Tribute to Richard Jaeckel - 1926-1997
I've long admired actors referred to as "journeymen", meaning that they've acted in a large number of movies, but never been a star. They are the faces we see for many years, often without ever knowing their names. One of those actors, appearing for an impressive 50+ years in movies and on television, was Richard Jaeckel, who never seemed to grow old. I've gathered information about Jaeckel from a variety of websites, and pieced together a more complete filmography than I could find from any single source. Here are a few photos from his movies.


         


Come Back, Little Sheba - 1952   3:10 to Yuma - 1957   Nightmare in the Sun - 1964   Harper??? - 1966   The Green Slime - 1968   The Kill??? - 1973

Walking Tall - pt. 2 - 1975   Mako: the Jaws of Death - 1976   Mako: the Jaws of Death - 1976   Day of the Animals- 1977 Black Moon Rising - 1986

Richard Hanley Jaeckel was born on October 10, 1926 in Long Beach, New York. He was married to Antoinette Marches. They had 2 sons. One of his sons, Barry is a former touring PGA golfer. Richard died of cancer on June 14, 1997 in Woodland Hills, California.

Richard had a pretty impressive credits resume. His many films included 'Martial Outlaw' as Mr. White in 1993, 'The King of the Kickboxers' in 1991 as Captain O' Day and 'Delta Force 2: Operation Stranglehold' in 1990 as John Page. He also appeared in the TV movie, 'The Supercarrier' as master chief Sam Rivers in 1988, 'Black Moon Rising' in 1986 as Earl Wisdom, 'Maquina de matar' in 1986, 'The Dirty Dozen: The Next Mission' as Sgt. Bowren in 1985 and 'Pacific Inferno' in 1985.

In 1984 he appeared in 'The Fix', 'Starman' in 1984, 'Airplane II: The Sequel' as Controller #2 in 1982, 'Blood Song' in 1982, 'Cold River' in 1992, '?All the Marbles' in 1981, The TV movie 'Awakening of Candra' in 1981, 'Mr. No Legs' in 1981 and 'The $5.20 an Hour Dream' in 1980.

Some of his 1970 movies are the miniseries 'Centennial' in 1978, the movie 'Go west, Young Girl' in 1978, 'The Drowning Pool' in 1975 and 'The Last Day' in 1975.

He will always be in the hearts of the 'Baywatch' fans around the world for his wonderful portrayal of Lieutenant Ben Edwards on the syndicated show from the 2nd through the 4th seasons. He also was in the show's pilot movie, 'Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier'/NBC as Al.

His other works include 'Walking Tall Part II' in 1975 as Stud Pardee, Firehouse in 1972 as Hank Myers, 'The Green Slime' as Vince Elliot in 1969, 'The Dirty Dozen' as Sgt. Bowren in 1967, 'Once Before I Die' in 1965, 'Cowboy' in 1958 as Paul Curtis, '3:10 to Yuma' in 1957 as Charlie Prince, 'Big Leaguer' in 1953 as Bobby Bronson, 'Come Back, Little Sheba' in 1952 as Turk Fisher, 'The Gunfighter' in 1950 as Eddie, 'Fighting Coast Guard' in 1951, 'Battleground' in 1949 as Bettis, 'Jungle Patrol' in 1948 as Dick and 'Guadalcanal Diary in 1943 as Pvt. Johnny 'Chicken' Anderson.

Richard has made many notable TV guest appearances on shows as 'Murder She Wrote' in 1984, 'Charlie's Angeles' in 1976, 'Cannon' in 1971, 'The F.B.I.' in 1965, 'Mission Impossible' in 1966, 'The Time Tunnel' in 1966, 'Gunsmoke' in 1955, and the 'Wild, Wild West' in 1965. He also appeared on 'Temple Houston' in 1963, 'Combat!' in 1962, 'Wagon Train' in 1957, 'The Untouchables' in 1959, 'Zane Grey Theater' in 19 56 and 'The Rebel' in 1959.

His TV series included Baywatch for 3 seasons as Lieutenant Ben Edwards, 'Supercarrier' in 1988 in which he reprised his movie role of Chief Sam Rivers, 'Spenser for Hire' in 1985 as Lt. Martin Quirk, 'At Ease in 1983 as Major Hawkins and 'Salvage 1' as Jack Klinger in 1979. He starred in 'Banyon' as Police Lt. Pete McNeil.

   Jaeckel's filmography - 81 movies over 53 years
  • Blood Song (1996)
  • Born Innocent (1994)
  • Martial Outlaw (1993)
  • The King of the Kickboxers (1991)
  • Delta Force 2 (1990)
  • Ghettoblaster (1989)
  • Supercarrier (1988)
  • Black Moon Rising (1986)
  • Dirty Dozen, The - The Next Mission (1985)
  • Pacific Inferno (1985)
  • The Fix (1984)
  • Starman (1984)
  • The Awakening of Candra (1983)
  • Airplane 2: The Sequel (1982)
  • Blood Song (1982)
  • All the Marbles (1981)
  • Cold River (1981)
  • Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
  • The $5.20 An Hour Dream (1980)
  • The Dark (1979)
  • Champions: A Love Story (1979)
  • Delta Fox (1979)
  • Speedtrap (1978)
  • Go West, Young Girl! (1978)
  • Day of the Animals (1977)
  • Speedtrap (1977)
  • Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977)
  • Pacific Inferno (1977)
  • Grizzly (1976)
  • Mako: the Jaws of Death (1976)
  • The Drowning Pool (1975)
  • Jaws of Death (1975)
  • Walking Tall: Pt. 2 (1975)
  • Chosen Survivors (1974)
  • Born Innocent (1974)
  • The Deadly Game (1974)
  • The Kill (1973)
  • Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973)
  • Surabaya Conspiracy (1973)
  • Firehouse (1973)
  • Outfit, The (1973)
  • Ulzana's Raid (1972)
  • Sometimes a Great Notion (1971)
  • The Deadly Dream (1971)
  • Never Give An Inch (1971)
  • Chisum (1970)
  • Latitude Zero (1970)
  • The Devil's Brigade (1968)
  • The Green Slime (1968)
  • Once Before I Die (1967)
  • Dirty Dozen, The (1967)
  • Nightmare in the Sun (1964)
  • Young And the Brave, The (1963)
  • 4 for Texas (1963)
  • Town Without Pity (1961)
  • The Gallant Hours (1960)
  • Flaming Star (1960)
  • Platinum High School (1960)
  • Cowboy (1958)
  • Lineup, The (1958)
  • The Naked and the Dead (1958)
  • When Hell Broke Loose (1958)
  • Gun Runners, The (1958)
  • 3:10 to Yuma (1957)
  • Attack (1956)
  • Smoke Jumpers (1956)
  • The Violent Men (1955)
  • Apache Ambush (1955)
  • Shanghai Story, The (1954)
  • Big Leaguer (1953)
  • Sea of Lost Ships (1953)
  • Hoodlum Empire (1952)
  • My Son John (1952)
  • Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)
  • Fighting Coast Guard (1951)
  • Sea Hornet, The (1951)
  • Wyoming Mail (1950)
  • Gunfighter, The (1950)
  • Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
  • Battleground (1949)
  • City Across the River (1949)
  • Jungle Patrol (1948)
  • A Wing and a Prayer (1944)
  • Guadalcanal Diary (1943)