Richard Paul (June 6, 1940 – December 25, 1998) was an American television and film actor. In addition to starring in the 1970s television sitcom Carter Country, he had recurring roles on the later series Murder, She Wrote and Full House. He portrayed Jerry Falwell Sr. in two separate productions after having played a character based on Falwell for an episode of WKRP in Cincinnati.

Richard Paul
Publicity photograph
Born(1940-06-06)June 6, 1940
DiedDecember 25, 1998(1998-12-25) (aged 58)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1973–1997
Spouse
Patty Oestereich
(m. 1968)

Early life

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Paul was born in Los Angeles, California. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public affairs from Claremont Men's College and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. He was nearing completion of a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in Tucson when he abandoned his career as a therapist to become a full-time performer.[citation needed]

Career

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From 1977 to 1979, Paul played Mayor Teddy Burnside in Carter Country. His famous catchphrase was "Handle it, Roy, handle it!".

He costarred in the ABC comedy One in a Million, which aired for one season in 1980,[citation needed] and on an episode of M*A*S*H as Capt. Bill Bainbridge.

Paul was also a frequent panelist on Match Game from 1978 to 1982, and later played the recurring character of Cabot Cove mayor Sam Booth in Murder, She Wrote. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, he also had a recurring role as television station manager Mr. Strowbridge on Full House.

In the 1981 WKRP in Cincinnati episode "Clean Up Radio Everywhere", Paul played Rev. Bob Halyers, a character inspired by evangelist Jerry Falwell. Paul later portrayed Falwell in the 1990 television movie Fall From Grace about Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and then in the 1996 theatrical release The People vs. Larry Flynt.[1][2]

Paul appeared in the film Eating Raoul (1982), written and directed by Paul Bartel. Also in 1982, he costarred on the short-lived sitcom Herbie, the Love Bug. He later appeared in Bartel's short film The Secret Cinema, which was part of the Amazing Stories series on television, and in Bartel’s Not for Publication.[3]

Personal life

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Paul volunteered with Actors and Others for Animals and served on its board of directors. He also served on the mental-health advisory board for Los Angeles County and volunteered at childhood immunization clinics for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. He read books into tapes by special request at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles.[citation needed]

He married Patty Oestereich on September 7, 1968, in Pasadena, California, and they remained married until his death.[citation needed]

Death

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Paul died of cancer at age 58 on December 25, 1998, at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Coonskin Sonny Voice, Uncredited
1977 Exorcist II: The Heretic Man on the Plane
1982 Eating Raoul Mr. Cray
1983 The Man Who Wasn't There Pudgy Aide
1984 Not for Publication[3] Troppogrosso
1986 Uphill All the Way Thaddeus Dillman
1987 The Princess Academy Drago
Project X Lead Ape Uncredited
1988 Pass the Ammo G.W. Wraith
1992 Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight Goddard
1994 Beanstalk Mayor Cecil Boggs
1996 The Glass Cage Mr. Silkerman
The People vs. Larry Flynt Reverend Jerry Falwell
Mind Games Dean Meyer
2000 The Independent Jeffries (final film role)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Maude Mr. Bell Episode: "Carol's Promotion" (S 4:Ep 23)
Emergency! Tom Ellis Episode: "The Game" (S 6:Ep 1)
Holmes and Yoyo Claude Episode: "Connection, Connection II" (S 1:Ep 11)
1977–78 Carter Country Mayor Teddy Burnside Main cast
1978 Space Force D.O.R.C. voice
1979 CHiPs Himself (uncredited role) Episode: "Roller Disco, part 2" (S 3:Ep 2)
Fantasy Island Colonel Hank Sutton Episode: "The Handy Man / Tattoo's Romance" (S 3:EP 8)
1980 The Love Boat Floyd Schofield Episodes: "Kinfolk/Sis and the Slicker/Moonlight and Moonshine/Too Close for Comfort/The Affair, parts 1 and 2" (S 3:Eps. 18-19)
Disneyland Al Mathews Episode: "The Sultan and the Rock Star" (S 26:Ep 14)
Himself Episode: "Disneyland's 25th Anniversary Show" (S 27:Ep1)
One in a Million Barton Stone Main cast
CHiPs Himself (uncredited role) Episode: "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party, part 2" (S 4:Ep 6)
Eight is Enough Chuck Episode: "Strike" (S 5:Ep 8)
M*A*S*H Captain Bainbridge Episode: "Letters" (S 9:Ep 2)
1981 The Dukes of Hazzard Clyde Amos Episode: "By-Line, Daisy Duke" (S 3:Ep 18)
WKRP in Cincinnati Dr. Bob Halyers Episode: "Clean Up Radio Everywhere" (S 3:Ep 22)
1982 Herbie, the Love Bug Bo Phillips Main cast
Gimme a Break! Stanley Nichols Episode: "Nell Goes Door to Door" (S 2:Ep 10)
Happy Days Dick Episode: "All I Want for Christmas" (S 10:Ep 10)
1983 Quincy, M.E. Boxwell Episode: "Quincy's Wedding, parts 1 and 2" (S 8:Ep 17-18)
At Ease Crenshaw 'Episode: "Valentine's Day" (S 1:Ep 12)
1985 Hail To the Chief Rev. Billy Joe Bickerstaff Main cast
1986–87 The New Gidget Wilton Parmenter 4 episodes
1986 Amazing Stories Mr. Krupp Episode: "Secret Cinema" (S 1:Ep 20)
1987 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Tagsworth Episode: "Do You Take This Spy?" (S 4:Ep 16)
227 Mr. Davis Episode: "The Audit" (S 2:Ep16)
Married... with Children Sheriff Episode: "Poppy's By the Tree, part 2" ( S2:Ep 2)
1987–91 Murder, She Wrote Mayor Sam Booth 7 episodes
1988–95 Full House Mr. Strowbridge 6 episodes
1990 Fall from Grace Jerry Falwell
1991 Beverly Hills 90210 Bob Barnett 'Episode: "B.Y.O.B." (S 1:Ep 11)
Out of This World Tex Episode: "Would You Buy a Used Car From This Dude" (S 4:Ep 16)
1992 Who's the Boss? Minister Episode: "Better Off Wed, part 2" (S 8:Ep 18)
Herman's Head Mr. Fitzer 'Episode: "A Charlie Brown Fitzer" (S 2:Ep 13)
1994 RoboCop: The Series Reverend Bob Taker Episode: "Prime Suspect" (S 1:Ep3)
1996 The Drew Carey Show Burt Episode: "Something Wick This Way Comes" (S 2:Ep 2)
1997 Roseanne Mayor Episode: "Lanford's Elite, part 1" (S 9:Ep 16)

References

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  1. ^ "Milos Forman Explains Why He Made 'The People Vs. Larry Flynt'". Chicago Tribune. December 27, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  2. ^ Brennan, Judy (December 30, 1996). "Michael: Miracle at Box Office; Movies: Estimates show John Travolta's angel film setting a Christmas week record; 'Evita' and 'People vs. Larry Flynt' hit big in limited release". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Not for Publication". Sundance Institute. 1985. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  4. ^ "Richard Paul, 58; Character Actor". Los Angeles Times. Reuters. December 28, 1998. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
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