Alan Rachins

Alan Leonard Rachins (born October 3, 1942) is an American television actor, known for his role as Douglas Brackman in L.A. Law which earned him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, and his portrayal of Larry (Dharma's hippie father) on the television series Dharma & Greg.

Alan Rachins
Rachins at the 1992 Emmy Awards
Born
Alan Leonard Rachins

(1942-10-03) October 3, 1942
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, director
Years active1975–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1978)​
Children1

Career

Rachins graduated from Brookline High School.[1] He enrolled at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, ultimately dropping out, but managed to graduate from Empire State College in 1974.[2][3]

He moved to New York to study acting. Over the next decade, he performed in a succession of plays, including the original Broadway productions of After the Rain and H'adrian the Seventh, as well as the original off-Broadway productions of The Trojan Women and the controversial Oh! Calcutta![4]

In 1972, Rachins put his acting career on hold when he was accepted as a fellow in the writing and directing programs at the American Film Institute. He went on to sell scripts to a variety of shows, including The Fall Guy, Hill Street Blues, Knight Rider, Quincy, and Hart To Hart.

Despite these successes as a writer and director, Rachins returned to his acting career with a leading role in Henry Jaglom’s independent film, Always. This critically acclaimed film brought him widespread attention and ultimately led to his role on L.A. Law. He continued working in feature films, and provided the voice for the Clock King in two episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, and later in one episode of Justice League Unlimited.

Recent theatre appearances include the world premiere of Arthur Laurents' Attacks Of The Heart at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the Cape Playhouse, he played the part of Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit The Wind. He tackled the role of "Albin" in La Cage Aux Folles at the Jupiter Theater, was seen in Love Letters with Swoosie Kurtz at Beverly Hills' Coronet Theatre, and starred in a revival of Promises, Promises with Jason Alexander, Jean Smart and Alan Thicke at L.A.'s Freud Theatre.

Rachins appeared on the ABC-TV series Eli Stone, playing an attorney in consultation with Eli Stone. The name "Brackman" can be seen in inverted letters on a translucent wall behind Rachins. For two seasons, he provided the voice of Norman Osborn on the cartoon series The Spectacular Spider-Man. He also appeared on the TNT TV series Rizzoli & Isles as a recurring guest star, and guest starred as Frank (Bob's father, and Gabe, PJ and Teddy's granddad) in the Good Luck Charlie episode "It's a Charlie Duncan Thanksgiving".

Personal life

Rachins was born in 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to a Jewish family, the son of Edward and Ida Rachins. His father was in a family food manufacturing business called Snow Crest.[5]

Rachins and actress Joanna Frank have been married since 1978 and have a son. The couple has formed the production company Allofit Productions which has acquired books and original screenplays to develop for television and feature films. Rachins is a member of Mensa.[6][7]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRole Notes
1994NorthDefense Attorney
1995ShowgirlsTony Moss
1997Meet Wally SparksJudge Randal Williams
2011Answers to NothingRyan's Dad Voice
2013Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt MenaceDr. Ned Staples Voice

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1986–1994L.A. LawDouglas Brackman, Jr.171 episodes
1990 Ferris Bueller Himself Episode: "Pilot"
1991The Golden GirlsJason StillmanEpisode: "Even Grandmas Get the Blues"
1992–1994Batman: The Animated SeriesTemple Fugate / Clock KingVoice, 2 episodes
1996Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanProfessor Jefferson Cole2 episodes
1996RugratsLowell, Greek Bully, Donut ManVoice, episode: "Chanukah"
1996Diagnosis: MurderDr. Frank DonatiEpisode: "Murder Can Be Murder"
1997Stargate SG-1Colonel KennedyEpisode: "The Enemy Within"
1997–2002Dharma & GregMyron Lawrence "Larry" Finkelstein119 episodes
2005Justice League UnlimitedTemple Fugate / Clock King, PriestVoice, episode: "Task Force X"
2008–2009The Spectacular Spider-ManNorman OsbornVoice, 15 episodes
2011Good Luck CharlieFrank DuncanEpisode: "It's a Charlie Duncan Thanksgiving"
2011-2013Rizzoli & IslesStanley6 episodes
2012American Dad!VariousVoice, episode: "Ricky Spanish"
2018Grey's AnatomyPatientEpisode: "Blowin' In The Wind"
2021Young SheldonVernEpisode: "The Geezer Bus and a New Model for Education"
2023NCISBud

References
  1. Brozan, Nadine. "Chronicle", The New York Times, March 16, 1993; accessed April 21, 2008. "The year is being bracketed by two celebratory weekends -- one last June, one this June -- that include class reunions. Last year's event brought more than 2,000 graduates back to the school, including Mr. Wallace, Alan Rachins, a star of "L.A. Law", and former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts and his wife, Kitty."
  2. Bonnabeau, Richard F. (1996). The Promise Continues: Empire State College: The First Twenty-five Years. Virginia Beach, Virginia: The Donning Company. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-89865-966-5. OCLC 34076720.
  3. Rachins, Alan (December 15, 2006). "Resume". alanrachins.com. Retrieved September 15, 2008.
  4. "Oh! Calcutta!-Broadway Musical-Original- Opening Night Cast". The Broadway League. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  5. Alan Rachins profile, filmreference.com; accessed April 18, 2015.
  6. "Prominent Mensans". Mensa International. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2007.
  7. "They're Accomplished, They're Famous, and They're MENSANS". Mensa Bulletin. American Mensa (476): 23. July 2004. ISSN 0025-9543.
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