Ray Wise

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Ray Wise
Wise in 2011
Born
Raymond Herbert Wise

(1947-08-20) August 20, 1947 (age 76)[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present
Spouses
Juliet Burr
(m. 1974; div. 1977)
Kass McClaskey
(m. 1978)
Children2

Raymond Herbert Wise (born August 20, 1947)[1] is an American actor best known for his role as Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks (1990–1991, 2017) and its prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). He has appeared in films such as Swamp Thing (1982), The Journey of Natty Gann (1985), RoboCop (1987), Bob Roberts (1992), Jeepers Creepers 2 (2003), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), X-Men: First Class (2011) and God's Not Dead 2 (2016).

Wise's other television rules include Vice President Hal Gardner in 24 (2006), The Devil in Reaper (2007–2009), and Marvin in Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020). He is also known for acting in projects produced by the comedy duo Tim & Eric, most notably his guest-starring role as Grill Vogel in Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2008).

Early life[edit]

Wise was born in Akron, Ohio, on August 29, 1947,[1] graduated from Garfield High School in 1965 and attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.[1] He is of Romanian descent on his maternal side.[2] He grew up in a religious family; in the past he went to a Romanian Baptist church in Akron and later moved to a Methodist church.[3]

Career[edit]

Television[edit]

Wise at the 2014 Fan Expo Canada

In the late 1960s and 70s, Wise played attorney Jamie Rollins in the soap opera Love of Life for seven years and nearly 950 episodes.[4] In 1987, Wise played Tom Gunther, Catherine Chandler's boyfriend, in the pilot episode of the TV series Beauty and the Beast. Wise is best known for his role as Laura Palmer's father Leland in Twin Peaks. In addition to Twin Peaks, Wise has played several roles in science fiction. He made an appearance as Liko in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Who Watches the Watchers", later playing Arturis in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Hope and Fear".

He appeared in the Season 7 episode "The Flame" of Diagnosis: Murder. He was featured in three episodes of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Grill Vogel, the presenter of a fictitious instructional video series called "Business Hugs".

In 1995, Wise was reunited with Twin Peaks castmate Sherilyn Fenn in the NBC telemovie Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story. He also starred as the Devil on the TV series Reaper. Wise has appeared on a number of political-themed television series and films. He briefly appeared on The West Wing as California governor Gabriel "Gabe" Tillman, and played Vice President Hal Gardner on 24 in 2006. In August 2006, Wise made a guest appearance in the series Bones as the primary suspect of the first episode of the second season ("The Titan on the Tracks"), and in the pilot episode of Burn Notice. In Season 8, episode 13 of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2007), Wise guest starred as the head of a company testing pesticides on little children. Wise has also guest starred in two episodes of The Closer, as lawyer Tom Blanchard. He starred in Charmed as the upper level demon Ludlow, who runs a school for the Source Of All Evil in the episode "Lost and Bound". He had a small role in one episode of the sixth season of Dawson's Creek, playing Roger Stepateck. Wise starred in the 2009 SyFy original movie Infestation. He played the lead as Avery in a psychological thriller, Iodine, in 2009. He was a guest star on Psych and in 2010, in a special episode of Psych titled "Dual Spires", he joined his fellow Twin Peaks alumni Dana Ashbrook, Robyn Lively, Lenny Von Dohlen, Sheryl Lee, Catherine E. Coulson, and Sherilyn Fenn in a spoof of Twin Peaks.

Wise appeared in several episodes of Mad Men as Ken Cosgrove's father-in-law Ed Baxter, the CEO of Corning, Inc. He appeared in "Chinese Wall" (Season 4, Episode 11), "At the Codfish Ball" (Season 5, Episode 7), "Commissions and Fees" (Season 5, Episode 12), "To Have and to Hold" (Season 6, Episode 4) and "Severance" (Season 7, Episode 8).

In 2010, Wise guest-starred as fictitious sports agent Bobby Fox alongside a special guest appearance from real life ex-Yankees manager Joe Torre on the TV series Castle, in the Season 2 episode "Suicide Squeeze". He also guest starred on Dollhouse as Howard, a higher-up in the Dollhouse organization.[5] He stars in Kyle Rankin's post-apocalyptic horror thriller film Nuclear Family.[6] Wise was announced the lead of the Mike Mendez thriller film Ov3rk!ll.[7]

Wise appeared in Season 4 of Chuck and in the FX television show Wilfred as a popular TV personality. He was cast in the part of Robin Scherbatsky's father on How I Met Your Mother in December 2010 (after Eric Braeden declined to reprise his role in a cameo appearance), and ultimately appeared in 6 episodes of the series in total. Ray made a cameo appearance as a modeling agent in episode four of season 2 of Workaholics.

