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Gregory Harrison

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Gregory Harrison
Harrison in Logan's Run, 1977
Born
Gregory Neale Harrison

(1950-05-31) May 31, 1950 (age 74)
Avalon, California, United States
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1973–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1980)​
Children4
Websitegregoryharrison.com

Gregory Neale Harrison (born May 31, 1950)[1] is an American actor. He is known primarily for his roles as Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates, the young surgeon assistant of Dr. Trapper John McIntyre (played by Pernell Roberts) on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D. (1979–86), and as ruthless business tycoon Michael Sharpe in the CBS series Falcon Crest (1989–1990). Since 2015, he has played Joe O'Toole, father of Oliver, in the Hallmark Channel expansion films of Signed, Sealed and Delivered. From 2020 to 2024, he assumed the role of Gregory Chase on General Hospital.

Early life and career

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Harrison was born in Avalon, California in 1950, the middle child of Ed Harrison, a ship's captain and poet, and Donna Lee Nagely, an aspiring dancer; they eventually divorced. He has an older sister, Kathleen (born 1948), and a younger brother, Christopher (born 1961)[citation needed]. He served for two years in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era as a medic.[2]

He portrayed the title character in the science fiction series Logan's Run (1977–78), after which he played Levi Zendt in the NBC miniseries Centennial (1978), based on James Michener's epic novel of the same name, which was first televised on NBC from October 1978 to February 1979.

He appeared on an episode of M*A*S*H before garnering fame in 1979 with the role of surgeon Dr. George "Gonzo" Gates on Trapper John, M.D., starring opposite Pernell Roberts. The medical drama was spun off from M*A*S*H.[3] Harrison remained as Gonzo on Trapper John until the middle of the show's seventh season, when he decided to leave for other ventures. The series continued for several more episodes without Harrison, but concluded its run at the end of the 1985–86 season.[citation needed]

Harrison's later role as stripper John Phillips in the 1981 TV movie For Ladies Only made him a favorite with women and gay men in the 1980s. He spoofed that role in the 1986 miniseries Fresno where his character appeared shirtless at every opportunity. Fresno was also a spoof of the prime-time series Falcon Crest, where Harrison became a regular three years later in the final season (1989–90).[4] As Falcon Crest ended production in early 1990, the series' parent studio, Lorimar Television, cast Harrison in its upcoming CBS sitcom The Family Man, from producers Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett. The series, which premiered that fall, featured Harrison as a single fireman father raising his four children with the help of his father-in-law, played by Al Molinaro. Despite a few attempts by CBS to help it build an audience, The Family Man was cancelled after one season.[citation needed]

He later joined the cast of NBC's Sisters for the 1994–1995 season, playing Daniel Albright. In 1996, he starred with Eric Roberts in It's My Party, a film based on the true story of a man in the end stages of AIDS who planned a party to say goodbye to friends and family.[citation needed]

He starred in the WB Network's Safe Harbor and One Tree Hill and has made guest appearances on other shows such as Touched by an Angel, Judging Amy, Rizzoli & Isles, Reunion, Joey, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Drop Dead Diva and Hot in Cleveland.

He played Billy Flynn in a touring production of Chicago, and he was the male lead in each film of the Au Pair trilogy. He also appeared as Benjamin Stone in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies and starred in the original Broadway production of Kander & Ebb's musical Steel Pier. In 2011, he had a guest-starring role as a doctor on ABC's Body of Proof. In 2020, he joined the cast of General Hospital.[5] He exited in 2024.[6]

Personal life

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Harrison has been married since December 21, 1980 to actress Randi Oakes, whom he met while competing on a 1979 edition of Battle of the Network Stars, with Harrison on the CBS team and Oakes on the NBC team.[7] Their marriage was kept secret from the public for several years.[8][9] The couple have four children, Emma Lee (born 1985), Lily Anne (born 1989), and Kate (born 1991).[10] The couple also adopted a son, Quinn Edgar. The couple originally lived together in Sherman Oaks, California,[11] but since the early 1990s, the family has lived in Southern Oregon; first in Gold Beach, Oregon for 15 years, then Eugene, Oregon.[12][13] [14] [15] [16]

