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Kenneth Tigar
Kenneth Tigar
Kenneth Tigar
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Kenneth Tigar (born September 24, 1942) is an American actor, primarily on American television, and translator.

Key Information

Life

[edit]

Kenneth Leslie Tigar was born into a Jewish family in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and raised in the Greater Boston Area.[1][2]

He received his BA and Ph.D. in German literature from Harvard University. As an undergraduate, he was active in theater as both an actor and a director. He spent a year at the University of Göttingen and performed in Vienna and other European cities.[3]

Career

[edit]

Tigar made his film debut in The Happy Hooker (1975). He went on to play Mr. Raymaker in Just One of the Guys (1985) and Professor Swivet in 18 Again! (1988). Tigar's later film roles include playing a bomb squad leader in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) and Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), Weil in Primal Fear (1996), a lawyer in Conspiracy Theory (1997), and a brief but pivotal part as a German resister to Loki in The Avengers (2012).

He has appeared in numerous television shows, including starring as the short-tempered Captain Jensen in L.A. Heat from 1997 to 1999, appearing in a total of 47 episodes. He guest-starred in two episodes of Cheers, playing different characters – "The Boys in the Bar" in Season 1 as a gay character called Fred, and later in Season 4's "Don Juan Is Hell", as a professor of Diane's.[4] He also played Dr. Gordon on Dallas, Sid Sidlevich (Maggie's boss) on Growing Pains, Fritz Heath on Dynasty, Dr. Keinholz on ER, and Walter Doyle on House of Cards,[5] among many other roles.

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1975 The Happy Hooker Steve Screen debut
1978 The Gypsy Warriors SS Captain Schullman
1981 Gangster Wars Thomas E. Dewey
1985 Just One of the Guys Mr. Raymaker
Creator Pavlo
1987 Jake's M.O. Sol Godlman
1988 18 Again! Professor Swivet
Phantasm II Father Meyers
1989 Lethal Weapon 2 Becker (bomb squad leader)
The Runnin' Kind Stan Shank
1992 Lethal Weapon 3 Becker (bomb squad leader)
1993 My Life Dr. Califano
Snapdragon Captain
1995 Jade Corporate Man
Rage Harry
1996 Cadillac Ranch Clown (as Ken Tigar)
Primal Fear Weil
Riot Harry Johansen
1997 Little Bigfoot Largo
Conspiracy Theory Lawyer
Hollywood Safari Sheriff Todd
A Thousand Acres Doctor
The Underground Tim Scully
2000 Blessed Art Thou Robert
2005 Time of Fear Coroner
2012 The Avengers Old German Man
2014 The Union Earl
2015 Hell's Heart Father Francis

