# Bryan Clark (actor)

Bryan Clark (April 5, 1929 – September 9, 2022), sometimes credited as Bryan E. Clark, was an American film, television, and stage actor.

## Early life and education

Clark was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the only child of pharmacist Bryan Clark and Maybelle Chester Clark. He spent many summers at Eugene O'Neil Playwright's Conference and studied singing, acting, and dancing. Clark performed with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall at the age of 15 and also played the clarinet in a big band while attending Fordham University.

## Career

Over a career spanning several decades, his film roles included All the President's Men (1976), Trading Places (1983), Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991), Without Warning: The James Brady Story (1991).
On TV, his guest and recurring appearances in many television shows include Cheers, where he played the bartender Earl in Season 9, Wings, Becker, Suddenly Susan, St. Elsewhere, Who's the Boss?, The Nanny, Murphy Brown (playing Corky's dad), and Chicago Hope.
Known for his "striking" resemblance to Ronald Reagan, he was often cast as him in various productions, including Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North (1989), Without Warning: The James Brady Story (1991), Pizza Man (1991), and an episode of Dark Skies ("Bloodlines").
Clark was also known for being a spokesman for Folgers coffee in the 1980s and other friendly personalities in various commercials, including one for Tavern on the Green, and various stage roles. The New York Times complimented his performance in the 1978 Off-Broadway play Winning.

## Personal life

Clark was married to actress Jo Deodato Clark for 65 years and they had five children.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1976 | All the President's Men | Arguing Attorney |
| 1976 | Brotherhood of Death | Sheriff |
| 1983 | Trading Places | Official #2 |
| 1986 | Sweet Liberty | Governor Swayze |
| 1987 | Mankillers | Williams |
| 1990 | Megaville | President Hughes |
| 1991 | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead | Dr. Permutter |
| 1991 | Pizza Man | Ronald Reagan |
| 1992 | The Unnamable II: The Statement of Randolph Carter | Prof. Thurber |
| 1992 | Body of Evidence | Clerk |
| 1992 | Unbecoming Age | Sam |
| 1993 | Sugar Hill | Dean |
| 1997 | Bombshell | Male News Anchor |
| 2004 | The Remembering Movies | Grandpa Lou |
| 2005 | The Civilization of Maxwell Bright | Justice of the Peace |
| 2014 | Rickover: The Birth of Nuclear Power | Reagan |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Lincoln: Trial by Fire | Stephen W. Kearny | Television film |
| 1978 | The Critical List | CIA Assassin | Television film |
| 1981 | Ryan's Hope | Dr. Jerry Markus | Episode #1.1658 |
| 1986 | Magnum, P.I. | Richard Lindley | Episode: "A.A.P.I." |
| 1987 | St. Elsewhere | Dr. Watson | 3 episodes |
| 1988, 1989 | Days of Our Lives | Walter Morgan / Editor | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Guts and Glory: The Rise and Fall of Oliver North | Ronald Reagan | Television film |
| 1989 | Free Spirit | Judge Douglas Crater | Episode: "Not with My Sister You Don't" |
| 1990 | Alien Nation | The Senator | Episode: "Spirit of '95" |
| 1990 | Wings | Security Guard | Episode: "Return to Nantucket: Part 1" |
| 1990 | Shattered Dreams | Martin Harris | Television film |
| 1990 | Cheers | Earl | Episode: "Rebecca Redux" |
| 1990 | Extreme Close-Up | Relative | Television film |
| 1990 | Charles in Charge | Professor Haskins | Episode: "Charles Be DeMille" |
| 1990 | Who's the Boss? | Chief Baxter | Episode: "Four Alarm Tony" |
| 1990–1996 | Murphy Brown | Edward Sherwood | 3 episodes |
| 1991 | Without Warning: The James Brady Story | Ronald Reagan | Television film |
| 1991 | Knots Landing | Don Bailey | Episode: "Holiday on Ice" |
| 1992 | Harry and the Hendersons | Gipper | Episode: "The Blue Parrot" |
| 1992 | Jake and the Fatman | Judge #2 | Episode: "Stormy Weather: Part 2" |
| 1992 | Woman with a Past | Boss | Television film |
| 1992 | Quicksand: No Escape | Commissioner Freeman | Television film |
| 1992 | Eerie, Indiana | IRS Man | Episode: "Zombies in P.J.s" |
| 1993 | Bob | Father | 2 episodes |
| 1993, 1995 | Grace Under Fire | Emmet Kelley / Charlie | 2 episodes |
| 1994 | Another Midnight Run | Doctor | Television film |
| 1994 | The Nanny | Auditioner #1 | Episode: "The Gym Teacher" |
| 1994 | A Time to Heal | Mr. Barton | Television film |
| 1995 | Thunder Alley | Wrong Way Burdett | Episode: "Are We There Yet?" |
| 1995 | Hope & Gloria | Pastor Earl | Episode: "I Never Sang for Our Father" |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Older Man | Episode: "Individual Responsibility" |
| 1995 | Saved by the Bell: The New Class | Captain | Episode: "Green Card" |
| 1996–1998 | Suddenly Susan | Mr. Richmond | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Picket Fences | Bishop of Rome | Episode: "Witness for the Prosecution" |
| 1997 | Coach | Mr. Waterman | Episode: "The Body Gardener" |
| 1997 | Dark Skies | Ronald Reagan | Episode: "Blood Lines" |
| 1997, 1998 | The Practice | Attorney / Stanley Ryerson | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Chicago Hope | Dr. Alonzo DeGriff | Episode: "Oh What a Piece of Work Is Man" |
| 2000 | Becker | Guard | Episode: "Panic on the 86th" |
| 2000 | Normal, Ohio | Morris | Episode: "Just Another Normal Christmas" |