Wise made an appearance in 2012 in the TV series Rizzoli & Isles (Season 3, Episode 7, "Crazy for You") in drag as a cross-dressing judge. That same year, Ray played John Nelson, A disturbed ex-mortician obsessed with trying to help his wife Linda in the Criminal Minds Season 8 episode "God Complex".

Wise prominently appeared in the music video "Wishes" for the group Beach House. It was directed by Eric Wareheim and features Wise performing in a surreal football halftime show.

Wise appeared as Andy Rooney parody Skip Reming on Newsreaders. In January 2014, he was hired to play the character of Ian Ward on the long running soap The Young and the Restless. He returned to Y&R in September 2015. He played the mayor in the first season of Deadbeat. Since 2014, he has appeared in multiple series on ABC. He had a recurring role as Marvin in the first two seasons of Fresh Off the Boat before being promoted to series regular for seasons three through six. He also appeared in the first two seasons of Agent Carter as comic book character Hugh Jones.

In 2016, Wise appeared in the Netflix series Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. He portrayed Jack Smith, an old friend of Richard Gilmore, who becomes the boyfriend or companion of widow Emily Gilmore.

In 2017, he appeared as a guest in the TV series Fargo, as Paul Marrane, a kitten-handler and metaphysical punisher, in the episodes "The Law of Non-Contradiction" and "Who Rules the Land of Denial?"

Film[edit]

He played the character of Dr. Alec Holland in the 1982 film Swamp Thing, directed by Wes Craven and based upon the comic book series of the same name. Dr. Holland is the man who becomes the titular character after his lab is destroyed and he is left for dead. The actual Swamp Thing character was played by Dick Durock.

In 1985, Wise was cast as Sol Gann, father to Natty Gann in the Disney film The Journey of Natty Gann, directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan, and then appeared as henchman Leon C. Nash in RoboCop (1987). He also had roles in Season of Fear (1989), The Rift (1990), Bob Roberts (1992), Grey Knight (1993) and Rising Sun (1993).

He then played the roles of entrepreneur/millionaire Dalton Voss in The Chase (1994), Dr. Stripler in Powder (1995), Sheriff Blaidek in Evasive Action (1998), and Bart's father Harrison in The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003). The same year he played Jack Taggart in the horror film Jeepers Creepers 2, and portrayed father and husband Frank Harrington in the horror film Dead End.

In 2005, he appeared as newscaster and commentator Don Hollenbeck in Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by George Clooney. In 2007 he appeared in The Flock as Robert Still. In 2008 he had a role in the horror remake One Missed Call. In the year 2011, Wise played the role of United States Secretary of State in X-Men: First Class. He appeared in Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie as Dr. Doone Struts, the leader of the Shrim Healing Center. He appeared in Revelation Road: The Beginning of the End as Franks. He played Major Braxton Tanner in the movie Big Ass Spider! (2013). He was in Brother's Keeper (2013) and was in Suburban Gothic (2014).

In 2014 Wise appeared in the documentary horror film Digging Up the Marrow under the direction of Adam Green.[8] In 2016, Wise starred as attorney Peter Kane in the film God's Not Dead 2, who represents the ACLU in its fight to have the protagonist, Grace Wesley (Melissa Joan Hart), convicted of proselytizing in a public school.[9]

Voice work[edit]

As a voice actor, Wise played Perry White in the movie Superman: Doomsday. He also plays Commissioner Gordon in the animated film adaptation of The Killing Joke.[10]

Video games[edit]

He is also known for portraying Michael Dugan, President of the United States, in the full-motion video cutscenes for the computer real-time strategy game Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri's Revenge.

Web series[edit]

In 2014, Wise starred in an original Chipotle web series titled Farmed and Dangerous; he played Buck Marshall in the satirical black comedy-type situation comedy. In 2018, Wise made a guest appearance in the second volume of Hyper RPG's horror anthology RPG, 10 Candles, explaining to the party the mysteries of the town of Kolob. He reprised that role in 2019 for the opening credits of 'Kollok 1991', another RPG series by Hyper RPG.