Selected television works

[edit]
Year Production Role Notes
1976 The Adams Chronicles Secretary TV miniseries, 1 episode
1976–1981 Barney Miller Stefan Koepeknie / Elliot Porter / Fletcher / Jesus Christ / Philip Pollock 6 episodes
1977 Man from Atlantis Dr. Miller Simon 3 episodes
The Waltons Clem Beal
1978 Actor The Farmer TV movie
1978 Charlie's Angels Danner Episode: "Antique Angels"
1978 Kaz Verdict in Department 12
1978 The Rock Rainbow Jim TV movie
1978 The Rockford Files Jerry Simpson Episode: "Local Man Eaten by Newspaper"
1979 Project U.F.O. Ron Denby Episode: "Sighting 4024: The Scoutmaster Incident"
1979 Barnaby Jones Gavin Brewster Episode: "Fatal Overture"
1979 The Golden Gate Murders Father O'Brien TV movie
1980 Love, Natalie The Guest TV movie
1980 Eight Is Enough Mr. Whitney Episode: "Jeremy"
1980 The Babysitter Tom Montgomery TV movie
1981 CHiPs Webb Episode: "Finders Keepers"
The Gangster Chronicles Thomas E. Dewey 13 episodes
Nero Wolfe Morty Barbage Episode: "The Blue Ribbon Hostage"
Park Place Hammond Episode: "Crazy Judge"
The Big Black Pill Trotter TV movie
WKRP in Cincinnati Dr. Hunnisett Episode: "Frog Story"
1982 Pray TV Parker TV movie
1982 Bosom Buddies Spinkus Episode: "Hildy's Dirt Nap"
1982 The Facts of Life Mr. Garfield Episode: "Daddy's Girl"
1983 Knight Rider Dr. Kempler Episode: "Give Me Liberty... or Give Me Death"
1983 Missing Pieces Alan Rosenus TV movie
1983 Special Bulletin Dr. Abraham Sczrsma TV movie
1983 Thursday's Child Bill Richardson TV movie
1983–1984 Hart to Hart Baldwin / Harold Ashby 2 episodes
1983–1985 Cheers Fred / Dr. Lowell Greenspon 2 episodes
1983–1986 Hill Street Blues Randolph Scripps 2 episodes
1984 Fatal Vision Pathologist TV movie
1985 Simon & Simon Larry Trowbridge 2 episodes
Night Court Mr. Slotkin 1 episode - "The Hostage"
1986 Magnum, P.I. Milton Collins Episode: "Death and Taxes"
Hunter Judge Calvin Tyler Episode: "True Confessions"
Webster Mr. Terry Episode: "A Test of Character"
1986–1993 L.A. Law Clarence O'Malley
1987 The Betty Ford Story Dr. Lukash TV movie
Dallas Dr. Gordon 4 episodes
Night Court Gus Melman 1 episode - "Her Honor, Part 4"
Highway To Heaven Mr. Meyers 1 episode - "Normal People"
1987–1989 Growing Pains Sid Sidlevich 6 episodes
1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation Margan (uncredited) 1 episode - "Symbiosis"
1988–1989 Dynasty Fritz Heath 5 episodes
1989 Who's the Boss? Mr. Timmons Episode: "In Sam We Trust"
1990 Newhart "Mom" - Game store owner 1 episode
1992 Quantum Leap Ben Steiner
1993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Dr. Samuel Platt 1 episode - Pilot
1995 Beverly Hills, 90210 Mr. Warren
1996 Murder, She Wrote Dave Pittman
1997 Star Trek: Voyager Dammar
1997 Sunset Beach Dr. Anthony Moulton 2 episodes
1998 ER Dr. Keinholz 2 episodes
1998 Route 9 Bank Manager TV movie
1999 The X-Files Dr. Plant 1 episode - "S.R. 819"
1999 The West Wing Congressman Gladman
1999 L.A. Heat Captain Jensen
2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Terrence Winthrop 1 episode - "Privilege"
2008–2009 Fringe Johan Lennox speaking German
2010 Boardwalk Empire Doctor Lissenger (Dentist)
2011 Nurse Jackie Dentist
2012 Elementary Philip Armistead[6]
2013–2018 House of Cards Walter Doyle[7] 4 episodes
2013–2014 Alpha House Senator Paul Mower[8] 4 episodes
2016 Madam Secretary Scientist 1 episode - "On the Clock"
2016–2019 The Man In The High Castle Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler 13 episodes
2017 Blindspot Sean Clark[9]
2018–2022 Bull Judge Javonovich 2 episodes
2020, 2023 Hunters Heinz Richter 2 episodes - "In the Belly of the Whale"; "The Trial of Adolf Hitler"
2021 Evil Winston Episode: "S Is for Silence"[10]
Dopesick Arthur Sackler 2 episodes
2024 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective (ret.) Ed McCluskey 1 episode - "Marauder"

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kenneth Tigar

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Kenneth Tigar (born September 24, 1942) is an American , translator, and director best known for his prolific career in guest appearances, feature , and stage work spanning over five decades. Born in , Tigar has portrayed a wide range of characters, from authority figures to historical villains, in popular series and , while also contributing to theater through , directing, and literary translations. His versatile performances have earned him recognition as a reliable in both mainstream and niche productions. Tigar's academic background laid a strong foundation for his multifaceted career. He earned a B.A. magna cum laude and a Ph.D. in German Literature from Harvard University, followed by a year of study at the University of Göttingen as a Fulbright scholar. This expertise in German literature directly influenced his work as a translator, adapting plays by Bertolt Brecht, Frank Wedekind, and Georg Büchner into English for American theater productions. He also directed notable stage works, including The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt and Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, in various U.S. cities. Tigar began his professional acting career with a stage debut in the 1968 revue The Proposition in New York City, transitioning to film with roles in The Happy Hooker (1975) and Phantasm II (1988). In television, he appeared in multiple episodes of Barney Miller and had recurring roles as Jason Seaver's colleague on Growing Pains (1987–1989) and as a character on Dynasty (1988–1989). His film credits include supporting parts in action thrillers like Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) and Lethal Weapon 3 (1992), the legal drama Primal Fear (1996), and the German Old Man, a Holocaust survivor, in The Avengers (2012). On television, he guest-starred in iconic shows such as Star Trek: The Next Generation (as Margan in "Symbiosis," 1988), Cheers, and Fringe, and played the recurring role of Heinrich Himmler in The Man in the High Castle (2015–2018). More recently, Tigar starred as Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku in the stage production The Happiest Man on Earth, which toured U.S. theaters in 2023–2025, drawing on his linguistic skills to portray complex historical figures with depth.

