Dick O'Neill
Richard Francis O'Neill (August 29, 1928 – November 17, 1998) was an American stage, film and television character actor best known for playing Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. He began his acting career as an original company member of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Dick O'Neill

Chuck369 · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Dick O'Neill
- Birth Name
- Richard Francis O'Neill
- Born
- 29 August 1928
- Birthplace
- New York City, US.
- Died
- 17 November 1998
- Place of death
- Santa Monica, California, U.S.
- Spouse
- Susan Jacqueline Shaw (m. 1964)
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- actor
- Education
- Syracuse University
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Richard Francis O'Neill (August 29, 1928 – November 17, 1998) was an American stage, film and television character actor best known for playing Irish cops, fathers, judges and army generals. He began his acting career as an original company member of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
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Note VALÉORINE
Dick O'Neill (1928–1998) was an actor, film actor and stage actor, among other activities, of American nationality. The actor was born in New York City and died in Santa Monica. Dick O'Neill was educated at Syracuse University. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 30 September 2026
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In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dick O'Neill • Birth Name — Richard Francis O'Neill • Born — 29 August 1928 • Years Active — 1955–1998 • Birthplace — New York City, US. • Died — 17 November 1998 • Place of death — Santa Monica, California, U.S. • Spouse — Susan Jacqueline Shaw (m. 1964) • Children — 3
Early life and television roles
Early life and television roles
O'Neill was born in New York City on August 29, 1928, and studied at Syracuse University. He served in the Navy then returned to the theater. In the late 1950s, he began appearing on television. His television credits include Car 54, Where Are You?, The Honeymooners, Barney Miller, Sanford and Son, Good Times, Kaz, M*A*S*H, The Feather and Father Gang, The Facts of Life, Family Matters, Mad About You, Murder, She Wrote, Father Dowling Mysteries, Three's Company, Wonder Woman, One Day at a Time, Magnum, P.I., A Man Called Intrepid, Growing Pains, Dark Justice, Cheers, Dharma & Greg, Cybill, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to Home Improvement. He was probably best known for his role as Charlie Cagney in the television series Cagney & Lacey.
Stage
Stage
O'Neill acted five years with Arena Stage in Washington, D. C., and two years with the Kenley Players in Columbus, Ohio. Before moving to California, he made his Broadway debut as Christmas Morgan in The Unsinkable Molly Brown. His other Broadway credits include Skyscraper, Promises, Promises, and Tough to Get Help.
Personal life and death
Personal life and death
He met his wife Jackie Shaw O'Neill when they appeared together in a production of The Sound of Music. He and Jackie had three daughters, Meghan, Gillian and Caitlin. On November 17, 1998, O'Neill died of heart failure at the age of 70 at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1955 — Producers' Showcase — Episode: "The Skin of Our Teeth", uncredited • 1956 — Telephone Time — Episode: "Vicksburg, 5:35 PM" • 1959 — The DuPont Show of the Month — Policeman — Episode: "Oliver Twist" • 1959-1964 — Brenner — Detective Steve Mason — TV series • 1961 — Way Out — Episode: "Button, Button" • The Defenders — Police Sergeant — Episode: "The Accident" • Car 54, Where Are You? — Bank Security Guard — Episode: "Get Well, Officer Schnauser" • 1962 — The Doctors and the Nurses — Fred Lawson — Episode: "Night Shift" • 1963 — Mel Bennet — Episode: "You Could Die Laughing" • 1966 — The Jackie Gleason Show — Danny, Counterfeiter — Episode: "The Honeymooners: The Curse of the Kramdens" • Hawk — Mr. Conway — Episode: "Blind Man's Bluff" • 1972 — Sanford and Son — Mr. Sanderson — Episode: "Whiplash" • 1974 — Get Christie Love! — Alex Dawson — Episode: "Pawn Ticket for Murder" • Good Times — Lynn Bridges — Episode: "Florida's Big Gig" • 1975 — Kojak — Augustine Pataki — Episode: "Two-Four-Six for Two Hundred" • Joe and Sons — Ryan — Episode: "Joe and Sons" • Barney Miller — Inspector Kelly — 2 episodes • Doc — Benson Hedges — Episode: "Benson Hedges" • Insight — Garro — Episode: "Hunger Knows My Name" • 1976 — Sanford and Son — Commissioner — Episode: "The Oddfather" • Rhoda — Mr. Guthrie — Episode: "Rhoda's Sellout" • Bronk — Warden Connally — Episode: "Jailbreak" • Phyllis — Julius 'Sonny' Dexter — Episode: "Sonny Boy" • Baretta — Bentley — Episode: "Death on the Run" • Insight — Norman Grady — Episode: "Rehearsal" • 1976-1982 — One Day at a Time — Orville — 3 episodes • 1977 — Maude — Ed Walsh — Episode: "Maude's Reunion" • The Feather and Father Gang — Murphy — Episode: "The Mayan Connection" • Hollywood High — Blaine — 2 episodes • Rafferty — Byron Murray — Episode: "The Narrow Thread" • Rosetti and Ryan — Judge Proctor Hardcastle — Recurring role • M*A*S*H — Admiral Cox — Episode: "38 Across" • 1978 — Operation Petticoat — General Houghton — Episode: "Matt on a Hot Pink Sub" • Wonder Woman — Pat O'Hanlon — Episode: "Pot of Gold" • 1978-1979 — Kaz — Malloy — Recurring role • 1979 — Three's Company — Walter Nessle — Episode: "Jack on the Lam" • CHiPs — McNabb — Episode: "Drive, Lady, Drive" • Young Maverick — Hobbs — Episode: "Clancy" • A Man Called Intrepid — Bill Donovan — Miniseries • M*A*S*H — Brigadier General Marion Prescott — Episode: "B. J. Papa San" • 1980 — The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo — Walter Cruickshank — Episode: "Hail! Hail! The Gang's All Here" • Diff'rent Strokes — Captain Burns — Episode: "The Bank Job" • Disneyland — General Eulace C. Buxley — Episode: "The Ghosts of Buxley Hall" • The Facts of Life — Henry Douglas — Episode: "Shoplifting" • 1981 — I'm a Big Girl Now — Burnham — Episode: "Hangers, No Starch" • The Incredible Hulk — Cyrus T. McCormack — Episode: "The Phenom" • Shannon — Episode: "Gotham Swansong" • Jessica Novak — Jim Donnelly — Episode: "Silent Night" • 1982 — M*A*S*H — Colonel Pitts — Episode: "Sons and Bowlers" • The Fall Guy — Captain Max Finley — Episode: "A Piece of Cake" • Hart to Hart — Lieutenant Warren — 2 episodes • Trapper John, M.D. — Ed Renquist — Episode: "John's Other Life" • 1982-1987 — Cagney & Lacey — Charlie Fitzgerald Cagney — Recurring role • 1983 — Magnum, P.I. — Harry MacKenzie — Episode: "I Do?" • St. Elsewhere — Mr O'Connor — 2 episodes • 1984 — Empire — Arthur Broderick — Recurring role • The Master — Leo Fairchild — Episode: "The Java Tiger" • Partners in Crime — Bennie Rivers — Episode: "Fantasyland" • 1985 — The Facts of Life — Ted Metcalf — Episode: "Two Guys from Appleton" • Charles in Charge — Grandpa Harry — Episode: "Meet Grandpa" • Trapper John, M.D. — Wade Ralston — Episode: "All of Me" • Cheers — Mr. Clavin — Episode: "The Bar Stoolie" • 1986 — Crazy Like a Fox — 'Tip' Maloney — Episode: "Hyde-And-Seek" • Better Days — Harry Clooney — Recurring role • 1987 — Falcon Crest — Fred Wilkinson — Recurring role • Simon & Simon — Jake Boyle — Episode: "New Cop in Town" • The Law & Harry McGraw — Victor Udovic — Episode: "Old Heroes Never Lie" • 1988 — The Garry Shandling Show — Mr. Sparks — Episode: "Mr. Sparks" • Night Court — Detective Costas — Episode: "Chrizzi's Honor" • Murder, She Wrote — Benny Tibbles — Episode: "Benedict Arnold Slipped Here" • Hotel — Van Lambert — Episode: "Contest of Wills" • Mama's Boy — Father Pat — Episode: "Mickey's Song" • Knots Landing — Tom Daugherty — Episode: "The Perfect Crime" • Growing Pains — Chris — Episode: "Birth of a Seaver" • 1989 — Top of the Hill — Pat Bell — Recurring role • 1990 — Island Son — Episode: "Separations" • L.A. Law — Father Walter McNamara — Episode: "Forgive Me Father, for I Have Sued" • Singer & Sons — Floyd Patterson — Episode: "The Boxer Rebellion" • 1990-1991 — Father Dowling Mysteries — Lieutenant Foster — Recurring role • 1991-1993 — Dark Justice — Arnold 'Moon' Willis — Recurring role; part of main cast • 1992 — Reasonable Doubts — Mayor DeVan — Episode: "The Discomfort Zone" • Sibs — Lou Berman — Episode: "I'll Take Manhattan" • 1994 — Mad About You — Manny Barton — Episode: "Love Letters" • Good Advice — Jackie Harold — Episode: "Roll Out the Barrel" • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Santa Claus — Episode: "Reality Bites" • 1994-1996 — Home Improvement — Art Leonard — Recurring role • 1995 — Something Wilder — Hank — Episode: "The Ex Files" • The Commish — Charlie Wolfe — Episode: "Cry Wolfe" • Pig Sty — Mory — Episode: "Erin Go Barf" • Diagnosis: Murder — Wade Phelps — Episode: "Murder in the Courthouse" • 1996-1998 — Cybill — Roy — Recurring role • Family Matters — Commissioner Geiss — Recurring role • 1996 — The Sentinel — Warren Brackley — Episode: "Deep Water" • Boy Meets World — Mr. Kimball — Episode: "I Ain't Gonna Spray Lettuce No More" • The Jeff Foxworthy Show — Sheriff — Episode: "Merry Christmas, Y'All" • 1997 — Timecop — Bert — Episode: "Public Enemy" • 1998 — Dharma & Greg — Mr. Waring — Episode: "Do You Want Fries with That?" • City Guys — Walter — Episode: "Big Brothers"
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1928
Dick O'Neill was born on 29 August 1928.
