Robert Urich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Urich
Urich in 1973
Born	Robert Michael Urich (1946-12-19)December 19, 1946 Toronto, Ohio, U.S.
Died	April 16, 2002(2002-04-16) (aged 55) Thousand Oaks, California, U.S.
Resting place	Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Other names	Robert York
Alma mater	Florida State University Michigan State University
Occupation	Actor, producer
Years active	1972–2002
Spouse(s)	Barbara Rucker ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1974)​ Heather Menzies ​ (m. 1975)​
Children	3

Robert Michael Urich (born December 19, 1946 – died April 16, 2002) was an American actor and producer. He worked in movies, TV shows, and on stage. During his 30-year career, he was the main star in 15 different TV series, which was a record!

Urich started his acting career in the early 1970s. After appearing in a few TV shows, he got a big role in the action series S.W.A.T. in 1975. In 1978, he became famous for playing Dan Tanna in the crime drama Vega$. This show aired on ABC until 1981. His role in Vega$ earned him two nominations for the Golden Globe Award.

Besides TV, Urich also acted in movies like Magnum Force (1973), The Ice Pirates (1984), and Turk 182 (1985). From 1985 to 1988, he played the main character in the detective TV series Spenser: For Hire. This show was based on the popular mystery novels by Robert B. Parker. In 1988, he started hosting the documentary series National Geographic Explorer. He won an award for his work on this show. He also received a special award for his roles in Western TV shows and movies.

In 1996, Urich starred in The Lazarus Man. This show was canceled soon after he shared that he had been diagnosed with synovial sarcoma. This is a rare type of cancer. He continued to work while getting treatment. He also helped raise money for cancer research. In 1998, he was declared cancer-free. He then returned to TV in the series Love Boat: The Next Wave. In 2000, he performed on Broadway for the first time in the musical Chicago. His last role was in the TV show Emeril in 2001. Sadly, his cancer returned later that year, and he passed away in April 2002 at age 55.

Early Life and Education

Urich was born and grew up in Toronto, Ohio. His parents were John Paul and Cecilia Monica Urich. His family had roots from Rusyn and Slovak backgrounds. He was raised in the Byzantine Catholic and Roman Catholic faiths.

Urich was a great athlete in high school. He went to Florida State University on a football scholarship. He played as a backup center for the football team in 1965–66. In 1968, he earned a bachelor's degree in Radio and Television Communications. He then went to Michigan State University. There, he earned a master's degree in Broadcast Research and Management. After college, Urich worked as a salesman for a TV station in Chicago. He also worked as a weatherman.

Acting Career Highlights

After acting in a play called The Rainmaker in Chicago, Urich decided to become a full-time actor. The famous actor Burt Reynolds encouraged him to move to Los Angeles and pursue acting.

Starting in the 1970s

Urich, Maureen Reagan, and Jack Hogan in 1974

Urich first appeared on TV in 1972 in The F.B.I.. The next year, he got a main role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. This TV show was based on a 1969 movie. However, it was canceled after only six episodes. Later that year, he made his movie debut. He acted alongside Clint Eastwood in the film Magnum Force. He played a police officer on a motorcycle.

In 1975, Urich was cast in the action series S.W.A.T.. The show's producer, Aaron Spelling, was impressed with Urich's audition. He cast Urich as "Officer Jim Street." The show was very popular at first. But it was canceled in 1976 because it was seen as too violent.

Urich then appeared in the sitcom Soap in 1977. He played Peter the Tennis Player. That same year, he joined Tabitha, a spin-off of Bewitched. Its ratings dropped, and it was canceled in 1978. Soon after, he got another role in an Aaron Spelling show, Vega$. Urich played Dan Tanna, a private detective in Las Vegas. Vega$ was a big hit for ABC. Urich was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for his role. The show was canceled in 1981 after three seasons.

After Vega$, Urich signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to focus on movies. His first movie for MGM was Endangered Species (1982).

Work in the 1980s

Urich returned to TV in Gavilan. He played a former CIA agent who became an oceanographer. This series was canceled after seven episodes. In 1984, he starred in two more films: The Ice Pirates and Invitation to Hell. In 1985, Urich was in the movie Turk 182.

In 1985, Urich went back to TV as the main character in Spenser: For Hire. This show was very popular and ran for three seasons. He also played Spenser in several TV movies after the show ended. These included Spenser: Ceremony (1993) and Spenser: A Savage Place (1995). In 1988, he hosted National Geographic Explorer. He won an award for his hosting. In 1989, he played Jake Spoon in the famous TV miniseries Lonesome Dove. He received many good reviews for this role.

1990s and 2000s Roles

In the 1990s, Urich mostly appeared in TV movies and a few short-lived TV series. From 1990 to 1991, he starred in the sitcom American Dreamer. He also appeared in the TV movie 83 Hours 'Til Dawn. The next year, he was in Crossroads, a drama series. In 1993, he and Faye Dunaway starred in the sitcom It Had to Be You. This show was not well-liked and was canceled quickly.

In 1996, he starred in the western series The Lazarus Man. The show was doing well and was set for a second season. However, it was canceled after Urich announced his cancer diagnosis. He later sued the production company, and they settled the case.

While getting cancer treatments, Urich hosted the medical show Vital Signs in 1997. He also hosted the PBS series Boatworks. After a year of treatment, he was declared cancer-free. In 1998, he returned to TV as Captain Jim Kennedy III in Love Boat: The Next Wave. This show aired for two seasons. In 2000, he made his Broadway debut in the musical Chicago. He also toured with the musical in 1999 and 2000. The next year, he was in Emeril, a sitcom with chef Emeril Lagasse. This was his last TV series role. Urich's final TV movie, Night of the Wolf, aired the day before he passed away.

Personal Life and Family

Urich's first marriage was to actress Barbara Rucker in 1968. They divorced in 1974. In 1975, he married actress Heather Menzies (1949–2017). They adopted three children: Ryan, Emily, and Allison. They stayed married until his death in 2002.

Illness and Legacy

In July 1996, Urich shared that he had been diagnosed with synovial sarcoma. This is a rare type of cancer that affects soft tissues in the body. He kept working while getting treatment. He also became a strong supporter for finding a cure for cancer. He won awards for his work in raising cancer awareness.

He and Heather Menzies-Urich started the Urich Fund. This fund raises money for cancer research at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also donated $125,000 that he won on the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. In 1998, he was declared cancer-free. That same year, he became the national spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.

In November 2001, Urich said that doctors had found new lumps in his body. The week before he died, he was in the hospital for breathing problems. He passed away on April 16, 2002, at age 55. His funeral was held on April 19 in North Hollywood. He was cremated, and his ashes were buried in Canada.

Before he died, Urich and his wife helped raise money for a performing arts center in Utah. After his death, a scholarship fund was created in his honor at the school. They also set up a fund for sarcoma research at the University of Michigan. Heather Menzies-Urich continued to work for the center. She passed away from brain cancer in 2017.

Urich's hometown of Toronto, Ohio, named a road interchange after him. It connects the town to Ohio State Route 7. For his contributions to TV, Urich has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 7083 Hollywood Blvd.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Robert Urich para niños