Early life and education

Early life

Kenneth Leslie Tigar was born on September 24, 1942, in . He was raised in the area in a Jewish family. Tigar's family heritage traces back to Jewish ancestors who immigrated from around 1905 or 1906, with the last of his known forebears arriving in the United States as a 12-year-old; much of his extended family in was massacred during .

Education

Tigar earned a degree in from , graduating magna cum laude. Following this, he spent a year studying at the in as a Fulbright scholar, immersing himself in and culture, which enhanced his multilingual proficiency. He later completed a Ph.D. in at , further deepening his expertise in the field. These academic pursuits not only honed his linguistic skills but also sparked his interest in performance; shortly after obtaining his doctorate, Tigar joined the Viennese theater group Die Komödianten, performing in German for a season and laying the groundwork for his acting career through roles that demanded fluency and cultural insight gained from his studies abroad.

Acting career

Theater

Following his studies at and the , Tigar had an early professional role in , spending a season as a member of the Austrian ensemble Die Komödianten in , where he performed in various productions including Wir Spielen Frieden in German. This early exposure to European theater, particularly in German-language works, influenced his approach to character-driven roles and multilingual performances. Tigar's notable stage roles span New York and regional theater, often emphasizing complex, introspective characters in ensemble settings. In Off-Broadway productions, he appeared in Secret Order, Treasure Island, and Nourish the Beast, showcasing his versatility in narrative-driven plays. His work with Brecht adaptations included ensemble performances in Brecht on Brecht (1998), alternating in a series of vignettes that highlighted the playwright's satirical style, and contributions to translations of works like Fear and Misery of the Third Reich, which were staged during his graduate studies and later productions. Regionally, Tigar earned acclaim for roles such as in The Coming of Stork (Los Angeles Drama Critics Award), All My Sons (Carbonell Award), Kvetch (Drama-Logue Award), Death of a Salesman, The Price, Heroes, Uncle Vanya, and Freud's Last Session, often in intimate ensemble theaters across the U.S. In recent years, Tigar has focused on solo performances that explore themes of resilience and history, most prominently portraying Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku in The Happiest Man on Earth (2023–2025), a one-man play based on Jaku's memoir, where the character preaches peace and forgiveness despite enduring Auschwitz and other camps. The production premiered at Barrington Stage Company in 2023, toured to the Contemporary American Theater Festival in 2024, had its U.K. debut at Southwark Playhouse, and continues at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in 2025, earning praise for Tigar's authentic depiction of Jaku's optimism. Tigar's contributions extend to ensemble theater in the U.S. and abroad, including understudy roles on Broadway such as Captain Lancey, Hugh, and Jimmy Jack in the 1979 revival of at the , and performances in Vienna's English Theatre like The Old Wicked Songs. His work in these collaborative environments underscores a career dedicated to live performance's immediacy and depth, distinct from screen mediums.

