Biography
His biggest challenge, however, came in 1996 when he learned he had a rare form of cancer, and he met the dreaded disease head-on, exhibiting the courage he'd always said he had with a power of positive energy and prayer approach that, coupled with medical technology, rid him of the scourge. Though the cancer cost him a second season of "The Lazarus Man" (TNT, 1996-97), his first show renewed since "Spencer", Urich remained upbeat about losing …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2001 | Briefly returned to series TV as co-star of the fall NBC sitcom "Emeril"; cancelled due to low ratings | |
1999 | Starred as Billy Flynn in the touring company of the stage musical "Chicago" | |
| Returned to series work playing the captain of "The Love Boat: The Next Wave" (UPN) | ||
1998 | Received the Gilda Radner Courage Award (from Roswell Park Cancer Institute) in recognition of his successful battle with cancer | |
1997 | Hosted 13-part PBS documentary series "Boatworks" | |
1997 | Hosted the short-lived ABC reality-based series "Vital Signs" | |
1996 | Announced he was suffering from a rare form of cancer (synovial sarcoma) and would undergo chemotherapy; though producers cancelled "The Lazarus Man", Ralston Purina stuck by him as their spokesman for their Pure One dog food company; later underwent surgery as treatment for the cancer | |
| Returned to series TV as star of "The Lazarus Man" (TNT); also syndicated | ||
1995 | Received star on Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 12 | |
1993 | Co-starred opposite Faye Dunaway on the short-lived sitcom, "It Had to Be You" (CBS) | |
| Formed the publishing house Beaver Dam Press, which focuses on outdoor books | ||
| Returned to series TV in the hour-long "Crossroads" (ABC) | ||
| Served as host for "National Geographic Explorer" (TBS) | ||
| Played Tom Nash on the NBC sitcom "American Dreamer" | ||
| Had title role of the Boston-based detective in "Spenser: For Hire" (ABC) | ||
1985 | Acted with Timothy Hutton in Bob Clark's "Turk 182!" | |
1982 | Played the title character on the NBC series "Gavilan" | |
| Starred as Dan Tanna on the ABC series "Vega$" | ||
| Featured opposite Lisa Hartman in the short-lived sitcom "Tabitha" (ABC), a spin-off of "Bewitched" | ||
1977 | Played recurring role of tennis instructor and gigolo Peter Campbell on the ABC sitcom "Soap" | |
1975 | Co-starred in the ABC police series "S.W.A.T." | |
1973 | Feature acting debut in "Magnum Force" | |
1973 | TV debut in the short-lived ABC sitcom "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice"; played Bob | |
| Caught the eye of a talent agent and moved to Los Angeles | ||
| Made stage debut in "Lovers and Other Strangers" at Pheasant Run Playhouse (community theater); appeared in Chicago production of "The Rainmaker", as well as numerous plays at Ivanhoe Theatre (Chicago) and Arlington Park Theatre (Illinois) | ||
| While working as an account executive at WGN-Radio in Chicago, Illinois, a one-night acting job inadvertently set him on ultimate career path; hired to portray a young soldier and open the local Jewish United Bond drive with a stirring patriotic speech; uncovered a penchant for performing; his boss was in attendance and enforced the station's strict policy against moonlighting, resulting in his dismissal | ||
Awards
1980 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in Vega$ |
1979 | Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in Vega$ |