Ron Rifkin

Photo of Ron Rifkin

Biography

Prior to his small screen success, Rifkin was predominantly a theater actor who made occasional forays into features while starring on a seemingly endless string of short-lived television shows, beginning with the early-1970s sitcom, "Adam's Rib" (ABC, 1973). For several years, he struggled to find his footing in the acting world, as he landed numerous guest stints and small feature roles that failed to add up to a significant career. Rifkin …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

Saul M. Rifkin on October 31, 1939 in New York City, New York, USA

Career Milestones

1961

Made Broadway debut in Neil Simon's "Come Blow Your Horn"

1965

Played Mel, opposite Sally Field as the title character, on the ABC sitcom, "Gidget"

1968

Made feature film debut in "The Devil's Eight"

1973

Played Roy Mendelsohn, Adam's law partner, on the short-lived CBS sitcom, "Adam's Rib"

1975

Cast as the evil Prince John on the short-lived ABC sitcom, "When Things Were Rotten"

1978

Cast as a dentist on the short-lived CBS sitcom, "Husbands, Wives and Lovers"

1979

Played Artie Miller, the writer-director, on the short-lived show-within-a-show, "The Mary Tyler Moore Hour" (CBS)

1980

Joined the hit CBS sitcom, "One Day at a Time" in the sixth season; played Nick Handris, a love interest for Bonnie Franklin's Ann

1982

Last feature film in nearly a decade, "The Sting II"

1983

Played the recurring role of Dr. Lantry for two seasons on the CBS primetime soap, "Falcon Crest"

1984

Briefly retired from acting to work with wife in the fashion design business

1990

Played Ben Meyer on the CBS drama series, "The Trials of Rosie O'Neill"

1991

Had a cameo appearance in Oliver Stone's controversial feature "JFK"

1991

Returned to the stage for writer Jon Baitz's "The Substance of Fire"; won several awards, including a Drama Desk for Best Actor

1992

First sizable feature film role in a decade, in Woody Allen's "Husbands and Wives"

1996

Recreated his award winning stage role for the film adaptation of "The Substance of Fire"

1997

Had featured role as a district attorney in "L.A. Confidential"

1997

Returned to series TV in the short-lived ABC drama "Leaving L.A."

1998

Made Broadway musical debut in revival of "Cabaret"

2000

Cast as Giovanni Ribisi's father in "Boiler Room"

2001

Co-starred with Jim Carrey in "The Majestic"

2001

Played Arvin Sloane, the cold, calculating leader of SD-6 in the ABC series "Alias"

2002

Supported Kevin Costner in "Dragonfly"

2005

Cast in the New York premiere of Baitz's "The Paris Letter"

2006

Cast as businessman Saul Holden on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters"

2006

Starred in "Pulse," a remake of cult Japanese helmer Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Kairo"

2009

Earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for narrating "Jerome Robbins: Something To Dance About" episode of PBS' "American Masters"

Awards

1998

Tony Award for Actor (Featured Role--Musical)