Richard Biggs
Template:Short description Template:Infobox person Richard James Biggs II (March 18, 1960 – May 22, 2004) was an American television and stage actor, known for his roles on the television series Days of Our Lives and Babylon 5.
Early life
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Biggs graduated from Minot High School (Minot, ND). He attended the University of Southern California on scholarship, studying theatre.<ref name="obit"/> He briefly taught at a Los Angeles high school before landing his first major television role, that of Dr. Marcus Hunter on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.<ref name="obit"/>
Biggs was diagnosed with hearing problems when he was 13, and was partially deaf in one ear, completely deaf in the other.<ref name="obit"/> He frequently used his celebrity status to raise money for the Aliso Academy,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> a private school in Rancho Santa Margarita, California that serves deaf children.<ref name=ShareTV /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
From 1987 until 1994, Biggs played the role of Dr. Marcus Hunter on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.<ref name=WhatHappened>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=IMDb>Template:Cite web</ref>
He appeared as Dr. Stephen Franklin on the well-regarded science fiction series Babylon 5 (1994–1998), reprising the role in the final aired episode of the spin-off show, Crusade ("Each Night I Dream of Home").<ref name=IMDb />
After Babylon 5, he played roles on Any Day Now<ref name=WhatHappened /><ref name=IMDb /> and Strong Medicine,<ref name=IMDb /><ref name=Metacritic /> as well as the recurring role of Clayton Boudreaux on the soap opera Guiding Light.<ref name=IMDb /><ref name=Metacritic />
Biggs' stage credits include The Tempest, Cymbeline and The Taming of the Shrew.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the time of his death, he was a regular on the television series Strong Medicine; following his death, his character was killed in an off-screen traffic accident.<ref name=Metacritic>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> He also guest starred as a visiting scientist on Tremors: The Series.<ref name=ShareTV /> Biggs' final film appearance was in Special Report: Zombie Invasion, a short film also featuring Biggs' Babylon 5 co-star, Bruce Boxleitner, released as a companion piece to the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead on DVD.<ref name=ShareTV>Template:Cite web</ref> His final television appearance was as a guest star on a 2004 episode of the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, entitled "The Gary Grill" portraying an FBI agent, which was dedicated to his memory. He only won one award in his career. That award was the Soap Opera Digest Award for Supporting Actor.<ref name=WhatHappened /><ref name=IMDb /><ref name=ShareTV /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal life
He grew up on Air Force bases across the United States because his father Colonel Richard Biggs was in the Air Force.
He married Lori Kay Gebers Biggs<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> on August 1, 1998. They have two sons Richard James III and Hunter Lee.<ref name="obit"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Death
Biggs collapsed at his home in Los Angeles, and died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center of complications stemming from aortic dissection on May 22, 2004.<ref name="obit"/> He was 44 years old.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Unnatural Causes | Unknown | |
| 1987 | Walk Like a Man | Salesman | |
| 1988 | Miracle Mile | Brian Jones | |
| 1992 | One Stormy Night | Marcus Hunter | |
| 1995 | The Alien Within | Hawkes | |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: In the Beginning | Dr. Stephen Franklin | |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: Thirdspace | Dr. Stephen Franklin | |
| 1998 | Forever Love | Dr. Berris | |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: The River of Souls | Dr. Stephen Franklin | |
| 2001 | Ablaze | Garrison |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Three's a Crowd | Bailiff | Episode: "September Song" |
| 1985 | T. J. Hooker | Frawley | Episode: "The Chicago Connection" |
| 1986 | Stingray | Cabin Guard | Episode: "As Far as the Eye Can See" |
| 1986 | The Twilight Zone | Dr. Tomson | Episode: "The Toys of Caliban" |
| 1987–1992 | Days of Our Lives | Marcus Hunter | Regular role |
| 1994–1998 | Babylon 5 | Stephen Franklin | Series regular |
| 2001–2002 | Guiding Light | Clayton Boudreux | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Tremors | Roger Garrett | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Drake & Josh | FBI agent | Episode: "The Gary Grill"; dedicated in memory |
| 2000–2004 | Strong Medicine | Milo Morton | Recurring |
References
External links
- 1960 births
- 2004 deaths
- American male soap opera actors
- Deaths from aortic dissection
- Male actors from Columbus, Ohio
- USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni
- American male deaf actors
- American male television actors
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century African-American male actors
- 21st-century African-American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors