Richard Gilliland

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Richard Gilliland
Gilliland in a promotional photo for Operation Petticoat
Born(1950-01-23)January 23, 1950
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 18, 2021(2021-03-18) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active1974–2021
Spouse
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2

Richard Gilliland (January 23, 1950 – March 18, 2021) was an American television and movie actor, best known as JD Shackleford in Designing Women (1986–1992).

Life and career[edit]

Gilliland was born in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended high school in Overland Park, Kansas (Shawnee Mission South High School), graduating in 1968. He was active in plays and musicals.

He married actress Jean Smart in 1987. They met while working on the set of Designing Women (he played J. D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of Annie Potts' character, Mary Jo Shively). They have two sons, Connor Douglas (born 1989)[1] and Forrest (adopted from China in May 2009).[2]

Gilliland first appeared onscreen in the 1970s. His notable appearances include The Waltons, Thirtysomething, Party of Five, Little Women, and a recurring role on Designing Women (where he met Smart, who starred as Charlene in that series). He played Ellis Kapp on The Unit and Captain Stan Cotter on 24.[3] He also had a recurring role as serial killer Jeffrey Speidel in the NBC series Matlock.

Gilliland played Captain Stan Cotter on 24 during season five, while his wife Jean Smart played First Lady Martha Logan in the same season.[4]

He died following a short illness in Los Angeles, California, on March 18, 2021, at the age of 71.[5][6]

Select TV and filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Jean Smart- Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  2. ^ Etienne, Vanessa; Gauk-Roger, Topher (February 28, 2022). "Jean Smart Says Being a Single Mother Has Been 'Unimaginable': 'Hardest Thing I've Ever Done'". PEOPLE.com.
  3. ^ "Richard Gilliland – Call Me Crazy: A Five Film Official Movie Site". Lifetime. April 20, 2013. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 2, 2007). "Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland Will Read Love Letters Feb. 10-11". Playbill. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  5. ^ Barnes, Mike (March 25, 2021). "Richard Gilliland, 'Designing Women' Actor and Husband of Jean Smart, Dies at 71". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Seemayer, Zach. "Richard Gilliland, Actor and Husband of Jean Smart, Dead at 71". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved March 26, 2021.

External links[edit]


Stub icon

This article about a United States film and television actor born in the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_Gilliland&oldid=1213272323"