Posted on 06/10/2005 9:36:28 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
VENTURA, Calif. - Dana Elcar, the round-faced, balding actor whose real-life struggle with blindness was written into his role on the TV adventure series "MacGyver," has died. He was 77.
He died Monday of complications from pneumonia at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, his family said.
"MacGyver" ran on ABC from 1985 to 1992. Elcar played the best friend and boss of the crime-fighting title character, played by Richard Dean Anderson.
"At a time when I had very little business being called an actor, he made things so easy for me," Anderson said. "It was a learning experience that was very warm and loving for all seven years."
Elcar, who suffered from glaucoma, told producers he was going blind after four seasons with "MacGyver," so they adapted his character to match his medical condition. By the end of the show's run, he had become almost completely blind.
"The fact that you are losing your eyesight does not mean you have forgotten how to act," Elcar, in a speech to the National Federation of the Blind in 1991, recalled producers telling him.
Elcar's television career spanned 50 years. He played in other drama series, including "Baretta" opposite Robert Blake and the Robert Conrad series "Black Sheep Squadron."
Elcar also appeared in at least 40 films, including "The Sting," "2010," "All of Me" and "The Learning Tree."
He starred in off-Broadway plays, including the first American productions of Harold Pinter's "The Dumb Waiter" and "The Caretaker," Dylan Thomas' "Under Milk Wood" and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."
Running away from home in Ferndale, Mich., at age 13 may have led Elcar to an acting career, his son, Dane Elcar, said. He became separated from a friend in a town far from home, and spent the night watching "Citizen Kane" at an all-night theater.
"That kind of sparked him to be an actor. He watched it four or five times in one night," Dane Elcar said.
In addition to his son, Elcar is survived by three daughters, a stepdaughter, a sister, a half sister and longtime companion Thelma M. Garcia.
From "Black Sheep Squadron."
When he went blind he wasn't able to appear in every episode and the show's ratings declined heavily. The absence of Pete was probably a factor that led to the show's cancellation.
I didn't know his name, but always enjoyed his characters. RIP and thanks for the entertainment.
I am very much saddened to hear of his death. I absolutely loved the MacGyver series because there was hardly any profanity and although some of it was pretty hokey they used science principals to get out of bad situations.
One of his good movie roles was as agent Polk, the fake FBI guy from The Sting.
Best line in that movie was when he said "don't crack wise with me, flatfoot!"
Was he that much shorter than Laura Brannigan? I mean McGyver?
>> Science principals. <<
Sorry, but my principal was a Chemistry teacher. I think you meant "principles." [/nitpik]
Fun show; I liked it much. I also recommend "Stargate," which is produced by and stars Anderson. I watched years of it, always impressed that they managed to avoid the seemingly inevitable McGyver crack.
Then I saw the pilot. "We never did find the dialing device, but we were able to McGyver this up." -- Samantha Carter.
