Richard Kline (born April 29, 1944) is an American actor and television director. His roles include Larry Dallas on the sitcom Three's Company, Richie in the later seasons of It's a Living and Jeff Beznick in Noah Knows Best.
Early life
Kline was born on April 29, 1944 in New York City. He was raised in Queens by parents who practiced Reform Judaism. He attended Queens College and has a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater from Northwestern University. After graduation, he joined the United States Army and served in Vietnam during the Vietnam War as a lieutenant.
Career
Kline became involved in theater and made his professional debut in 1971 as part of the Lincoln Center Repertory Company. Regional theater productions during this period included Chemin de Fer (in Chicago with actor Dennis Franz), Death of a Salesman, and Love's Labour's Lost. A classically trained singer, Kline made his Broadway career debut in the 1989 musical City of Angels.
On Three's Company, Kline played Larry Dallas, a sleazy playboy neighbor, used car salesman, and best friend to John Ritter's Jack Tripper.
In February 2010, he was cast as the Wizard in the first national tour of Wicked.
Kline was seen next in October 2011 in It Shoulda Been You, directed by David Hyde Pierce and starring Tyne Daly.
Kline played Kid Twist in the Paper Mill Playhouse world premiere production of The Sting starring Harry Connick Jr. which ran April 8–29, 2018. In December 2018, he joined the national tour of the musical Waitress through August 2019. He reprised the role in the Broadway cast in July 2019.
Selected filmography
- Executive Suite (TV) (1976) Herb Lavin
- Serpico (TV) (1976) - Herschel
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show (TV) (1976) - Prosecutor
- Eight Is Enough (TV) (1977) - Mr. Corelli
- Fernwood 2 Night (TV) (2 episodes, 1977) - Dr. Stanley Turnbull
- Seventh Avenue (TV) (1977) - Horton
- Maude (TV) (3 episodes, 1977–78) - Tuggy McKenna
- Three's Company (TV) (110 episodes, 1977–84) - Larry Dallas
- America 2 Night (TV) (1978) - Dr. Stanley Turnbull
- The Ropers (TV) (1979) - Larry Dallas
- Whew! (TV) (1979, 1980) - Himself
- The Love Boat (TV) (1981)
- Peter-No-Tail (1981) - Bill (US version)
- Three's a Crowd (TV) (1985) - Larry Dallas
- Hotel (TV) (1985) - Gerald Phelps
- It's a Living (TV) (9 episodes, 1985–88) - Richie Gray
- You Again? (TV) (1986) Geraldo
- Murder, She Wrote (TV) (1986) - Larry Kinkaid
- Hill Street Blues (TV) (1987) - Arnold Resnick
- The Law & Harry McGraw (TV) (1987) - Stanley Kaufman
- St. Elsewhere (TV) (1987) - Michael
- Hunter (TV) (1987) - Michael Edleton
- Matlock (TV) (1988) - The Umpire
- Problem Child (1990) - Additional Voice (voice)
- Father Dowling Mysteries (TV) (1991) - Harold Berman
- NYPD Blue (TV) (1993)
- L.A. Law (TV) (1994) - Mr. Pembrook
- Family Matters (TV) (1995) - Mr. Fleming
- Step by Step (TV) (1995) - Mr. Sloan
- The Bold and the Beautiful (TV) (1995–96) - Dr. Mark Benson
- Married... with Children (TV) (1996) - Flint Guccione
- Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) - Driver
- The Nanny (TV) (1997) - Guest Appearance in Episode 04/24
- Treehouse Hostage (1999) - Principal Ott
- Liberty Heights (1999) - Charlie, Nate's Assistant
- That '70s Show (TV) (1999) - Ted
- Warm Blooded Killers (1999) - Ush
- Noah Knows Best (TV) (13 episodes, 2000) - Jeff Beznick
- Saving Silverman (2001) - Acrobat Announcer (voice, uncredited)
- Judging Amy (TV) (2001) - Daryl Hoeller
- Inside Schwartz (TV) (2002) - Gene Schwartz
- Gilmore Girls (TV) (2002) - Miles Hahn
- Jane White Is Sick & Twisted (2002) - Anchor Chris Jobin
- ER (TV) (2004) - Risk Assessment Expert
- NYPD Blue (TV) (2004) - Barry Driscoll
- Karroll's Christmas (2004) - Bradley Carchet
- To Kill a Mockumentary (TV) (2006)
- Knight to F4 (2005) - Truman Fetcher
- I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007) - Mr. Auerbach
- Jack and Jill (2011) - Theatergoer #1
- The Americans (2013-2016) three episodes - Bill Hanson
- Don't Think Twice (2016) - Mr. Coughlin
- Blue Bloods (TV) two episodes (2020, 2022) - Judge Angioli
- The Resident (TV) (2021) - George Criforth
- Around the Sun (2022–23) - MJ / Daniel
- The Mick and the Trick (2024)