John Harkins (actor)

Life and career

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Harkins began acting professionally in the mid-1950s on the Broadway stage after studying at the University of Iowa. A life member of The Actors Studio, Harkins appeared in productions of The Terrible Swift Sword, Good as Gold, and Mother Courage and Her Children, prior to making his television debut in a 1965 episode of The Trials of O'Brien. The next year, Harkins made his film debut in The Three Sisters, opposite Shelley Winters and Geraldine Page. From 1967 to 1970, he appeared in various roles on Dark Shadows, and appeared in guest roles on Harry O, and had roles in several television movies. In 1975, Harkins had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom Doc. He also appeared in "Chuckles Bites the Dust", a notable episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as the reverend.

During the 1980s, Harkins continued with roles in television and films appearing in Absence of Malice, starring Paul Newman, the 1983 horror film Amityville 3-D, and the 1984 television movie Concealed Enemies. From 1985 to 1987, he portrayed Bruce Mansfield, a recurring character on Cagney & Lacey (he later reprised the role in the 1994 television reunion movie Cagney & Lacey: The Return). In 1988, Harkins co-starred in the television adaptation of Inherit the Wind starring Jason Robards and Kirk Douglas, followed by a role in Slaves of New York. One of Harkins' last onscreen appearances was in the 1996 HBO film Crime of the Century.

Harkins died on March 5, 1999 in Portola Valley, California.