Bruce Boxleitner

Bruce William Boxleitner (born May 12, 1950)[1] is an American actor and science fiction and suspense writer. He is known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King (with Kate Jackson), and Babylon 5 (as John Sheridan in seasons 2–5, 1994–98).He is also known for his dual role as the characters Alan Bradley and Tron in the 1982 Walt Disney Pictures film Tron, a role which he reprised in the 2003 video game Tron 2.0, the 2006 Square-Enix/Disney crossover game Kingdom Hearts II, the 2010 film sequel, Tron: Legacy[2] and the animated series Tron: Uprising. He co-starred in most of the Gambler films with Kenny Rogers, where his character provided comic relief. He also voiced General Moss in the films AniMen: Triton Force and AniMen: The Galactic Battle.

Bruce Boxleitner
Boxleitner at Phoenix Comicon in 2011
Born
Bruce William Boxleitner

(1950-05-12) May 12, 1950 (age 74)
EducationArt Institute of Chicago
Occupation(s)Actor, writer
Years active1973–present
Known forLuke Macahan
Alan Bradley/Tron
Lee Stetson a.k.a. Scarecrow
Captain John Sheridan
Spouses
Kathryn Holcomb
(m. 1977; div. 1987)
(m. 1995, div. 2011)
  • Verena King
Children3

Early life

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Boxleitner was born on May 12, 1950, in Elgin, Illinois.[3] He attended Prospect High School in Mount Prospect, Illinois, and the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University).[citation needed]

Career

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Television

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Boxleitner is best known for his leading roles in the television series How the West Was Won, Bring 'Em Back Alive, Scarecrow and Mrs. King (with Kate Jackson and Beverly Garland), and Babylon 5 (as John Sheridan in seasons 2–5, 1994–98).[4]

He also starred in The Gambler (as Billy Montana, alongside Kenny Rogers: 1980, 1983 and 1987) and in such television films as Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again and Danielle Steel's Zoya. In 2005, he co-starred as Captain Martin Duvall in Young Blades. He has also starred in several films within the Babylon 5 universe, including Babylon 5: In the Beginning (TV, 1998), Babylon 5: Thirdspace (TV, 1998), Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (TV, 1999), and the direct-to-DVD Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (2007).

Boxleitner has appeared in many other TV shows, including an appearance in 1973 as Rick Welsh, a University of Minnesota Track Star, in the season four episode, "I Gave at the Office" in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Other appearances include Gunsmoke, Tales from the Crypt, Touched by an Angel, The Outer Limits and She Spies, and in 1982, he played Chase Marshall in the TV film Bare Essence, with Genie Francis. He was a member of the cast of Heroes for seasons three and four, playing New York Governor Robert Malden in three episodes. He also appears on the television series Chuck as the father of Devon Woodcomb. He was in such made-for-television films as The Secret, Hope Ranch, Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door, Pandemic, Sharpshooter and Aces 'N' Eights.

Boxleitner was a guest-star on NCIS in the fall of 2010. He played Vice Admiral C. Clifford Chase, a high-ranking Navy official.[5] Boxleitner also lends his voice to the animated version of his iconic character Tron in the animated series Tron: Uprising. The series premiered on Disney XD on June 7, 2012. He also reprises the character Alan Bradley/Tron from the films Tron and Tron: Legacy.[6] From 2013 to 2015, he played Bob Beldon, the owner of the local bed and breakfast, in the Hallmark Channel series Cedar Cove.[7][8]

Boxleitner later recurred on Supergirl portraying Baker, the Vice-President of the United States who is later sworn in as the new president after Lynda Carter's character Olivia Marsdin is outed as a Durlan by Mercy Graves and Otis Graves. He gained the role after Brent Spiner stepped down due to a scheduling conflict related to a family matter.[9]

From 2019, Boxleitner had a recurring role on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series of films The Matchmaker Mysteries.[10]

Film

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Bruce Boxleitner at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con in July 2010

He has also appeared in several films, including Tron (in which he played the title role) and The Baltimore Bullet (1980) with James Coburn. He reprised his role in the Tron sequel Tron: Legacy and in the video game Tron: Evolution which was released alongside the film Tron: Legacy, as he did for sequel video game named Tron 2.0, and Disney/Square Enix crossover video game Kingdom Hearts II. Boxleitner also voiced Col. John Konrad in video game Spec Ops: The Line. He also starred as Confederate General James Longstreet in the 2003 film Gods and Generals. He provides the voice of Colin Barrow in the animated science fiction horror film Dead Space: Downfall, based on the video game Dead Space. Other films he has been in include Kuffs, The Babe, Brilliant, Snakehead Terror, Legion of the Dead, King of the Lost World, Shadows in Paradise and Transmorphers: Fall of Man.

