Spencer Milligan

Spencer Milligan was an American actor and producer, possibly best known for the role of Rick Marshall, the father of Will and Holly Marshall on the iconic 1970s children's TV series, "Land of the Lost." 
Not much is known about Milligan's early life. He was born September 10, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, later becoming an actor and making his first TV appearances in the TV shows, "General Hospital" and "Gunsmoke" and even roles in the films, "The Man from Clover Grove," "Sleeper" with Woody Allen and Diane Keaton and "The Photographer" which he also produced. 
In 1974, he landed the role of the father on "Land Of the Lost," and by all accounts, he became close with his co-stars Kathy Coleman and Wesley Eure. However, at some point in the Second Season, he questioned the studio's choice to market his likeness and that of his co-stars without permission or monetary compensation on merchandise inspired by the series. When the studio refused to share the profits in the marketing with the cast, he walked away from the show, and the following season had his character played by series writer John Kubichan vanishing from the Land of the Lost. Ultimately. the studio recast him with Ron Harper as Jack Marshall, his character's brother and uncle to Will and Holly. 
Following the series, Milligan had appearances on several other TV shows, such as "barbary Coast," "Baretta," "McCloud," "The Bionic Woman," "Logan's Run," "Alice," "Vegas" and "Police Squad." He had several roles on "Quincy M.E." and also had roles in the movies "Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story" and "Terror Among Us." His later TV roles included appearances on "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Gavilan," "Hardcastle and McCormack," "The New Mike Hammer" and "The Yellow Rose." 
With fewer and less roles in the 80s, Milligan moved to Dallas and started teaching acting at Adam Roarke's Film Actors Lab, the same school where Lou Diamond Phillips studied. One of Milligan's students was actor Benton Jennings. Ultimately, he moved back to his family home in Door County, Wisconsin where he worked with local theater groups. 
In 2020, he reunited with his "Land of the Lost" co-stars Wesley Eure and Kathy Coleman and others from the show for the 2020 animation feature "The Last Page of Summer."
Milligan died at the age of 86 on April 18, 2024 at his home in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Category:Actors
Category:Cast