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Bruce Boxleitner

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

(1950-05-12) May 12, 1950 (age 74)
Elgin, Illinois, U.S.
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
​
(m. 2016)​
Children3

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.

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 including the last episode of its twenty-year run, 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 the 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 performed 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 July 2015, Boxleitner said that he is done with the Tron 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]

Verena King and Boxleitner in 2015

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

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Sixpack Annie Bobby Joe
1980 The Baltimore Bullet Billie Joe Robbins
1982 Tron Alan Bradley / Tron
1990 Breakaway Joey
1991 Diplomatic Immunity Cole Hickel
1992 Kuffs Officer Brad Kuffs
1992 The Babe Joe "Jumpin' Joe" Dugan
1999 Free Fall Mark Ettinger
2000 The Perfect Nanny Dr. Robert Lewis
2001 Life in the Balance Eric Johnson
2002 Contagion President Howard
2002 The Only Witness Agent Nicholas Preston
2003 Gods and Generals Lieutenant General James Longstreet
2004 Brilliant Dr. Dietrich
2005 Legion of the Dead Sheriff Jones
2005 King of the Lost World Lieutenant Challenger
2007 Babylon 5: The Lost Tales President John J. Sheridan Direct-to-video
2008 Dead Space: Downfall Colin Barrow Voice, direct-to-video
2009 Transmorphers: Fall of Man Sheriff Hadley Ryan Direct-to-video
2010 Shadows in Paradise Captain Dyer
2010 AniMen: Triton Force General Moss Voice
2010 Tron: Legacy Alan Bradley / Tron / Rinzler
2011 51 Colonel Martin
2011 Tron: The Next Day Alan Bradley Short film
2012 AniMen: The Galactic Battle General Moss Voice
2013 Silver Bells Bruce Dalton Direct-to-video
2018 The Oath Vice President Hogan
2023 Babylon 5: The Road Home John Sheridan Voice, Direct-to-video[21]
2023 Far Haven Ben Watkins
2024 Space Command Redemption General Joe Haldeman
2024 Christmas Under the Northern Lights Doug Barnes

Television films

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 The Chadwick Family Danny
1975 A Cry for Help Richie Danko
1976 The Macahans Luke Macahan
1976 Kiss Me...Kill Me Douglas Lane
1977 Murder at the World Series Cisco
1978 Happily Ever After Jack
1980 Kenny Rogers as The Gambler Billy Montana
1981 Fly Away Home Carl Danton
1983 Kenny Rogers as the Gambler: The Adventure Continues Billy Montana
1983 I Married Wyatt Earp Wyatt Earp
1986 Passion Flower Larry Janson
1986 Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills Scott Collins
1987 Angel in Green Captain William Wicker
1987 Kenny Rogers as the Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues Billy Montana
1988 Red River Matthew Garth
1988 The Town Bully Robert Doniger
1989 From the Dead of Night Peter Langford
1989 Road Raiders Charlie Rhodes
1991 Murderous Vision Detective Kyle Robeshaw
1992 The Secret Patrick Dunmore
1992 Perfect Family Allan Bodine
1992 Double Jeopardy Jack Hart
1993 Flight from Justice Michael Shafer
1993 House of Secrets Dr. Frank Ravinel
1994 Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice Davis Healy
1994 Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone Sam - Sheriff of Cochise County
1994 Gambler V: Playing for Keeps Billy Montana
1995 Danielle Steel's Zoya Clayton Andrews
1998 Babylon 5: In the Beginning Captain John J. Sheridan
Babylon 5: Thirdspace
1999 Babylon 5: A Call to Arms
2002 Perilous Judd Ross
2002 Hope Ranch J.T. Hope
2003 Killer Flood: The Day the Dam Broke Jordan Walker
2004 Snakehead Terror Sheriff Patrick James
2004 They Are Among Us Hugh
2004 Saving Emily Gregory
2005 Detective Ketledge
2005 A Killer Upstairs Detective Bruning
2006 Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door Frank Lucas
2006 Double Cross James
2006 Mystery Woman: Wild West Mystery Clint Lawson
2007 Pandemic Kenneth Friedlander
2007 Sharpshooter Sheriff Gardner
2008 Bone Eater Sheriff Steve Evans
2008 Aces 'N' Eights D.C. Cracker
2010 Lego Atlantis: The Movie Captain Ace Speedman Voice
2011 Love's Everlasting Courage Lloyd Davis
2013 The Thanksgiving House Parker Mather
2015 So You Said Yes Nick Blanche
2016 Wedding Bells Charlie Turner
2016 Double Mommy Scott Davick
2017 Gourmet Detective: Eat, Drink, and Be Buried Jim Ross
2018 The Christmas Contract Tim Guidry
2019 Matchmaker Mysteries: A Killer Engagement Nick Columba
2019 Holiday Date Walter Miller
2020 Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery Jim Ross
2020 Matchmaker Mysteries: A Fatal Romance Nick Columba
2021 Matchmaker Mysteries: The Art of the Kill

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Rick Episode: "I Gave at the Office"
1974 Hawaii Five-O Cam Farraday Episode: "We Hang Our Own"
1975 Gunsmoke Toby Hogue Episode: "The Sharecroppers"
1975 Hawaii Five-O Kevin Caulder Episode: "And the Horse Jumped Over the Moon"
1975 Police Woman Ed Krohl Episode: "Paradise Mall"
1976 Baretta Tom Episode: "The Left Hand of the Devil"
1976 Hawaii Five-O Paul Colburn Episode: "The Capsule Kidnapping"
1976–1979 How the West Was Won Luke Macahan 25 episodes
1979 The Last Convertible George Virdon 3 episodes
1980 Wild Times Vern Tyree 2 episodes
1981 East of Eden Charles Trask Episode: "Part One"
1982 Bare Essence Chase Marshall 2 episodes
1982–1983 Bring 'Em Back Alive Frank Buck 17 episodes
1983–1987 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Lee "Scarecrow" Stetson 89 episodes
1989 Judith Krantz's Till We Meet Again Jock Hampton 2 episodes
1991 Tales from the Crypt Winton Robbins Episode: "Top Billing"
1994 The Maharaja's Daughter Patrick O'Riley 3 episodes
1994–1998 Babylon 5 Captain John J. Sheridan 87 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television
1996 ABC Afterschool Special Mr. Mahar Episode: "Me and My Hormones"
1998 Touched by an Angel Scott Tanner Episode: "The Peacemaker"
1999 Dead Man's Gun Frank Santee Episode: "Bad Boys"
2000 The Outer Limits Senator Wyndom Brody Episode: "Decompression"
2000 Twice in a Lifetime Ray Patterson / Dr. Goode Episode: "Fallen Angel"
2003 She Spies The Chairman 4 episodes
2005 Crossing Jordan Foster Eldridge Episode: "Family Affair"
2005 Commander in Chief Tucker Baynes Episode: "First Choice"
2005 Young Blades Captain Martin Duvall 13 episodes
2006 American Dad! Lee "Scarecrow" Stetson Episode: "Tears of a Clooney"
2007 Cold Case Huck Oberland Episode: "The Good-Bye Room"
2008–2009 Chuck Dr. Woody Woodcomb 2 episodes
2008–2009 Heroes Robert Malden 3 episodes
2010 NCIS Vice Admiral C. Clifford Chase Episode: "Broken Arrow"
2011 Chaos Ray Bishop Episode: "Glory Days"
2012 GCB Burl Lourd 4 episodes
2012–2013 Tron: Uprising Tron Voice, 17 episodes
2013–2015 Cedar Cove Bob Beldon 30 episodes
2017 NCIS Vice Admiral C. Clifford Chase Episode: "A Bowl of Cherries"
2018–2019 Supergirl President Phillip Baker 10 episodes
2019 When Calls the Heart Gentlemen Johnny Boone Episode: "Hope is with the Heart"
2020 Prop Culture Himself Episode: "Tron"
2022 The Orville Planetary Union President 3 episodes
2024 Blue Ridge Robert 'Oak' Miller 2 episodes
2024 Christmas Under the Northern Lights Doug Great American Family

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2003 Tron 2.0 Alan Bradley
2006 Kingdom Hearts II Tron
2010 Tron: Evolution
2012 Spec Ops: The Line Colonel 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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