Richard J. Zobel Jr. (June 5, 1952 – October 4, 2005) was an American actor. He starred as the attorney Aaron Levinsky in the original Broadway run of Nuts in 1980. Over the course of his career, he was also a singer, instrumentalist, animator, writer, and producer.
Richard Zobel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard J. Zobel Jr. June 18, 1952 |
| Died | October 4, 2005 (aged 53) |
| Occupation | Actor |
Career
editZobel was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and moved to New York City for his acting career.
New York and Hollywood acting career
editZobel's Off-Broadway credits included All's Well That Ends Well and The Taming of the Shrew in the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park in 1978, and The Country Girl in 1984.[1]
He starred as the attorney Aaron Levinsky in the original Broadway run of Nuts in 1980.[2] He appeared in small and supporting film roles, and had guest appearances in over a dozen television series including The X-Files, ER, China Beach, Hill Street Blues, and Star Trek: Voyager, from 1984 through 1999.[3] He was also a singer and a musician.[4][5]
He acted and sang in, and was the vocal arranger for, the 1987 film Walker, and the 2008 making-of documentary about the film, Dispatches from Nicaragua, is dedicated to his memory.[3][6][7]
Lexington Conservatory Theatre
editZobel was a founding company member of Lexington Conservatory Theatre and friend and collaborator of co-founder Oakley Hall III. He performed with them in numerous roles and continued his association with the company when it moved to Albany, NY and became Capital Repertory Theatre. Zobel starred as the title role in Hall's first adaptations of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi (called Ubu Rex) and its sequels, in New York City Off-Off-Broadway and at Lexington, co-producing as well as creating the masks for it. He also appeared in the world premiere of Hall's Grinder's Stand. Zobel's work with the two companies totaled more than 200 performances over the course of two decades.[8][3][9][10]
In 2004, Zobel appeared in the documentary The Loss of Nameless Things, recalling his experience of working with Lexington Conservatory Theatre and Oakley Hall III.[11] It was his last appearance on film.
Rubber Chicken Cards
editIn 2000, Zobel co-founded Rubber Chicken Cards, which sells online greeting cards that combine voice-over acting with irreverent humor, with fellow actor and Lexington alumni Steven Rotblatt.[12][13][3] For the cards Zobel sang, played several instruments, wrote scripts, did animation, and voiced numerous characters.[5][3]
Zobel died of cancer in October 2005 in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he lived. He was survived by his wife and daughter.[12][14]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Once Upon a Time in America | Reporter 2 | |
| 1984 | Teachers | Propes | |
| 1985 | Turk 182 | TV Interviewer | |
| 1987 | From the Hip | Matt Cowens | |
| 1987 | Walker | Lemuel | |
| 1992 | To Sleep with a Vampire | Cabby | |
| 1993 | Warlock: The Armageddon | Barker | |
| 1995 | Tall Tale | Barkeep | |
| 1998 | Montana | Simms |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983–1984 | The Edge of Night | Eric Blake | 15 episodes |
| 1985 | Search for Tomorrow | Elmo | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Hill Street Blues | Scanlon | Episode: "Dogsbreath Afternoon" |
| 1987–1988 | Crime Story | Lt. Col. Milton Dance | 4 episodes |
| 1988 | Simon & Simon | Head of Security | Episode: "Simon & Simon and Associates" |
| 1989 | Matlock | Val Delaney | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Mancuso, F.B.I. | FBI Counter Intelligence Agent | |
| 1990 | Parker Kane | Jack Moody | Television film |
| 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Manny | Episode: "'Round Midnight" |
| 1990 | The Young Riders | McPhalen | Episode: "Star Light, Star Bright" |
| 1991 | Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love | Mitch | Television film |
| 1991 | China Beach | Tony | Episode: "Through and Through" |
| 1992 | Melrose Place | Employment Officer | Episode: "Friends & Lovers" |
| 1993 | Knots Landing | Middle-Aged Hippie | Episode: "Some Like It Hot" |
| 1993 | Bodies of Evidence | Bert | Episode: "Flesh and Blood" |
| 1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. | Homeless Man | Television film |
| 1997 | ER | Mr. Bartok | Episode: "You Bet Your Life" |
| 1997 | Star Trek: Voyager | Gaumen | Episode: "The Raven" |
| 1997–1998 | Profiler | Ben Farrarini | 3 episodes |
| 1999 | The X-Files | Al | Episode: "Three of a Kind" |
References
edit- ^ Richard Zobel at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- ^ Richard Zobel at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ a b c d e Independent Lens. The Loss of Nameless Things: The Players (page 2). PBS. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ Rubber Chicken Cards: From the Beak. Archived June 28, 2009.
- ^ a b "Who's behind the Best Electronic Greeting Cards?". RubberChickenCards.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ Walker [Original Soundtrack] at AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ Dispatches from Nicaragua (2008): Full Cast & Crew at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
- ^ Oakley Hall III (2010). Jarry and Me: The Autobiography of Alfred Jarry. Absintheur Press.
- ^ Oakley Hall III. "UBU ROI by Alfred Jarry; Translated by Oakley Hall III" (Production Notes). Firlefanz-Gallery.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ Barnes, Steve (October 7, 2005). "Actor Richard Zobel dies at 52". Albany Times Union. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
- ^ Independent Lens. The Loss of Nameless Things: The Film. PBS. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ a b Verrier, Richard. "Actor Plays His Cards Right". Los Angeles Times. July 5, 2006.
- ^ Verrier, Richard. "Rubber Chicken Tickles the Funny Bone." The Standard. July 19, 2006.
- ^ Barnes, Steve (October 7, 2005). "Actor Richard Zobel dies at 52". Albany Times Union. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
