Ron Glass

Ron Glass Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: July 10, 1945

Death Date: November 25, 2016

Birth Place: Evansville, Indiana

In the 1970s and '80s, Ron Glass made a career on TV sitcoms spinning wisecracks and quite often playing the personification of the ambitious "buppie," most notably as the style-conscious Det. Ron Harris on the long-running sitcom "Barney Miller" (ABC, 1975-82). As he aged, Harris showed a wider range, including a memorable turn as the spiritual Shepherd Book on cult TV favorite "Firefly" (Fox 2002). With solid Midwestern roots, the Indiana-born and bred Glass made his stage debut at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis before migrating to Hollywood. His first TV work was in an episode of "Sanford and Son" (NBC 1972-77) in 1972, which he followed with an appearance on "Good Times" (CBS 1974-79) as a con artist posing as a blind man. In 1975, he landed "Barney Miller," where his character Ron Harris became a fan favorite with his suave, upscale tastes and wry personality. After the demise of that series, Glass was given a shot at headlining a series, teaming with Demond Wilson in "The New Odd Couple" (ABC 1982-83), in which Glass played the Felix Ungar character. During the rest of the '80s, he guest-starred on numerous TV series, often playing smarmy or egomaniacal characters. He was a country-club nemesis for Sherman Helmsley on several episodes of "Amen" (NBC 1986-1991) and an outrageously self-absorbed celebrity pushing Carl Winslow around on "Family Matters" (ABC 1989-1998). Glass returned to series TV in 1992 as the sales manager of a radio station on the short-lived "Rhythm and Blues" (NBC 1992-93), which focused on the exploits of a Caucasian DJ at a black radio station. He next co-starred in the sitcom "Mr. Rhodes" (NBC 1996-97), a vehicle for stand-up comedian Tom Rhodes. Glass also appeared in the occasional TV-movie, beginning with thug roles in "Beg, Borrow or Steal" and "Shirts and Skins" (both ABC, 1973), and in "Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star" (NBC, 1983). Additionally, Glass directed sitcoms, including episodes of "STAT!" (ABC, 1991). His feature film appearances were fairly limited, but included roles as doctors in both "Houseguest" (1995), starring Sinbad, and Randal Kleiser's "It's My Party" (1996). On the small screen, his distinctive, smooth voice was used to great effect in the animated hit series "Rugrats" (Nickelodeon 1991-2004), where he voiced Randy Carmichael, a role he reprised in the sequel series "Rugrats All Grown Up" (2004-08). Back in live action, Glass landed another series regular role in the short-lived comedy "Teen Angel" (ABC 1997-98) and again scored a part in the equally short-lived drama "The Education of Max Bickford" (CBS 2001-02). In 2002, the veteran actor landed a coveted role in the Joss Whedon's highly anticipated sci-fi drama "Firefly" (Fox, 2002), playing the holy man Shepherd Book, who frequently served as the conscience for the ship's captain and crew. Mishandled by Fox, the series was canceled after only a handful of airings, but after DVD sales on the series proved healthier than its initial ratings and built a rabid core audience, the actor reprised the role for a dramatic sequence in Whedon's surprise feature film follow-up "Serenity" (2005). A recurring role on the James Woods legal drama "Shark (CBS 2006-07) was followed by a reunion with Whedon with a recurring role on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (ABC 2013- ). Ron Glass died of respiratory failure in Los Angeles on November 26, 2016. He was 71.

Credits

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Stream

Guest Star
Series
2013
95%

Major CrimesStream

Guest Star
Series
2012

Strange Frame: Love & Sax

Voice
Philo D Grenman
Movie
2012

Death at a FuneralStream

Actor
Duncan
Movie
2010
43%

Deep Space Probes

Actor
Show
2008

Lakeview TerraceStream

Actor
Harold Perreau
Movie
2008
44%

Dirty Sexy MoneyStream

Guest Star
D.A. Dennis Ford
Series
2007
68%

SharkStream

Guest Star
Series
2006
52%

SerenityStream

Actor
Shepard Meria Book
Movie
2005
82%

CSI: NYStream

Guest Star
Colby Glass
Series
2004

All Grown Up

Voice
Show
2003

FireflyStream

Actor
Book
Series
2002
77%

The Education of Max Bickford

Guest Star
Show
2001

The Proud FamilyStream

Guest Voice
The Talking Baby
Series
2001

Recess: School's Out

Voice
Dr. Lazenby / Tech #2
Movie
2001

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

Yes, Dear

Guest Star
Series
2000

A Private Affair

Actor
Movie
2000

Twice in a Lifetime

Guest Star
Show
1999

Zoe ...

Guest Star
Show
1999

Deal of a Lifetime

Actor
Mr. Creighton
Movie
1999

Teen Angel

Actor
God's Cousin Rod
Series
1997

The PracticeStream

Guest Star
Series
1997

Mr. Rhodes

Actor
Show
1996

Star Trek: VoyagerStream

Guest Star
Loken
Series
1995
76%

Houseguest

Actor
Dr. Derek Bond
Movie
1995

FriendsStream

Guest Star
Russell
Series
1994
78%

The Royal Family

Guest Star
Deacon Hudson
Show
1991

RugratsStream

Guest Voice
Randy Carmichael
Series
1991

Deep Space

Actor
Jerry Merris
Movie
1987

Designing WomenStream

Guest Star
Series
1986

The Twilight Zone

Actor
Series
1985

227Stream

Guest Star
Series
1985

Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster

Actor
Midnight Brewster
Movie
1985

Murder, She WroteStream

Guest Star
Lt. Hanrahan
Series
1984

The New Odd Couple

Actor
Show
1982

Hart to HartStream

Guest Star
Series
1979

Crash

Actor
Jerry Grant
Movie
1978

Barney MillerStream

Actor
Det. Ron Harris
Series
1975

Let's Switch

Actor
LaRue Williams
Movie
1975

Good TimesStream

Guest Star
Henry Anderson
Series
1974

Beg, Borrow... or Steal

Actor
Ray Buren
Movie
1973

Shirts/Skins

Actor
Mr. Brown
Movie
1973

The Bob Newhart ShowStream

Guest Star
Elevator Repair Man
Series
1972

The Streets of San FranciscoStream

Guest Star
Earl
Series
1972

MaudeStream

Guest Star
Series
1972

Sanford & SonStream

Guest Star
Series
1972

All in the FamilyStream

Guest Star
Series
1971

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