David Coleman Dukes (June 6, 1945 – October 9, 2000) was an American character actor. He had a long career in films, appearing in 35. Dukes starred in the miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, and he was a frequent television guest star. Later in life, Dukes had recurring roles on shows such as Pauly, Sisters, and Dawson's Creek.

Early life Dukes was born in San Francisco, California, the son of a California Highway Patrol officer. Dukes was the eldest of four boys; his brothers were James, Robert, and Joe Paul.

Career Dukes' film career included 35 movies. Throughout his career, he was a television guest star, notably as the man who attempted to rape Edith Bunker on All in the Family, an advertising executive on The Jeffersons, and a blind bully on Three's Company. During the 1980s, Dukes appeared in the dual miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. In 1992, he received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his turn as Jo Bouillon in the HBO production The Josephine Baker Story (1991). He also appeared as Arthur Miller in the HBO film Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996). He was a series regular on the first season of the NBC network drama Sisters, playing the husband of eldest Reed sister, Alex (Swoosie Kurtz). Dukes' role became a recurring character in subsequent seasons. On Dawson's Creek, he had the recurring role of Mr. McPhee, father of Jack (Kerr Smith) and Andie (Meredith Monroe) from the second through fourth seasons. He also starred in Without a Trace as the ex-husband of Kate Nelligan.

Theater Dukes had considerable stage experience, first appearing on Broadway in 1971. He later appeared in a revival of Molière's The School for Wives. Dukes' theatrical roles included as Dracula, Doctor Frankenstein, and Antonio Salieri in the original production of Amadeus, replacing Ian McKellen. He also replaced John Lithgow in the original production of David Henry Hwang's play M. Butterfly, and he received a Tony nomination in 1980 for best featured actor in a play for Bent. In 1998, he was one of the three characters in a London West End production of 'Art' with Stacy Keach and George Wendt.

Audio David Dukes recorded several audiobooks, including Philip Roth's unabridged Sabbath’s Theater and Isaac Asimov's unabridged Prelude to Foundation.

Personal life and death Dukes was married to author and poet Carol Muske-Dukes.

He died of a heart attack on October 9, 2000, in Spanaway, Washington, while on location shooting the Stephen King miniseries Rose Red, which is dedicated to his memory. Dukes is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

The season four episode "You Had Me at Goodbye" of Dawson's Creek, which aired on November 15, 2000, and in which Dukes appeared, is dedicated to his memory.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1970The Strawberry StatementStudent Guard1975The Wild PartyJames Morrison1979A Little RomanceGeorge de Marco1980The First Deadly SinDaniel Blank1981Only When I LaughDavid1983Without a TraceGraham Selky 1986Rawhead RexHoward HallenbeckThe Men's ClubPhillip 1987Catch the HeatWaldo TarrDate with an AngelEd Winston1988Deadly IntentMyron WestonDirect-to-video1989See You in the MorningPeter Goodwin 1990The Handmaid's TaleDoctorUncreditedKiller InstinctBo Peterson1991Under SurveillanceDr. Glassman1993Me and the KidVictor Feldman1996FledChris Paine1997TinseltownJake 1998Gods and MonstersDavid LewisSlappy and the StinkersSpencer Dane Sr.1999GoosedSteffon Stevens2000Tick TockHolden Avery2001Alex in WonderJoseph BloomfieldPosthumous role

