Kaz Garas (born 4 March 1940) is a Lithuanian-American retired actor, best known for his starring role in the TV-series ''

Strange Report ''Strange Report'' is a British television crime drama series starring Anthony Quayle as Adam Strange. It was produced by ITC Entertainment and first broadcast in 1969 on ITV In the United States, NBC broadcast ''Strange Report'' between 8 Ja ...

'', and for his numerous portrayals of sheriffs in low-budget

thriller Thriller may refer to: * Thriller (genre), a broad genre of literature, film and television ** Thriller film, a film genre under the general thriller genre Comics * ''Thriller'' (DC Comics), a comic book series published 1983–84 by DC Comics i ...

Early life

Garas was born in

Kaunas Kaunas (; ) is the second-largest city in Lithuania after Vilnius, the fourth largest List of cities in the Baltic states by population, city in the Baltic States and an important centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaun ...

Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...

, but immigrated to the United States as a child in July 1949. He became a professional actor in the 1960s.

Career

Kaz Garas began his career with a few minor parts in TV series, but finally took off after co-starring as Hamlyn Gynt in the crime/mystery-series ''

'', acting alongside

Anthony Quayle Sir John Anthony Quayle (7 September 1913 – 20 October 1989) was a British actor. He was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his supporting role as Thomas Wolsey in the film '' Anne of the Thousand Days'' (1969). He also played impor ...

and

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. After the series was cancelled in 1970, Garas played bit parts on other TV series and films such as ''

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'', ''Fast Gun'', ''

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'', ''

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'', and ''

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''. He played a sheriff at least seven times, in films such as ''Dazzle'', ''

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'', ''

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'', and '' Final Mission''. He retired in 2004, and lives in

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Partial filmography

* ''

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'' (1967) - Casey * ''

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'' (TV Series) - Johnny Fargo (1968), Craig Howard (1969), and Mark (1979) * ''

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'' (1969) - Paul * ''

'' (1969-1970, TV Series) - Hamlyn Gynt * '' The Sheriff'' (1971, TV Movie) - Harve Gregory * ''The City'' (1971, TV Movie) - Unknown man * ''

'' (1972) - Joe Greer * ''

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'' (1974, episode 'Inferno') - Jason * ''

'' (1974, TV Movie) -

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* ''Last Hours Before Morning'' (1975, TV Movie) - Ty Randolph * ''

Half a House ''Half a House'' is a 1976 American comedy film directed by Brice Mack, produced by Lenke Romanszky and released theatrically in the U.S. by Rampart Releasing. It stars Anthony Eisley and Pat Delaney as a separated married couple who divide up liv ...

'' (1975) - Artie * ''

Murder in Peyton Place ''Murder in Peyton Place'' is a 1977 American made-for-television mystery-drama film directed by Bruce Kessler. The film is based on the 1964–1969 TV series '' Peyton Place'' and it was billed as a reunion movie. It first aired on '' NBC Monda ...

'' (1977, TV Movie) - Springer * ''

'' (1979, TV Series) - Lucas * ''

Starsky & Hutch ''Starsky & Hutch'' is an American action television series, which consisted of a 72-minute pilot movie (originally aired as a '' Movie of the Week'' entry) and 92 episodes of 50 minutes each. The show was created by William Blinn (inspired ...

'' (1979, TV Series) - Carlyle * ''

Massarati and the Brain ''Massarati and the Brain'' is a 1982 American television film produced by Aaron Spelling. Plot A billionaire private detective is looking for missing treasure, with the help of his young geek nephew, his domestic and cook, and a federal agent. C ...

'' (1982, TV Movie) - Nick Henry * ''

The Powers of Matthew Star ''The Powers of Matthew Star'' is an American science fiction television series that aired on NBC on Friday evenings from September 17, 1982 until April 8, 1983. It starred Peter Barton (actor), Peter Barton as the title character, the alien pr ...

'' (TV Series, Episode - Daredevil, air date 10/01/1982) - Burt Garner * '' Final Mission'' (1984) - Pinesville County Sheriff * ''

'' (1985) - Fletch * ''The Devastator'' (1986) - Sheriff * ''Cameo by Night'' (1987, TV Movie) - Red * ''Fast Gun'' (1988) - Harper * ''Death Falls'' (1991) - Sheriff Perrin * ''The November Men'' (1993) - Sergeant Major * '' Puppet Master 5: The Final Chapter'' (1994) - Man #2 * ''

'' (1995, TV Movie) - Sheriff Carl * ''Dazzle'' (1995, TV Movie) - Sheriff * ''

'' (1996, TV Movie) - Sheriff Barnes * '' Switched at Birth'' (1999, TV Movie) - Courthouse Reporter * ''The Skin Horse'' (2003) - Lt. Harrison * ''

Mean Creek ''Mean Creek'' is a 2004 American coming-of-age psychological drama film written and directed by Jacob Aaron Estes and starring Rory Culkin, Ryan Kelley, Scott Mechlowicz, Trevor Morgan, Josh Peck, and Carly Schroeder. The film is about a ...

'' (2004) - Detective Wright (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Garas, Kaz 1940 births Living people American male actors Actors from Kaunas Lithuanian refugees in the United States