Dick O'Neill

Richard Francis O'Neill was born on August 29, 1928, in New York City, and went on to become an American stage, film, and television character actor with a career spanning several decades. He studied at Syracuse University before serving in the United States Navy, after which he returned to the theater. O'Neill became particularly recognized for portraying Irish cops, fathers, judges, and army generals across his body of work.

O'Neill launched his professional stage career as an original company member of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., where he spent five years. He subsequently spent two years with the Kenley Players in Columbus, Ohio. Before relocating to California, he transitioned to Broadway, making his debut in the role of Christmas Morgan in The Unsinkable Molly Brown. His Broadway career extended from 1960 to 1972 and included appearances in Skyscraper, Promises, Promises, and Tough to Get Help, in which he starred.

Beginning in the late 1950s, O'Neill built an extensive television résumé. He appeared in a wide range of series, including Car 54 Where Are You?, The Honeymooners, Barney Miller, Sanford and Son, M*A*S*H, Cheers, Murder She Wrote, Magnum P.I., Three's Company, The Facts of Life, Growing Pains, Mad About You, and Home Improvement, among many others. He was perhaps most widely recognized for his recurring role as Charlie Cagney in the television series Cagney & Lacey.

His film work included The Mugger in 1958, The Taking of Pelham One Two Three in 1974, MacArthur in 1977, The Buddy Holly Story in 1978, The Jerk in 1979, Prizzi's Honor in 1985, and The Mosquito Coast in 1986, along with numerous other productions spanning more than three decades.

O'Neill met his wife, Jackie Shaw O'Neill, while the two appeared together in a production of The Sound of Music. They had three daughters: Meghan, Gillian, and Caitlin. He died of heart failure on November 17, 1998, at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica, at the age of 70.