Sledge Hammer

Background:

David Rasche is perhaps best known for his role in “Sledge Hammer” (ABC, 1986-1988) and as Jack Trenton in “Nurses,” a role he played from 1992 to 1994. His long and varied list of television credits also include regular roles on “High Society” (1995-1996) and “DAG” (2000-2001) and recurring roles in “Suddenly Susan” (2000), “All My Children” (2008), “Sherri” (2009) and “Ugly Betty” (2009-2010). Rasche has also guest stared in the TV series “Miami Vice,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Monk” and “Law & Order.” As a film actor, Rasche co-won a 2010 Chlotrudis Award for his work in Armando Iannucci's Oscar nominated comedy “In the Loop” (2009). He is also known for playing roles in “Something Short of Paradise” (1979), “Honky Tonk Freeway” (1981), “Native Son” (1986), “An Innocent Man” (1989), “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” (2002), “Just Married” (2003), “The Sentinel” (2006), “United 93” (2006), “Flags of Our Fathers” (2006) and “Burn After Reading” (2008). Starting out on stage in the 1970s as a member of Chicago's renowned Second City company, Rasche is frequently considered one of the foremost translators of the work of American playwright David Mamet thanks to his work in “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” (1974), “Speed-the-Plow” (1988) and “Edmond” (1997). He also acted on Broadway in productions of “The Shadow Box” (1977), “Lunch Hour” (1980) and “To Be or Not to Be” (2008).

Rasche has been married to Heather Lupton since 1976. He is the father of 3.

Educator

Childhood and Family:

David Rasche was born on August 7, 1944, in St. Louis, Missouri, to a pastor and farmer. Growing up in Illinois, he graduated from Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, and earned a degree from the University of Chicago as well. Prior to becoming a full time actor, he worked as a teacher and writer.

In 1976, David married Heather Lupton. The couple has three children. His wife guest starred as former Mrs. Hammer, Susan Hilton, on the episode “Here's to You, Mrs. Hammer” (1988) of “Sledge Hammer.”

In the Loop

Career:

David Rasche enrolled in a Second City workshop in Chicago while he was in college and eventually became a member of the celebrated comedy troupe. At the time, his co-workers included Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Gilda Radner. After Second City, he landed a starring role in an original Chicago stage production of David Mamet's “Sexual Perversity in Chicago” (1974), which marked his first partnership with the famed playwright.

Following his move to New York City in 1976, Rasche made his Broadway debut in Michael Cristofer's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning play “The Shadow Box” (1977), alongside Simon Oakland, Laurence Luckinbill, Mandy Patinkin, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Vincent Spano. It was also in 1977 that the actor got his start on television with a guest spot in the short lived drama “The Andros Targets” (CBS). After a guest stint on “On Our Own” (1978), he was cast as Wes Leonard on the soap opera “Ryan's Hope” where he appeared in 34 episodes during 1978 to 1981.

Rasche made his feature debut with an unaccredited part in “An Unmarried Woman” (1978), which was written and directed by Paul Mazursky and starred Jill Clayburgh, Alan Bates and Michael Murphy. He went on to have a bit part in Woody Allen's “Manhattan” (1979) before getting his first substantial film role in the independent drama “Something Short of Paradise” (1979), playing David Ritchie. The film starred Susan Sarandon and David Steinberg and was directed by David Helpern. 1979 also found him making his TV movie debut in NBC's “Sanctuary of Fear,” where he played the supporting role of Jack Collins, and guest starring in the Kate Mulgrew brief lived series “Mrs. Columbo.”

In 1980, Rasche worked with Gilda Radner on the Broadway production of “Lunch Hour,” a comedy directed by Mike Nichols. He returned to films with a bit part in director Sidney Lumet's “Just Tell Me What You Want” (1980), based on a novel by Jay Presson Allen. He then received a lead role in John Schlesinger's “Honky Tonk Freeway” (1981, played Eddie White) and a supporting role in “Fighting Back” (1982), a movie starring Tom Skerritt. He also played Reverend Howard Woode in the short film “Hellfire” and Jeff in the comedy film “Best Defense,” starring Dudley Moore and Eddie Murphy (both 1984).

