Person Details

Birthday: 1937-08-08 22:45:30

Death: 1996-04-27 22:45:30

Aliases: No known aliases

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 24

TV Involvements: 5


Most Famous Work

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Roarke was born Richard Jordan Gerler in Brooklyn, New York, where he was a street gang member during his youth. His father was a vaudeville comedian and his mother was a chorine, showgirl. Richie, as he was affectionately called by friends, began his acting career under the name Jordan Grant; however, when he signed on with Universal Studios in 1957, he was told that he needed to change the name, because the studios already had one Mr. Grant (Cary Grant, that is) under contract. Roarke appeared in a number of television series during the late 50s and early 60s, including the role of Communications Officer Garrison in the original Star Trek pilot. He appeared in a string of AIP biker pictures along with Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, and Bruce Dern in the late 1960s, beginning with Hells Angels on Wheels (1967), and culminating with The Losers (subsequently retitled Nam's Angels) in 1970. In 1974, Roarke appeared in the financially-successful car chase film Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry, with Fonda and Susan George, a role which showcased his range of acting skill despite the level of the material. His "breakout role" came in 1980 when he portrayed Raymond Bailey, a self-important leading man whose stunt double was played by Steve Railsback in The Stunt Man. Peter O’Toole befriended Roarke during filming, and the two became drinking buddies. Unfortunately, Roarke was unable to keep up with O’Toole, and was hospitalized with delirium tremens before shooting was concluded. Word spread around Hollywood quickly, and Roarke had difficulty finding work as a result. However, an offer to work on a low-budget independent film brought him to Austin, Texas in 1982. At the time, Texas had a burgeoning movie industry—billing itself as the "Third Coast"—but lacked any real opportunities for aspiring film actors to learn their craft from industry veterans. Recognizing this need, Roarke opened the "Film Actors Lab" in the Dallas Communications Complex at the Studios in Las Colinas. "Graduates" of his program include Darryl Cox, Benton Jennings, Lar Park Lincoln and Lou Diamond Phillips. In 1989, Roarke married Carla DeLane, and they had one child together. A child from Roarke’s previous marriage, Jordan Gerler, was also an actor, appearing in Rolling Tunder in 1987. Roarke died in Euless, Texas of an apparent heart attack. Description above from the Wikipedia article Adam Roarke, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Most Famous Work

Star Trek
Average
8

Star Trek

(1966) C.P.O. Garrison (archive footage)
The Virginian
Average
7

The Virginian

(1962) Jimmy Raker
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Average
8

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

(1962) Ed Walsh
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Average
5

Kraft Suspense Theatre

(1963) Paul Durbin
El Dorado
Average
7

El Dorado

(1966) Matt MacDonald
CHiPs
Average
7

CHiPs

(1977) Ray Evans
Frogs
Average
5

Frogs

(1972) Clint Crockett
Return from Witch Mountain
Average
6

Return from Witch Mountain

(1978) Museum Guard (uncredited)

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1994 Douglas Goldman
Robert Turner
1988 Sheriff
1986 C.P.O. Garrison
Drifter
1982 Dale Campbell
Carl Purdue
1980 Raymond Bailey
1978 Museum Guard (uncredited)
Howard Hawks
1977 Ray Evans
N/A
1976 Russ Timmons - the Reporter
Larry Keegan
1974 Person
Deke
1973 Harry (uncredited)
Mike Christie
1972 Carter Lang
Clint Crockett
1970 Preacher
Duke
1969 N/A
Tampa
1968 N/A
Kisum
Ben
1967 Buddy
1966 Matt MacDonald
Deputy Dan
C.P.O. Garrison (archive footage)
Sgt. Harris
1965 Bob Brighton
1964 Cantrell
Mechanic (uncredited)
1963 Paul Durbin
N/A
1962 Ed Walsh
Jimmy Raker
Jack
Year Character Movie/Tv

Directing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1986 Director
Year Role Movie/Tv

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