1998
Dick O'Neill died on 17 November 1998.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Dick O'Neill was born at New York City.
Birthplace
Dick O'Neill died at Santa Monica.
Deathplace
New York City.
Birth place
Santa Monica.
Death place
Film roles
Film roles
His film credits include The Mugger (1958), To the Shores of Hell (1966), Gammera the Invincible (1966), Pretty Poison (1968), Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), The Front Page (1974), Posse (1975), St. Ives (1976), Prime Time a.k.a. American Raspberry (1977), MacArthur (1977), The Buddy Holly Story (1978), House Calls (1978), The Jerk (1979), Wolfen (1981), Chiller (1985), Prizzi's Honor (1985), The Mosquito Coast (1986), She's Out of Control (1989) and Loose Cannons (1990).
Film
Film
• Year — Film — Role — Notes • 1958 — The Mugger — Sergeant Cassidy • 1961 — Capture That Capsule — Al • 1962 — Fallguy • 1966 — To the Shores of Hell — Major Fred Howard • Gamera, the Giant Monster — General O'Neill • 1967 — Soldier in Love — Footman — TV film • 1968 — Pretty Poison — Bud Munsch • 1971 — Some of My Best Friends Are... — Tim Holland • 1972 — Hail! — Attorney General • 1974 — The Taking of Pelham One Two Three — Frank Correll • The Front Page — McHugh • 1975 — Hustling — Keogh — TV film • Posse — Wiley • The UFO Incident — General James Davison — TV film • The Entertainer — Charlie — TV film • 1976 — Woman of the Year — Phil Whitaker — TV film • St. Ives — Hesh • 1977 — MacArthur — General Courtney Whitney • It Happened One Christmas — Mr. Gower — TV film • American Raspberry — General Andrews • 1978 — Perfect Gentlemen — Mr. Appleton — TV film • House Calls — Irwin Owett • The Buddy Holly Story — Sol Gittler • 1979 — The Jerk — 'Frosty' • 1980 — The Comeback Kid — Phil — TV film • The Ghosts of Buxley Hall — General Eulace C. Buxley — TV film • 1981 — Wolfen — Captain Warren • 1982 — Family in Blue — Chester Malone — TV film • 1984 — Flashpoint — Hinshaw — Uncredited • A Touch of Scandal — Lieutenant Halquist — TV film • 1985 — Lots of Luck — Wilson — TV film • Turk 182 — Powerhouse Chief • Wes Craven's Chiller — Clarence Beeson — TV film • Prizzi's Honor — Bluestone • 1986 — Passion Flower — Martin Churit — TV film • There Must Be a Pony — Chief Investigator Roy Clymer — TV film • The Mosquito Coast — Mr. Polski • 1988 — The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick — Ray — TV film • The Diamond Trap — Lieutenant Barnett — TV film • 1989 — She's Out of Control — Chuck Pearson • 1990 — Loose Cannons — Captain • 1992 — Highway Heartbreaker — Alex's Father — TV film • 1993 — The American Clock — Ryan — TV film • 1994 — My Summer Story — Pulaski • 1995 — The Unspoken Truth — Thomas Cleary — TV film • 1997 — Ellen Foster — Judge — TV film
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Dick O'Neill, 70, Actor Known For Role in 'Cagney and Lacey'. The New York Times. November 28, 1998.
- 2.Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 564. . "9611. O'Neill, Dick (Richard Francis O'Neill, Aug. 29, 1928–Nov. 17, 1998)."
- 3.Oliver, Myrna. Dick O'Neill; Veteran TV, Movie Actor. Los Angeles Times. November 25, 1998.
- 4.stefaniepowersonline.com The Feather and Father Gang
- 5.Role Is 'An Actor's Dream'. The Sunday Oklahoman. 4 D. December 29, 1963.
- 6.The Broadway League. Dick O'Neill. Internet Broadway Database.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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