Alan Rachins

Alan L. Rachins (; October 3, 1942 – November 2, 2024) was an American actor, known for his role as Douglas Brackman in ''L.A. Law'' which earned him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, and his portrayal of Larry (Dharma's hippie father) on the television series '' Dharma & Greg''.

Early life

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on October 3, 1942, Rachins was the only child of Edward and Ida Rachins of Brookline, Massachusetts. Both his parents were Jewish, and his father worked in a family food manufacturing business, Snow Crest. When Alan was eleven, his mother died, and because his father often lived away from home while working, Alan was often alone. As a teenager, he saw the film '' Rebel Without a Cause'', which motivated him to pursue acting as a way to channel the loneliness and grief he felt over his home life.

After graduating from Brookline High School, planning to enter the family business, Rachins enrolled at Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania, but he ultimately dropped out and moved to New York to study acting. He later graduated from Empire State College in 1974.

Career

Beginning in 1967, he performed in a succession of plays, including the original Broadway productions of ''After the Rain'' and ''Hadrian the Seventh'', as well as the original off-Broadway productions of ''The Trojan Women'' and the controversial '' Oh! Calcutta!'' In 1972, Rachins put his acting career on hold when he was accepted as a fellow in the writing and directing programs at the American Film Institute. He went on to sell scripts to a variety of shows, including '' The Fall Guy'', '' Hill Street Blues'', '' Knight Rider'', '' Quincy'', and '' Hart To Hart''.

Despite these successes as a writer and director, Rachins returned to his acting career with a leading role in Henry Jaglom's independent film, ''Always''. This critically acclaimed film brought him widespread attention and ultimately led to his role on ''L.A. Law''. He continued working in feature films, and provided the voice for the Clock King in two episodes of '' Batman: The Animated Series'', and later in one episode of ''Justice League Unlimited''.

His later theatre appearances included the world premiere of Arthur Laurents' ''Attacks of the Heart'' at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey

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