William Patterson Dunlop

William Patterson Dunlop, Jr., known professionally as William Dunlop, (1951–2009) was a Canadian actor of stage, television, and film. He is best remembered for portraying Chief of Detectives Frank Strenlich in the PTEN television series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues from 1993 through 1997. On stage he had a productive relationship with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival .

Life and career

Born in Montréal, Québec, Dunlop was the son of William Patterson Dunlop, Sr. (1912-1989) and Frances Ina MacGregor Will (1918-1989). His father was born in Montréal of Irish parents, and his mother was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from Sedbergh School in Montebello, QC. While a student there he studied theatre with Patrick Pettigrew who had a profound impact on his intellectual development.

The majority of Dunlop's career was spent on the stage, particularly at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario.[1] His performance credits at the Stratford Festival included leading roles in King Lear (1985),[2], Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1986, alternating performances in both title roles[3]), Twelfth Night (1985 and 1991),[4][5][6] Our Town (1991)[5] and The Taming of the Shrew (1977).[7]

Dunlop made his film debut in the 1979 horror film The House with Steps.[8] He did not work in film again until 1995 when he portrayed R.T. in Tommy Boy.[9] He starred as Frank in Jack Blum's 1998 film Babyface.[10] On television, Dunlop is best known for his portrayal of Chief of Detectives Frank Strenlich in the main cast of Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1993–97).[11] His other television performance included guest roles on Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1989), Top Cops (1992-93), Secret Service (1993), Street Legal (1993, recurring role of Sgt. Lehrer), and Due South (1994-1995).

References
  1. Greenglhill. P (1994). Ethnicity in the Mainstream:Three Studies of English Canadian Culture in Ontario. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 149. ISBN 9780773511736.
  2. Sullivan, Dan (12 November 1985). "STRATFORD 'LEAR' HAS A HURRICANE-FORCE LEAR". Los Angeles Times. p. sd_d1.
  3. Mel Gussow (8 June 1986). "Stage View: Shakespearean Potpourri in Canada". The New York Times. p. H5.
  4. Sullivan, Dan (11 November 1985). "'12TH NIGHT COMEDY SANS PAIN: '12TH NIGHT': COMEDY SANS THE PAIN". Los Angeles Times. p. f1.
  5. "PRODUCTION NEWS: The Stratford". The Stage and Television Today (5746): 10. May 30, 1991.
  6. Myers. W (2010). The Book of Twelfth Night, Or What You Will: Musings on Shakespeare's Most Wonderful Play. Wheatmark. p. 109. ISBN 9781604944129.
  7. J. O'Connor, K. Goodland (2007). A Directory of Shakespeare in Performance 1970-1990: Volume 2, USA and Canada. Springer. p. 274-275. ISBN 9780230546776.
  8. The House With Steps. October 12, 1979. p. 79. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. John Willis (2000). "Tommy Boy". In Barry Monush, John Willis (ed.). Screen World 1996. Hal Leonard. p. 26. ISBN 9781557832528.
  10. Kelly, Brendan (June 8, 1998). "Film Reviews: BABYFACE". Variety. 371 (5): 73.
  11. Paul Green (2016). "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues". Encyclopedia of Weird Westerns: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Films, Television and Games, 2d Ed. McFarland & Company. p. 149. ISBN 9781476662572.
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