JR
Jack Riley
Actor, Writer
Born December 30, 1935Died August 19, 2016 (80 years)
John Albert Riley Jr. (December 30, 1935 – August 19, 2016) was an American actor, comedian and writer. He was known for playing Elliot Carlin, a chronic psychology client of the main character on The Bob Newhart Show, and for voicing Stu Pickles, one of the parents in the animated Rugrats franchise.
Riley was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Agnes C. Riley (née Corrigan) and John Albert Riley. After attending Saint Ignatius High School and John Carroll University, he served in the U.S. Army.
After being discharged, Riley became a popular radio personality in Cleveland, along with his radio partner and "straight man" Jeff Baxter; The Baxter & Riley Show on WERE (1300 AM) featured not only music but comedy sketches and a slew of offbeat characters that Riley and Baxter voiced. Riley gave up the radio show in the mid-1960s and moved to Los Angeles, where his Cleveland friend Tim Conway helped him obtain work writing comedy sketches, which later led to acting opportunities.
First a semi-regular in the cast of the 1960s sitcom Occasional Wife, a short-lived show on NBC in which he played Wally Frick, Riley was perhaps most famous for playing Elliot Carlin, the neurotic, sour, and selfish patient on The Bob Newhart Show 1972–1978. In 1973, he was cast as Gomez Addams in The Addams Family Fun-House, then in 1979, he starred in ABC's holiday telefilm The Halloween That Almost Wasn't (a.k.a. The Night Dracula Saved The World) as Warren the Werewolf (Wolf Man) of Budapest. Riley then, in 1980, appeared in a comedy special for HBO called The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter. He was a regular cast member in The Tim Conway Show, a comedy-variety show that aired on CBS from March 1980 through late summer 1981, acting in sketch comedy in each episode. In 1985, he reprised his Bob Newhart Show role of Elliot Carlin on St. Elsewhere, and did so again in a 1987 episode of ALF.
Among his other TV credits are multiple appearances on such shows as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (parodying Lyndon Johnson), M*A*S*H, Barney Miller, Hogan's Heroes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, One Day at a Time, Gomer Pyle, Diff'rent Strokes, and Night Court. He was also a favorite of Mel Brooks, appearing in several of his films: High Anxiety (1977), History of the World: Part I (1981), To Be or Not to Be (1983), and (cameo only) Spaceballs (1987).
Riley often provided voiceovers for television and radio commercials, most notably in spots for Country Crock margarine. He also voiced the character "P.C. Modem, the computer genius" in radio commercials for CompUSA that aired in the 1990s. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Riley was known for voicing Stu Pickles (father of the main protagonist Tommy) in the animated series Rugrats. The franchise consisted of the TV series, the spin-off All Grown Up! and the film trilogy.
He continued to make guest appearances during the 1990s in popular sitcoms, showing up in episodes of Seinfeld, Son of the Beach, Friends, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, That '70s Show, and, in a gag appearance, as an unnamed but obvious Mr. Carlin in a 1988 episode of Newhart. He made a cameo appearance on the November 23, 2013, episode of Saturday Night Live, as a subway passenger during the sketch "Matchbox 3". That episode would be his final acting role.
Riley was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Agnes C. Riley (née Corrigan) and John Albert Riley. After attending Saint Ignatius High School and John Carroll University, he served in the U.S. Army.
After being discharged, Riley became a popular radio personality in Cleveland, along with his radio partner and "straight man" Jeff Baxter; The Baxter & Riley Show on WERE (1300 AM) featured not only music but comedy sketches and a slew of offbeat characters that Riley and Baxter voiced. Riley gave up the radio show in the mid-1960s and moved to Los Angeles, where his Cleveland friend Tim Conway helped him obtain work writing comedy sketches, which later led to acting opportunities.
First a semi-regular in the cast of the 1960s sitcom Occasional Wife, a short-lived show on NBC in which he played Wally Frick, Riley was perhaps most famous for playing Elliot Carlin, the neurotic, sour, and selfish patient on The Bob Newhart Show 1972–1978. In 1973, he was cast as Gomez Addams in The Addams Family Fun-House, then in 1979, he starred in ABC's holiday telefilm The Halloween That Almost Wasn't (a.k.a. The Night Dracula Saved The World) as Warren the Werewolf (Wolf Man) of Budapest. Riley then, in 1980, appeared in a comedy special for HBO called The Wild Wacky Wonderful World of Winter. He was a regular cast member in The Tim Conway Show, a comedy-variety show that aired on CBS from March 1980 through late summer 1981, acting in sketch comedy in each episode. In 1985, he reprised his Bob Newhart Show role of Elliot Carlin on St. Elsewhere, and did so again in a 1987 episode of ALF.
Among his other TV credits are multiple appearances on such shows as Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (parodying Lyndon Johnson), M*A*S*H, Barney Miller, Hogan's Heroes, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, One Day at a Time, Gomer Pyle, Diff'rent Strokes, and Night Court. He was also a favorite of Mel Brooks, appearing in several of his films: High Anxiety (1977), History of the World: Part I (1981), To Be or Not to Be (1983), and (cameo only) Spaceballs (1987).
