Gordon Clapp

Clapp worked across stage actor, film actor, television actor and actor. This article rests on 30 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Gordon Clapp • Born — 24 September 1948 • Birthplace — North Conway, New Hampshire, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Education — Williams College • Years Active — 1979–present

Clapp was born in North Conway, New Hampshire. He graduated from Williams College in 1971. At Williams College, he met frequent collaborators David Strathairn and John Sayles. Clapp also studied at The National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (fall 1970).

Clapp has appeared in numerous TV shows such as Check it Out! and Night Court as well as numerous stage plays. His film credits include Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980), Running (1979), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988, as Chicago White Sox catcher Ray Schalk), Termini Station (1989), The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999), Rules of Engagement (2000), Sunshine State (2002), and Flags of Our Fathers (2006) as United States Marine Corps Gen. Holland Smith. He appeared in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Vortex." From 1993 to 2005, Clapp played Detective Greg Medavoy on NYPD Blue. He won an Emmy for the role. In 2007, he appeared as Coach Mad Maddox in The Game Plan. On Broadway, he appeared in the 2005 revival of David Mamet's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Glengarry Glen Ross, where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play. He also played Alan Silver in episode Holiday Spirit in Ghost Whisperer (3x10). In 1995, he played Father Paul in Her Hidden Truth. In 2007, Clapp voiced Horny the Clown in the horror film Drive-Thru. Later that year, Clapp also appeared as Det Dick Walenski in "In Name and Blood," season 3 episode 2 of Criminal Minds. Clapp portrayed a corrupt police officer in a 2008 episode of Cold Case. He played the main antagonist Gen. Peter Randall in the Prototype video game. Clapp plays the father of Ellen (Rose Byrne) in the F/X show Damages. In 2014, Clapp began playing a recurring role as Chaplain Orlovsky in Chicago Fire. In 2021, Clapp had a modest but critical role in the acclaimed HBO series Mare of Easttown, playing key witness Pat Ross.

Clapp was previously married to actress Deborah Taylor from 1986 to 1999. He married Elisabeth Gordon, whom he met through a mutual friend, on November 5, 2016.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1984 — The Other Kingdom — George — Television film • 1985 — Hangin' In — Mr. Hepburn — Episode: "Dead Dogs Wag No Tails" • 1985 — Evergreen — Palm Court Waiter — Episode #1.1 • 1985 — Letting Go — Walter — Television film • 1985 — ABC Weekend Special — Cop — Episode: "Pippi Longstocking" • 1985–1988 — Check It Out! — Various roles — 49 episodes • 1986 — The Right of the People — Chris' Friend — Television film • 1987 — Hands of a Stranger — Sgt. Markey • 1988 — Katts and Dog — Wayne — Episode: "Birds of a Feather" • 1988 — Breaking All the Rules — John Haney — Television film • 1989 — Knightwatch — Daniels — 2 episodes • 1989 — Small Sacrifices — Detective Doug Welch — Television film • 1989 — The Private Capital — Darcy • 1990 — Dear John — Dave Travis — Episode: "John's Friend" • 1990 — Family of Spies — Capt. Burnett — 2 episodes • 1990 — Blind Faith — Det. O'Brien • 1990 — Night Court — Ralph Shannon — Episode: "I Said Dance!" • 1990 — Top Cops — Dennis Dutra — Episode: "Dennis Dutra" • 1990 — Cop Rock — Philip Beamer — Episode: "A Three-Corpse Meal" • 1990 — The Secret Life of Archie's Wife — Stubbs — Television film • 1990, 1993 — E.N.G. — Various roles — 2 episodes • 1991 — Fever — Meeks — Television film • 1991 — Mission of the Shark — Elias • 1992 — The Wonder Years — Bruce Leegee — Episode: "Politics as Usual" • 1992 — Street Legal — James Brackit — 2 episodes • 1993 — Bonds of Love — Evaluator — Television film • 1993 — Kiss of a Killer — Sullivan • 1993 — Civil Wars — Al Blynn — Episode: "Alien Aided Affection" • 1993 — Family of Strangers — Del — Television film • 1993 — Cheers — Shiner — Episode: "Look Before You Sleep" • 1993 — Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — Hadran — Episode: "Vortex" • 1993 — FBI: The Untold Stories — Gavin — Episode: "The Sting" • 1993 — In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco — Glenn — Television film • 1993 — Wings — Phil — Episode: "Bye-Bye, Bunny" • 1993–2005 — NYPD Blue — Greg Medavoy — 256 episodes • 1995 — Abandoned and Deceived — Donald Quinn — Television film • 1995 — The Outer Limits — Dr. Randall Strong — Episode: "The Voice of Reason" • 1995 — Her Hidden Truth — Father Paul — Television film • 1996 — The Morrison Murders: Based on a True Story — Sheriff Byron Calhoun • 1997 — Badge of Betrayal — Thatcher • 1997 — Dead Man's Gun — Raymond Walter Jakes — Episode: "The Bounty Hunter" • 2003 — Less than Perfect — Detective Martin — Episode: "It Takes a Pillage" • 2005 — Without a Trace — Bill Shields — Episode: "The Innocents" • 2005, 2006 — Deadwood — Gustave — 2 episodes • 2006 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Ted Carthage — Episode: "Infected" • 2006 — Monk — Francis Merrigan — Episode: "Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink" • 2007 — CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Salvatore Heinz — Episode: "Meet Market" • 2007 — Halfway Home — Sandy — Episode: "Halfway New Guy" • 2007 — Criminal Minds — Det. Vic Wolynski — Episode: "In Name and Blood" • 2007 — Private Practice — Coach Mike — Episode: "In Which Addison Finds a Showerhead" • 2007 — Ghost Whisperer — Alan Silver — Episode: "Holiday Spirit" • 2007–2012 — Damages — Gary Parsons — 3 episodes • 2008 — Cold Case — Daniel O'Leary — Episode: "Bad Reputation" • 2009 — Taking Chance — Tom Garrett — Television film • 2011 — In Plain Sight — Ben Kulpak — Episode: "I'm a Liver Not a Fighter" • 2013 — Perception — Alan Kendricks — Episode: "Ch-Ch-Changes" • 2013 — Grey's Anatomy — Victor Kaufman — Episode: "Somebody That I Used to Know" • 2013 — Mob City — Carl Steckler — 4 episodes • 2014–2018 — Chicago Fire — Chaplain Orlovsky — 11 episodes • 2016 — Elementary — Deputy Chief Prosky — Episode: "Henny Penny the Sky Is Falling" • 2021 — Mare of Easttown — Pat Ross — Episode: "Sore Must Be the Storm" • 2021 — American Rust — Mr. Gelsey — 4 episodes • 2025 — Poker Face — Division Chief Wharton — Episode: "The End of the Road"

Gordon Clapp is recorded with the occupation television actor. Established in Library of Congress under no2003054998. Recorded as having studied at Williams College, South Kent School and Kennett High School. Recognition and collections. Clapp received Theatre World Award and Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.