George Murdock [Lt. Ben Scanlon] 1930-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 05-03-2012, 11:24 PM

Link

George Murdock, 81, a veteran character actor who had a recurring role as Lt. Scanlon on the television sitcom "Barney Miller" and played God in the 1989 film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," died Monday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, said his close friend and fellow actor Jennifer Rhodes. He had cancer.

Murdock's craggy facial features and booming bass voice helped him land a steady stream of "heavy" parts in theater, film and television productions. When asked if he ever objected to being typecast, the actor told a Times reporter in 1982: "Getting the job is important. Who cares where it comes from."

A Kansas native, Murdock was an original cast member at the Melrose Theatre in Los Angeles, starring in "Lester Sims Retires Tomorrow" there and during its off-Broadway run in the early 1980s. He appeared in many productions at South Coast Repertory, the Los Angeles Theater Center and the Odyssey Theatre, where he originated the role of Judge Julius Hoffman in "The Chicago Conspiracy Trial" in 1979.

Murdock had dozens of roles on episodic TV series, beginning in the early 1960s with "Twilight Zone" and "The Untouchables" and continuing through the decades with "It Takes a Thief," "Bonanza," "The Name of the Game," "Ironside," "Battlestar Galactica," "Night Court," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The X-Files," "Law & Order" and other shows. Besides his "Barney Miller" part, he was also a regular on the mid-1980s show "What a Country!"

In the fifth installment of the "Star Trek" movie series, Murdock's character strikes down Kirk with a lightning bolt when the captain asks: "What does God need with a starship?"

catlover79 · 05-03-2012, 11:32 PM

Zoneboy · 05-04-2012, 09:05 AM

Marvo301 · 05-04-2012, 01:54 PM

George Murdock

catlover79 · 05-05-2012, 02:23 PM

I had a message from my friend Hersha Parady (best known as Alice Garvey on Little House on the Prairie), who was a good friend of Mr. Murdock. Here's what she had to say:

"Monika...George was a good friend of mine ...when I opened the paper today I was very upset....he was one I had intended to see soon...his "friend" Jennifer Rhodes was his "gal" 30 years ago....he was a wonderful Actor and meant a lot to many ..."

Marvo301 · 05-05-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I had a message from my friend Hersha Parady (best known as Alice Garvey on Little House on the Prairie), who was a good friend of Mr. Murdock. Here's what she had to say:

"Monika...George was a good friend of mine ...when I opened the paper today I was very upset....he was one I had intended to see soon...his "friend" Jennifer Rhodes was his "gal" 30 years ago....he was a wonderful Actor and meant a lot to many ..."

Thanks for sharing this Monika. It's a real nice tribute to the man.

catlover79 · 05-05-2012, 09:07 PM

Sure...he was the complete opposite of Scanlon, that's for sure!!

Marvo301 · 05-06-2012, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Sure...he was the complete opposite of Scanlon, that's for sure!!

Just goes to show what a good actor he was!

05-03-2012, 11:24 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	George Murdock [Lt. Ben Scanlon] 1930-2012 Link George Murdock, 81, a veteran character actor who had a recurring role as Lt. Scanlon on the television sitcom "Barney Miller" and played God in the 1989 film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," died Monday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, said his close friend and fellow actor Jennifer Rhodes. He had cancer. Murdock's craggy facial features and booming bass voice helped him land a steady stream of "heavy" parts in theater, film and television productions. When asked if he ever objected to being typecast, the actor told a Times reporter in 1982: "Getting the job is important. Who cares where it comes from." A Kansas native, Murdock was an original cast member at the Melrose Theatre in Los Angeles, starring in "Lester Sims Retires Tomorrow" there and during its off-Broadway run in the early 1980s. He appeared in many productions at South Coast Repertory, the Los Angeles Theater Center and the Odyssey Theatre, where he originated the role of Judge Julius Hoffman in "The Chicago Conspiracy Trial" in 1979. Murdock had dozens of roles on episodic TV series, beginning in the early 1960s with "Twilight Zone" and "The Untouchables" and continuing through the decades with "It Takes a Thief," "Bonanza," "The Name of the Game," "Ironside," "Battlestar Galactica," "Night Court," "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "The X-Files," "Law & Order" and other shows. Besides his "Barney Miller" part, he was also a regular on the mid-1980s show "What a Country!" In the fifth installment of the "Star Trek" movie series, Murdock's character strikes down Kirk with a lightning bolt when the captain asks: "What does God need with a starship?"
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

05-03-2012, 11:32 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

05-04-2012, 01:54 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	George Murdock
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-04-2012, 09:05 AM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386

05-05-2012, 02:23 PM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	I had a message from my friend Hersha Parady (best known as Alice Garvey on Little House on the Prairie), who was a good friend of Mr. Murdock. Here's what she had to say: "Monika...George was a good friend of mine ...when I opened the paper today I was very upset....he was one I had intended to see soon...his "friend" Jennifer Rhodes was his "gal" 30 years ago....he was a wonderful Actor and meant a lot to many ..."

05-05-2012, 09:07 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Sure...he was the complete opposite of Scanlon, that's for sure!!