Ron Glass

Ronald Earle Glass (July 10, 1945 – November 25, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his roles as literary Det. Ron Harris in the television sitcom ''Barney Miller'' (1975–1982), and as the spiritual shepherd, Shepherd Book, in the science fiction series ''Firefly'' (2002) and its sequel film '' Serenity'' (2005).

Early life

Glass was born in Evansville, Indiana, the son of Lethia and Crump Glass.

After graduating from St. Francis Seminary in 1964, Glass attended the University of Evansville, where he received a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in drama and literature. Years later, the university awarded him its Medal of Honor. Glass said in 2007 he knew while he was in college that he wanted to act. With a teacher's encouragement, he performed in a play and went on to an acting career.

Career

Glass made his stage debut at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before moving to Hollywood. His earliest TV appearances include episodes of '' Sanford and Son'' in 1972, an episode of '' Hawaii Five-O'' in 1973, an episode of '' Maude'' in 1973, an episode of ''All in the Family'' in 1973, an episode of ''The Bob Newhart Show'', and episodes of ''Good Times'' in 1974. In 1975, he landed the role of Det. Ron Harris in ''Barney Miller'', which ran until 1982.

The following season, Glass co-starred with Demond Wilson on television in a remake of '' The Odd Couple'', called '' The New Odd Couple''. On December 13, 1985, he played a soul-collecting devil opposite Sherman Hemsley's mathematics professor in an episode of the revived ''Twilight Zone'' series. In 1992, he co-starred in the sitcom ''Rhythm and Blues'', a kind of "black '' WKRP'', playing "the fifth Top" opposite Roger Kabler.

In 1996, Glass was cast as uptight history teacher Roland Felcher in the NBC sitcom '' Mr. Rhodes'' opposite Tom Rhodes. In 1999, he appeared in two episodes of the NBC sitcom ''Friends'' as Russell, Ross Geller's lawyer. After that, Glass appeared in dozens of television series, including sitcoms such as '' Family Matters'' and the series '' Teen Angel'', where he played God's cousin Rod. He had a guest appearance in the '' Star Trek: Voyager'' episode "Nightingale". He was a series regular in the science fiction series ''Firefly'' (2002) and the sequel film '' Serenity'' (2005), in which he played Derrial Book, a ChristianWhedon, ''Firefly: The Official Companion Volume One'', 166. "Shepherd" with a mysterious past. Glass provided the voice of Randy Carmichael for the Nickelodeon series '' All Grown Up!'' and ''Rugrats'', and the character Garth in the video game ''Fable II''. In 2008 he appeared in the film '' Lakeview Terrace'' alongside Samuel L. Jackson and starred in the 2010 version of '' Death at a Funeral'' as Duncan.

Personal life and death

Glass never married, and though raised Catholic became a devout Buddhist, and a member of Soka Gakkai International. He died of respiratory failure on November 25, 2016, at the age of 71. He is interred at the Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Glass, Ron
1945 births
2016 deaths
American male television actors
American male voice actors
American male film actors
Burials at Rose Hills Memorial Park
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Male actors from Indiana
Actors from Evansville, Indiana
University of Evansville alumni
American Nichiren Buddhists
20th-century African-American male actors
21st-century African-American male actors
Deaths from respiratory failure
Former Roman Catholics
Members of Sōka Gakkai