Spencer James Milligan (September 10, 1937 – April 18, 2024) was an American actor. He was best known for the role of Rick Marshall, the father of Will and Holly Marshall, on the first two seasons of the 1970s children science fiction TV series, Land of the Lost.
Spencer Milligan | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 10, 1937 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | April 18, 2024 (aged 86) Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
Career
editPrior to breaking into proper TV and film, in 1970, Milligan appeared, at age 33, in a United Airlines short tourism film about the City of Chicago, along with Shelley Long, during her modeling days at age 20-21, years before starring in Cheers.
Milligan left Land of the Lost after the second season due to a dispute with the producers of the show. Milligan wanted his share of any merchandising profits or royalties that the show generated. In a 2009 interview with the Associated Press, Milligan elaborated:
We had a difference of opinion, let's put it this way, on using my face for stuff and paying me—lunch boxes, compasses—where they were selling them and I thought it was only fair that everyone should get their fair share.[1]
The show replaced Milligan's character Rick Marshall with Rick's brother Jack Marshall, played by actor Ron Harper. Milligan did not return for the brief scene at the beginning of "After-Shock," the first episode of the third season. This scene, which was also used in the opening credits of the third season, showed Rick Marshall being transported out of the Land of the Lost. Jon Kubichan, who both wrote and produced the episode, played the role instead, wearing a wig resembling Milligan's hair and standing with his back to the camera.[2][3]
Although Spencer Milligan made various guest-starring roles on TV in the 1970s, his career slowed down in the 1980s. During the 1980s, Milligan lived in Malibu. He then relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area in the 1990s, where he taught acting at Adam Roarke's Film Actors Lab (where Lou Diamond Phillips studied). One of Milligan's students was actor Benton Jennings. Milligan eventually moved back to his family's home in Wisconsin.[4] His last known televised acting performance was in 1987, when he appeared on General Hospital.[5]
In addition to teaching acting, Milligan directed local plays.
Death
editMilligan died in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on April 18, 2024, at the age of 86.[6][7]
Filmography
editA partial filmography follows.
Film
edit- Sleeper (1973) as Jeb Hrmthmg
- The Man From Clover Grove (1975) as Fester McLong
- The Photographer (1974) as Clinton Webber
Television
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Land of the Lost | Rick Marshall | 30 episodes (1974-1975) |
| 1975 | Gunsmoke | Jinx Tobin | "Brides and Grooms" |
| 1976 | The Keegans | Pat Keegan | TV movie |
| 1976 | The Bionic Woman | Reed | "Fly Jaime" |
| 1977 | The Bionic Woman | Schmidt | "Motorcycle Boogie" |
| 1979 | Quincy M.E. | Cliff Hanna | "Walk Softly Through the Night" parts 1 & 2 |
| 1979 | Alice | David | "Little Alice Bluenose" |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Haskell | TV movie |
| 1981 | Terror Among Us | Alex | TV movie |
| 1982 | Police Squad! | Eddie Casales | "Revenge and Remorse (The Guilty Alibi)" |
| 1987 | The Magical World of Disney | Detective | "You Ruined My Life" |
| 1987 | General Hospital | Ray Gibbons | 7 episodes |
References
edit- ^ "'Land of the Lost' Stars Found" Associated Press, June 8, 2009
- ^ Land of the Lost Archived 2006-11-01 at the Wayback Machine at kensforce.com
- ^ Land of the Lost at mediawhack.com
- ^ Forum thread at landofthelost.com
- ^ Land of the Lost at celebritynooz.com
- ^ "Spencer Milligan, 'Land of the Lost' Star, Dies at 86". The Hollywood Reporter. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
- ^ "Official Obituary of Spencer James Milligan". Huehns Funeral Home & Crematory. Retrieved 25 June 2024.