In 2011, he officially announced that he will reprise his role as Alan Bradley/Tron in Tron 3. July 2015 Boxleitner said that he is done with the franchise, as "it's been too up and down for me. I would rather not just keep going. I don't want to repeat my career anymore."[11]

Modeling

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From 1986 to 1989, Boxleitner appeared in advertisements for Estee Lauder's "Lauder For Men".

Novels

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Boxleitner is the author of two science fiction novels with a Western setting, Frontier Earth (1999)[12] and Searcher (2001).[13]

Audio books

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Boxleitner played a major role in the audio dramatization of The Great Secret, part of the Golden Age of Fiction series by L. Ron Hubbard. He also played Captain Gavin Blaire in the unabridged version of World War Z.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Boxleitner's first marriage was to American actress Kathryn Holcomb, who co-starred with him on How The West Was Won as his on-screen sister Laura. They had two sons together.

Boxleitner's second marriage was to American actress Melissa Gilbert. They have a son born in 1995.[14] Gilbert also guest-starred as Boxleitner's on-screen wife, Anna Sheridan, during Season 3 of Babylon 5.[15] On March 1, 2011, Gilbert announced that she and Bruce had separated after 16 years of marriage.[16] On August 25 of the same year, it was reported that Gilbert had filed for divorce.[17]

In 2003, Boxleitner was appointed to the Board of Governors of the National Space Society, a nonprofit, educational space advocacy organization founded by Dr. Wernher von Braun.[18]

He was friends with actress Beverly Garland for nearly 30 years. He met her on an episode of How The West Was Won, and later co-starred alongside her on Scarecrow & Mrs. King, though he had very few scenes with her. Then, in 1986, Boxleitner presented Garland the Golden Boot Award. After the cancellation of Scarecrow, Boxleitner remained close to Garland, contacting her consistently, until her death, on December 5, 2008. He said in an interview, "I used to keep up with Beverly Garland until she passed. There was actually a hotel named after her. She was such a trip. She was a great lady."[19]

Bruce is currently married to publicist Verena King.[20]

Filmography

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Film

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1975Sixpack AnnieBobby Joe
1980The Baltimore BulletBillie Joe Robbins
1982TronAlan Bradley / Tron
1990BreakawayJoey
1991Diplomatic ImmunityCole Hickel
1992KuffsOfficer Brad Kuffs
1992The BabeJoe "Jumpin' Joe" Dugan
1999Free FallMark Ettinger
2000The Perfect NannyDr. Robert Lewis
2001Life in the BalanceEric Johnson
2002ContagionPresident Howard
2002The Only WitnessAgent Nicholas Preston
2003Gods and GeneralsLieutenant General James Longstreet
2004BrilliantDr. Dietrich
2005Legion of the DeadSheriff Jones
2005King of the Lost WorldLieutenant Challenger
2007Babylon 5: The Lost TalesPresident John J. SheridanDirect-to-video
2008Dead Space: DownfallColin BarrowVoice, direct-to-video
2009Transmorphers: Fall of ManSheriff Hadley RyanDirect-to-video
2010Shadows in ParadiseCaptain Dyer
2010AniMen: Triton ForceGeneral MossVoice
2010Tron: LegacyAlan Bradley / Tron / Rinzler
201151Colonel Martin
2011Tron: The Next DayAlan BradleyShort film
2012AniMen: The Galactic BattleGeneral MossVoice
2013Silver BellsBruce DaltonDirect-to-video
2018The OathVice President Hogan
2023Babylon 5: The Road HomeJohn SheridanVoice, Direct-to-video[21]
2023Far HavenBen Watkins

