Years active 1962–2004 Name Ken Swofford | Role Film actor Spouse Barbee Biggs (m. 1958) | |
 | ||
Born July 25, 1933 (age 91) ( 1933-07-25 ) Du Quoin, Illinois, U.S. Occupation Actor, voice actor, script writer Children Sabrina Swofford, Brendan Swofford, Stephanie Swofford, Meemee Swofford, Stephan Swofford Parents Goldie Swofford, Howard Swofford Movies Thelma & Louise, Annie, Recess: School's Out, One Little Indian, A Case of Rape Similar People Vincent McEveety, Bernard McEveety, Ridley Scott, Sidney J Furie, Chuck Sheetz | ||
"Ellery Queen" Actor Ken Swofford 1933-2018 Memorial Video
Kenneth C. "Ken" Swofford (born July 25, 1933) is an American film and television actor often cast as villains or policemen.
Contents
Between 1962 and 1995, Swofford's film credits included Thelma and Louise, Skyjacked, Black Roses and The Andromeda Strain, while his TV career during the same period was prolific.
He appeared on such television series as Fame, Switch, The Oregon Trail, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, Murder, She Wrote, and as a cast member of the mystery series Ellery Queen.
Life and career
Born to Howard and Goldie Swofford on July 25, 1933, Ken Swofford graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in 1959 with a BS in theater.
In an interview in 1976 the distinctive, red headed actor described the advantages of an acting career as spending more time with his children and having the freedom to do any job. "If you're an actor, you can do anything. I have cleaned carpets, painted houses, worked on loading docks. It didn't bother me, because I could always act and enjoy myself."
He met and married Barbee Biggs in summer stock in 1958; the couple have children. In a Los Angeles Times interview in 1985 titled "Autistic Youth Thrives in Large, Loving Family", the Swoffords discussed bringing up their autistic son Brendan at home.
In 1989, Swofford was convicted of felony drunk driving and sentenced to 28 months in prison, after which he made a comeback and continued to work steadily until his apparently self-imposed retirement in 1995. In 2001, he supplied the voice of the coach in Recess: School's Out, and played Officer White in Teacher's Pet (2004), which was his last role before retiring permanently. He measures 1,84 meters.
Filmography
Actor
2018
Happy the Angry Polar Bear (Short) as
Happy the Polar Bear (voice)
2004
Teacher's Pet as
Officer White (voice)
2001
Recess: School's Out as
Coach (voice)
1995
Cops n Roberts
1994
Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) as
Rupert Leverton
- The Busy Body (1994) - Rupert Leverton
1985
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) as
Lt. Catalano / Alan Forsythe / Lt. Perry Catalano / ...
- A Christmas Secret (1992) - Alan Forsythe
- Where Have You Gone, Billy Boy? (1991) - Lt. Catalano
- Suspicion of Murder (1991) - Lt. Catalano
- Murder in F Sharp (1990) - Lt. Catalano
- The Great Twain Robbery (1990) - Lt. Catalano
- See You in Court, Baby (1990) - Lt. Perry Catalano
- Always a Thief (1990) - Lt. Catalano
- Truck Stop (1989) - Sheriff Tugman
- Steal Me a Story (1987) - Sid Sharkey
- Corned Beef and Carnage (1986) - Grover Barth
- Joshua Peabody Died Here- Possibly (1985) - Leo Kowalski
1992
Just Deserts (TV Movie) as
Alan
1991
Baywatch (TV Series) as
Lyle Connors
- Sea of Flames (1992) - Lyle Connors
- If Looks Could Kill (1991) - Lyle Connors
1992
Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (TV Movie) as
Charlie Tewksbury
1991
Matlock (TV Series) as
Ned Salem
- The Nightmare (1991) - Ned Salem
1991
The Taking of Beverly Hills as
Coach
1991
Stranger at My Door (TV Movie) as
Lt. McIvers
1991
Rewrite for Murder (TV Movie)
1991
The New Adam-12 (TV Series) as
Mr. Crebs
- Missing (1991) - Mr. Crebs
1991
Murder in High Places (TV Movie)
1991
Thelma & Louise as
Major
1990
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson (TV Movie)
1972
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Callahan / George Mackenzie / Patrol Officer
- Davy Crockett: Warrior's Farewell (1989) - Callahan
- The Sultan and the Rock Star (1980) - George Mackenzie
- The High Flying Spy: Part 1 (1972) - Patrol Officer
1988
Dallas (TV Series) as
Sheriff Burnside
- Yellow Brick Road (1989) - Sheriff Burnside
- Counter Attack (1989) - Sheriff Burnside
- Showdown at the Ewing Corral (1988) - Sheriff Burnside
- War and Love and the Whole Damned Thing (1988) - Sheriff Burnside
1989
Murphy's Law (TV Series) as
Max Corkle
- Never Wear Earmuffs in a Bed of Rattlesnakes (1989) - Max Corkle
1988
Black Roses as
Mayor Farnsworth
1988
The Highwayman (TV Series) as
The Mayor
- Billionaire Body Club (1988) - The Mayor
1982
Dynasty (TV Series) as
Lt. Holliman / Lieutenant
- Colorado Roulette (1988) - Lieutenant
- The Shakedown (1982) - Lt. Holliman
- The Fragment (1982) - Lt. Holliman
1988
The Wonder Years (TV Series) as
Al
- My Father's Office (1988) - Al
1988
Our House (TV Series) as
Baxter
- The Ashton Street Gang (1988) - Baxter
1982
Simon & Simon (TV Series) as
Chester Sullivan - SIA Liason / Chief of Security Warren Parton / Lloyd Getz
- Baja, Humbug (1988) - Chester Sullivan - SIA Liason
- Deep Water Death (1987) - Chief of Security Warren Parton