Personal life[edit]

Wise has been married to film producer Kass McClaskey since 1978. They have two children together: a son, Gannon McClaskey Wise, born in 1985, who is an actor and writer; and a daughter, Kyna Wise, born in 1987, who is also an actress and a singer. Wise was previously married to actress Juliet Burr from 1974 until their divorce in 1977.[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Dare the Devil David Keller
1982 Swamp Thing Dr. Alec Holland
Cat People Soap Opera Man
1985 The Journey of Natty Gann Sol Gann
1987 RoboCop Leon Nash
1989 Season of Fear Fred Drummond
Race for Glory Jack Davis
1990 The Rift Robbins
1992 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me Leland Palmer
Bob Roberts Chet MacGregor
1993 Ghost Brigade Col. George Thalman Direct-to-video
Rising Sun Senator John Morton
1994 The Chase Dalton Voss
Body Shot Dwight Frye
The Crew Charles Pierce
1995 Powder Dr. Aaron Stripler
1998 Evasive Action Sheriff Wes Blaidek
1999 Pennyweight Mr. Pennyweight Short film
2000 Closing the Deal Ford Williams
2001 Almost Salinas Jack Tynan
Two Can Play That Game Bill Parker
2002 Landspeed Brian Sanger
Scream at the Sound of the Beep Brother Jake
2003 Dead End Frank Harrington
Jeepers Creepers 2 Jack Taggart Sr.
The Battle of Shaker Heights Harrison
2005 Sharkskin 6 Sam
The Rain Makers Harris
Good Night, and Good Luck Don Hollenbeck Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Cyxork 7 Kommander 88
2006 The Substance of Things Hoped For Dr. Lessing
Peaceful Warrior Doctor Hayden
2007 The Election Peter Short film
The Flock Bobby Stiles
Hellholes Professor Klume Short film
Superman: Doomsday Perry White Voice
Direct-to-DVD
2008 Reservations Mitch
One Missed Call Ted Summers
AM1200 Harry Jones Short film
AmericanEast Agent Stevens
2009 Pandemic General Matthews
Infestation Ethan
Stuntmen Jack Strongbow
Iodine Avery
Love at First Hiccup Roger
2010 Darnell Dawkins: Mouth Guitar Legend Wade Dawkins
2011 Black Velvet Black Velvet
X-Men: First Class Secretary of State
Chillerama Dr. Weems Segment: "Wadzilla"
Rosewood Lane Det. Danny Briggs
2012 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie Dr. Doone Struts
Excision Principal Campbell
The Aggression Scale Bellavance
Crazy Eyes Zach's Father
FDR: American Badass! Douglas MacArthur
The Butterfly Room Nick
Atlas Shrugged: Part II Head of State Thompson
Brother White Pastor Johnny Kingman
Posey Dr. Shap Short film
2013 Wrong Cops Captain Andy
Inventing Adam J.B.
Big Ass Spider! Major Braxton C. Tanner
Revelation Road: Beginning of the End Frank
Lionhead Jimmy
Revelation Road 2: The Sea of Glass and Fire Frank
Out West Phillip Alcott
Brother's Keeper Herbert Leemaster
No God, No Master A. Mitchell Palmer
2014 Away from Here Paul
Suburban Gothic Donald
Land of Leopold Deece Warren
Digging Up the Marrow William Dekker
Dead Still Wenton Davis
Guardian Angel Attorney Kaufman
Reflections Grandpa Short film
2015 Jurassic City Warden Lewis
The Lazarus Effect Mr. Wallace
Night of the Living Deb Frank Waverly
Taking Flight Nono Voice
Short film
The Breakup Girl Bob Baker
The Specialist The Specialist Short film
Unnatural Victor Clobirch
2016 Halloweed Judge Pilmington
God's Not Dead 2 Peter Kane
The Bronx Bull Father Joseph
Batman: The Killing Joke Commissioner Gordon Voice
Star Trek: Captain Pike Admiral Joshua Pike
2017 Shattered Forest Burnett
2019 Tone-Deaf Michael
Chain Of Death Michael
Unholy 'Mole The Devil Short
To Your Last Death Cyrus DeKalb Voice
Big Fan Begins Ticket Man Short
2020 Beast Mode Trammel Steadfast
2021 King Knight Merlin
2023 Poolman Van Patterson Post-production
TBA The Blue Rose Mr. Vallens Post-production

