You know you are a cultural icon when your TV character transcends time and the tube to become part of the national lexicon with pulling a MacGyver an a.k.a. for attacking a near-impossible problem with an inventive solution. As the ultimate problem solver, MacGyver (ABC, 1985-1992), Richard Dean Anderson extended his presence in the pop culture landscape by demonstrating his remarkable talent and versatility through solid work in other TV shows and films as well, most notably on the successful sci-fi series, Stargate SG-1.
Anderson was born on Jan. 23, 1950 in Minneapolis, MN. His father, Stuart Anderson, taught English, drama, and humanities at a local high school, and was an accomplished jazz bassist. His mother, Jocelyn, was an artist talented in both painting and sculpture. As the eldest of the couples four sons (a brood that included brothers Jeffery Scott, Thomas John and James Stuart) Anderson grew up in the Minneapolis suburb of Roseville, where he developed early interests in sports, the arts, music and acting. He wanted to be an ice hockey player, but when he broke both of his arms at age 16, he had to shelf any ideas of going pro. After his arms healed, Andersons quest for adventure grew, and at 17, he took a 5,641-mile bicycle trip from Minnesota through Canada and up to Alaska.
Anderson studied drama at St. Cloud State University and at Ohio University, though he never completed his degree, as his continued wanderlust took him to NYC, San Franciscos Haight-Ashbury district and finally to LA, where he worked as a street mime, a juggler, and a jester-singer in a Renaissance-style cabaret. He began to appear in plays and live theatre, including landing a role in Superman in the Bones at the Pilgrimage Theatre.
As many struggling actors often do, Anderson first came to national attention in 1976 on a soap opera. But not just any soap opera. As hunky Dr. Jeff Webber on the seemingly immortal daytime soap General Hospital (ABC, 1963- ), Anderson and his feathered hair became part of a unique GH alma mater that of actors (Demi Moore, John Stamos, Jack Wagner) who would springboard their way from Port Charles to major stardom after leaving the venerable soap.
After five grueling years of daytime TVs brutal schedule, Anderson wanted to stretch his acting wings, leaving the show with sights set on primetime TV. His first appearance was on The Facts of Life (NBC, 1979-1988) in the 1981 episode Brian and Sylvia not the most illustrious of beginnings, but Anderson soon picked up speed. He appeared in the short-lived Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (CBS, 1982-83) series loosely based on the famous musical of the same name and in Emerald Point N.A.S. (CBS, 1983-84). After paying his guest appearance dues, Andersons dream for primetime TV superstardom finally arrived in the role of Angus MacGyver.
A unique show, in that the protagonist did not use deadly weapons to do battle with the bad guys instead, relying on his cunning and inventive prowess with whatever household materials lay near by MacGyver was a huge hit from the start. ABC knew they had found the right man to become their unpretentious hero, when Anderson had won over the shows producers in the early auditioning process by asking to wear his glasses for the reading. The program ran for seven successful seasons, earning an international following as well. In all languages, the show became the hit of nearly every backyard or playground in the country, because unlike other TV hits of the day like The A-Team (NBC, 1983-87) parents could get behind an action-packed show that promoted non-violence and still entranced the kids.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Anderson utilized his MacGyver downtime by appearing in TV movies, most notably in Ordinary Heroes (1986), a remake of the 1945 film Pride of the Marines, in which Anderson gave a startling performance as a soldier who is blinded three days before returning home from Vietnam. He continued to demonstrate his vivid range after his signature TV show ended, starring in several TV movies, such as In The Eyes of a Stranger (CBS, 1992) opposite Justine Bateman and Through the Eyes of a Killer (CBS, 1992) opposite Marg Helgenberger (later of CSI fame) and in Past the Bleachers (ABC, 1995).
Even though the series was over, the publics appetite for Angus MacGyver and his uncanny ability to save the world hadnt diminished, so Anderson parlayed that demand into an overall deal with Paramount Pictures TV division, where he starred and produced two made-for-TV movies MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis (1994) and MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (1994). His next project under that deal was the 1995 series Legend for UPN. This role, which was a departure for Anderson in that it involved him exhibiting (surprisingly well) a good amount of comedic flair was one of his favorite roles up to that time.
In 1997, Anderson returned home to series TV; this time on the small screen adaptation of the hit movie Stargate (1994), entitled Stargate SG-1 (Showtime, 1997-2002; Sci-Fi Channel, 2002-06). The show was hugely successful, spawning a geek/fanboy following, which in turn, spawned a secondary series Stargate: Atlantis (Sci-Fi Channel, 2004- ), in which Anderson also starred. At the 2005 Spacey Awards, Anderson won the Favorite Male TV Character award for his portrayal of Colonel/Brigadier General Jack ONeill on Stargate SG-1.
One of the perks of being a pop cultural mainstay was to receive good-natured ribbing (and an animated likeness) on Foxs The Simpsons (1989- ). Ironically, Andersons favorite TV show, he was honored to lend his guest voice on the shows 17th season, in episode 17, Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore, in which he played himself. In his private life, the never-married actor was linked through the years with several high-profile women, including Deidre Hall, Sela Ward, Marlee Matlin, Teri Hatcher and Lara Flynn Boyle. In 1996, Anderson met Aprul Prose, with whom he had daughter Wylie Quinn Annarose Anderson in 1998.
Copyright © Baseline 2007.