Richard Burgi
Encyclopedia
Richard William Burgi is an American film
and television
actor. He's best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel
and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives
.
. His family was involved in community theatre. His brother Chuck Burgi
was a drummer for Billy Joel
. After high school, Burgi travelled through the US and Europe, taking odd jobs.
Burgi married Lori Kahn on November 25, 1995. They have two sons, Jack and Samuel, that live in Laguna Beach, California. Jack
was born December 8, 1996, and Samuel (Sam) was born August 15, 1998.
, Another World
and As The World Turns
. After moving to Los Angeles, he starred on another soap opera, Days of our Lives
. He later received a role on Viper
after a string of guest appearances on television shows, including a television film debut in Chameleons in 1989. His first lead role was in the 1994 television series One West Waikiki
.
Burgi was cast as the lead in the series The Sentinel
, which was cancelled after three seasons, leaving key plot issues unresolved; an intense fan campaign convinced the network to film an additional half-season worth of episodes to end the series properly. He later received recurring roles on The District
, 24
and Judging Amy
as well as bit parts in other television series and films. In the 1998 made-for-TV remake of the movie I Married a Monster, Burgi starred as Nick Farrell (the monster).
Since 2004, Burgi has appeared on Desperate Housewives
playing Karl Mayer, soon promoted to a regular cast member in season two. He also starred in the big screen thriller Cellular
in 2004 as well as a remake
of Fun with Dick and Jane
and chick flick In Her Shoes as Toni Colette's love interest in 2005. In 2007, Burgi was cast in the horror film Hostel: Part II. Also, in 2009, he played the police officer in Friday the 13th
.
Burgi also guest stars as Thomas Wellington in CBS's Harper's Island (2009)
In 2010, Burgi guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
.
In 2011, Burgi was cast in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland
.
In 2011 it was announced that he would play Karl Parker In My Family USA which premiers on September 26th 2011
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actor. He's best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel
The Sentinel (TV series)
The Sentinel is a Canadian-produced television series that aired on UPN in the United States from 1996 to 1999. It premiered on March 20, 1996, and ran for 65 episodes . The series later reaired on Syfy.-Plot and characters:...
and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
.
Personal life
Burgi was born in the suburbs of Montclair, New JerseyMontclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
. His family was involved in community theatre. His brother Chuck Burgi
Chuck Burgi
Chuck Burgi is an American drummer and session musician. Born in Montclair, New Jersey, he is the brother of actor Richard Burgi....
was a drummer for Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
. After high school, Burgi travelled through the US and Europe, taking odd jobs.
Burgi married Lori Kahn on November 25, 1995. They have two sons, Jack and Samuel, that live in Laguna Beach, California. Jack
was born December 8, 1996, and Samuel (Sam) was born August 15, 1998.
Career
Burgi began his career in New York which led to regular roles on the Manhattan-based daytime soap operas One Life to LiveOne Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
, Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
and As The World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
. After moving to Los Angeles, he starred on another soap opera, Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. He later received a role on Viper
Viper (TV series)
Viper is an action-adventure TV series about a special task force set up by the federal government to fight crime in the fictional city of Metro City, California that is perpetually under siege from one crime wave after another. The weapon used by this task force is an assault vehicle that...
after a string of guest appearances on television shows, including a television film debut in Chameleons in 1989. His first lead role was in the 1994 television series One West Waikiki
One West Waikiki
One West Waikiki is an American crime/drama TV show set in Hawaii which ran from 1994-1996. It starred Cheryl Ladd, Richard Burgi and Kayla Blake and was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy in 1995.-Plot summary:...
.
Burgi was cast as the lead in the series The Sentinel
The Sentinel (TV series)
The Sentinel is a Canadian-produced television series that aired on UPN in the United States from 1996 to 1999. It premiered on March 20, 1996, and ran for 65 episodes . The series later reaired on Syfy.-Plot and characters:...
, which was cancelled after three seasons, leaving key plot issues unresolved; an intense fan campaign convinced the network to film an additional half-season worth of episodes to end the series properly. He later received recurring roles on The District
The District
The District is a television police drama which aired on CBS from October 7, 2000 to May 1, 2004. The show followed the work and personal life of the chief of Washington, D.C.'s Police Department .-Premise:...
