Bob Random (born January 29, 1945) is a Canadian

character actor A character actor is an actor known for playing unusual, eccentric, or interesting character (arts), characters in supporting roles, rather than leading ones.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrie ...

who appeared in both movies and television from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s.

Television and film roles

Random's television work tended to be in

drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

tic roles, in venerable programs like '' Dr. Kildare'', ''

Mr. Novak ''Mr. Novak'' is an American television drama (film and television), drama television series starring James Franciscus in the title role as a high school teacher. The series aired on NBC for two seasons, from 1963 to 1965. It won a Peabody Award ...

'', ''

Ben Casey ''Ben Casey'' is an American medical drama television series that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, ✳, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member ...

'', and '' Lassie'', or

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

series, such as ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'' - in 1965/66 playing “Verlyn Print” in series 11 episode 11 “South Wind”, then six weeks later as the title character and Festus's nephew in series 11 episode 17 "Sweet Billy, Singer of Songs"), also in 1966’s series 12 episode 4 "The Mission” as Reb Jessup,'' The Virginian'', '' Iron Horse'', and '' The Legend of Jesse James''. He also did occasional comedies, including '' The Dick Van Dyke Show'' and '' Gidget'' (in a recurring role as Gidget's friend Mark). He appeared in '' This Property Is Condemned'' (1966) and '' ...tick...tick...tick...'' (1970). ''

Mosby's Marauders ''Mosby's Marauders'' is a 1967 American film about the raids by John S. Mosby during the US Civil War. It was originally filmed for US television under the title ''Willie and the Yank: The Mosby Raiders''. Mosby's Marauders was later released Wal ...

'' (1967), in which he played Private Lomax, was later repeated on '' The Wonderful World of Disney'' under the title ''Willie and the Yank''. His last appearances were in an episode of '' Get Christie Love'', and as the biker Reaper in the second and third '' The Danger Zone'' movies, taking over from Robert Canada, who played the character in the original. Random played John Dale in

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

's long-unfinished film '' The Other Side of the Wind'', which was finally released in 2018. Random appeared alongside

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter and actor. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered classics. He rec ...

Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian. He started out his career as a young actor studying under Stella Adler before working as a film critic for ''Fi ...

and Dennis Hopper.

Personal life

Random was divorced from Ida Random, who received an Academy Award nomination in 1988 for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration on ''

Rain Man ''Rain Man'' is a 1988 American road movie, road comedy-Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass. It tells the story of abrasive and selfish wikt:wheeler-dealer, wheeler-dea ...

''. Random currently resides near Qualicum Beach,

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Random, Bob Canadian male film actors Canadian male television actors Living people People from Chilliwack Male actors from British Columbia 1940s births Year of birth missing (living people)