Alan Rachins, Emmy-nominated actor from ‘L.A. Law’ and ‘Dharma & Greg,’ dies at 82

Alan Rachins, Emmy-nominated actor from 'L.A. Law' and 'Dharma & Greg,' dies at 82

As a long-time fan of Alan Rachins, I can say his life was nothing short of extraordinary. From his humble beginnings in Brookline, Massachusetts to gracing the stages of Broadway and off-Broadway, Alan’s journey was one for the books. His talent shone brightest on our television screens as Douglas Brackman Jr. in “L.A. Law” and Larry Finkelstein in “Dharma & Greg.


Actors Alan Rachins, best known for his roles on ‘L.A. Law’ and ‘Dharma & Greg’, passed away at the age of 82.

On Saturday, Rachins passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center due to heart complications. His family confirmed this to The Times, stating that he passed away tranquilly in his sleep.

Lately, Alan has been appearing as a guest star on shows like ‘NCIS’ and ‘Young Sheldon,’ which he enjoys greatly.” The family expresses their gratitude for all the warm feelings being shown.

Rachins made a name for himself by entering the entertainment world through Broadway and off-Broadway performances. He gained popularity as a cast member on the NBC legal series “L.A. Law,” which aired from 1986 to 1994 and was centered around a fictional law firm in Los Angeles, McKenzie, Brackman, Chaney, and Kuzak.

In the series, Rachins’ character, Douglas Brackman Jr., who is a senior partner known for his swagger, received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. His father co-founded the law firm. Speaking about himself on the show, Brackman said: “I never realized how much I resemble my dad. I aspired to be the lawyer he was, the man he was. It seems we both share a taste for infidelity,” is a famous line from the show.

Rachins’ character was one that fans found themselves rooting against, and they frequently voiced this sentiment. In response, he said, “I’d just say, ‘Thank you,'” in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2014. He speculated that the show’s co-creator, Steven Bochco (who was also Rachins’ brother-in-law in real life), made Brackman such a womanizer because “he was so reserved, he needed some outlets.

In the popular sitcom “Dharma & Greg,” Rachins loosened up a bit more by undoing a few buttons as he portrayed Larry Finkelstein, the counter-culture father of the show’s lead character Dharma Finkelstein. Known for his 1960s radical persona and love for spreading conspiracy theories, Larry appears in numerous beloved episodes such as “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Father” from Season 1.

On Instagram, Jenna Elfman, a star from “Dharma & Greg,” expressed her sentiments on Sunday: “Our dearest Alan Rachins, you will be deeply missed. You were the ideal ‘Larry Finkelstein’ for my ‘Dharma,’ and we couldn’t have asked for anyone better.

Alan Rachins, born on October 3, 1942, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, spent his early years in Brookline, Massachusetts. He chose to study at the University of Pennsylvania’s business school, Wharton, for two years, but against his father’s wishes, he decided to leave to pursue a career in acting instead.

In 1967, Rachins stepped onto the Broadway stage for the first time in “After the Rain,” and he was among the inaugural cast of the provocative off-Broadway sensation “Oh! Calcutta,” which combined elements of a play and a musical, and was entirely nude, in 1969.

In an interview with The New York Times during the show’s 50th anniversary, Rachins expressed, “You weren’t simply unclothed; you were exposed and vulnerable.” He added that he personally felt “extremely exposed and vulnerable” himself.

Between the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rachins took a break from acting to delve into TV scriptwriting for shows like “Knight Rider,” “Hill Street Blues,” and “Hart to Hart.” He resurfaced on screen in 1985 with a starring role in the independent film “Always,” which eventually paved the way for his casting in “L.A. Law.

1978 saw the marriage of Rachins and Joanna Frank, his co-star from “L.A. Law”. They had met a year earlier in an acting class. Besides Joanna, he also leaves behind their son, Robert.

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2024-11-04 23:34

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