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1970–1976 Love of Life Jamie Rawlins #2
1978 Charlie's Angels Evan Wilcox Episode: "Winning Is for Losers"
Barnaby Jones Malcolm Elliot Episode: "Stages of Fear"
Tartuffe Damis Television film
1981 Lou Grant Bart Franklin Episode: "Strike"
Madame X Bellman Uncredited
Television film
1982 Dallas Blair Sullivan 8 episodes
1982–1983 Days of Our Lives Hal Rummley
1983 The Mississippi Cole Episode: "Joey"
1984 T. J. Hooker Harrison Mackenzie Episode: "Hot Property"
Blue Thunder J.D. Kraft Episode: "Payload"
Emerald Point N.A.S. Travis 2 episodes
Hart to Hart Dick Braddon Episode: "Larsen's Last Jump"
Trapper John, M.D. Dr. Henry Speiner Episode: "Aunt Mildred Is Watching"
Riptide Les Carter Episode: "Beat the Box"
Remington Steele Schwimmer Episode: "A Pocketful of Steele"
1985 The A-Team Phillip Chadway Episode: "Lease with an Option to Die"
1986 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Frank Duran Episode: "The Pharaoh's Engineer"
Airwolf Victor Resnick Episode: "Hawke's Run"
Stingray Dr. John Whitaker Episode: "Ether"
The Colbys Spiro Koralis 5 episodes
Hunter Alex Parker Episode: "Crime of Passion"
Condor Christopher Proctor Television film
1987 Beauty and the Beast Tom Episode: "Once Upon a Time"
Private Eye Senator McNeill Episode: "Blue Movie"
1988 Knots Landing The Dealer 5 episodes
L.A. Law Walter Platt 2 episodes
The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story Phil Maresca Television film
1989 Moonlighting Murderer Episode: "Eine Kleine Nacht Murder"
Star Trek: The Next Generation Liko Episode: "Who Watches the Watchers"
Jake and the Fatman Harry McGinn Episode: "Dancing in the Dark"
1990–1991 Twin Peaks Leland Palmer 18 episodes
1992 Swamp Thing Guthrie Episode: "Never Alone"
1993 The Secrets of Lake Success Henry Fleming 3 episodes
1993–1994 Second Chances Judge Jim Stinson 6 episodes
1994 Walker, Texas Ranger Garrett Carlson Episode: "Stolen Lullaby"
The Larry Sanders Show Lloyd Simon Episode: "You're Having My Baby"
1995 Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story Mike Todd Television film
Dream On Maddox March Episode: "Significant Author"
Courthouse Congressman Laderman Episode: "One Flew Over the Courthouse"
1996–1997 Savannah Edward Burton 34 episodes
1998 The Wonderful World of Disney Randolph Pratt Episode: "The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon"
Star Trek: Voyager Arturis Episode: "Hope and Fear"
1997–1998 Sleepwalkers McCaig 2 episodes
1998 Beverly Hills, 90210 Daniel Hunter 2 episodes
Vengeance Unlimited Jack Schiller Episode: "Cruel and Unusual"
Sports Night Evans Episode: "Mary Pat Shelby"
1999 Diagnosis: Murder John Parkinson Episode: "The Flame"
2000 Profiler James Perrone Episode: "Quid Pro Quo"
Popular Barton Episode: "What Makes Sammy Run"
2000–2001 Resurrection Blvd. Jack Mornay 12 episodes
2001 V.I.P. Judge Kreiger Episode: "Bodyguards"
RoboCop: Prime Directives Leon C. Nash (archive footage, uncredited) Episode: "Resurrection"
Judging Amy Atty. Rhodes Episode: "The Last Word"
Dead Last Robert Cahill Episode: "Jane's Exit"
2002 Charmed Ludlow Episode: "Lost and Bound"
She Spies Ambassador Blaine Episode: "Daddy's Girl"
Presidio Med Episode: "Milagros"
2003 Dawson's Creek Roger Stepavich Episode: "All the Right Moves"
2004 JAG Congressman Marvin Bolton Episode: "Retrial"
2005 The West Wing Governor Tillman D-CA Episode: "La Palabra"
2006 24 Vice President Hal Gardner 6 episodes
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Ernest Chase Episode: "Rashomama"
The Closer Tom Blanchard Episodes: "Out of Focus," "The Other Woman"
Bones Rick Turco Episode: "The Titan on the Tracks"
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Roger Hanley Episode: "Loophole"
Shark Lloyd Holcomb Episode: "Starlet Fever"
Six Degrees Henry Crane Episode: "Sedgewick's"
Burn Notice Mr. Pyne Episode: "Pilot"
2007–2009 Reaper The Devil 31 episodes
2008 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Grill Vogel 2 episodes
2009 Numb3rs Mitch Langford Episode: "Guilt Trip"
Drop Dead Diva Frank Dodd Episode: "What If?"
Dollhouse Howard Lipman Episode: "The Left Hand"
2009–2010
2014
Psych Father Peter Westley / Judge Horace Leland 3 episodes
2010 Castle Bobby Fox Episode: "Suicide Squeeze"
Suitemates Hans Ahnnansoahnn 2 episodes
The Good Guys Buddy Episode: "Common Enemies"
2010–2015 Mad Men Ed Baxter 5 episodes
2011 Hawaii Five-0 Morris Brown Episode: "Powa Maka Moana"
Mr. Sunshine Macaulay Episode: "Heather's Sister"
Chuck Riley 3 episodes
Wilfred Colt St. Cloud Episode: "Identity"
Workaholics Kyle Walsh Episode: "Model Kombat"
Easy to Assemble Hendrik 3 episodes
90210 Dean Thomas Episode: "It's the Great Masquerade, Naomi Clark"
2011–2014 How I Met Your Mother Robin Scherbatsky Sr. 6 episodes
2012 Battleground D-Day / Tak's Father 2 episodes
NCIS Wayne Tobett Episode: "Secrets"
Holliston Landlord Episode: "Camera Rental: Part 1"
The Mentalist Dennis Victor Episode: "Red Rover, Red Rover"
Rizzoli & Isles Judge Eugene Allen Episode: "Crazy for You"
Criminal Minds John Nelson Episode: "God Complex"
2013 Body of Proof Michael Davis Episode: "Mob Mentality"
Perception Martin Sullivan Episode: "Toxic"
Twisted Tales Mongo the Magnificent Episode: "Mongo's Magik Mirror"
High School USA! Seymour Barren / Cassandra's Dad Voices
3 episodes
2013–2014 Kroll Show Network Executive / Wendy's Father 3 episodes
2013–2015 Newsreaders Skip Reming 19 episodes
2014 Farmed and Dangerous Buck Marshall 4 episodes
Deadbeat Mayor Meyer Episode: "Sixty Feet Under"
Hit the Floor Episode: "Winner Takes All"
2014–2016 The Young and the Restless Ian Ward 56 episodes
2015–2016 Agent Carter Hugh Jones 4 episodes
2015–2020 Fresh Off the Boat Marvin 73 episodes
2016 Relationship Status Grace's Dad Episode: "The Catch"
All the Way Senator Everett Dirksen Television film
Comedy Bang! Bang! Psychologist / Dr. Frankenstein 2 episodes
Adam Ruins Everything Netflix Executive Episode: "Adam Ruins Hollywood"
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Jack Smith 3 episodes
Hitting The Breaks Theodore 'Teddy' Montclair 2 episodes
2017 Fargo Paul Marrane 2 episodes
Idiotsitter Himself Episode: "Rush, Rush"
Twin Peaks Leland Palmer 2 episodes
Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories The Duke Episode: "The Duke"
2017–2018 Neo Yokio Old Man Voice
2 episodes
2019 Hot Streets Plunch Runch Voice
Episode: "The Moon Masters"
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Enoch Episode: "Chapter Sixteen: Blackwood"
2021 All Rise Richard Walker Episode: "Georgia"
Launchpad Headmaster Gustafson Episode: "Dinner Is Served"
Physical Sheila's Father Episode: "Let's Not and Say We Did"
Home Economics Frank Episode: "49ers Foam Finger, $7"
Psych 3: This Is Gus Father Peter Westley Television film

