Ritch Brinkley (March 18, 1944 – November 5, 2015) was an American character actor who appeared in over 50 films and television programs in a career that spanned three decades. He was best known for playing William in Beauty and the Beast and as cameraman Carl Wishnitski in American sitcom television series Murphy Brown, as well as for roles in films such as Cabin Boy (1994) and Breakdown.
Brinkley died on November 5, 2015, at the age of 71.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1972 Curse of the Headless Horseman Ritch 1980 Brubaker Gate Guard 1984 Rhinestone Luke 1985 The Man with One Red Shoe Hulse 1988 Big Business Mayor Bill Finker 1990 Book of Love Moving Van Driver 1992 Ruby Attorney Howard 1992 Doctor Mordrid Gunner 1994 Cabin Boy Captain Greybar 1997 Breakdown Al 1997 Cyclops, Baby Bait 2002 Children on Their Birthdays Acey Trump (final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes1976 Great Performances Frontiersman Episode: "The Patriots"1984 The Dukes of Hazzard Starkey Episode: "Play It Again, Luke"1984 The Master Ralph Carter Episode: "State of the Union"1984 Mama's Family Bert Wembly Episode: "Mama's Birthday"1984 Hill Street Blues Prison Doctor Episode: "Watt a Way to Go"1984 Falcon Crest Mr. Tower Episode: "Shadows"1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Guro of Cosmic Love Episode: "Over the Limit"1985 Wild Horses (1985 film) Wedge Smithfield TV movie1985 Night Court Biker Episode: "Dan's Boss"1985 Misfits of Science Bart Episode: "Twin Engines"1986 The Defiant Ones Lonny TV movie1986 The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary Special Cowboy TV special1986 The Twilight Zone Middle-Aged Man (segment "Dead Run") Episode: "The Leprechaun-Artist/Dead Run"1986 Stingray (1985 TV series) Westcott Episode: "Ancient Eyes"1986 1st & Ten (1984 TV series) Otto Episode: "Quarterbacks Tell No Tales"1986 Manhunt for Claude Dallas Judge Lodge TV movie1986 Houston: The Legend of Texas Sen. Buckley TV movie1986 Amazing Stories (1985 TV series) Mayor Chestor A. Barnsworth Episode: "The Pumpkin Competition"1987 Mathnet Jasper Stoutman Episode: "The Mystery of the Maltese Pigeon"1987 Newhart Farmer Bagley Episode: "Jail, Jail, the Gang's All Here"1987 Timestalkers Barman TV movie1987 My Sister Sam Dan Episode: "Exposed"1987-1988 Dolly (TV series) Charlie Boil 9 episodes1988 My Two Dads Truck Episode: "Nicole's Big Adventure"1988 Blue Skies (1988 TV series) Fred Episode: "Something Old, Something New"1988 Something Is Out There Maxie Episode: "In His Own Image"1990 Normal Life (TV series) Burt Episode: "P.O.V."1988-1990 Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series) William 15 episodes1990 Twin Peaks D.A. Daryl Lodwick 2 episodes1990 Silhouette Gene the Mechanic TV movie1991 Shades of LA Actor Episode: "Cross the Center Line"1991 Get a Life (American TV series) Dick Episode: "The Construction Worker Show"1991 Jailbirds (1991 film) Beetle TV movie1991 Cast a Deadly Spell Owl Wagon Manager TV movie1992 FBI: The Untold Stories Actor Episode: "Claude Dallas"1992 Parker Lewis Can't Lose Wiley Episode: "Jerry's Journey"1992 The Edge (Fox TV series) Santa Claus Episode #1.111993 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Stan Episode: "Neverending Battle"1994 Burke's Law Zach Warmly Episode: "Who Killed the Fashion King?"1994 Dead Man's Revenge Valdez Sheriff TV movie1994 Thunder Alley (TV series) Walter 8 episodes1994 Something Wilder Vince Episode: "Love Native American Style"1995 Virus (1995 film) Restaurant Host TV movie1995 Amanda & the Alien Bubba the Truck Driver TV movie1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Sheriff Nathan Decker Episode: "The Lynching"1995 Saved by the Bell: The New Class Grandpa Eddie Powers / Grandpa Ernie Powers 3 episodes1996 Malcolm & Eddie Dan Episode: "Big Brother is Watching"1996 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Santa Claus Episode: "Merry Christmas, Y'All"1988-1997 Murphy Brown Carl Wishnitski 28 episodes1998 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Schmorg Episode: "Honey, Meet the Barbarians"1995 & 1998 Weird Science (TV series) Baldash Stuart Donnelly / Mr. Cabeza 2 episodes1998 Maggie (1998 TV series) Dr. Babcock Episode: "Ballad of Maggie Day"1999 Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series) 50 Year Old Man Episode: "The Long and Winding Short Cut"
References
External links
Ritch Brinkley at the New York Times Obituary