After leaving “Ryan's Hope,” Rasche portrayed J.M. in the episode “Grade Expectation” of “Love, Sidney” and Robert Wellesly in an episode of “SCTV Network 90” called “Melonvote” (both 1982). He was then cast as Dr. David McKeeson, a nuclear terrorist, in the multiple Emmy winning dramatic film “Special Bulletin” (1983, directed by Edward Zwick), supported Marlo Thomas and Kris Kristofferson in the television film adaptation of German writer Heinrich Böll's book “The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum” (1984) and made guest appearances in a string of TV shows during 1985 and 1986, including “Sara,” “Miami Vice” and “Kate & Allie.”

Rasche scored his first lead role in a television series when he won the role of Sledge Hammer on ABC's “Sledge Hammer,” a satirical police situation comedy created by Alan Spencer. The show received praise from critics but struggled with the ratings and ran from September 23, 1986, to February 12, 1988. While on the show, Rasche also worked with Sylvester Stallone in the action movie “Cobra” (1986, directed by George P. Cosmatos), delivered a good performance as Buckley in the Jerrold Freedman directed drama “Native Son” (1986, starred Victor Love, Matt Dillon, Elizabeth McGovern, Geraldine Page and Oprah Winfrey), supported Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis in Alan Rudolph's “Made in Heaven” (1987) and appeared as Cal McGinnis in Bryan Gordon's short “Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall” (1987), which won an Academy Award for Best Short Film, Live Action. On stage, he earned kudos for his performance in the Broadway production of “Speed-the-Plow” (1988), which reunited him with playwright David Mamet. In the play, he replaced Ron Silver in the role of Charlie Fox. The remainder of the decade saw the actor work with Joaquin Phoenix and Kellie Martin in the made for TV film “Secret Witness” (1988), with Bette Davis in Larry Cohen's film ”Wicked Stepmother” (1989) and Tom Selleck and F. Murray Abraham in Peter Yates' “An Innocent Man” (1989).

In the early 1990s, Rasche played roles in the Daniel Raskov indie comedies “Wedding Band” and “Masters of Menace” (both 1990), costarred as Sheriff Kyle Lauder in the TV film “Silhouette” (1990, with Faye Dunaway), worked with Cindy Williams in director Matthew Robbins' adventure comedy “Bingo” (1991) and supported John Candy and Mariel Hemingway in the comedy “Delirious” (1991). In 1992, he landed a two episode role in “L.A. Law” (as David McCoy) and joined the cast of the NBC sitcom “Nurses,” a spin off of “Empty Nest.” As Jack Trenton, he made his debut appearance in the September 19, 1992, episode “Slime and Punishment” and stayed with the show until its finale.

Rasche next starred with Linda Hunt in the 1993 drama “Twenty Bucks,” teamed up with James Garner, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Riegert and Joanna Cassidy in the HBO film “Barbarians at the Gate” (1993), portrayed Chaz Frederick in the independent film “Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter” (1994) and supported Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers in the NBC movie “Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die” (1994). He then appeared as John Ramsey in an episode of “Burke's Law” called “Who Killed the Legal Eagle” and revisited the stage as a producer of “Jackie in Los Angeles,” his first stint as a producer (both 1994).

After the demise of “Nurses,” Rasche portrayed Peter Thomas in the CBS sitcom “High Society” (1995-1996), opposite Jean Smart and Mary McDonnell. Despite gathering good ratings, the show was canceled after 13 episodes. Rasche also acted in such films as Paul Rodriguez's comedy “A Million to Juan” (1994), the Oscar winning short “Lieberman in Love” (1995), which was directed by and starred actress Christine Lahti, “Signs and Wonders” (1995, TV), “A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Jealous Jokester” (1995, TV), “Magic in the Water” (1995), “Dead Weekend” (1995, TV), “Out There” (1995, TV) and “Pie in the Sky” (1996).

In 1997, Rasche was spotted on the New York stage playing a role in an off-Broadway revival of “Edmond,” a one act play written by David Mamet. The same year, he also played the second husband of Bette Midler in the comedy “That Old Feeling,” from director Carl Reiner, and guest starred in “Columbo.” He followed the performances with work in such films as “Tourist Trap” (1998, TV), “Pros & Cons” (1999), “Friends & Lovers” (1999), “The Settlement” (1999), “Hard Time: Hostage Hotel” (1999, TV) and “The Big Tease” (1999) and appeared in episodes of “Just Shoot Me” (1998, as Michael Tenzer), “Grown Ups” (1999, as Kenny Daniels) and “The West Wing” (1999, as Carl).

