Dick O'Neill Movies
American character actor Dick O'Neill began showing up in films in 1961. Most of O'Neill's movie roles were in the supporting category, e.g. his portrayal of Sol Zuckermann in The Buddy Holly Story. His extensive TV credits include recurring roles on at least four weekly series. Dick O'Neill was seen as Judge Praetor D. Hardcastle in Rosetti and Ryan (1977), street-smart Malloy in Kaz (1978), corporate vice president Arthur Broderick in Empire (1984), and Fred Wilkinson in the 1987 episodes of Falcon Crest. Fans of the detective series Cagney and Lacey will remember O'Neill for playing Charlie Cagney. Before entering film and television, O'Neill was a well established supporting actor on the New York stage where he appeared on and off Broadway. In the early '50s, O'Neill was a charter member of the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. For the last seven years of his life, O'Neill served on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Screening Committee. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A vigilante judge administers final justice to crooks in this crime drama that is comprised of a trio of episodes from a television action series of the same title.
- 1997
Filmed in Vancouver, this Hallmark Hall of Fame takes place during the '70s in the U.S. After the death of her mother, Charlotte (Glynis O'Connor), 10-year-old Ellen Foster (Jena Malone, who narrates) suffers abuse from her alcoholic father (Ted Levine) and is ill-treated by her maternal aunts Nadine (Debra Monk) and Betsy (Barbara Garrick) and also by Nadine's mean daughter Dora (Kimberly Brown). Ellen is sent to live with her grief-stricken grandmother Leonora (Julie Harris), but her problems continue since the mean-spirited Leonora blames Ellen for Charlotte's death. Harry Nilsson's song, "Remember Christmas," is featured. This TV movie premiered December 14, 1997 on CBS. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Julie Harris, Jena Malone, (more)
- 1996
Even though it has taken Alan (William Russ) twenty years to decide to give up the grocery business, wife Amy (Betsy Randle) chastizes him for making a "rush decision" by quitting his job. With this in mind, no one is more surprised than Amy when she chooses to change the course of her life as well--and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Mr. and Mrs. Matthews decide to purchase a camping-supply store and go in business for themselves. Meanwhile, Eric (Will Friedle) makes a concerted effort to improve his chances of eventually entering college. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Made for television, The Unspoken Truth is the factual story of Brianne Hawkins (Lea Thompson), who after enduring a lifetime of abuse at the hands of her family marries the even more abusive Clay Hawkins (James Marshall). Given to beating his wife at the slightest provocation, Clay finally goes completely over the edge when he shoots and kills a man who had the temerity to speak to Brianne without Clay's permission. Thinking quickly for a change, Clay persuades Brianne to take the rap for the killing, whereupon she complicity (if not willingly) concocts an elaborate story as to how she shot the man accidentally. Not only do the authorities refuse to swallow this fabrication, but they end up sending both Clay and Brianne to prison for life! Only when the future of her daughter, Lily (Karis Paige Bryant), is jeopardized does the long-suffering Brianne finally work up the courage to fight for her freedom and her long-denied fundamental rights as a human being. A shocking mid-film revelation elevates this story from the usual battered-wife TV-movie syndrome. Filmed on location in Austin, TX, The Unspoken Truth originally aired September 24, 1995, on NBC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lea Thompson, Patricia Kalember, (more)
- 1994
In a savage spoof of the "Barney the Dinosaur" craze, Will (Will Smith) takes little Nicky (Ross Bagley) to a kids' concert so the youngster can meet his TV idol, Dougie the Whale. Unfortunately, the costumed actor (Monty Hoffman) playing Dougie is a surly jerk who hasn't exactly got a handle on the characters' perennially sunny, optimistic disposition. Confronting "Dougie" for his bad attitude, Will ends up punching the actor...thereby becoming "persona non grata" so far as Nicky is concerned. Meanwhile, it is Hilary (Karyn Parsons) vs. Leeza Gibbons over a highly coveted parking space. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1994
While cleaning out their apartment, Paul (Paul Reiser) and Jamie (Helen Hunt) come across a bundle of WWII-era love letters written by the former tenants. Sentimental Jamie believes that the story told in these tender missives has a spiritual connection with the relationship between herself and Paul. But Jamie is in for a surprise when she tracks down the now-elderly authors of the letters. Jerry Adler makes his first series appearance as apartment superintendent Mr. Wicker (though the actor had previously shown up in different roles). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The third and final season of Dark Justice finds ex-cop Nick Marshall (Bruce Abbott) continuing to lead his double life as a respected judge by day, and a leather-jacket vigilante by night. Using an admirably variety of stings and scams, Marshall and his team of "Night Watchmen"--Moon (Dick O'Neill), Gibs (Clayton Prince), Kelly (Janet Gunn) and sometimes Kari-Lynn (Joanne Haas)--succeed in tracking down and trapping criminals who have otherwise escaped prosecution via legal technicalities and loopholes. Added to the cast this season is sexy Samantha "Sam" Collins (Elisa Heinsohn), replacing Tara McDonald (who departed the show in Season Two to relocate to Boston) as Mitchell's super-efficient secretary and researcher. In addition to offering the series' first two-part episode, "In Cover of Darkness", the series also follows traditional lines by pitting the Night Watchmen against such adversaries as a crooked doctor, a homicidal novelist, and a game-playing serial killer. Guest stars this season include Erik Estrada, Mary-Margaret Humes, Peter Haskell, Edward Albert, Kent McCord and Anne Francis. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Abbott, Dick O'Neill, (more)
