Richard E. Council Explained

Richard E. Council (born October 1, 1947, in Tampa, Florida), sometimes credited as Richard Council, is an American film, television and stage actor.[1] [2]

Early life

Council grew up on his family farm in Florida. His heritage includes Choctaw ancestors.[3]

Career

Early theatre credits include a small part opposite John Wood in Sherlock Holmes in 1974, as well as Harold Pinter's The Caretaker at Long Wharf Theatre. In 1979, he joined the company of Lexington Conservatory Theatre with the world premiere of Grinder's Stand by Oakley Hall III, followed by a starring role in Of Mice and Men a year later, a role that resonated with him. "From my unique vantage as the son of a farmer, doing this play is my golden opportunity to draw on those memories and experiences," he said.[4] Later, as the company moved to Albany and became Capital Repertory Theatre, he starred in Hall's adaptation of Frankenstein with an "towering performance."[5] [6] [7] His Broadway credits include Conversations with My Father and I'm Not Rappaport, both plays by Herb Gardner; The Royal Family, The Merchant of Venice and The Philadelphia Story, all plays directed by Ellis Rabb.[8] At the Lincoln Center Theater he performed opposite Stockard Channing in The Little Foxes directed by Jack O'Brien. Off-Broadway he appeared in Nine Armenians by Leslie Ayvazian at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Isn't It Romantic by Wendy Wasserstein at the Lucille Lortel Theatre and Isadora Duncan Sleeps with The Russian Navy by Jeff Wanshel at the American Place Theatre. He played Michael Blake on CBS Television's Love of Life from 1976 to 1978.Notable feature film appearances include Die Hard with a Vengeance, Canadian Bacon, Witness to the Mob, I'm Not Rappaport, and Thirteen Conversations About One Thing.

Filmography

Film

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1985Streetwalkin'Sadistic John
1986The Manhattan ProjectGovernment Aide
1988The River PiratesMr. Morris
1990Just Like in the MoviesRobert
1993Carlito's WayDiamond Room Man
1994Quiz ShowReporter #1Uncredited
1995Die Hard with a VengeanceOtto
1995Canadian BaconRussian President
1995Killer: A Journal of MurderCop
1996Camp StoriesOlder Paul
1996The First Wives ClubSecurity GuardUncredited
1996I'm Not RappaportButcher
1997A Further GestureFBI Agent No. 1
1998Karma LocalHenchman
2000UnbreakableNoel
2001Thirteen Conversations About One ThingDel Strickland
2004The Loss of Nameless ThingsThe Creature / Lenny
2006DiggersGuy in TruckUncredited
2009When the Evening ComesRudy
2011Caris' Peace

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981As the World TurnsAri TriandosEpisode dated 14 May 1981
1987Kate & AllieJerryEpisode: "Kate and the Cab Driver"
1989DoormanTelevision film
1993–2000Law & OrderVarious roles3 episodes
1994The Cosby MysteriesJoe DanelliEpisode: "Home, Street Home"
1996CosbyCustomerEpisode: "The Best Little Antique Shop in Astoria"
1998New York UndercoverKharkovEpisode: "Pipeline"
1998Witness to the MobLouie Di BonoTelevision film
2001Third WatchBartenderEpisode: "True Love"
2001DeadlineDetective HaakeEpisode: "Just Lie Back"
2001EdMatthew CrainEpisode: "Goodbye Sadie"
2004Detective MellonEpisode: "Consumed"
2010You Don't Know JackJudge David BreckTelevision film
2015LouieClub OwnerEpisode: "The Road: Part 2"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Richard Council Biography (1947-).
  2. News: 2012-11-04. Richard Council - Filmography - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com. The New York Times. 2021-11-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104171017/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/15322/Richard-Council/filmography. 2012-11-04.
  3. News: Broadway Actor Returns to LCT . The Windham Journal . June 26, 1980.
  4. News: Broadway Actor Returns to LCT . The Windham Journal . June 26, 1980.
  5. News: LCT: Class Act In Our Midst . Stamford Mirror-Recorder . July 2, 1980.
  6. News: DiNicola . Dan . Frankenstein classic but too faithful to text . 1 September 2023 . The Daily Gazette . May 12, 1982.
  7. News: DiNicola . Dan . Grinder's Stand, important new play . The Daily Gazette . August 30, 1979.
  8. Web site: Richard E. Council – Broadway Cast & Staff IBDB. 2021-11-13. www.ibdb.com.