Film

Kenneth Tigar made his debut in 1975 as Steve in , a comedy-drama of Xaviera Hollander's about her experiences as a sex worker in , directed by Nicholas Sgarro and produced by Cannon Films. Transitioning from his theater background to screen acting, Tigar continued with supporting roles in the 1980s, including Mr. Raymaker, a high school principal, in the 1985 teen sex comedy , directed by Lisa and starring as a female posing as a boy to win a reporting . In the action franchise , Tigar portrayed bomb squad leader Jarvis Becker in both (1989), where he assists detectives Riggs and Murtaugh in defusing explosives planted by South African diplomats amid a high-stakes investigation, and its sequel (1992), involving a scheme to sell seized police weapons, both directed by and starring and . His role contributed to the series' blend of intense action sequences and character-driven humor in the buddy-cop genre. Tigar's film work in the 1990s included the prosecutor Weil in Primal Fear (1996), a legal thriller directed by Gregory Hoblit and starring Edward Norton in a breakout performance as an altar boy accused of murder, where Tigar's character navigates the high-profile courtroom drama alongside Richard Gere's defense attorney. He also appeared as a lawyer in Conspiracy Theory (1997), directed by Richard Donner, featuring Mel Gibson as a taxi driver entangled in a government cover-up, with Tigar's brief role underscoring the film's themes of paranoia and institutional distrust. Later in his career, Tigar delivered a memorable supporting performance as the German Old Man—a resilient elder who defiantly refuses to kneel before during the invasion of —in The Avengers (2012), Joss Whedon's superhero ensemble film assembling the Marvel Avengers team, including Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr., to combat an alien threat. This role highlighted Tigar's ability to convey quiet heroism in a blockbuster production that grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide and launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe's ensemble era. More recent film credits include Delbrick in The Post (2017), Bill Nutting in Pinball: The Man Who Saved the Game (2022), and Charles in You Hurt My Feelings (2023).

Television

Kenneth Tigar began his television career in the mid-1970s with a role as in the PBS miniseries , a 13-part chronicling the Adams family political dynasty from 1760 to 1927. Throughout his career, Tigar made numerous guest appearances across a wide range of genres, demonstrating his range from to and . In the , he portrayed Fred in the 1983 episode "The Boys in the Bar" and Dr. Lowell Greenspon in the 1985 episode "Don Juan Is Hell." On the prime-time soap , he appeared as Dr. Gordon in four episodes, including the 1987 installment "Mummy's Revenge." In medical dramas, Tigar played Dr. Keinholz in two episodes of ER during its fourth season in 1998. His political roles included Walter Doyle in four episodes of House of Cards from 2013 to 2017. In science fiction, he guest-starred as the Nyrian leader Dammar in the 1997 episode "Displaced." More recently, Tigar appeared as Heinz Richter, a high-ranking Nazi official, in three episodes of Hunters across its 2020 and 2023 seasons, and as Dr. Newman in the 2025 series Étoile. Tigar's most prominent television role was as the short-tempered Captain Jensen, the no-nonsense superior officer to detectives Chris McDonald and August Brooks, in the action-crime series L.A. Heat. Airing on TNT from 1997 to 1999, the show followed the duo's investigations into underworld cases involving gangs, corruption, and high-stakes chases, with Jensen providing stern oversight and occasional through his explosive temper. Over 47 episodes across two seasons, Tigar's character evolved from a rigid disciplinarian clashing with the leads' unorthodox methods to a more begrudging ally, highlighting themes of loyalty and redemption within the precinct dynamic. Earlier in his career, Tigar guest-starred in episodic dramas such as Police Woman, where he played Ben Rexford in the 1977 episode "Bondage," involving a murder investigation tied to the adult film industry, and The Waltons, portraying farmer Clem Beal in the 1977 episode "John's Crossroad," which explored family tensions and moral dilemmas in rural Virginia during the Great Depression. These roles, alongside later authority figures like Captain Jensen and Dr. Gordon, underscored a recurring theme in Tigar's television portrayals: stern, principled characters in positions of power navigating ethical conflicts and interpersonal strains. His depictions of such figures often paralleled similar authoritative roles in films, like the bomb squad leader in Lethal Weapon 3.

Directing and translation

Directing

Kenneth Tigar has directed numerous stage productions across theater and , drawing on his academic background in to infuse interpretations with linguistic and cultural precision. His directing career emphasizes character-driven narratives and , often in works rooted in European traditions, where his scholarly expertise allows for authentic stagings that highlight textual nuances. This approach is particularly evident in adaptations of German-language plays, where he prioritizes fidelity to the source material to enhance dramatic impact. One of Tigar's notable theater achievements was directing the national tour of by D.L. Coburn, starring Academy Award-winner , which brought the two-character drama about aging and rivalry to audiences across the in the 1990s. In regional theater, he helmed productions of Edward Albee's , Henrik Ibsen's , and the world premiere of Mitch Giannunzio's The Genius, staging these works in various U.S. cities to explore themes of isolation, gender dynamics, and intellectual conflict. His direction of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's The Visit underscores his commitment to unmediated interpretations of European classics. Tigar's opera directing credits reflect his versatility in musical theater, particularly on the West Coast, where he has been recognized as an accomplished practitioner. He directed Gilbert and Sullivan's for a professional company, emphasizing its satirical elements through precise ensemble work and period-appropriate staging. Another key production was and Bertolt Brecht's for West Bay Opera in 2005, where his background in German literature lent an "added up-to-date edge" to the biting critique of , blending Brechtian alienation techniques with dynamic musical direction. These efforts highlight Tigar's ability to balance vocal demands with narrative depth in operatic contexts.