- 1993
This made-for-cable version of Arthur Miller's play The American Clock was adapted for television by Frank Galati. Inspired partly by Studs Terkel's oral history Hard Times, and partly by Miller's own recollections, the film is set at the beginning of the Depression. When the stock market crashes, the well-to-do Baumler family (John Rubinstein, Mary McDonnell, Loren Dean) loses everything. The Baumlers are forced to move from their plush penthouse apartment to the less-attractive Brooklyn digs of Mrs. Baumler's sister (Joanna Miles). Twelve-year-old Lee Baumler (Dean), the Arthur Miller counterpart, hits the road to find out how others are coping with the Long National Nightmare. The alternately depressing and uplifting storyline moves along briskly to a surprisingly abrupt climax. Kelly Preston, David Strathairn, Eddie Bracken, Darren McGavin, and Estelle Parson co-star in The American Clock, which premiered over the TNT Cable Network on August 23, 1993. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Moving its production unit from Spain to Hollywood for its second season, Dark Justice serves up 22 new episodes in which the benevolent vigilante group The Night Watchman, secretly commandeered by Judge Nick Marshall, mete out punishment to criminals who have otherwise evaded capture by using the intricacies of the legal system for their own advantage. This year, Bruce Abbott replaces Ramy Zada in the leading role of Judge Marshall, though Dick O'Neill and Clayton Prince return as the Judge's versatile operatives Moon and Gibs. Also carried over from season one is Carrie-Ann Moss as Marshall's faithful "Girl Friday" Tara, though she would only appear in a handful of episodes. New to the Night Watchman team is sexy private eye Kelly Cochrane (Janet Gunn), who tumbles to Marshall's secret identity but who joins his team after he tracks down the "dirty cops" who have ganged-raped her right outside the Federal courthouse. Another new face is that of Joanne Haas as Kari-Lynn, a toothsome waitress who occasionally assists the Night Watchmen in their various schemes and scams. The move from Spain to Tinseltown enables the producers to hire more easily recognizable actors for guest-star appearances. Among those showing up in Season Two of Dark Justice are Elyssa Davalos,Erin Gray, andahl Bergman, David Groh, Joseph Campanella, Priscilla Barnes and Lauren Tewes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Abbott, Dick O'Neill, (more)
- 1992
Based on a true story, this is the tale of three women who join forces to get revenge on the handsome con man whose investment scheme cost them thousands of dollars. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- 1991
A Spanish-American coproduction, the 60-minute action-adventure series Dark Justice was initially filmed in Barcelona, Spain, but set in a large Manhattan-like American metropolis. Ramy Zada originally headed the cast as Nicholas Marshall, a youthful ex-cop turned judge who had lost faith in the legal system after his family was killed in a car bombing meant for him. Determined to make criminals who'd slipped through the fingers of the law via legal loopholes and technicalites (many of them in his own courtroom), Judge Marshall led a double life: Distinguished jurist by day, leather-jacketed, motorcycle-riding vigilante by night. Working in concert with his covert "Night Watchman" team, Marshall entrapped a number of "untouchable" criminals, not so much by violence but by concocting elaborate sting operations in which the greedy villains would be foiled by their own gullibility. He was assisted in his mission by two super-efficient (and gorgeous) secretary-researchers, Tara McDonald (Carrie-Ann Moss) and Samantha "Sam" Collins (Elisa Heinsohn). Though Marshall and his Night Watchmen risked being arrested themselves for their nobly motivated by underhanded tactics, their results proved quite satisfactory to crusading DA Ken Horton (Kit Kincannon), who of course was totally ignorant of Judge Marshall's dual identity. During Season One, Marshall's team of confederates included Dick O'Neill as ex-forger and counterfeiter Arnold "Moon" Willis and Clayton Prince as special-effects maestro Jerico "Gibs" Gibson. Begona Plaza was seen in the first seven episodes as female adventuress Catalina "Cat" Duran, and when Cat was killed her place in Marshall's team was taken by the equally voluptuous Vivian Vives as Maria Marti. Dark Justice moved production from Barcelona to Los Angeles beginning with Season Two, at which point Bruce Abbott took over from Ramy Zada as Nicholas Marshall. Of the supporting cast, all but Vivian Vives were carried over in the American version: New additions to the Night Watchman roster were beauteous private eye Kelly Cochran (Janet Gunn) and versatile waitress Keri-Ann (Joanna Haas). In the United States, the 66-episode Dark Justice was seen as part of CBS' late-night "Crime Time in Prime Time" rotation from April 5, 1991 through April 14, 1994. The series was created by Jeff Freilich, who also served as executive producer and also wrote the theme music. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ramy Zada, Dick O'Neill, (more)
- 1988
In this romantic comedy, a grocery store employee endeavors to attract the attention of a wealthy playboy by pretending to be a high society girl. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
