Richard Jordan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Jordan
Jordan in 1981
Born	Robert Anson Jordan Jr. (1937-07-19)July 19, 1937 New York City, U.S.
Died	August 30, 1993(1993-08-30) (aged 56) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1961–1993
Spouse(s)	Kathleen Widdoes ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1972)​
Partner(s)	Blair Brown (1976–1985) Marcia Cross (1985–1993; his death)
Children	2
Relatives	Learned Hand (grandfather) Newbold Morris (stepfather)

Richard Jordan (born Robert Anson Jordan Jr., July 19, 1937 – August 30, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his roles in many movies and plays. Richard Jordan was a long-time member of the New York Shakespeare Festival. He acted in many plays both Off Broadway and on Broadway.

His famous films include Logan's Run, Les Misérables, Dune, and The Hunt for Red October. He also starred in Gettysburg.

Early Life and Education

Richard Jordan was born in New York City. His father was Robert Anson Jordan Sr. from Boston. His mother was Constance Hand from New York. His grandfather was Learned Hand, a very respected judge in the United States.

When Richard was five years old, his parents divorced. His mother later married Newbold Morris. He was the president of the New York City Council. The wedding was held at Gracie Mansion.

Jordan went to the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. After graduating from Harvard University in 1958, he studied acting. He went to the Universite du Theatre des Nations in Paris.

Acting Career

Jordan chose the stage name Richard to avoid confusion. There was another actor named Robert Jordan. But his friends still called him Bob.

Early Acting Roles

In 1961, Jordan started acting on Broadway. He appeared in Take Her, She's Mine. He also began working in television. He was in shows like The Defenders and Naked City.

He performed in Shakespeare's plays. He worked with Joseph Papp's Public Theater. Some plays he was in were The Tempest and The Merchant of Venice. In 1966, he returned to Broadway in the play Generation.

Film and TV Success

Jordan made his first film in 1970. It was called Lawman. He also appeared with Burt Lancaster in Valdez Is Coming. He acted alongside Robert Mitchum twice. He was in The Friends of Eddie Coyle and The Yakuza.

He often played bad guys or complex characters. These roles were in films like Rooster Cogburn and Logan's Run. He also appeared in the drama Interiors, directed by Woody Allen. In Old Boyfriends (1979), he played the father of his real-life daughter, Nina.

Jordan continued to act on stage. He joined the L.A. Actors' Theatre. He also wrote and directed plays. In 1976, he won a Golden Globe award. This was for his role in the TV miniseries Captains and the Kings. He played Joseph Armagh, an Irish immigrant.

Later Roles and Awards

In the 1980s, Jordan acted in many movies. These included Raise the Titanic (1980) and Dune (1984). He also starred in The Secret of My Success (1987).

He played Albert Speer in the TV movie The Bunker (1981). He took over the lead role in The Equalizer TV series. This was while the main star was recovering from a heart attack.

On stage, Jordan won an Obie award. This was for his role in A Private View (1983). He also won an L.A. Drama Critics' Award for directing Largo Desolato (1987). Both plays were by Czech writer Václav Havel. In 1989, he played Father Rutilio Grande in the film Romero.

In 1990, Jordan directed a play called Macbeth. He played Jeffrey Pelt in The Hunt for Red October. He also appeared in the TV show Tales from the Crypt. His last film was Gettysburg (1993). He played General Lewis Addison Armistead. The film was dedicated to Jordan and the author of the book it was based on.

Personal Life

Richard Jordan had two children. His daughter, Nina Jordan, was born in 1964. Her mother was actress Kathleen Widdoes. Nina played his daughter in the film Old Boyfriends. His son, Robert Anson Jordan III, was born in 1982. His mother was actress Blair Brown. At the time of his death, Jordan was in a relationship with actress Marcia Cross.

Death

In 1993, Richard Jordan's health began to fail. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had to leave the film The Fugitive due to his illness. He passed away on August 30, 1993, at age 56. His daughter Nina and his companion Marcia Cross cared for him.

A memorial was held for Richard Jordan in Los Angeles. It was on October 8, 1993. This was the same day his last film, Gettysburg, was released.

Filmography