For Their Own Good (1993) (TV) (uncredited) .... Sally's father
Inside Out (1987) .... Leo Gross
There Were Times, Dear (1987) (TV) .... Don Mason
"MacGyver" (1985) TV Series .... Pete Thornton (1986-1992)
Murder in Three Acts (1986) (TV) .... Dr. Wallace Strange
... aka Agatha Christie's 'Murder in Three Acts'
Toughlove (1985) (TV) .... Max Wiley
MacGyver (1985) (TV) .... Andy Colson
2010 (1984) .... Dimitri Moisevitch
... aka 2010: The Year We Make Contact
Sweet Revenge (1984) (TV) .... Sen. Arthur Hagerty
... aka Bittersweet Revenge
... aka Code of Honor
... aka Her Revenge
All of Me (1984) .... Burton Schuyler
Euer Weg führt durch die Hölle (1984) .... D'Antoni
... aka Jungle Warriors (USA)
Quarterback Princess (1983) (TV) .... Mr. Caine
I Want to Live (1983) (TV) .... Warden
Blue Skies Again (1983) .... Lou
Forbidden Love (1982) (TV) .... Burt Wagner
The Day the Bubble Burst (1982) (TV) .... Mr. Block
Help Wanted: Male (1982) (TV) .... Milhauser
Breach of Contract (1982)
Buddy Buddy (1981) .... Capt. Hubris
Condorman (1981) .... Russ Devlin
Mark, I Love You (1980) (TV) .... Mr. Bassett
The Last Flight of Noah's Ark (1980) .... Benchley
The Nude Bomb (1980) .... Chief
... aka Maxwell Smart and the Nude Bomb
... aka The Return of Maxwell Smart
Death Penalty (1980) (TV) .... John Mulligan
Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff (1979) .... Havermeyer
... aka Secret Yearnings
... aka The Shaming
... aka The Sin
Samurai (1979) (TV) .... Frank Boyd
The Champ (1979) .... Hoffmaster
Crisis in Mid-air (1979) (TV) .... Brad Mullins
"Centennial" (1978) (mini) TV Series .... Judge Hart
Waiting for Godot (1977) (TV) .... Vladimir
"Baa Baa Black Sheep" (1976) TV Series .... Col. Thomas Lard (1976-1978)
... aka Black Sheep Squadron (new title)
Baa Baa, Black Sheep (1976) (TV) .... Col. Thomas A. Laird
... aka Flying Misfits
St. Ives (1976) .... Charlie Blunt
W.C. Fields and Me (1976) .... Agent Dockstedter
Gemini Man (1976) (TV) .... Dr. Harold Schuyler
... aka Code Name: Minus One (syndication title)
Baby Blue Marine (1976) .... Sheriff Wenzel
Law of the Land (1976) (TV) .... Rev. Mr. Endicott
... aka The Deputies (USA)
"Baretta" (1975) TV Series .... Lt. Shiller (1975)
Report to the Commissioner (1975) .... Chief Perna
... aka Operation Undercover (UK)
Baretta (1975) (TV) .... Insp. Shiller
The Missiles of October (1974) (TV) .... Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
Panic on the 5:22 (1974) (TV) .... Hal Rodgers
Senior Year (1974) (TV) .... Paul Reed
Heat Wave! (1974) (TV) .... Prescott
... aka Heatwave (Europe: English title)
The Sting (1973) .... FBI Agent Polk
Columbo: Any Old Port in a Storm (1973) (TV) .... Falcon
Dying Room Only (1973) (TV) .... Sheriff
Catch-22 (1973) (TV) .... Col. Cathcart
Hawkins on Murder (1973) (TV) .... Dr. Aaronson
... aka Death and the Maiden
The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid (1972) .... Allen
Fireball Forward (1972) (TV) .... Col. Talbot
The Bravos (1972) (TV) .... Capt. Detroville
The Death of Me Yet (1971) (TV) .... Hank Keller
A Gunfight (1971) .... Marv Green
... aka Gunfight (USA)
Mrs. Pollifax -- Spy (1971) .... Carstairs
Sarge (1971) (TV) .... Father Frank Dinsmore
... aka Sarge: The Badge or the Cross (USA)
... aka The Badge or the Cross
Zigzag (1970) .... Harold Tracey
... aka False Witness (UK)
... aka Zig Zag
... aka Zig-Zag
San Francisco International (1970) (TV) .... George Woodruff
... aka San Francisco International Airport
Adam at 6 A.M. (1970) .... Van Treadly
Soldier Blue (1970) .... Capt. Battles
D.A.: Murder One (1969) (TV) .... Dr. Carl Enright