In a film originally made for television, a detective accidentally involves himself with a female con artist who is planning a $12 million diamond robbery. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Ben's 12th birthday party is put on hold when Maggie (Joanna Kerns) goes into labor--two weeks overdue. As the family rushes to the hospital in eager anticipation, Ben (Jeremy Miller) feels more crowded and left out than ever. But in the end, he manages to reaffirm his importance in the Seaver household with the help of a man named Chris (Dick O'Neill). (Trivia alert: To keep the gender of the new Seaver baby a secret from the public, the series' producers filmed two different endings for this episode). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
It is said that the infamous Revolutionary War traitor Bendedict Arnold once stayed in a now-dilapidated Cabot Cove house. When the house's owner dies, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is named executor of the will. This proves to be a formidable task when rumors begin spreading that a valuable treasure--so valuable that someone is willing to commit murder--has been hidden somewhere in the house. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1988
Christine (Markie Post) is miffed to learn that the Night Court staff has agreed to attend her anniversary party for Prince Charles and Princess Diana only because Harry (Harry Anderson) ordered them to. She much prefers the company of Bob (George DelHoyo), an affable fellow who is at the party on his own volition. Unfortunately, Bob turns out to be in the Federal Witness Protection Program--and the Mob has just caught up with him! The "best", however, is reserved for last, when a certain Prominent Person makes an unbilled--and unseen and unheard--cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1986
In this melodramatic made-for-television romance, a Singapore financier falls in love with the daughter of a powerful smuggler. The film is a remake of a popular "B" movie from the '30s. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bruce Boxleitner, Barbara Hershey, (more)
- 1986
In this drama, a formerly famous star returns from an insane asylum and tries to make a comeback. Despite the objections of her teen-age son, the woman embarks upon a risky romance with a dashing stranger. The story is based on a novel by James Kirkwood. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This made-for-TV effort from horror director Wes Craven and Salem's Lot producer Richard Kobritz involves a case of cryogenic suspension gone horribly wrong. A wealthy industrialist (Michael Beck) arranges for his body to be kept on ice in a high-tech cryonic chamber with specialized instructions regarding his revival at a future date when medical science can restore him to life. Thanks to a computer malfunction, these instructions are not followed properly, and Beck emerges from the frozen crypt as an empty, soulless creature and a vessel of pure evil with an appetite for destruction. So evil, in fact, that his own mother (Beatrice Straight) decides he must be destroyed and sets out to do the deed herself. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1985
Cliff's long-estranged father (Dick O'Neill) comes into Cheers with a vital message. Still seething over the fact that his dad abandoned him years earlier, Cliff (John Ratzenberger) refuses to identify himself. But the elder Clavin knows just the right buttons to push, and push them he does. Meanwhile, Sam (Ted Danson) tries to keep his new date from meeting Diane (Shelley Long). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1984
In this drama, a lady lawyer's campaign to become state attorney general is jeopardized by a scandal involving a gigolo, extortion and even murder. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1983
The wealthy MacKenzie family controls a vast business concern which is being systematically robbed by "person or persons unkown." In order to root out the culprit, the company's CEO hires Magnum (Tom Selleck) to work undercover. This strategy obliges the matrimony-phobic Magnum to go through with a sham marriage to the CEO's niece, Marsha MacKenzie (Katherine Cannon--who turns out to have some very unorthodox views about wedded life in general and husbands in particular! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1982
The 4077th competes with a tough Marine Unit in a winner-take-all bowling tournament. What the MASH folks don't know is that the Leathernecks have improved their chances by recruting a pro bowler. All of this means very little to Hawkeye (Alan Alda), who anxiously awaits news of the outcome of his father's emergency operation back home. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1979
Based on the best-selling book by William Stevenson, this three-part NBC miniseries begins in 1939, just before the outbreak of WWII. With his warnings of Hitler's treachery going ignored, out-of-power politician Winston Churchill (Nigel Stock) approaches patriotic Canadian industrialist Sir William Stephenson (David Niven) with an unusual request. Sir William is asked to use his own funds to secretly organize an Allied espionage network, to be set in motion the moment Hitler shows his hand. Joining in this covert operation is American president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who, risking possible impeachment, encourages Sir William to establish a training base for spies in Ontario. Other concerned parties include the courageous French expatriate Madelaine (Barbara Hershey) and Sir William's right-hand man Evan Michaelain (Michael York). Location-filmed in England, Norway, and Canada, A Man Called Intrepid was originally broadcast from May 20 to 22, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Niven, Michael York, (more)
- 1979
Missing his own wife and children B.J. (Mike Farrell) becomes a surrogate father for an impoverished Korean family. In fact, B.J. spends so much time with his "adoptive" clan that he begins neglecting his duties at the 4077th--not to mention his own health. A climactic medical crisis brings B.J. back to earth, but there is a profound price to pay emotionally. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
