Richard Kline

For other people named Richard Kline, see Richard Kline (disambiguation).
Richard Kline

Kline at the New York Comic Con in Manhattan, October 10, 2010.
Born Richard Klein
(1944-04-29) April 29, 1944
Queens, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor/Director
Years active 1971–present
Spouse(s) Beverley Osgoode (2002 - present)
Sandy Molloy (20 November 1982 - 2002, divorced) (1 child)
Kathleen Doyle (October 1973 - 1980, divorced)
Children Colby Kline (daughter, born 1984)
Website http://www.richardkline.net

Richard Kline (born April 29, 1944) is an American actor and television director. He is best known for his role of Larry Dallas on the ABC sitcom Three's Company.

Early life

Richard Kline was born in New York City.[1] He was raised in Queens by parents who practiced Reform Judaism.[2] He attended Queens College and has a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater from Northwestern University. After he graduated, he served with the United States Army in the Vietnam War.

Career

Kline became involved in theater and made his professional debut in 1971 as part of the Lincoln Center Repertory Company. Regional theater productions during this period included Chemin de Fer (in Chicago with actor Dennis Franz), Death of a Salesman, and Love's Labour's Lost. A classically trained singer, Kline made his Broadway career debut in City of Angels, a musical (1990).

On Three's Company, Klein played Larry Dallas, a playboy neighbor, used car salesman, and best friend to John Ritter's Jack Tripper. Klein appeared in 110 episodes of Three's Company from 1977–1984, also appearing as Larry Dallas in the spinoff shows The Ropers (1979) and Three's a Crowd (1985). Larry has the distinction of being the only other character besides Jack Tripper to appear on Three's Company and both of its spin-offs.

In addition to his television and big screen appearances, Kline has hosted two game show pilots, Jumble in 1988 and To Tell the Truth in 1990. The show's rights were then sold to NBC with Gordon Elliott, then Lynn Swann and Alex Trebek later hosting. Kline's TTTT pilot did air on the East Coast as a mistake on September 3, 1990, the day the show debuted. He also subbed for Charles Nelson Reilly as a guest panelist on Sweethearts for a week of shows in December 1988. His game show celebrity appearances included both The $25,000 and $100,000 Pyramid, Super Password, All New All-Star Beat the Clock, and Body Language. Kline also won $10,000 on The $10,000 Pyramid as a civilian contestant in 1974. Kline told SitcomsOnline.com he would like to compete on Jeopardy!.[3]

In February 2010, he was cast as the Wizard in the first national tour of Wicked.[4]

Kline was seen next in October 2011 in It Shoulda Been You, directed by David Hyde Pierce and starring Tyne Daly.[5] Kline will appear in a movie directed by and starring Mike Birbiglia called Don't Think Twice (2016).

Kline reunited with "Three's Company" cast members Joyce DeWitt, Jenilee Harrison and Priscilla Barnes in September 2016 at "The Hollywood Show" in Chicago, an autograph and memorabilia event, meeting fans and signing autographs.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ Richard Kline profile, filmreference.com; accessed April 30, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Richard Kline gets back to his Jewish roots; but first, Fagin", jewishaz.com; accessed May 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Seven Questions with Richard Kline of Three's Company; NBC Fall 2011 Premiere Dates - SitcomsOnline.com News Blog". sitcomsonline.com. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Spears, Steve (February 4, 2010). "'Wicked' returns to Tampa with Richard Kline of TV's 'Three's Company' as the Wizard". Tampa Bay Times.
  5. ↑ "Seven Questions with Richard Kline of Three's Company; NBC Fall 2011 Premiere Dates - SitcomsOnline.com News Blog". sitcomsonline.com. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
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