‘L.A. Law’ Star, And Emmy Winner, Richard Dysart Dies At 86 After A Long Illness

Richard Dysart who was best known for his role as senior law partner Leland McKenzie on the hit show L.A Law, passed away at his home in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday afternoon. Dysart, 86, had been battling a long illness at the time of his death reports USA Today.

Richard A. Dysart was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 30, 1929. He joined the United States Air Force after graduating from high school and served four years during the Korean War.

Richard would start a very long film, television, and stage career after leaving the Air Force. The first movie that Dysart was featured in was the 1979 film Being There. In the movie, Dysart played a good-hearted physician. He also had roles in the horror movie The Thing, Clint Eastwood’s Pale Rider, and Back To The Future III.

Disney would get the opportunity to have Dysart voice the role of Uncle Pom in the English-language version of the 1986 adventure movie Castle In The Sky. When Dysart decided to make his move to Broadway, he landed a huge role as Coach in the Pulitzer Prize-winning production of That Championship Season. According to Deadline, Dysart would play the role he originated for 500 performances, and he won a Drama Desk Award in 1972.

In 1965 Dysart joined the American Conservatory Theater and became one of its founding members before the theater finally settled in San Francisco.

Richard would land the role he became most well known for in 1986 when he got the lead part in the Steven Bochco series, L.A. Law. Dysart played the calm and level-headed lawyer that was at the head of the firm McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney and Kuzak for the entire run of the show, 1986-1994. During his time on L.A. Law, Dysart was nominated for four Emmy Awards, and in 1992 he finally took the trophy home for his portrayal of McKenzie.

The scene from L.A. Law that will always stand out in the mind of the show’s fans, was when the cool demeanored McKenzie was found in bed with his competitor Rosalind Shays, played by actress Diana Muldaur. That scene was ranked as the 38th greatest moment in television by an issue of Egg Magazine.

Dysart married his third wife, Kathryn Jacobi, in 1987, and remained married until the time of his death. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that you make donations to the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, an outdoor theater in Topanga Canyon, California.