... aka Murder One
The Learning Tree (1969) .... Kirky
The Maltese Bippy (1969) .... Police Sgt. Kelvaney
The Whole World Is Watching (1969) (TV) .... Huston
Deadlock (1969/I) (TV) .... George Stack
Pendulum (1969) .... Det. J.J. 'Red' Thornton
The Sound of Anger (1968) (TV) .... Andrew Pearce
The Boston Strangler (1968) .... Luis Schubert
A Lovely Way to Die (1968) .... Layton
... aka A Lovely Way to Go
The Borgia Stick (1967) (TV) .... Craigmeyer
"Dark Shadows" (1966) TV Series .... Sheriff George Patterson #1 (1966-1967)
The Fool Killer (1965) .... Mr. Dodd
... aka Asesino de tontos, El (Mexico)
... aka Violent Journey
"The Edge of Night" (1956) TV Series .... Clinton Wheeler (1964-1965)
... aka Edge of Night (USA: last season title)
Fail-Safe (1964) .... Mr. Foster
"The Guiding Light" (1952) TV Series .... Dist. Atty. Andrew Murray (1962)
... aka Guiding Light (USA: new title)
"The Sacco-Vanzetti Story" (1960) (mini) TV Series .... Newspaperman
Our Town (1959) (TV) .... Dr. Gibbs
Burning Bright (1959) (TV)
... aka Play of the Week: Burning Bright (USA: series title)
"A Time to Live" (1954) TV Series .... Dr. Clay
Filmography as: Actor, Director, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Director - filmography
(1980s) (1970s)
"MacGyver" (1985) TV Series (episode "The Challenge") (episode "The Invisible Killer")
"Salvage 1" (1979) TV Series (episode "Diamond Volcano" (1979)
"The Duke" (1979) TV Series
"The Rockford Files" (1974) TV Series (episode "The Attractive Nuisance" (1978)
... aka Jim Rockford, Private Investigator (USA: syndication title)
"Baa Baa Black Sheep" (1976) TV Series (episodes "W*A*S*P*S" (1977), "The 200 Pound Gorilla" (1977), "The Iceman" (1978), "The Show Must Go On. . . Sometimes" (1978)
... aka Black Sheep Squadron (new title)
Filmography as: Actor, Director, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Notable TV Guest Appearances
"ER" playing "Manny Kendovich" in episode: "Damage Is Done" (episode # 8.13) 31 January 2002
"The Magic School Bus" playing "Mr. Terese" (voice) in episode: "Going Batty" (episode # 2.4) 30 September 1995
"Law & Order" playing "Robert Cook" in episode: "Virus" (episode # 3.19) 21 April 1993
"Matlock" playing "Arthur Hughes" in episode: "The Court Martial: Part 2" (episode # 1.19) 24 February 1987
"Matlock" playing "Arthur Hughes" in episode: "The Court Martial: Part 1" (episode # 1.18) 17 February 1987
"Trapper John, M.D." playing "Jared Vennemar" in episode: "Billboard Barney" (episode # 7.9) 29 December 1985
"MacGyver" playing "Andy Colson" in episode: "MacGyver" (episode # 1.0) 29 September 1985
"The A-Team" playing "Judge Mordente" in episode: "Judgement Day: Part 2" (episode # 4.2) 24 September 1985
"The A-Team" playing "Judge Mordente" in episode: "Judgement Day: Part 1" (episode # 4.1) 24 September 1985
"Riptide" playing "Harry Silverman" in episode: "Arrivederci, Baby" (episode # 2.21) 7 May 1985
"Hill Street Blues" playing "Lt. Mel Taber" in episode: "Washington Deceased" (episode # 5.16) 7 February 1985
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King" playing "Mitch Larner" in episode: "Spiderweb" (episode # 2.13) 14 January 1985
"The A-Team" playing "George Olson" in episode: "Double Heat" (episode # 3.6) 23 October 1984
"The Fall Guy" playing "Dean Hackett" in episode: "Terror U." (episode # 4.5) 17 October 1984
"The Paper Chase" playing "James Hart's Father" (archive footage) in episode: "Hart Goes Home" (episode # 2.13) 6 May 1984
"Matt Houston" playing "Mayor Akers" in episode: "Death Match" (episode # 2.18) 24 February 1984
