Who is Gerald McRaney? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Gerald Lee McRaney

Age: 76 Years, 76 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Delta Burke, Beverly Root (m. 1967–1971), Pat Moran (m. 1981–1989)

father: Clyde

mother: Edna McRaney

children: Angus McRaney, Jessica McRaney, Kate McRaney

Actors American Men

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Diseases & Disabilities: Lung Cancer

U.S. State: Mississippi

Notable Alumni: University Of Mississippi

More Facts

education: University Of Mississippi

Recommended For You

Recommended Lists:

Tall Male Celebrities

Leo Actors

Childhood & Early Life

Gerald Lee McRaney was born on August 19, 1947, in Collins, Mississippi, to Edna McRaney and Clyde McRaney. As a youth, McRaney attended the University of Mississippi and later worked at odd jobs before opting to pursue a career in the show business.

Continue Reading Below

Recommended Lists:

American Actors

Actors Who Are In Their 70s

American Film & Theater Personalities

Leo Men

Film Career

Gerald McRaney made his silver screen debut in the 1969 film ‘Night of Bloody Horror’ as ‘Wesley Stuart’, the lead character, and later appeared in a few lesser-known films like ‘Women and Bloody Terror’, ‘Keep Off My Grass!’ and ‘The NeverEnding Story’.

He appeared in the 2010 action film ‘The A-Team’ alongside Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton Jackson, and Jessica Biel. He also appeared in the romantic drama film ‘The Best of Me’.

McRaney appeared alongside Will Smith and Margot Robbie in the 2015 romantic crime thriller movie ‘Focus’. He also played a crucial role in the 2016 psychological horror film ‘The Disappointments Room’.

Television Career

Gerald McRaney is a well-known face in the television industry. He has appeared in several popular shows, playing critically acclaimed roles. He made his debut on television in 1972, appearing in the show ‘Night Gallery’. He appeared in three episodes of ‘Gunsmoke’ between 1973 and 1975.

In the mid and late-1970s, McRaney featured in several TV shows with supporting or special roles. Some of his notable works were in shows like ‘Barnaby Jones’, ‘The Law’, ‘The Streets of San Francisco’, ‘The Rockford Files’, ‘The Blue Knight’, ‘The Incredible Hulk’, and ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’.

In 1981, McRaney was cast in the role of ‘Richard "Rick" Simon’ in the detective television series ‘Simon & Simon’. McRaney and Jameson Parker portrayed the two title characters, who are brothers, in the show. The brothers try their best to run a private detective agency and meet with weird circumstances which often result in comic outcomes.

After the success of ‘Simon & Simon’, McRaney was offered another lead role, ‘Major John D. MacGillis’, in the sitcom ‘Major Dad’. For the duration of four years, he appeared in the show for a total of 96 episodes. The show featured Shanna Reed opposite him.

He appeared in ‘Touched by an Angel’ as ‘Dr. Joe Patcherik / Russell Greene’ and ‘Central Park West’ as ‘Adam Brock’ before reprising the role of ‘Russell Greene’ in the CBS drama series ‘Promised Land’. He was part of the show for 68 episodes between 1996 and 1999.

In the 2005-06 season of the American western television series ‘Deadwood’, McRaney played the role of ‘George Hearst’, a character based on the American businessman of the 19th century. The entire cast was nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

McRaney was again part of an ensemble that was nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. He featured in the political drama series ‘House of Cards’ as ‘Raymond Tusk’ between 2013 and 2017.

Between 2016 and 2018, McRaney portrayed the role of ‘Dr. Nathan KatowskI’ in the NBC comedy-drama series ‘This Is Us’. He made guest appearances in the show for seven episodes. But those episodes were enough for him to win applause from the critics with his powerful acting skills. He was nominated at multiple award shows, including Primetime Emmy Awards and Online Film & Television Association awards.

Major Works

The character of ‘Richard "Rick" Simon’ in the show ‘Simon & Simon’ was Gerald McRaney’s first big success. He earned a lot of praise for his work in the show which ran for almost an entire decade. He made 156 appearances between 1981 and 1989.

McRaney delivered the best performance of his career in the show ‘This Is Us’ as ‘Dr. Nathan Katowski’ between 2016 and 2018. His character was not a regular presence in the show, but it had a significant impact on the storyline. His brilliant performance won him back-to-back nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards; he won the award once, in 2017.

Family & Personal Life

Gerald Lee McRaney has been married three times. His first marriage with Beverly A. Root took place in 1966 and ended in divorce in 1971. They had two children during their married life.

McRaney later married casting director Pat Moran in November 1981 and had a child together before divorcing in 1989.

His third and current marriage with actress Delta Burke took place in May 1989.

McRaney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004 and had surgery to remove the malignant tumor. He has recovered fully since then.

Gerald McRaney Biography