Video game[edit]

Year Title Role
2000 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 President Michael Dugan
2001 Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge President Michael Dugan

Web series[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2018 10 Candles Kolob Council Member Episode: "The Town: Finale"
2019 Kollok 1991 Video narrator Intro sequence

Audio[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2021 Batman: The Audio Adventures Announcer Podcast

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Ray Wise Biography - Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2013.
  2. ^ R.J. Carter. "Interview: Ray Wise: The Devil You Know". The Trades. Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  3. ^ Tim Holland (October 9, 2007). "Reaper's Ray Wise Channels the Devil Next Door". TV Guide. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
  4. ^ Michael Logan (January 6, 2014). "Fan Fave Baddie Ray Wise Previews His Role on The Young and the Restless". TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  5. ^ Adam Bryant (September 16, 2009). "Ray Wise Joins Dollhouse". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 16, 2009.
  6. ^ "Ray Wise Set to Destroy Kyle Rankin's Nuclear Family". Dread Central. August 11, 2012.
  7. ^ "Mike Mendez Goes 'Ov3rk!ll' With Bloody Sales Trailer!". Bloody Disgusting. July 16, 2010.
  8. ^ "Digging up the Marrow". Dread Central. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
  9. ^ "God's Not Dead 2: Cast & Crew". God's Not Dead 2. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  10. ^ White, Brett (March 14, 2016). "EXCLUSIVE: Kevin Conroy & Mark Hamill Star In Animated "Batman: The Killing Joke"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.

Further reading[edit]

  • Voisin, Scott, "Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting." BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.

External links[edit]