Riley often provided voiceovers for television and radio commercials, most notably in spots for Country Crock margarine. He also voiced the character "P.C. Modem, the computer genius" in radio commercials for CompUSA that aired in the 1990s. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Riley was known for voicing Stu Pickles (father of the main protagonist Tommy) in the animated series Rugrats. The franchise consisted of the TV series, the spin-off All Grown Up! and the film trilogy.
He continued to make guest appearances during the 1990s in popular sitcoms, showing up in episodes of Seinfeld, Son of the Beach, Friends, Coach, The Drew Carey Show, That '70s Show, and, in a gag appearance, as an unnamed but obvious Mr. Carlin in a 1988 episode of Newhart. He made a cameo appearance on the November 23, 2013, episode of Saturday Night Live, as a subway passenger during the sketch "Matchbox 3". That episode would be his final acting role.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Filmography
| 2008 | The Garfield Show (TV Series) · as Ghost Cat (voice) |
| 2008 | Easy to Assemble (TV Series) · as Jack |
| 2007 | Avenging Angel · as Elder |
| 2006 | |
| 2005 | Rugrats Tales from the Crib: Snow White · as Stu (voice) |
| 2005 | McBride: The Doctor Is Out... Really Out · as Alex |
| 2003 | Rugrats Go Wild · as Stuart 'stu' Pickles (voice) |
| 2003 | All Grown Up! (TV Series) · as Stu Pickles (voice) |
| 2003 | Lucky (TV Series) · as Piney |
| 2001 | Rugrats: Acorn Nuts & Diapey Butts · as Stu Pickles |
| 2001 | Rugrats: All Growed Up · as Stu Pickles (voice) |
| 2001 | Recess: School's Out · as Golfer #1 |
| 2000 | Rugrats in Paris · as Stu Pickles (voice) |
| 2000 | Yes, Dear (TV Series) · as Mr. Shipley |
| 2000 | Son of the Beach (TV Series) |
| 1999 | Oh Grow Up (TV Series) |
| 1998 | The Rugrats Movie · as Stuart 'stu' Pickles (voice) |
| 1998 | That '70s Show (TV Series) · as Old Man Shinsky |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights · as Lawyer |
| 1997 | Working (TV Series) · as Chaplain |
| 1997 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye (TV Series) |
| 1997 | George & Leo (TV Series) |
| 1997 | Chairman of the Board · as Condom Boss |
| 1996 | A Rugrats Chanukah · as Stu Pickles (voice) |
| 1995 | Theodore Rex · as Alaric |
| 1995 | New York Daze (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1995 | Hudson Street (TV Series) · as Howie |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Jones |
| 1994 | The Secret World of Alex Mack (TV Series) · as Mr. O'reilly |
| 1994 | Friends (TV Series) · as Airline Passenger |
| 1994 | Touched by an Angel (TV Series) · as Leo |
| 1994 | The Boys are Back (TV Series) · as Bob |
| 1994 | A Rugrats Passover · as Stu Pickles (voice) |
| 1993 | Sesame Street Stays Up Late! · as Jack |
| 1993 | A Dangerous Woman · as Bandleader |
| 1993 | Dave's World (TV Series) · as Guy |
| 1992 | Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (TV Series) · as Mr. Graves |
| 1991 | Noel's House Party (TV Series) · as Jack (gotcha Sketch) |
| 1991 | Civil Wars (TV Series) · as Jack Cort |
| 1991 | Rugrats (TV Series) · as Stu Pickles (voice) |
| 1991 | Harry and the Hendersons (TV Series) · as Leonard |
| 1990 | Evening Shade (TV Series) · as Jesse |
| 1990 | Babes (TV Series) · as Jack |
| 1990 | Payback · as Coroner |
| 1989 | Family Matters (TV Series) |
| 1989 | Seinfeld (TV Series) · as Rider |
| 1989 | C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud · as Wade |
| 1989 | |
| 1989 | Hard Time on Planet Earth (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1989 | Coach (TV Series) · as Oliver |
| 1989 | A Fine Romance (1989) (TV Series) · as Ray Ragalito |
| 1989 | Gleaming the Cube · as Homeowner |
| 1988 | Garfield and Friends (TV Series) · as Tyrone |
| 1988 | Portrait of a White Marriage · as Roy Bloomer |
| 1987 | Rented Lips · as Herb The Auditor |
| 1987 | My Two Dads (TV Series) · as Dave |
| 1987 | Spaceballs · as Tv Newsman |
| 1987 | Duet (TV Series) · as Fredrick |
| 1987 | Married... with Children (TV Series) · as Wendell |
| 1987 | Square One TV (TV Series) · as Mr. Ledbetter |
| 1987 | Mathnet (TV Series) · as Mr. Dwight Ledbetter |
| 1986 | The Christmas Toy · as Dad |
| 1986 | What a Country (TV Series) · as Agent Warren Yates |
