Christopher Rich (actor)

Christopher Rich
Rich in 2018
Born
Christopher Rich Wilson

(1953-09-16) September 16, 1953 (age 71)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1981–present
Spouses
  • (m. 1982; div. 1996)
  • Eva Halina Rich
    (m. 2003)
Children3

Christopher Rich Wilson (born September 16, 1953, in Dallas, Texas)[1] is an American actor, best known for his roles on Murphy Brown, Reba, and Boston Legal.

Career

Rich first became popular playing the role of Alexander "Sandy" Cory on the daytime drama Another World from 1981 to 1985. He also starred in the short-lived 1987–1988 series The Charmings as Prince Eric Charming, with Carol Huston, Caitlin O'Heaney, Judy Parfitt, and Paul Winfield.

In 1990, Rich played the role of popular cartoon character Archie Andrews in the TV film Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again. The film was based on the characters of Archie Comics. Rich then appeared in the 1993 film The Joy Luck Club.

During the 1990s, Rich had guest appearances in several television shows like Renegade, The Nanny, Suddenly Susan, and ER, among others. He also had recurring roles in The George Carlin Show (as Dr. Neil Beck), Murphy Brown (as Miller Redfield), and Nash Bridges (as Agent David Katz).

In 2001, Rich joined the cast of Reba playing Brock Hart, the ex-husband of the title character (played by Reba McEntire). Rich stayed in the show until the end of the series in 2007, as well as directing several episodes in Seasons 5 and 6.

During this time, Rich also had a recurring role on Boston Legal playing attorney Melvin Palmer. After that, he also played Bree's book publisher, Bruce, on two episodes of ABC's Desperate Housewives. He also played Mel's father in the TV series Melissa & Joey.

Personal life

Rich attended the University of Texas and received a master's degree in theater arts from Cornell University. He was married to Another World co-star Nancy Frangione from 1982 until 1996.

He is currently married to his second wife (since 2003), Eva Rich (née Ewa Halina Jesionowska), a Miss Poland 1985 finalist and former gymnast who participated at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.[1] Rich has fraternal twin daughters with Eva, Lily and Daisy Rich, and a daughter with Frangione, Mariel Rich.[1]

In 2015, Christopher and Eva Rich and their two daughters appeared in the first two seasons of the Polish reality TV series called Żony Hollywood (English Hollywood Wives) based on The Real Housewives franchise, in which his wife, Eva, was one of the stars.[citation needed]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Prisoners of Inertia Dave
1991 Flight of the Intruder Lt. Morgan 'Morg' McPherson
1993 The Joy Luck Club Rich
1997 Critics and Other Freaks Sandy
2014 Rawdon's Roof Joe Bradley Short
2016 Light on Sunshine Rocky Short
2016 Cassidy Way Donald
2017 Anabolic Life Dr. Williams
2017 Christmas In The Heartland Bob Gentry Television film
20?? Land of the Free Kirk Davis Pre-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1981–85 Another World Sandy Cory Contract role
1985 The Recovery Room Dr. Russell Sears TV film
1987 Sweet Surrender Vaughn Parker "Where There's a Will..."
1987–88 The Charmings Eric Charming Main role
1988 Smart Guys Ned TV series
1989 Hound Town Napoleon (voice) TV film
1989 Baywatch Derrick Benton "The Drowning Pool"
1989–97 Murphy Brown Miller Redfield Recurring role
1990 Empty Nest John "Complainin' in the Rain"
1990 Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again Archie Andrews TV film
1990 Married People Ned "To Live and Drive in New York"
1991 In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas Scott Faul TV film
1991 The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw Lute Cantrell TV film
1992 Sibs Sean Recurring role
1993 Almost Home Jim Morgan "Winner Take Millicent"
1993 Dream On Mark "A Midsummer Night's Dream On"
1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Doc McCoy "A.K.A. Kansas"
1994–95 The George Carlin Show Dr. Neil Beck Main role
1995 The Nanny Kurt Jacobs "A Fine Friendship"
1995 The Client Dan Goodwin "The Way Things Never Were"
1996 Renegade Ted Fisher "No Place Like Home"
1996 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Mr. Jones "The Impossible Mission Episode"
1996 Hope and Gloria Dr. Ben Shipley "Tainted Love"
1996 The Louie Show Bob "A Brush with Bob"
1996–98 Nash Bridges Agent David Katz "'Til Death Do Us Part", "Lost and Found", "The Tourist"
1997 Life... and Stuff' Chuck Metcalf "Life... and Fisticuffs"
1998 Suddenly Susan Rep. Francis Shafer "A Tale of Two Pants: Parts 1 & 2"
1998 Alright Already Lowell "Again with the Astronaut", "Again with the White House"
1998 The Tony Danza Show Kyle Wentworth "Sue You"
1999 Love Boat: The Next Wave Matt "Divorce, Downbeat and Distemper"
1999 Sabrina the Teenage Witch John "Love Means Having to Say You're Sorry"
2000 ER Ron Perth "Be Patient"
2000 Going Home Jack TV film
2001 The Lone Gunmen Jefferson "Three Men and a Smoking Diaper"
2001–07 Reba Brock Hart Main role
2004 Fatherhood Mr. Tremblay (voice) "Balancing the Books"
2005–08 Boston Legal Attorney Melvin Palmer Recurring role
2007 The Wedding Bells Johnny Kad "Fools in Love"
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Coach Jimmy Miller "Bloodsport"
2009–10 Desperate Housewives Bruce "Crime Doesn't Pay", "We All Deserve to Die"
2010–15 Melissa & Joey Russell Burke Recurring role
2011 Shake It Up Mayor Bartlett "Shake It Up, Up & Away"
2011 My Freakin' Family Gary TV film
2012 Happily Divorced Frank "The Reunion"
2012 Animal Practice Jack Jackson "Turkey Jerky"
2012 Rizzoli & Isles Det. Rich Gibson "Virtual Love"
2013 Holiday Road Trip Roger TV film
2014 Swallow Your Bliss Martin "Pilot"

References

  1. ^ a b c "Christopher Rich from 'Reba' is a Loving Husband and Father - Meet His Family". December 9, 2019.