Kenneth Tigar

Kenneth Tigar is an American actor and translator born on September 24, 1942, in Chelsea, Massachusetts, into a Jewish family. He grew up in the Greater Boston Area and went on to earn both a BA and a Ph.D. in German literature from Harvard University. During his undergraduate years, he was active in theater as an actor and director. He also spent a year at the University of Göttingen and performed in Vienna and other European cities.

Tigar made his film debut in The Happy Hooker in 1975. Subsequent film roles included Mr. Raymaker in Just One of the Guys (1985) and Professor Swivet in 18 Again! (1988). He appeared as a bomb squad leader in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) and reprised that role in Lethal Weapon 3 (1992). Later film credits include Weil in Primal Fear (1996), a lawyer in Conspiracy Theory (1997), and a German resister to Loki in The Avengers (2012).

Television has been a central part of Tigar's career. He starred as Captain Jensen in L.A. Heat from 1997 to 1999, appearing in 47 episodes. He guest-starred in two episodes of Cheers in different roles: Fred, a gay character in the Season 1 episode "The Boys in the Bar," and a professor of Diane's in the Season 4 episode "Don Juan Is Hell." Additional television credits include Dr. Gordon on Dallas, Sid Sidlevich on Growing Pains, Fritz Heath on Dynasty, Dr. Keinholz on ER, and Walter Doyle on House of Cards.

Tigar's Broadway career spans 2007 to 2015, with credits including Fish in the Dark and Translations.