Harrison became addicted to cocaine during the 1980s, and he broke the addiction with the help of the Betty Ford Center.[17]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Harrad Experiment Student
1976 Jim the World's Greatest Jim Nolan
1977 Fraternity Row Zac Sterling
1984 Razorback Carl Winters
1987 North Shore Chandler
1992 Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger Dan
1993 Cadillac Girls Sam
1995 Hard Evidence Trent Turner
1996 It's My Party Brandon Theis
1998 Air Bud: Golden Receiver Dr. Patrick Sullivan Alternative title: Air Bud 2
2000 Canone Inverso - Making Love Jeno Piccolo Alternative title: The Inverse Canon
2009 Love N' Dancing Uncle Carl
Give 'Em Hell, Malone Whitmore
2014 The M Word Mack Riley
2016 Fair Haven Dr. Gallagher
2020 The Vanished Dr. Bradley Alternative title: Hour of Lead
Television films
Year Title Role Notes
1975 Trilogy of Terror Arthur Moore Segment: "Julie"
1977 The Gathering Bud Jr.
1979 The Best Place to Be Rick Jawlosky
1980 The Women's Room Ben Volper
Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Captain Bob Lewis
1981 For Ladies Only John Phillips
1983 The Fighter Merle Banks
The Hasty Heart Sgt. Lachlen McLachlen
1985 Seduced Mike Riordan
1986 Oceans of Fire Ben Laforche
Picnic Hal Carter
1988 Hot Paint Willie
Red River Cherry Valance Co-Producer
1990 Dangerous Pursuit Political Assassin
Angel of Death Gary Nicholson
1991 Bare Essentials William "Bill" Buzell
1992 Breaking the Silence Paul Danner
Duplicates Bob Boxletter
Split Images Robbie Daniels
1993 Caught in the Act Scott McNally
A Family Torn Apart Tom Kelley Alternative title: Sudden Fury
1994 Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg Bruce Kellogg
Mortal Fear Philip Montgomery
A Christmas Romance Brian Harding
1995 A Dangerous Affair Robert Kenzer
Nothing Lasts Forever Dr. Benjamin "Ben" Wallace
1996 Summer of Fear Lucas Marshall
1997 When Secrets Kill Greg Newhall
1998 Running Wild Matt Robinson
Murder at 75 Birch Rick Todson
1999 First Daughter President Jonathan Hayes
Au Pair Oliver Caldwell
2000 First Target President Jonathan Hayes
2001 Au Pair II Oliver Caldwell
2002 First Shot President Jonathan Hayes
St. Sass Adam Patrick
2009 Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise Oliver Caldwell
2012 Undercover Bridesmaid Mr. Thompson
2013 After All These Years David Larabee
2014 The Nine Lives of Christmas Chief Sam
2015 Cloudy with a Chance of Love Grant
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told Joe O'Toole
2016 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: One in a Million Joe O'Toole
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You Joe O'Toole
My Christmas Love Tom Manning
2017 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Higher Ground Joe O'Toole
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again Joe O'Toole
2018 Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar Joe O'Toole
2019 Love, Fall & Order Hank Hart
2021 Sweet Carolina Pete Wilder
The Nine Kittens of Christmas Chief Sam Sequel to The Nine Lives of Christmas
Television series
Year Title Role Notes
1976 Barnaby Jones Ritchie Ridder Episode: "Blood Vengeance"
M*A*S*H Lt. Tony Baker Episode: "The Nurses"
1977–1978 Logan's Run Logan 5 Main role
1978–1979 Centennial Levi Zendt Miniseries
1979–1986 Trapper John, M.D. Dr. George Alonzo "Gonzo" Gates Main role (seasons 1–7)
1986 Fresno Torch Miniseries
1987 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Joseph Voice role; episode: "The Nativity"
1989–1990 Falcon Crest Michael Sharpe Main role
1990–1991 The Family Man Jack Taylor Main role
1995 500 Nations Narrator Voice role; 8 episodes
Sisters Daniel Albright Recurring role (5 episodes)
Touched by an Angel Pete Taylor Episode: "There But for the Grace of God"
New York News Jack Reilly Main role
1996–1997 Dark Skies Old John Loengard Uncredited voice role; 20 episodes[citation needed]
1998 Touched by an Angel Richard Episode: "Flights of Angels"
The Outer Limits Dr. Larry Chambers Episode: "To Tell the Truth"
Dead Man's Gun Boucher / Trapper Episode: "The Trapper"
Maggie Winters Mr. Wiehe Episode: "And Those Who Can't"
1999 Safe Harbor Sheriff John Loring Main role