"Hardcastle and McCormick" playing "Frank Cardigan" in episode: "The Georgia Street Motors" (episode # 1.18) 5 February 1984
"Hart to Hart" playing "Admiral Springfield" in episode: "Pandora Has Wings" (episode # 5.4) 25 October 1983
"Knight Rider" playing "Strock" in episode: "Merchants of Death" (episode # 2.4) 16 October 1983
"Trapper John, M.D." playing "Howard Bowman" in episode: "Past Imperfect" (episode # 4.18) 20 February 1983
"Voyagers!" playing "Colonel Knox" in episode: "Sneak Attack" (episode # 1.14) 20 February 1983
"Newhart" playing "Sam Ebersol" in episode: "The Visitors" (episode # 1.13) 17 January 1983
"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" playing "Judge Carlson" in episode: "The Man in the White Hat" (episode # 1.2) 22 September 1982
"Herbie, the Love Bug" playing "Warden" in episode: "Calling Doctor Herbie" (episode # 1.5) 14 April 1982
"Falcon Crest" playing "Carl Reed" in episode: "Heir Apparent" (episode # 1.15) 19 March 1982
"Falcon Crest" playing "Carl Reed" in episode: "The Candidate" (episode # 1.13) 26 February 1982
"Falcon Crest" playing "Carl Reed" in episode: "The Tangled Vines" (episode # 1.3) 18 December 1981
"Benson" playing "Chapman" in episode: "Benson's Appointment" (episode # 3.1) 6 November 1981
"Flamingo Road" in episode: "The Arrangement" (episode # 2.1) 3 November 1981
"Galactica 1980" playing "Steadman" in episode: "Space Croppers" (episode # 1.9) 27 April 1980
"Eight Is Enough" playing "Ben" in episode: "Roll Over Bradford" (episode # 4.25) 1980
"B.J. and the Bear" playing "Spencer" in episode: "Silent Night, Unholy Night" (episode # 2.12) 15 December 1979
"One Day at a Time" playing "Captain" in episode: "A Little Larceny" (episode # 5.9) 2 December 1979
"The Incredible Hulk" playing "Sheriff Harris" in episode: "Escape From Los Santos" (episode # 2.11) 1 December 1978
"Police Story" playing "Lieutenant Garippo" in episode: "Trial Board" (episode # 4.12) 4 January 1977
"The Six Million Dollar Man" playing "Larry Stover" in episode: "Nightmare in the Sky" (episode # 4.2) 26 September 1976
"Cannon" playing "John Brinegar" in episode: "The Star" (episode # 5.14) 10 December 1975
"The Rockford Files" playing "Sheriff Mitchell" in episode: "The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company" (episode # 2.6) 17 October 1975
"Petrocelli" playing "Daley" in episode: "Edge of Evil" (episode # 1.4) 2 October 1974
"The F.B.I." in episode: "Fatal Reunion" (episode # 9.7) 4 November 1973
"The Waltons" playing "George Porter" in episode: "The Prize" (episode # 2.7) 25 October 1973
"Kung Fu" playing "Noah Jones" in episode: "The Assassin" (episode # 2.2) 4 October 1973
"Hawkins" playing "Dr. Aronson" in episode: "Death and the Maiden" (episode # 1.1) 13 March 1973
"Kung Fu" playing "Pritikin" in episode: "Nine Lives" (episode # 1.7) 15 February 1973
"The Partridge Family" playing "Felcher" in episode: "Trial of Partridge One" (episode # 3.16) 19 January 1973
"Mannix" playing "Skip Seldon" in episode: "A Matter of Principle" (episode # 6.17) 14 January 1973
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Sam Haney" in episode: "Only Three to a Bed" (episode # 3.12) 13 January 1973
"Bonanza" playing "Mr. Merrick" in episode: "The Twenty-Sixth Grave" (episode # 14.7) 31 October 1972
"Marcus Welby, M.D." in episode: "Don and Denise" (episode # 4.8) 31 October 1972
"Cannon" playing "Mr. Ryan" in episode: "A Long Way Down" (episode # 2.7) 25 October 1972
"Marcus Welby, M.D." in episode: "We'll Walk Out of Here Together" (episode # 4.3) 26 September 1972