Television films

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1974The Chadwick FamilyDanny
1975A Cry for HelpRichie Danko
1976The MacahansLuke Macahan
1976Kiss Me...Kill MeDouglas Lane
1977Murder at the World SeriesCisco
1978Happily Ever AfterJack
1980Kenny Rogers as The GamblerBilly Montana
1981Fly Away HomeCarl Danton
1983Kenny Rogers as the Gambler: The Adventure ContinuesBilly Montana
1983I Married Wyatt EarpWyatt Earp
1986Passion FlowerLarry Janson
1986Louis L'Amour's Down the Long HillsScott Collins
1987Angel in GreenCaptain William Wicker
1987Kenny Rogers as the Gambler, Part III: The Legend ContinuesBilly Montana
1988Red RiverMatthew Garth
1988The Town BullyRobert Doniger
1989From the Dead of NightPeter Langford
1989Road RaidersCharlie Rhodes
1991Murderous VisionDetective Kyle Robeshaw
1992The SecretPatrick Dunmore
1992Perfect FamilyAllan Bodine
1992Double JeopardyJack Hart
1993Flight from JusticeMichael Shafer
1993House of SecretsDr. Frank Ravinel
1994Gunsmoke: One Man's JusticeDavis Healy
1994Wyatt Earp: Return to TombstoneSam - Sheriff of Cochise County
1994Gambler V: Playing for KeepsBilly Montana
1995Danielle Steel's ZoyaClayton Andrews
1998Babylon 5: In the BeginningCaptain John J. Sheridan
Babylon 5: Thirdspace
1999Babylon 5: A Call to Arms
2002PerilousJudd
2002Hope RanchJ.T. Hope
2003Killer Flood: The Day the Dam BrokeJordan Walker
2004Snakehead TerrorSheriff Patrick James
2004They Are Among UsHugh
2004Saving EmilyGregory
2005DetectiveKetledge
2005A Killer UpstairsDetective Bruning
2006Falling in Love with the Girl Next DoorFrank Lucas
2006Double CrossJames
2006Mystery Woman: Wild West MysteryClint Lawson
2007PandemicKenneth Friedlander
2007SharpshooterSheriff Gardner
2008Bone EaterSheriff Steve Evans
2008Aces 'N' EightsD.C. Cracker
2010Lego Atlantis: The MovieCaptain Ace SpeedmanVoice
2011Love's Everlasting CourageLloyd Davis
2013The Thanksgiving HouseParker Mather
2015So You Said YesNick Blanche
2016Wedding BellsCharlie Turner
2016Double MommyScott Davick
2017Gourmet Detective: Eat, Drink, and Be BuriedJim Ross
2018The Christmas ContractTim Guidry
2019Matchmaker Mysteries: A Killer EngagementNick Columba
2019Holiday DateWalter Miller
2020Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective MysteryJim Ross
2020Matchmaker Mysteries: A Fatal RomanceNick Columba
2021Matchmaker Mysteries: The Art of the Kill

Television series

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YearTitleRoleNotes
1973The Mary Tyler Moore ShowRickEpisode: "I Gave at the Office"
1974Hawaii Five-OCam FarradayEpisode: "We Hang Our Own"
1975GunsmokeToby HogueEpisode: "The Sharecroppers"
1975Hawaii Five-OKevin CaulderEpisode: "And the Horse Jumped Over the Moon"
1975Police WomanEd KrohlEpisode: "Paradise Mall"
1976BarettaTomEpisode: "The Left Hand of the Devil"
1976Hawaii Five-OPaul ColburnEpisode: "The Capsule Kidnapping"
1976–1979How the West Was WonLuke Macahan25 episodes
1979The Last ConvertibleGeorge Virdon3 episodes
1980Wild TimesVern Tyree2 episodes
1981East of EdenCharles TraskEpisode: "Part One"
1982Bare EssenceChase Marshall2 episodes
1982–1983Bring 'Em Back AliveFrank Buck17 episodes
1983–1987Scarecrow and Mrs. KingLee "Scarecrow" Stetson89 episodes
1989Judith Krantz's Till We Meet AgainJock Hampton2 episodes
1991Tales from the CryptWinton RobbinsEpisode: "Top Billing"
1994The Maharaja's DaughterPatrick O'Riley3 episodes
1994–1998Babylon 5Captain John J. Sheridan87 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television
1996ABC Afterschool SpecialMr. MaharEpisode: "Me and My Hormones"
1998Touched by an AngelScott TannerEpisode: "The Peacemaker"
1999Dead Man's GunFrank SanteeEpisode: "Bad Boys"
2000The Outer LimitsSenator Wyndom BrodyEpisode: "Decompression"
2000Twice in a LifetimeRay Patterson / Dr. GoodeEpisode: "Fallen Angel"
2003She SpiesThe Chairman4 episodes
2005Crossing JordanFoster EldridgeEpisode: "Family Affair"
2005Commander in ChiefTucker BaynesEpisode: "First Choice"
2005Young BladesCaptain Martin Duvall13 episodes
2006American Dad!HimselfEpisode: "Tears of a Clooney"
2007Cold CaseHuck OberlandEpisode: "The Good-Bye Room"
2008–2009ChuckDr. Woody Woodcomb2 episodes
2008–2009HeroesRobert Malden3 episodes
2010NCISVice Admiral C. Clifford ChaseEpisode: "Broken Arrow"
2011ChaosRay BishopEpisode: "Glory Days"
2012GCBBurl Lourd4 episodes
2012–2013Tron: UprisingTronVoice, 17 episodes
2013–2015Cedar CoveBob Beldon30 episodes
2017NCISVice Admiral C. Clifford ChaseEpisode: "A Bowl of Cherries"
2018–2019SupergirlPresident Phillip Baker10 episodes
2019When Calls the HeartGentlemen Johnny BooneEpisode: "Hope is with the Heart"
2020Prop CultureHimselfEpisode: "Tron"
2022The OrvillePlanetary Union President3 episodes
2024Blue RidgeRobert 'Oak' Miller2 episodes

