Richard Paul Explained

Richard Paul should not be confused with Rich Paul.

Birth Date:6 June 1940
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1973–1997

Richard Paul (June 6, 1940 – December 25, 1998) was an American television and film actor. In addition to starring in the 1970s television sitcom Carter Country, he had recurring roles on the later series Murder, She Wrote and Full House. He portrayed Jerry Falwell Sr. in two separate productions after having played a character based on Falwell for an episode of WKRP in Cincinnati.

Early life

Paul was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public affairs from Claremont Men's College and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. He was nearing completion of a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in Tucson when he abandoned his career as a therapist to become a full-time performer.

Career

From 1977 to 1979, Paul played Mayor Teddy Burnside in Carter Country. His famous catchphrase was "Handle it, Roy, handle it!".

He costarred in the ABC comedy One in a Million, which aired for one season in 1980, and on an episode of M*A*S*H as Capt. Bill Bainbridge.

Paul was also a frequent panelist on Match Game from 1978 to 1982, and later played the recurring character of Cabot Cove mayor Sam Booth in Murder, She Wrote. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he also had a recurring role as television station manager Mr. Strowbridge on Full House.

In the 1981 WKRP in Cincinnati episode "Clean Up Radio Everywhere", Paul played Rev. Bob Halyers, a character inspired by evangelist Jerry Falwell. Paul later portrayed Falwell in the 1990 television movie Fall From Grace about Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and then in the 1996 theatrical release The People vs. Larry Flynt.[1] [2]

Paul appeared in the film Eating Raoul (1982), written and directed by Paul Bartel. Also in 1982, he costarred on the short-lived sitcom Herbie, the Love Bug. He later appeared in Bartel's short film The Secret Cinema, which was part of the Amazing Stories series on television, and in Bartel’s Not for Publication.

Personal life

Paul volunteered with Actors and Others for Animals and served on its board of directors. He also served on the mental-health advisory board for Los Angeles County and volunteered at childhood immunization clinics for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. He read books into tapes by special request at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles.

He married Patty Oestereich on September 7, 1968, in Pasadena, California, and they remained married until his death.

Death

Paul died of cancer at age 58 on December 25, 1998, at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.[3]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975CoonskinSonny Voice, Uncredited
1977Man on the Plane
1982Eating RaoulMr. Cray
1983The Man Who Wasn't TherePudgy Aide
1984Not for Publication[4] Troppogrosso
1986Uphill All the WayThaddeus Dillman
1987The Princess AcademyDrago
Project XLead ApeUncredited
1988Pass the AmmoG.W. Wraith
1992Goddard
1994BeanstalkMayor Cecil Boggs
1996The Glass CageMr. Silkerman
The People vs. Larry FlyntReverend Jerry Falwell
Mind GamesDean Meyer
2000The IndependentJeffries(final film role)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1976MaudeMr. BellEpisode: "Carol's Promotion" (S 4:Ep 23)
Emergency!Tom EllisEpisode: "The Game" (S 6:Ep 1)
Holmes and YoyoClaudeEpisode: "Connection, Connection II" (S 1:Ep 11)
1977–78Carter CountryMayor Teddy BurnsideMain cast
1978Space ForceD.O.R.C.voice
1979CHiPsHimself (uncredited role)Episode: "Roller Disco, part 2" (S 3:Ep 2)
Fantasy IslandColonel Hank SuttonEpisode: "The Handy Man / Tattoo's Romance" (S 3:EP 8)
1980The Love BoatFloyd SchofieldEpisodes: "Kinfolk/Sis and the Slicker/Moonlight and Moonshine/Too Close for Comfort/The Affair, parts 1 and 2" (S 3:Eps. 18-19)
DisneylandAl MathewsEpisode: "The Sultan and the Rock Star" (S 26:Ep 14)
HimselfEpisode: "Disneyland's 25th Anniversary Show" (S 27:Ep1)
One in a MillionBarton StoneMain cast
CHiPsHimself (uncredited role)Episode: "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party, part 2" (S 4:Ep 6)
Eight is EnoughChuckEpisode: "Strike" (S 5:Ep 8)
M*A*S*HCaptain BainbridgeEpisode: "Letters" (S 9:Ep 2)
1981The Dukes of HazzardClyde AmosEpisode: "By-Line, Daisy Duke" (S 3:Ep 18)
WKRP in CincinnatiDr. Bob HalyersEpisode: "Clean Up Radio Everywhere" (S 3:Ep 22)
1982Herbie, the Love BugBo PhillipsMain cast
Gimme a Break!Stanley NicholsEpisode: "Nell Goes Door to Door" (S 2:Ep 10)
Happy DaysDickEpisode: "All I Want for Christmas" (S 10:Ep 10)
1983Quincy, M.E.BoxwellEpisode: "Quincy's Wedding, parts 1 and 2" (S 8:Ep 17-18)
At EaseCrenshawEpisode: "Valentine's Day" (S 1:Ep 12)
1985Hail To the ChiefRev. Billy Joe BickerstaffMain cast
1986–87The New GidgetWilton Parmenter4 episodes
1986Amazing StoriesMr. KruppEpisode: "Secret Cinema" (S 1:Ep 20)
1987Scarecrow and Mrs. KingTagsworthEpisode: "Do You Take This Spy?" (S 4:Ep 16)
227Mr. DavisEpisode: "The Audit" (S 2:Ep16)
Married... with ChildrenSheriffEpisode: "Poppy's By the Tree, part 2" (S2:Ep 2)
1987–91Murder, She WroteMayor Sam Booth7 episodes
1988–95Full HouseMr. Strowbridge6 episodes
1990Fall from Grace
1991Beverly Hills 90210Bob BarnettEpisode: "B.Y.O.B." (S 1:Ep 11)
Out of This WorldTexEpisode: "Would You Buy a Used Car From This Dude" (S 4:Ep 16)
1992Who's the Boss?MinisterEpisode: "Better Off Wed, part 2" (S 8:Ep 18)
Herman's HeadMr. FitzerEpisode: "A Charlie Brown Fitzer" (S 2:Ep 13)
1994Reverend Bob TakerEpisode: "Prime Suspect" (S 1:Ep3)
1996The Drew Carey ShowBurtEpisode: "Something Wick This Way Comes" (S 2:Ep 2)
1997RoseanneMayorEpisode: "Lanford's Elite, part 1" (S 9:Ep 16)

Notes and References

  1. News: Milos Forman Explains Why He Made 'The People Vs. Larry Flynt' . December 27, 1996. . May 14, 2015.
  2. News: Michael: Miracle at Box Office; Movies: Estimates show John Travolta's angel film setting a Christmas week record; 'Evita' and 'People vs. Larry Flynt' hit big in limited release. . Los Angeles Times. December 30, 1996. May 14, 2015. Judy. Brennan.
  3. News: Richard Paul, 58; Character Actor. Reuters. Los Angeles Times. May 14, 2015. December 28, 1998.
  4. Web site: Not for Publication. Sundance Institute. 1985. May 14, 2015.