground

Actor
McClain
Movie
1988

License to DriveStream

Actor
Mr. Anderson
Movie
1988
24%

Rent-A-Cop

Actor
Roger
Movie
1988

thirtysomething

Guest Star
Werner Breslow
Series
1987
83%

The Believers

Actor
Marty Wertheimer
Movie
1987

Walker

Actor
Ephraim Squier
Movie
1987

Bride of Boogedy

Actor
Carleton Davis
Movie
1987

Histoires fantastiques

Actor
Movie
1987

Mr. Boogedy

Actor
Carleton Davis
Show
1986

MatlockStream

Guest Star
Series
1986

Blocage

Actor
Movie
1986

Adam: His Song Continues

Actor
Jay Howell
Movie
1986

When the Bough Breaks

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Milo
Movie
1986

The George McKenna Story

Actor
Ben Proctor
Movie
1986

HeartburnStream

Actor
Arthur Siegel
Movie
1986
45%

Amazing StoriesStream

Actor
Series
1985

Obsédé par une femme mariée

Actor
Movie
1985

Obsesionado con Una Mujer Casada

Actor
Movie
1985

Embassy

Actor
Dennis Thorne
Movie
1985

Obsessed With a Married Woman

Actor
Ed Karasick
Movie
1985

The Mean SeasonStream

Actor
Bill Nolan
Movie
1985
64%

Wild Horses

Actor
Bob Bowne
Movie
1985

My Science Project

Actor
Detective Isadore Nulty
Movie
1985
11%

Empire

Actor
Jack Willow
Show
1984

Vuelo 90: Desastre en el Potomac

Actor
Movie
1984

Florida Flight 90

Actor
Roger Olian
Movie
1984

Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac

Actor
Roger Olian
Movie
1984

The Burning BedStream

Actor
Aryon Greydanus
Movie
1984

An Invasion of Privacy

Actor
Dr. Harvey Cohen
Movie
1983

The Demon Murder Case

Actor
Anthony Marino
Movie
1983

Adam

Actor
Jay Howell
Movie
1983

Risky BusinessStream

Actor
Rutherford
Movie
1983
92%

Under FireStream

Actor
Hub Kittle
Movie
1983
91%

Nightmares

Actor
Steven Houston
Movie
1983

The Winter of Our Discontent

Actor
Danny
Movie
1983

I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can

Actor
Alan Newman
Movie
1982

The ThingStream

Actor
Clark
Movie
1982
85%

East of Eden

Actor
Miniseries
1981

Fallen Angel

Actor
Howard Nichols
Movie
1981

Mr. Horn

Actor
Sheriff Ed Smalley
Movie
1979

Walking Through the Fire

Actor
Dr. Maitland
Movie
1979

Hanover Street

Actor
2nd Lieut. Jerry Cimino
Movie
1979

Scavenger Hunt

Actor
Georgie Carruthers
Movie
1979

Caminando por el Fuego

Actor
Movie
1979

Betrayal

Actor
Loren Plotkin
Movie
1978

Who'll Stop the Rain?

Actor
Danskin
Movie
1978

Semi-ToughStream

Actor
Phillip Hooper
Movie
1977

Having Babies

Actor
Max Duggin
Movie
1976

One Day at a TimeStream

Actor
David Kane
Series
1975

One Day at a TimeStream

Guest Star
David Kane
Series
1975

Hot L Baltimore

Actor
Clifford Ainsley
Series
1975

Rhoda

Guest Star
Series
1974

M*A*S*HStream

Guest Star
Lt 'Digger' Detweiler
Series
1972

The WaltonsStream

Guest Star
Series
1972

The Mary Tyler Moore ShowStream

Guest Star
Bob Larson
Series
1970