Translations

Kenneth Tigar's work as a translator draws directly from his academic expertise in , having earned a Ph.D. from , which equipped him to produce precise and idiomatic English versions of classic plays for contemporary audiences. His translations emphasize fidelity to the original texts while adapting them for theatrical performance, facilitating greater accessibility of German dramatic works . One of Tigar's notable contributions is his co-translation with Clayton Koelb of Bertolt Brecht's Fear and Misery of the Third Reich, a collection of scenes critiquing , which premiered in a 1966 Harvard production and was praised for its clarity and superiority over prior versions. Tigar also collaborated with Koelb on an English version of Frank Wedekind's Spring's Awakening (1906), a seminal exploration of and repression in Wilhelmine Germany; published by Broadway Play Publishing in 2016, this adaptation has been utilized in various American stage productions to highlight the play's enduring social commentary. Additionally, Tigar provided the English version of Georg Büchner's unfinished tragedy (1836–37), considered a foundational work of modern European drama for its fragmented structure and portrayal of ; released by Broadway Play Publishing in 2016, it has supported performances that underscore the play's influence on naturalism and in theater. These translations, spanning Brecht, Wedekind, and Büchner, have been staged from to , enhancing the repertoire of American theater companies and introducing nuanced interpretations of German Expressionist and modernist literature to English-speaking performers and audiences.

References

  1. http://www.filmreference.com/film/43/Kenneth-Tigar.html
  2. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kenneth_tigar
  3. https://www.broadwayplaypublishing.com/authors/kenneth-tigar/
  4. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0863024/
  5. https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Kenneth_Tigar
  6. https://catawba.edu/news/all-news/2023/happiest-man-on-earth/
  7. https://elcinema.com/en/person/2060636/
  8. https://www.shepherdstownchronicle.com/news/2024/07/26/tigar-reflects-on-the-challenges-joys-of-role-in-the-happiest-man-on-earth/
  9. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0863024/bio/
  10. https://www.englishtheatre.at/archiv/deutsch/archiv/saison-200708/wickedsongs/besetzung/kenneth-tigar.html
  11. https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/kenneth-tigar-barney-miller-night-court-just-one-of-the-guys/id1516695750?i=1000638785942
  12. https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Kenneth-Tigar/
  13. https://variety.com/1998/legit/reviews/brecht-on-brecht-1200453449/
  14. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1966/1/12/the-fear-and-misery-of-the/
  15. https://www.broadwayworld.com/connecticut/article/TheaterWorks-to-Present-FREUDS-LAST-SESSION-117-223-20131227
  16. https://www.thejc.com/life/you-need-to-know-about-evil-to-play-the-happiest-man-on-earth-aagwdawe
  17. https://barringtonstageco.org/Season-Shows/happiest-man-earth/
  18. https://playbill.com/article/the-happiest-man-on-earth-sets-u-k-premiere
  19. https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/the-happiest-man-on-earth/
  20. https://playbill.com/person/kenneth-tigar-vault-0000042767
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104714/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118883/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0848228/
  24. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/kenneth-tigar/credits/3000415785/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/characters/nm0863024
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0553369/characters/nm0863024
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112178/characters/nm0863024
  28. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/87128-kenneth-tigar?language=en-US
  29. https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=16278
  30. https://n2v.almanacnews.com/morgue/2005/2005_06_01.opera.shtml
  31. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0863024/otherworks/
  32. https://www.paloaltoonline.com/morgue/2002/2002_05_24.boheme24.html
  33. https://www.broadwayplaypublishing.com/the-plays/springs-awakening/
  34. https://www.broadwayplaypublishing.com/the-plays/woyzeck/
  35. https://www.englishtheatre.at/archiv/english/archive/season-200708/wickedsongs/cast/kenneth-tigar.html
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