, 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
and Judging Amy
Judging Amy
Judging Amy is an American television drama that was telecast from September 19, 1999, through May 3, 2005, on CBS-TV. This TV series starred Amy Brenneman and Tyne Daly...
as well as bit parts in other television series and films. In the 1998 made-for-TV remake of the movie I Married a Monster, Burgi starred as Nick Farrell (the monster).
Since 2004, Burgi has appeared on Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
playing Karl Mayer, soon promoted to a regular cast member in season two. He also starred in the big screen thriller Cellular
Cellular (film)
Cellular is a 2004 thriller film directed by David R. Ellis and starring Kim Basinger, Chris Evans, Jason Statham and William H. Macy. The screenplay was written by Chris Morgan, Larry Cohen and J...
in 2004 as well as a remake
Fun with Dick and Jane (2005 film)
Fun with Dick and Jane is a 2005 remake of the 1977 American comedy film of the same name, directed by Dean Parisot and written by Judd Apatow and Nicholas Stoller. It stars Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni as Dick and Jane Harper, an upper-middle-class couple who resort to robbery after the company for...
of Fun with Dick and Jane
Fun with Dick and Jane (1977 film)
Fun with Dick and Jane is a 1977 American film starring George Segal and Jane Fonda as an upper-middle-class couple who lose their jobs, fall through the cracks of society in the United States and then become high-class thieves to get back all they lost. The comedy was directed by Ted Kotcheff and...
and chick flick In Her Shoes as Toni Colette's love interest in 2005. In 2007, Burgi was cast in the horror film Hostel: Part II. Also, in 2009, he played the police officer in Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th (2009 film)
Friday the 13th is a 2009 American slasher film directed by Marcus Nispel and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. It is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series, which began in 1980 and the twelfth Friday the 13th film in total...
.
Burgi also guest stars as Thomas Wellington in CBS's Harper's Island (2009)
In 2010, Burgi guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced...
.
In 2011, Burgi was cast in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland
Hot in Cleveland
Hot in Cleveland is an American sitcom on TV Land starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick and Betty White. The series, which is TV Land's first original scripted series, premiered on June 16, 2010, and was TV Land's highest rated telecast in the cable network's 14-year history. The...
.
In 2011 it was announced that he would play Karl Parker In My Family USA which premiers on September 26th 2011
Filmography
- Desperate HousewivesDesperate HousewivesDesperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
- Karl Mayer (recurring character) - Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the FederationStarship Troopers 2: Hero of the FederationStarship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation is the 2004 direct-to-video sequel to the 1997 feature film Starship Troopers. It had a $7 million budget as opposed to the $105 million of the original. Even though the film received only a direct-to-video released in the United States, it was granted a...
- Capt. V.J. Dax - In Her Shoes - Jim Danvers
- HostelHostelHostels provide budget oriented, sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, lounge and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms may also be available...
- DecoysDecoys (film)Decoys is a 2003 science fiction and horror film directed and co-written by Matthew Hastings, and written by Tom Berry. The cast included Kim Poirier and Nicole Eggert. It was filmed in Ottawa, Ontario and originally broadcast on the Sci Fi Channel. A sequel, Decoys 2: Alien Seduction, was released...
as Detective Francis Kirk - ViperViper (TV series)Viper is an action-adventure TV series about a special task force set up by the federal government to fight crime in the fictional city of Metro City, California that is perpetually under siege from one crime wave after another. The weapon used by this task force is an assault vehicle that...
- Lane Cassidy - One West WaikikiOne West WaikikiOne West Waikiki is an American crime/drama TV show set in Hawaii which ran from 1994-1996. It starred Cheryl Ladd, Richard Burgi and Kayla Blake and was nominated for a Prime Time Emmy in 1995.-Plot summary:...
- Detective Mack Wolfe - Harper's Island - Thomas Wellington
- ChuckChuck (TV series)Chuck is an action-comedy/spy-drama television program from the United States created by Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak. The series is about an "average computer-whiz-next-door" named Chuck, played by Zachary Levi, who receives an encoded e-mail from an old college friend now working for the Central...
- Clyde Decker - Wheelmen - Nick (Limo Driver)