George Gerdes Explained

George Gerdes
Birth Date:23 February 1948
Birth Place:Queens, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Glendale, California, U.S.
Education:Carnegie Mellon University

George Gerdes (February 23, 1948  - January 1, 2021) was an American singer-songwriter and character actor.

Early life and education

He was born in Queens, New York City. He formed a group, the Alumicron Fab Tabs, with friend Loudon Wainwright III, before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in 1969.

Career

In the early 1970s, he recorded two albums, Obituary and Son of Obituary, for United Artists Records. His songs were praised by Joni Mitchell and Terre Roche, among others. His second album was produced by Nik Venet and featured session musicians including Charlie McCoy and Kenny Buttrey.[1] [2]

To supplement his income from performing, he started taking acting jobs in the 1980s. He appeared in Sam Shepard's play Fool for Love, and Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men, both on Broadway. He also appeared in many television and film roles, including parts in The Squeeze (1987), Miami Vice (1987), Single White Female (1992), Amistad (1997), Hidalgo (2004) and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011).

Personal life

Gerdes died from a brain aneurysm in Glendale, California, on January 1, 2021, at the age of 72.

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1968Come Back BabyThief
1987The SqueezeJoe
1988Call MeFred
1989JacknifeTony
1992Single White FemaleSuper
1993Boiling PointHenderson
1994Iron WillBorg Guillarson
1996Playing Dangerous 2Mitch
1997AmistadMarshal
1998SparkEarl
1998HijackLuke Besser
1999Stealth FighterAlexander Chez / Clancy
1999BatsChaswick
2004HidalgoMajor Whitside
2005Buckaroo: The MovieChalker
2005Rumor Has ItCharity Dinner Guests
2007TV VirusFrank
2011The PassingGeorge Naibert
2011Answers to NothingMr. Callahan
2011The Girl with the Dragon TattooUdevalla Detective
2013Saving LincolnCopperhead Democrat
2020The 11th GreenDwight D. Eisenhower

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985Our Family HonorPete TaylorEpisode: "Homecoming"
1987Miami ViceFBI AgentEpisode: "Heroes of the Revolution"
1987As the World TurnsChuckEpisode #1.8285
1987The EqualizerRussian SpyEpisode: "Encounter in a Closed Room"
1988EdEpisode: "Watercolors"
1990HunterThe ChemistEpisode: "La Familia"
1992Brooklyn BridgeRefereeEpisode: "On the Line"
1992L.A. LawDetective NavieEpisode: "Silence of the Lambskins"
1992SeinfeldMan #1Episode: "The Bubble Boy"
1993Attack of the 50 Ft. WomanPilot #1Television film
1994NYPD BlueLouis ForemanEpisode: "Jumpin' Jack Fleishman"
1994The X-FilesReverend Calvin HartleyEpisode: "Miracle Man"
1994Itasca Radio OperatorTelevision film
1994Rebel HighwayLt. ClarkEpisode: "Jailbreakers / Rebelles"
1994Perry Mason: The Case of the Grimacing GovernorDonovanTelevision film
1995Vanishing SonBilly BakerEpisode: "Holy Ghosts"
1995Renegade'Preacher' LomaxEpisode: "Ace in the Hole"
1996Nowhere ManSheriff Wilkes2 episodes
1996Picket FencesHomeless VictimEpisode: "Liver Let Die"
1996, 1999Chicago HopeAlex / Anton Zona2 episodes
1997Brooklyn SouthDefense Attorney CallowayEpisode: "Touched by a Checkered Cab"
1998Walker, Texas RangerScudderEpisode: "The Wedding: Part 2"
1998The PracticeGun ManufacturerEpisode: "The Defender"
19997th HeavenJeff PattersonEpisode: "With Honors"
2000Nash BridgesDouglas BremerEpisode: "Liar's Poker"
2000Col. WaltersEpisode: "Article 32"
2000Cover MeMr. HowardEpisode: "The Line"
2001Family LawMark BrownEpisode: "Planting Seeds"
2003The DistrictElevator Maintenance ManEpisode: "Blindsided"
2004AliasAnalystEpisode: "Full Disclosure"
2004Line of FireChief WoodEpisode: "The Senator"
2004Cold CaseWarden WilburEpisode: "The House"
2005NumbersRail Cop CaptainEpisode: "Sabotage"
2006ThresholdMr. WheelerEpisode: "Outbreak"
2006What About BrianBartenderEpisode: "What About Second Chances"
2007ERJim Riley2 episodes
2008General HospitalBodie SullivanEpisode #1.11572
2009The UnitDetectiveEpisode: "The Spear of Destiny"
2009LostMr. SpringerEpisode: "The Incident"
2009True BloodSid Matt LancasterEpisode: "Nothing But the Blood"
2011BonesDan LambertEpisode: "The Sin in the Sisterhood"
2011CastleMike YanavichEpisode: "Knockout"
2011DexterLandlordEpisode: "The Angel of Death"
2011Criminal MindsLieutenant Shockley TawesEpisode: "Self Fulfilling Prophecy"
2012Floyd HobbsEpisode: "Neighborhood Watch"
2013The MentalistMiles MacCambridgeEpisode: "The Red Barn"
2015NCISField Marshal RandEpisode: "Spinning Wheel"
2017–2019BoschRay Scales3 episodes
2020Grey's AnatomyNorman SholmanEpisode: "Save the Last Dance for Me"
2020Perry MasonOld Polish ManEpisode: "Chapter Six"

Notes and References

  1. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/george-gerdes-singer-songwriter-and-character-actor-dies-at-72 Mike Barnes, "George Gerdes, Singer, Songwriter and Character Actor, Dies at 72", Hollywood Reporter, January 4, 2021
  2. https://www.wolfgangs.com/music/george-gerdes/audio/20050238-19226.html?tid=4748263 Liner notes, "George Gerdes", Wolfgangs.com, June 8, 1978