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1970The VirginianLad DormerEpisode: "Train of Darkness" 1974Harry OJoe HestonEpisode: "Coinage of the Realm"CannonTed AnschlussEpisode: "The Avenger"1974, 1977Police StoryJake / Lamont2 episodes 1975Great PerformancesGuido VenanziEpisode: "The Rules of the Game"The Wide World of MysteryHarry 163Episode: "The Norming of Jack 243"Beacon HillRobert Lassiter11 episodesValley ForgeLt. CuttingTelevision film 1976The JeffersonsCal RobertsEpisode: "George and the President"One Day at a TimeByron De VeerEpisode: "The Maestro" 1977Police WomanMcCormickEpisode: "Deadline: Death"FamilyCalvin MannersEpisode: "...More Things in Heaven and Earth"Handle with CareO'BrianTelevision filmAll That GlittersMarshall HartEpisode #1.65Barney MillerBrad LaneerEpisode: "Corporation"All in the FamilyLambertEpisode: "Edith's 50th Birthday"79 Park AvenueMike Koshko3 episodes 1978Three's CompanyJim WalshEpisode: "Jack's Navy Pal"Hawaii Five-OWilly BarkerEpisode: "When Does a War End?"Go West, Young GirlReverend CraneTelevision filmThe Many Loves of ArthurDr. ChaseA Fire in the SkyDavid Allen 1979Some Kind of MiracleJoe DineThe Triangle Factory Fire ScandalLou RibinHow the West Was WonLouis RielEpisode: "L'Affaire Riel"Mayflower: The Pilgrims' AdventureMyles StandishTelevision film1980Portrait of a Rebel: The Remarkable Mrs. SangerBill Sanger1982Miss All-American BeautyAvery McPherson1983The Winds of WarLeslie Slote7 episodes 1984Sentimental JourneyBill GardnerTelevision filmGeorge Washington William Fairfax3 episodesCat on a Hot Tin RoofGooperTelevision filmThe HitchhikerTed MillerEpisode: "Remembering Melody" 1985SpaceLeopold Strabismus / Martin Scorcella5 episodesThe Twilight ZoneTodd EttingerEpisode: "If She Dies/Ye Gods"Kane & AbelDavid Osborne2 episodes 1986Tall Tales & LegendsLeviEpisode: "My Darlin' Clementine"Alfred Hitchcock PresentsDr. Tom RigbyEpisode: "Deadly Honeymoon"1988American PlayhouseDr. Ned DarrellEpisode: "Strange Interlude: Part 1"1988–1989War and RemembranceLeslie Slote9 episodes1989Turn Back the ClockBarney PowersTelevision film 1990The BakeryMike KellySnow KillMurdoch 1991Held Hostage: The Sis and Jerry Levin StoryJerry LevinThe Josephine Baker StoryJo BouillonWife, Mother, MurdererJoe Hubbard1991–1993SistersWade Halsey19 episodes 1992She Woke UpSloane ParrTelevision filmLook at It This WayTim Curtiz3 episodes 1993SpiesRobert PrescottTelevision filmAnd the Band Played OnMervyn SilvermanTime TraxKyle Fernando / Romulo RayfieldEpisode: "Mysterious Strangers"1993–1995The MommiesJack Larson27 episodes1995The SurrogateStuart QuinnTelevision film 1996Norma Jean & MarilynArthur QuinnStar WarsBib Fortuna2 episodes 1997Diagnosis: MurderDarren WorthyEpisode: "In Defense of Murder"Last Stand at Saber RiverEdward JanroeTelevision filmPaulyEdward Sherman7 episodes 1998The Love LetterEverett ReagleTelevision filmLife of the Party: The Pamela Harriman StoryLeland Hayward 1999The PracticeTed LennonEpisode: "A Day in the Life"7th HeavenJack BrennanEpisode: "We the People"Supreme SanctionJordan McNamaraTelevision filmSlidersThomas Michael MalloryEpisode: "Roads Taken"Ally McBealJohnson BiblicoEpisode: "Let's Dance"SnoopsFather BatistaEpisode: "Higher Calling"1999–2000Dawson's CreekJoseph McPhee7 episodes 2000Family LawPatrick SimpsonEpisode: "A Mother's Son"Law & OrderDavid MooreEpisode: "Stiff"2001The LotOscar WildeEpisode: "Oscar's Wilde"; Posthumous role2002Rose RedProfessor Carl Miller3 episodes; Posthumous role

References

Further reading "David Dukes." Variety. October 11, 2000. Susan King and Don Shirley. "David Dukes; Versatile Character Actor on Screen, Stage." Los Angeles Times. October 11, 2000. Tom Vallance. "David Dukes." The Independent (London). October 17, 2000.

External links

Remembering David Dukes Problems with the county medical examiner, from his wife's official website David Dukes papers, 1946-2004, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts