Gerald McRaney Biography

Fast Facts

• Nominated for the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Award for the series "Deadwood․"
• Helps encourage the casting of actors with disabilities as an advocate of the Media Access Office
• Sat on the founding board for the Entertainment Industries Council for a Drug-Free Society
• Attended college at the University of Mississippi
• Married actress Delta Burke in 1989
• Was diagnosed with lung cancer, and went through treatment in 2004, which turned out to be successful
• Worked in the Louisiana oil fields before becoming an actor
• Began as an assistant stage manager in New Orleans before transitioning to acting
• Started acting in his high school drama club after quitting sports due to an injury
• Quote: "I like mixing things up․ I like putting on different character from time to time․"
• Quote: "(On the final episode of "Gunsmoke") "That was a childhood fantasy come true․ I got to strap on a six-gun and challenge Matt Dillon [James Arness]․ I can't think of another role that made me feel as good․""
• Made his debut starring as a lead in "Simon & Simon" after various other minor roles
• Supports veteran programs and made visits to soldiers in Operation Desert Storm