Entering the new millennium, Rasche landed a recurring role in the Brooke Shields comedy series “Suddenly Susan” (4 episodes, 2000) and portrayed President Whitman in the short lived sitcom “DAG” (2000-2001). He then guest starred in “The Lot,” “For Your Love” (both 2001), “Providence,” “MDs” (both 2002), “Malcolm in the Middle,” “She Spies,” “Robbery Homicide Division,” “Monk” (all 2003), “Las Vegas” (2004) and “The Book of Daniel” (2006). On the movie front, Rasche played Elliot Chevron in the comedy “Teddy Bears' Picnic” (2002, written and directed by Harry Shearer), the father of Ashley Judd in Callie Khouri's adaptation of Rebecca Wells' novel “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” (2002, starred Ellen Burstyn, Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd, Fionnula Flanagan, James Garner, Maggie Smith and Shirley Knight), Mr. McNerney in the Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy romantic comedy “Just Married” (2003, directed by Shawn Levy), Warren Ward in the comedy “Exposed” (2003, with Brenda Strong and Tate Donovan), Dr. Martin Shutte in Robert Mickelson's “Off the Lip” (2004, starred Marguerite Moreau) and General Perkins in the direct to video “Junior Pilot” (2005). He also portrayed Phil in director/writer Irving Schwartz's “Perception” (2005, starred Piper Perabo) and appeared in the comedy film “The L.A. Riot Spectacular” (2005), starring Snoop Dogg.

In 2006, Rasche was cast as President Ballentine in the thriller “The Sentinel,” which starred Michael Douglas and was directed by Clark Johnson, memorably portrayed the dead Donald Greene, one of the heroic passengers of doomed Flight 93, in “United 93,” which was written, co-produced and directed by Paul Greengrass, and appeared in Clint Eastwood's “Flags of Our Fathers,” which starred Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Barry Pepper and Jamie Bell. In “The Girl in the Park” (2007), a drama written and directed by David Auburn that starred Sigourney Weaver, he landed the supporting role of Doug.

In February 2008, Rasche joined the cast of the ABC soap opera “All My Children” in the role of Robert Gardener. He appeared in 38 episodes and remained with the show until May 2008. In September that year, he was cast as CIA Officer Palmer DeBakey Smith in the Coen Brothers film “Burn After Reading,” opposite George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt and John Malkovich. The same year, he returned to Broadway as the star of “To Be or Not to Be,” a remake of the 1942 film of the same name. Written by Nick Whitby and directed by Casey Nicholaw, the production was closed after two months. Costars of the play included Peter Benson, Peter Maloney and Jan Maxwell.

In 2009, Rasche portrayed Dr. Steven Miller in the TV film “Can Openers,” Alan in “Peter and Vandy,” a dramatic film by Jay DiPietro, Thomas Sparrow in Garrett Bennett's “Crimes of the Past” and Marshall in “Olhos azuis,” which premiered at the Festival Paulínia de Cinema in Brazil on July 14, 2009. In “In the Loop” (2009), an Academy Award nominated British comedy directed by Armando Iannucci, he played Linton Barwick and shared a 2010 Chlotrudis Award for his work. Costars of the film included Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Gina McKee, James Gandolfini, Chris Addison, Anna Chlumsky, Paul Higgins, Steve Coogan and Olivia Poulet. On television, after guest starring as Joe Delaney in “Law & Order” (episode “Anchors Away”), Rasche joined the cast of the hit series “Ugly Betty” in the recurring role of Calvin Hartley. He appeared in 10 episodes from April 2009 to January 2010. He also played Bart Peaslee in three episodes of “Sherri” (2009).

In February 2010, Rasche appeared in an episode of “The Bonnie Hunt Show.” He will also portray James Wheeler in the TV film “Rubicon,” which should be broadcasted on August 1, 2010.

Awards:

• Chlotrudis: “In the Loop,” 2010