"The Sixth Sense" playing "Edward Winslow" in episode: "Witch, Witch, Burning Bright" (episode # 1.8) 11 March 1972
"Cannon" playing "Lieutenant" in episode: "Cain's Mark" (episode # 1.23) 7 March 1972
"The F.B.I." in episode: "Superstition Rock" (episode # 7.11) 28 November 1971
"Longstreet" in episode: "The Shape of Nightmares" (episode # 1.7) 28 October 1971
"Love, American Style" in episode: "Love and the Naked Stranger" (episode # 3.6d) 22 October 1971
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "Gale" in episode: "The Invasion of Kevin Ireland" (episode # 3.1) 26 September 1971
"Alias Smith and Jones" playing "Benjamin T. Bowers" in episode: "Stagecoach Seven" (episode # 1.9) 11 March 1971
"Ironside" in episode: "Killing at the Track" (episode # 4.18) 4 February 1971
"Marcus Welby, M.D." in episode: "A Woman's Place" (episode # 2.17) 2 February 1971
"The F.B.I." playing "Ed Garth" in episode: "The Fatal Connection" (episode # 6.19) 31 January 1971
"The Bold Ones: The Senator" playing "Collie Ford" in episode: "Some Day, They'll Elect a President" (episode # 1.6) 17 January 1971
"Medical Center" playing "General Montague" in episode: "Man at Bay" (episode # 2.14) 16 December 1970
"Gunsmoke" playing "Pennigrath" in episode: "Snow Train: Part 2" (episode # 16.7) 26 October 1970
"Gunsmoke" playing "Pennigrath" in episode: "Snow Train: Part 1" (episode # 16.6) 19 October 1970
"Storefront Lawyers" in episode: "The Electric Kid" (episode # 1.4) 7 October 1970
"Mission: Impossible" playing "C.W. Cameron" in episode: "Flip Side" (episode # 5.2) 29 September 1970
"Hawaii Five-O" playing "Dr. Benjamin" in episode: "Three Dead Cows at Makapuu: Part 2" (episode # 2.24) 4 March 1970
"Mannix" playing "Tom Coleman/Al Beckworth/Darrell Andrews/Charles Vincent Addison" in episode: "The Search for Darrell Andrews" (episode # 3.22) 28 February 1970
"Hawaii Five-O" playing "Dr. Benjamin" in episode: "Three Dead Cows at Makapuu: Part 1" (episode # 2.23) 25 February 1970
"Get Smart" playing "Kruger" in episode: "And Baby Makes Four: Part 2" (episode # 5.8) 14 November 1969
"Get Smart" playing "Kruger" in episode: "And Baby Makes Four: Part 1" (episode # 5.7) 7 November 1969
"The Bold Ones: The Lawyers" playing "District Attorney Shannon" in episode: "The Crowd Pleasers" (episode # 1.3) 2 November 1969
"The Virginian" playing "Bennett Poole" in episode: "The Power Seekers" (episode # 8.4) 8 October 1969
"Medical Center" playing "Mazur" in episode: "The Last 10 Yards" (episode # 1.1) 24 September 1969
"Bonanza" playing "Caleb Milton" in episode: "Speak No Evil" (episode # 10.28) 20 April 1969
"The F.B.I." playing "Howard Swift" in episode: "The Young Warriors" (episode # 4.24) 9 March 1969
"Mannix" playing "Sheriff Conrad Bucola" in episode: "Fear I to Fall" (episode # 2.12) 21 December 1968
"The Outsider" playing "Fred Oliver" in episode: "The Twenty Thousand Dollar Carrot" (episode # 1.8) 13 November 1968
"Judd for the Defense" playing "Champion" in episode: "Weep the Hunter Home" (episode # 2.7) 8 November 1968
"The Invaders" playing "Sheriff Halloway" in episode: "The Pursued" (episode # 3.9) 12 March 1968
"The F.B.I." playing "Howard Bergdahl" in episode: "The Messenger" (episode # 3.22) 10 March 1968
"Run for Your Life" playing "Dr. George Graham" in episode: "The Killing Scene" (episode # 3.19) 1 February 1968
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" playing "Captain Marvel" in episode: "Elizabeth the Queen" 31 January 1968
"Mannix" playing "Fred Restin" in episode: "Deadfall: Part 2" (episode # 1.18) 27 January 1968