2000 Ed Nick Stanton Recurring role (5 episodes)
2000–2001 Judging Amy Tom Gillette Recurring role (4 episodes)
2002 Touched by an Angel Don Episode: "Forever Young"
2002–2003 Strong Medicine Dr. Randolf Kilner Recurring role (4 episodes)
2003 Miracles Sheriff Ed Prescott Episode: "The Bone Scatterer"
2005–2006 Reunion Russell Brewster Recurring role (7 episodes)
Joey Dean Recurring role (5 episodes)
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Nathan Speer Episode: "Clock"
2008 Rodney Duke Lewis Episode: "Potty Mouth"
2009 Drop Dead Diva Brandon Tharpe Episode: "Crazy"
Maneater Teddy Alpert Miniseries
2009–2011 One Tree Hill Paul Norris Recurring role (11 episodes)
2010 CSI: NY Roland Carson Episode: "Out of the Sky"
2011 Hot in Cleveland Dave Episode: "Elka's Snowbird"
Body of Proof Dr. Cameron Fischer Episode: "Gross Anatomy"
2012 Outside the Box Thorn Episode: "Soylent Green"
Ringer Tim Arbogast Recurring role (5 episodes)
2013 Psych Ted Lomax Episode: "Nip and Suck It"
2014 Reckless Decatur "Dec" Fortnum Main role
2015 Castle Danny Valentine Episode: "Dead from New York"
NCIS Navy Capt. Roland Ebbakey Episode: "Viral"
2015–2016 Rizzoli & Isles Ron Hanson Recurring role (6 episodes)
2017–2022 Chesapeake Shores Thomas O'Brien Recurring role (16 episodes)
2017 The Middle Bennett Brooks Episode: "Meet the Parents"
2018–2019 American Housewife Dan 2 episodes
2020–2024 General Hospital Gregory Chase Series regular
2021–2023 9-1-1 Phillip Buckley 4 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Brady, James (1990-02-25). "In Step With: Gregory Harrison". Parade. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  2. ^ Harris, Harry (December 3, 1979). "Hospital Routine Familiar to Actor Gregory Harrison". Boca Raton News. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  3. ^ Gross, Ed (February 5, 2020). "101 Classic (and Not-So-Classic) TV Shows From the 1970s". Closer Weekly. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
  4. ^ "Deutscher FALCON CREST - Fanclub / German FALCON CREST Fan Club". Falconcrest.org. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  5. ^ "General Hospital casts Gregory Harrison as the new Gregory Chase". Ew.com.
  6. ^ Levinsky, Mara (May 21, 2024). "Gregory Harrison Exits General Hospital". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  7. ^ "Randi Oakes was there when the CHiPS fell". Lakeland Ledger. July 27, 1980. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  8. ^ "Randi Oakes, Greg Harrison deny wedding bell rumors". Lakeland Ledger. December 24, 1980. p. 2A. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  9. ^ Mills, Nancy (March 8, 1985). "Trapper's Sidekick Steps Out". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. p. TV42. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  10. ^ "Harrison, Oakes are parents again". Lewiston Journal. Knight Ridder News Service. February 11, 1989. p. 6D. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  11. ^ Gelt, Gary (December 21, 1980). "Actress finds bit of Iowa in Sherman Oaks; 'CHIPs' co-star loves seclusion". Los Angeles Times. p. L1. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  12. ^ Wang, K.L. Connie (February 6, 2015). "Connie Chats with Gregory Harrison". Parade. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  13. ^ Brady, James (February 25, 1990). "In Step With: Gregory Harrison". Parade. p. 18. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  14. ^ Goldsborough, Bob (April 2, 2008). "Actor Gregory Harrison and his retired actress wife, Randi Oakes, list their estate in southeast Oregon for $5.9M". Big Time Listings. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  15. ^ Smith, Azenith (December 18, 2007). "Hollywood actor speaks to area Rotarians". KCBY (CBS 11). Archived from the original on December 20, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  16. ^ Ryon, Ruth (March 30, 2008). "Hot Property". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  17. ^ Simross, Lynn (September 5, 1989). "From Addict to Role Model Gregory Harrison Bares Soul to Help Drug-Abuse Victims". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
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