# Christopher Rich (actor)

Christopher Rich Wilson (born September 16, 1953) 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. Rich has fraternal twin daughters with Eva, Lily and Daisy Rich, and a daughter with Frangione, Mariel Rich.
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.
In 2018 Christopher Rich suffered a massive stroke which disabled him from using the left side of his body.

## 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" |
| 2025 | Happy's Place | Maverick | "Sisters Ink" |