"Mannix" playing "Fred Restin" in episode: "Deadfall: Part 1" (episode # 1.17) 20 January 1968
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" playing "La Hire" in episode: "Saint Joan" 4 December 1967
"N.Y.P.D." playing "Phelan" in episode: "Shakedown" (episode # 1.1) 5 September 1967
"ABC Stage 67" playing "Lou Coolidge" in episode: "The Confession" (episode # 1.5) 19 October 1966
"The Trials of O'Brien" playing "Sam Styles" in episode: "How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall?" (episode # 1.9) 13 November 1965
"The Defenders" playing "District Attorney" in episode: "Only a Child" (episode # 4.30) 13 May 1965
"The Nurses" playing "Dr. Fellowes" in episode: "An Unweeded Garden" (episode # 3.30) 11 May 1965
"The Defenders" in episode: "The Objector" (episode # 4.19) 11 February 1965
"The Nurses" playing "Dr. Zack Fuller" in episode: "The Prisoner: Part 1" (episode # 3.2) 29 September 1964
"The Defenders" playing "Dr. Marvin Graham" in episode: "All the Silent Voices" (episode # 3.18) 1 February 1964
"The Nurses" playing "Dr. Zach Fuller" in episode: "The Intern Syndrome" (episode # 2.18) 23 January 1964
"The Nurses" playing "Dr. Fuller" in episode: "To Spend, to Give, to Want" (episode # 2.12) 12 December 1963
"Espionage" playing "Kevin" in episode: "The Whistling Shrimp" (episode # 1.8) 20 November 1963
"Hallmark Hall of Fame" playing "Jacob" in episode: "The Patriots" 15 November 1963
"The Defenders" in episode: "The Captive" (episode # 3.3) 12 October 1963
"Car 54, Where Are You?" in episode: "The Star Boarder" (episode # 2.21) 10 February 1963
"Naked City" playing "Al Boris" in episode: "Man Without a Skin" (episode # 4.20) 6 February 1963
"The Nurses" playing "Dr. Fuller" in episode: "Two Black Candles" (episode # 1.9) 22 November 1962
"Car 54, Where Are You?" in episode: "Occupancy, August 1st" (episode # 2.6) 21 October 1962
"The Nurses" playing "Dr. Lovett" in episode: "Fly, Shadow" (episode # 1.3) 11 October 1962
"The DuPont Show of the Week" playing "Dennis Wilcox" in episode: "Big Deal in Laredo" (episode # 2.4) 7 October 1962
"Naked City" in episode: "Strike a Statue" (episode # 3.28) 16 May 1962
"'Way Out" in episode: "False Face" (episode # 1.7) 26 May 1961
"Play of the Week" in episode: "Burning Bright" (episode # 1.3) 26 October 1959
He was in a TV movie after MacGyver was cancelled and it was absolutely terrible. I haven't seen him since!
Stargate is happily cruising into its NINTH season this fall. It is on in reruns on the Sci-Fi channel all evening Monday and 6 and 7 PM daily. New eps are Friday; not sure when.
... And he no longer has Laura Branigan's hairdo!
Ninth season with Anderson? I can't believe I missed that!
Yep, but the jury's still out as to whether RDA will be around very much. Looks like the show's getting a big makeover, casting-wise. I hope they don't screw it up, but I fear the shark may be just ahead.
Richard Dean Anderson is the executive producer of Stargate. That means he has the purse strings. He knows the show is dead without him, so he knows there is no way he can leave.
Besides, with the departure of General Hammond and Janet Frazier, and the failed departure of Daniel Jackson, he must know he cannot tinker too much with the show.
If he doesn't want to be bothered, he'd simply cancel the show. There's no way he puts up the money, than lets it die.
I wondered what happened to him -- He was everywhere in the '80s, but didn't do much afterwards. Now I know why.
Barnabas may creep you out, but I had a crush on Angelique.
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