Spencer Milligan
Encyclopedia
Spencer Milligan is an American actor best known for playing Rick Marshall, the father of Will and Holly Marshall, on the first two seasons of the 1970s children science fiction
TV series, Land of the Lost
. The fictional Marshalls were an American family who found themselves transported to a mysterious realm overrun with dinosaurs and other exotic, fearsome creatures. The show was the creation of Sid and Marty Krofft
and has since become a cult classic
. It is now available on DVD
.
, the 70-year-old Milligan elaborated: On the show, Milligan's character Rick Marshall was replaced by his brother, Jack Marshall, played by actor Ron Harper
. Contrary to popular belief, Milligan did not return for a brief scene, shot in the credits of the third season, showing Rick Marshall being transported out of the Land of the Lost. One of the show's crew played the role instead, wearing a wig resembling Milligan's hair and standing with his back to the camera.
Although Spencer Milligan made various guest-starring roles on TV in the 1970s, his career cooled in the 1980s, with his last credited role being in 1987. He settled in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area in the 1990s, where he taught acting at Adam Roarke
's Film Actors Lab (where Lou Diamond Phillips
studied). One of Milligan's students was actor Benton Jennings
. Milligan eventually moved back to his family's home in Wisconsin
. His last known acting performance was in 1987, when he appeared on General Hospital
.
In addition to teaching acting, Milligan has directed local plays. He told the Associated Press that he never watches the show that made him famous.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
TV series, Land of the Lost
Land of the Lost (1974 TV series)
Land of the Lost is a children's television series co-created and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. During its original run, it was broadcast on the NBC television network....
. The fictional Marshalls were an American family who found themselves transported to a mysterious realm overrun with dinosaurs and other exotic, fearsome creatures. The show was the creation of Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid and Marty Krofft
Sid Krofft and Marty Krofft , are a sibling team of television producers who were influential in children's television and variety show programs in the USA, particularly throughout the 1970s and early 1980s....
and has since become a cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
. It is now available on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
.
Acting career
Milligan left the show after the second season. It was widely believed by fans that he left because of a "salary dispute." In fact, Milligan wanted his share of merchandising royalties that the show generated. In an interview with the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, the 70-year-old Milligan elaborated: On the show, Milligan's character Rick Marshall was replaced by his brother, Jack Marshall, played by actor Ron Harper
Ron Harper (actor)
Ronald Robert "Ron" Harper is an American television and film actor.- Biography :Harper was born in Turtle Creek in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Mabel Grace Champion and George Harper...
. Contrary to popular belief, Milligan did not return for a brief scene, shot in the credits of the third season, showing Rick Marshall being transported out of the Land of the Lost. One of the show's crew played the role instead, wearing a wig resembling Milligan's hair and standing with his back to the camera.
Although Spencer Milligan made various guest-starring roles on TV in the 1970s, his career cooled in the 1980s, with his last credited role being in 1987. He settled in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area in the 1990s, where he taught acting at Adam Roarke
Adam Roarke
Adam Roarke was an American actor and film director.Roarke was born Richard Jordan Gerler in Brooklyn, New York, where he was a street gang member during his youth...
's Film Actors Lab (where Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips
Lou Diamond Phillips is an American film, television, and stage actor and director. His breakthrough came when he starred in the film La Bamba. He earned a supporting actor Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Stand and Deliver and a Tony Award nomination for his role in The King and I...
studied). One of Milligan's students was actor Benton Jennings
Benton Jennings
Benton Jennings is an American film, television, and stage actor, based in Los Angeles, CA.- Career :He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas with a BFA in Theatre Arts, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art , and The Film Actors Lab in Dallas, Texas studying under Adam...
. Milligan eventually moved back to his family's home in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. His last known acting performance was in 1987, when he appeared on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
.
In addition to teaching acting, Milligan has directed local plays. He told the Associated Press that he never watches the show that made him famous.
Partial filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Sleeper Sleeper A sleeper is a person who is sleeping. It may also refer to:-Music:* Sleeper , a Britpop band in the 1990s* The Sleepers , a punk/post-punk band active from 1978 until 1981... |
Jeb Hrmthmg | |
| 1974 | Land of the Lost Land of the Lost Land of the Lost may refer to:* Land of the Lost , the original 1974 children's television series* Land of the Lost , the 1991 remake of the 1974 series... |
Rick Marshall | TV |
| 1975 | The Man From Clover Grove | Fester McLong | |
| The Photographer The Photographer The Photographer is a chamber opera by composer Philip Glass that is based on the homicide trial of photographer Eadweard Muybridge. The opera is based on words drawn from the trial as well as Muybridge's letters to his wife... |
|||
| 1976 | The Keegans | Pat Keegan | TV |
| 1979 | Quincy M.E. | Cliff Hanna | TV Episodes: "Walk Softly Through the Night" parts 1 & 2 |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Haskell | TV |
| 1981 | Terror Among Us Terror Among Us Terror Among Us is a 1981 made-for-TV movie directed by Paul Krasny. It first aired January 12, 1981.-Plot:A police sergeant and a parole officer endeavor to stop a rapist-on-parole before he can follow through his threats on five women who testifed against him years earlier.-Cast :*Don Meredith -... |
Alex | TV |
| 1987 | You Ruined My Life You Ruined My Life -Plot:It is about 11-year-old Minerva played by Soleil Moon Frye, a girl who lives in a Las Vegas casino with her Uncle Howie played by Allen Garfield. Her uncle spoils her by giving her everything she wants. Minerva gets into trouble and her strict Aunt Hermione played by Edith Fields threatens to... |
Detective | TV |
| General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
Ray Gibbons | TV |