Video games

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YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2003Tron 2.0Alan Bradley
2006Kingdom Hearts IITron
2010Tron: Evolution
2012Spec Ops: The LineColonel John Konrad

References

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  1. ^ "UPI Almanac for Tuesday, May 12, 2020". United Press International. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Tron Legacy Star Bruce Boxleitner on the Rivalry Between Star Trek and Babylon 5". Archived from the original on March 17, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  3. ^ "Bruce Boxleitner". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "BRUCE BOXLEITNER as Captain John Sheridan - Babylon 5 GENUINE AUTOGRAPH". amazon.co.uk. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Exclusive: NCIS Enlists Scarecrow and Mrs. King's Bruce Boxleitner". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010. He reprised this role in the spring of 2017.
  6. ^ Ernie Estrella (June 9, 2015). "9 reasons more TRON Uprising is the answer to Disney's TRON sequel problem". blastr. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016. ...the Grid's security program, Tron (Bruce Boxleitner) is slowly dying from a virus.
  7. ^ "Bruce Boxleitner Added to Cast as Series Regular in Hallmark Channel's "Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove"". The Futon Critic. May 20, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  8. ^ "Barbara Niven Added to Cast As Series Regular in Hallmark Channel's "Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove"". The Futon Critic. May 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  9. ^ "'Supergirl's' Brent Spiner Exits as Season 4 Role Recast With Bruce Boxleitner". The Hollywood Reporter. August 21, 2018. Archived from the original on July 23, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  10. ^ "About the Movies". Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. April 17, 2020. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  11. ^ Topel, Fred (July 30, 2015). "Exclusive: Bruce Boxleitner on 'Tron 3′ – "I'm Done With It. I've Moved On"". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on August 2, 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  12. ^ Boxleitner, Bruce (1999). Frontier Earth: HC. Ace Hardcover. ISBN 978-0-441-00589-5.
  13. ^ Boxleitner, Bruce (2001). Frontier Earth: Searcher. New York: Ace Books. ISBN 978-0-441-00799-8.
  14. ^ "Cover Story: Our Tiny Miracle – Vol. 45 No. 8". February 26, 1996. Archived from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "The-Complete-Babylon-5-Double-Autograph-DA1-Bruce-Boxleitner-and-Melissa-Gilbert The-Complete-Babylon-5-Double-Autograph-DA1-Bruce-Boxleitner-and-Melissa-Gilbert Have one to sell? Sell now The Complete Babylon 5 Double Autograph DA1 Bruce Boxleitner and Melissa Gilbert". ebay.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  16. ^ Eng, Joyce. "Melissa Gilbert and Bruce Boxleitner Split". TVGuide. Archived from the original on March 4, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  17. ^ Fleeman, Mike (August 25, 2011). "Melissa Gilbert Files for Divorce from Bruce Boxleitner". People. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  18. ^ "NEWS RELEASE: ACTOR BRUCE BOXLEITNER APPOINTED TO NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY BOARD OF GOVERNORS". nss.org. June 2, 1998. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  19. ^ "Bruce Boxleitner interview". lanterncitytv.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  20. ^ "Bruce Boxleitner". hallmarkchannel.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  21. ^ "'Babylon 5: The Road Home' Voice Cast Unveiled (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. May 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
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