Adam Roarke
Adam Roarke | |
---|---|
Born |
Richard Jordan Gerler August 8, 1937 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Died |
April 27, 1996 58) Euless, Texas, U.S. | (aged
Occupation | actor, director |
Years active | 1962-1994 |
Spouse(s) | Carla DeLane Roarke (1989-1996) (his death) (1 child) |
Adam Roarke (August 8, 1937 – April 27, 1996) was an American actor and film director.
Life and career
Roarke was born Richard Jordan Gerler in Brooklyn, New York, where he was a street gang member during his youth.[1] His father was a vaudeville comedian and his mother was a chorine, showgirl.[2]
Richie, as he was affectionately called by friends, began his acting career under the name Jordan Grant; however, when he signed on with Universal Studios in 1957, he was told that he needed to change the name, because the studios already had one Mr. Grant (Cary Grant) under contract. Roarke appeared in a number of television series during the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the role of Communications Officer Garrison in the original Star Trek pilot. He appeared in a string of AIP biker pictures along with Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, and Bruce Dern in the late 1960s, beginning with Hells Angels on Wheels (1967), and culminating with The Losers (subsequently retitled Nam's Angels) in 1970. In 1974, Roarke appeared in the financially successful car chase film Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, with Fonda and Susan George, a role which showcased his range of acting skill.
His "breakout role" came in 1980 when he portrayed Raymond Bailey, a self-important leading man whose stunt double was played by Steve Railsback in The Stunt Man. Peter O'Toole befriended Roarke during filming, and the two became drinking pals. Unfortunately, Roarke was unable to keep up with O’Toole, and was hospitalized with delirium tremens before shooting was concluded. Word spread around Hollywood quickly, and Roarke had difficulty finding work as a result. However, an offer to work on a low-budget independent film brought him to Austin, Texas in 1982. At the time, Texas had a burgeoning movie industry—billing itself as the "Third Coast"—but lacked any real opportunities for aspiring film actors to learn their craft from industry veterans. Recognizing this need, Roarke opened the "Film Actors Lab" in the Dallas Communications Complex at the Studios in Las Colinas. "Graduates" of his program include Darryl Cox, Benton Jennings, Lar Park Lincoln and Lou Diamond Phillips.
In 1989 Roarke married Carla DeLane and they had one child together. A child from Roarke’s previous marriage, Jordan Gerler, was also an actor, appearing in Rolling Thunder in 1977. Roarke died in Euless, Texas of an apparent heart attack.
Filmography
- Sioux City (1994) ... as Douglas Goldman
- Dangerous Touch (1994) ... as Robert Turner
- Slipping Into Darkness (1988) ... as Sheriff
- Trespasses (1986) ... as The Drifters
- The Beach Girls (1982) ... as Carl Purdue
- CHiPs
- episode Home Fires Burning ... as Ray Evans
- The Stunt Man (1980) ... as Raymond Bailey
- The Hardy Boys Mysteries
- episode Life on the Line
- Return from Witch Mountain (1978) (uncredited) ... as Museum security guard
- Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell (1978) ... as Howard Hawks
- The Keegans (1976) ... as Larry Keegan
- The Four Deuces (1976) ... as Russ Timmons, the Reporter
- How Come Nobody's on Our Side? (1975) ... as Parson
- Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) ... as Deke Sommers
- Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973) (uncredited)
- This Is a Hijack (1973) ... as Mike Christie
- Medical Center
- episode Night Cry ... as Michael
- Play It as It Lays (1972) ... as Carter
- Frogs (1972) ... as Clint Crockett
- Nam's Angels (1970) ... as Duke
- A Bullet for Pretty Boy (1970) ... as 'Preacher'
- Hell's Belles (1970) ... as Tampa
- The Mod Squad
- episode The Guru ... as Rick Potter
- The Savage Seven (1968) ... as Kisum
- Psych-Out (1968) ... as Ben
- Hells Angels on Wheels (1967) ... as Buddy
- El Dorado (1966) ... as Matt MacDonald
- The Road West
- episode Ashes and Tallow and One True Love ... as Hanson
- Star Trek: The Original Series
- episode The Cage (1966) (uncredited) ... as C.P.O. Garrison
- Women of the Prehistoric Planet (1966) ... as Centaurian
- Twelve O'Clock High
- episode I Am the Enemy ... as Capt. Davis
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
- episode The Foxes and Hounds Affair ... as Cantrell
- Fluffy (1965) ... as Bob Brighton
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
- episode A Matter of Murder ... as Al (credited as Jordan Grant)
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
- episode The Sign of Satan ... as Ed Walsh
- Arrest and Trial
- episode The Best There Is ... as Sergeant Kelliher
- Kraft Suspense Theatre
- episode Are There Any More Out There Like You? ... as Paul Durbin
- The Virginian
- episode A Portrait of Marie Valonne ... as Jimmy Raker
- 13 West Street (1962) (uncredited)
Director
- Trespasses (1986)
References
External links
- Adam Roarke at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)