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Monday, January 18, 2021

Godspeed Peter Mark Richman

Peter Mark Richman, who starred on the Sixties TV series Cain's Hundred and had regular roles on Longstreet and Dynasty, died on January 14 2021 at the age of 93.

Peter Mark Richman Marvin Jack Richman was born on April 16 1927 in Philadelphia. For the first part of his career he was billed as Mark Richman. He added "Peter" to his name around 1970. He worked as a pharmacist before he decided to take up acting. He joined the Actors Studio in New York City and began a career on stage. He made his television debut in 1953 in an episode of Suspense. During the Fifties he appeared in such shows as Studio One, Justice, The Philco Television Playhouse, Armstrong Circle Theatre, Playwrights '56, The United States Steel Hour, Studio 57, Goodyear Television Playhouse, Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, Playhouse 90, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, Kraft Television Theatre, Rawhide, Zane Grey Theatre, The DuPont Show with June Allyson, Hotel de Paree, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Moment of Fear, and Play of the Week. He made his debut on Broadway in 1953 in End as a Man. In the Fifties he also appeared on Broadway in A Hatful of Rain and Masquerade. He made his film debut in a bit part in Friendly Persuasion in 1956. He appeared in the movies The Strange One (1957), Girls on the Loose (1958), and The Black Orchid (1958).

In the Sixties Peter Mark Richman starred as Nick Cain in the single season series Cain's Hundred. He guest starred on the shows The United States Steel Hour, Stoney Burke, Breaking Point, The Nurses, Ben Casey, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Profiles in Courage, The Wild Wild West, The F.B.I,, 12 O'Clock, Seaway, Combat!, The Loner, Blue Light, The Fugitive, T.H.E. Cat, Jericho, Irony House, The Felony Squad, Daniel Boone, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Gunsmoke, The Invaders, Bonanza, My Friend Tony, It Takes a Thief, Hawaii Five-O, Lancer, The Name of the Game, Mannix, Land of the Giants, Insight, and The Silent Force. He appeared in the movies Dark Intruder (1965), Agent for H.A.R.M. (1966), and For Singles Only (1968).

Peter Mark Richman began the Seventies with a regular role in the short-lived series Longstreet. He had a recurring role on Three's Company as regular character Chrissie Snow's father Reverend Snow. He guest starred on the shows Banacek, Mission: Impossible, Marcus Welby M.D., Search, The New Perry Mason, The Streets of San Francisco, Hawkins, The F.B.I., Apple's Way, The Wide World of Mystery, Get Christie Love!, McCloud, Ironside, Caribe, Petrocelli, Medical Story, Barnaby Jones, Police Story, Switch, Cannon, Bert D'Angelo/Superstar, Baretta, Family, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Dog and Cat, Quincy M.E., The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Dallas, Sword of Justice, Wonder Woman, 240-Robert, Starsky and Hutch, Greatest Heroes of the Bible, Charlie's Angels, B.J. and the Bear, Vega$, and Galactica 1980. He appeared in the movie Psi Factor (1980).

In the Eighties Peter Mark Richman had regular roles on the daytime soap opera Santa Barbara and the nighttime soap opera Dynasty. He was the voice of The Phantom on the animated series Defenders of the Earth. He guest starred on the shows The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, The Incredible Hulk, Hart to Hart, The Fall Guy, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Finder of Lost Loves, Knight Rider, Crazy Like a Fox, Hardcastle and McCormick, T.J. Hooker, Too Close for Comfort, Wildfire, Murder She Wrote, Hotel, Supercarrier, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Matlock, and Swamp Thing. He appeared in the movies Judgement Day (1988) and Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989).

In the Nineties Peter Mark Richman had a recurring role on Beverly Hills 90120. He guest starred on the shows My Secret Summer and Nothing Sacred. He was a guest voice on the animated shows Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron, Batman: The Animated Series, Spider-Man, Superman, and Batman Beyond. He appeared in the movie The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991). In the Naughts he appeared in the movie Poolhouse Junkies (2002). In the Teens he appeared in the movies After the Wizard (2011) and Mysteria (2011).

If Peter Mark Richman had regular roles on multiple shows and guest starred on many, many more, it was perhaps because he was that good. He could play a wide variety of roles. As Nick Cain on Cain's Hundred he was a heroic figure, but he could play villains as well. In the Incredible Hulk episode "Triangle" he played a jealous and controlling lumber baron. On Dynasty he was the level-headed legal counsel for Blake Carrington, but then in the Wonder Woman episode "Gault's Brain" he played an unethical doctor about to perform brain transplant surgery. While Mr. Richman was best known for appearing in action/adventure shows and dramas, he was equally good at drama. As Reverend Snow on Three's Company, he could be very funny while still giving a very respectful portrayal of a clergyman. In the camp Saturday morning show Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, he played the recurring villain Pharaoh. If Peter Mark Richman was prolific, it was perhaps because he was just that good.

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