| 1986 | |
| 1986 | Throb (TV Series) |
| 1986 | Blacke's Magic (TV Series) |
| 1985 | The History of White People in America · as Scientist |
| 1985 | Lots of Luck · as Marvin |
| 1984 | Night Patrol · as Doctor Ziegler |
| 1984 | Charles in Charge (TV Series) · as Professor Kleeman |
| 1984 | Punky Brewster (TV Series) · as Snipes |
| 1984 | Finders Keepers · as Ormond |
| 1984 | Down to Earth (1984) (TV Series) · as Phil |
| 1984 | Night Court (TV Series) · as Dr. Flick |
| 1984 | Riptide (1984) (TV Series) · as Tiny Tommy |
| 1983 | To Be or Not to Be · as Dobish |
| 1982 | Frances · as Bob Barnes |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) · as Elliot Carlin |
| 1982 | Newhart (TV Series) · as Patient |
| 1982 | Silver Spoons (TV Series) · as Mr. Snodgrass |
| 1982 | Family Ties (TV Series) · as Earl Quigley |
| 1982 | Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series) · as Sexton / Deacon |
| 1982 | The Rules of Marriage · as Herb Gallup |
| 1982 | 9 to 5 (TV Series) · as Seymour |
| 1982 | Love in the Present Tense · as Alex |
| 1981 | Simon & Simon (TV Series) · as Dr. Robert P. Medlow |
| 1981 | Gimme a Break! (TV Series) · as Jack |
| 1981 | Love, Sidney (TV Series) · as Tom |
| 1981 | History of the World: Part I · as Stoned Soldier #2 - The Roman Empire |
| 1980 | Too Close for Comfort (TV Series) · as The Hold-Up Man |
| 1979 | The Halloween That Almost Wasn't · as Wolf Man |
| 1979 | Hart to Hart (TV Series) · as Norman Culp |
| 1979 | Butch and Sundance: The Early Days · as Messenger |
| 1978 | Christmas Eve on Sesame Street · as Citizen (uncredited) |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) · as Mr. Crocker |
| 1978 | Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! · as Salesman |
| 1977 | High Anxiety · as The Desk Clerk |
| 1977 | The World's Greatest Lover · as Projectionist |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Miles Metcalf |
| 1977 | Eight is Enough (TV Series) |
| 1977 | Fantasy Island (TV Series) · as Henley |
| 1976 | Alice (TV Series) |
| 1976 | Silent Movie · as Executive |
| 1976 | Good Heavens (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1975 | One Day at a Time (TV Series) · as Mr. Gonagin |
| 1975 | Barney Miller (TV Series) · as Frederick Clooney |
| 1974 | Police Woman (TV Series) · as Joe |
| 1974 | California Split · as Second Bartender |
| 1974 | The Bank Shot · as Agent Jackson |
| 1974 | The Rockford Files (TV Series) · as Adrian Lyman |
| 1974 | Happy Days (TV Series) · as Officer O'reilly |
| 1973 | The Girl with Something Extra (TV Series) · as Arthur |
| 1973 | Catch-22 · as Miller |
| 1973 | Harry O (TV Series) · as Barney Hamilton |
| 1973 | The Long Goodbye · as Riley |
| 1973 | Barnaby Jones (TV Series) · as Norm Ricks |
| 1972 | The Snoop Sisters (TV Series) · as Ollie Robertson |
| 1972 | The ABC Afternoon Playbreak (TV Series) · as Braddock |
| 1972 | The ABC Afterschool Special (TV Series) · as Mr. White |
| 1972 | M*A*S*H (TV Series) · as Capt. Kaplan |
| 1972 | The Bob Newhart Show (TV Series) · as Elliot Carlin |
| 1972 | Kung Fu (TV Series) · as Royal |
| 1971 | The Todd Killings · as Record Company Executive |
| 1971 | In Broad Daylight · as Cab Driver #3 (uncredited) |
| 1971 | The Good Life (1971) (TV Series) · as Cosgrove |
| 1971 | Getting Together (TV Series) |
| 1971 | Columbo (TV Series) · as Director |
| 1971 | Cannon (TV Series) |
| 1971 | McCabe & Mrs. Miller · as Riley Quinn |
| 1970 | The Partridge Family (TV Series) · as Corporal Wrzesinski |
| 1970 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV Series) · as Barry Barlow |
| 1970 | The Many Sides of Don Rickles · as Cast |
| 1970 | Catch-22 · as Doctor |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) · as Danny |
| 1969 | Bracken's World (TV Series) · as Mr. Jeffrey |
| 1968 | Mitzi · as Cast |
| 1967 | The Flying Nun (TV Series) · as Leo |
| 1966 | Occasional Wife (TV Series) |
| 1965 | I Dream of Jeannie (TV Series) · as Frank |
| 1965 | Hogan's Heroes (TV Series) · as Captain |
| 1964 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (TV Series) · as Larry |
| 1962 | Days of Wine and Roses · as Waiter (uncredited) |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Show (TV Series) · as Minor Role |