Monday, December 19, 2011

OBITUARY: Dan Frazer, Lt. Dan McCloskey on AS THE WORLD TURNS, Has Died at Age 90

Dan Frazer, the actor known for playing the role of Lt. Dan McCloskey on AS THE WORLD TURNS, has passed away at age 90. The actor suffered from a cardiac arrest at his home in Manhattan on Friday, December 16th, 2011.

Frazer had a long career stretching back to several TV roles in the 1950s. He went on to do film in 1963's Lilies Of The Field, and also appeared in such films as Cleopatra Jones, Take the Money and Run, Gideon’s Trumpet, and Deconstructing Harry.

It was the crime detective series KOJAK that was perhaps his best known work, with the program running for five years (and five seasons) between 1973 and 1978, gaining something of a cult following.

He reprised the role in 1983 for a film adaptation of the Telly Savalas created cop show: Kojak: The Belarus File. His success in the genre meant that he appeared in other crime dramas in guest roles, including LAW & ORDER.

Frazer's Broadway credits include "Animals," "Goodbye, Charlie," "Once More, With Feeling" and "Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?". In addition, he served as an adviser to The Workshop Theatre Company.

Frazer debuted on AS THE WORLD TURNS as Dan in 1984. In 1988 the character married Nancy Hughes. Frazer played the role until the character passed away in 1996 after battling Alzheimer's disease.

Frazer's daughter Susanna described him as a "very truthful, naturalistic actor." His last role came in movie "The Pack" alongside MAD MEN's Elisabeth Moss. It was an independent film that was shown in a number of cinema screens earlier this year, giving rise to the observation that his work in the world of entertainment spanned an amazing eight decades.

1 comment:

  1. Rest In Peace, Dan!

    We Miss Both You & ATWT Very Much!

    Brian :-)

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