- Sometimes Dreams Come True (1982) - Lloyd Getz
1987
Highway to Heaven (TV Series) as
Jack Kelly
- In with the 'In' Crowd (1987) - Jack Kelly
1987
Ohara (TV Series) as
Crowley
- Artful Dodgers (1987) - Crowley
- Y' Wanna Live Forever? (1987) - Crowley
1987
The Law and Harry McGraw (TV Series)
- Murder by Landslide (1987)
1987
Max Headroom (TV Series) as
Gorrister
- Blipverts (1987) - Gorrister
1987
The Stepford Children (TV Movie) as
Frank Gregson
1987
Falcon Crest (TV Series) as
March Ridley
- The Cradle Will Fall (1987) - March Ridley
- When the Bough Breaks (1987) - March Ridley
1986
Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series) as
Mr. Davis
- It's in the Water (1986) - Mr. Davis
1986
Hunter's Blood as
Al Coleman
1986
Remington Steele (TV Series) as
Michael Harrigan
- Beg, Borrow or Steele (1986) - Michael Harrigan
1986
Knight Rider (TV Series) as
Nick O'Brien
- Knight of the Rising Sun (1986) - Nick O'Brien
1986
Blacke's Magic (TV Series) as
Captain Perry
- Address Unknown (1986) - Captain Perry
1985
Riptide (TV Series) as
Colonel Ryan
- Home for Christmas (1985) - Colonel Ryan
1983
Fame (TV Series) as
Quentin Morloch / Morloch / Jacob Marley
- Ebenezer Morloch (1985) - Quentin Morloch / Jacob Marley
- Broadway Danny Amatullo (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- His Majesty Donlon (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- Savage Streets (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- White Light (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- Selling Out (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Bronco Bob Rides Again (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Leroy and the Kid (1985) - Morloch
- A Place to Belong (1985) - Morloch
- The Ol' Ball Game (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Who Am I, Really (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Reflections (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Wishes (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Coco Returns (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- Team Work (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- Danny De Bergerac (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Parent's Week (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Take My Wife- Please (1985) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- Tomorrow's Children (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- Dreams (1985) - Quentin Morloch
- The Rivalry (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- The Ballad of Ray Claxton (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- The Return of Doctor Scorpio (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- The Monster That Devoured Las Vegas (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Blizzard (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Nothing Personal (1984) - Quentin Morloch (credit only)
- I Never Danced for My Father (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Spontaneous Combustion (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Czech-Mate (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Indian Summer (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- The Home Front (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Heritage (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Signs (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Home Again (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- The Deal (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- A Friend in Need (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Catch a Falling Star (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Sheer Will (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Stages (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- A Way of Winning (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Lisa's Song (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Bottle of Blues (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Appearances (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Equals (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Secrets (1984) - Quentin Morloch
- Break Dance (1983) - Quentin Morloch
- Consequences (1983) - Quentin Morloch
- Rules (1983) - Quentin Morloch
- Knockout (1983) - Quentin Morloch
- Hail to the Chief (1983) - Quentin Morloch
- Gonna Learn How to Fly: Part 2 (1983) - Quentin Morloch
- Gonna Learn How to Fly: Part 1 (1983) - Quentin Morloch
1985
Terror at London Bridge (TV Movie) as
Ed Nebel
1985
The A-Team (TV Series) as
Park Ranger Roy Sherman
- Incident at Crystal Lake (1985) - Park Ranger Roy Sherman
1985
Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series) as
Chuck Foster
- The Game You Learn from Your Father (1985) - Chuck Foster
1983
Insight (TV Series) as
Paul Gates
- The Breadwinner (1983) - Paul Gates
1983
Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (TV Movie) as
Witchita Pike
1983
The Rousters (TV Series)
- A Picture's Worth a Thousand Dollars (1983)
- Finders Keepers (1983)
- The Marshal of Sladetown (1983)
1983
Knots Landing (TV Series) as
Sheriff Pickett
- Nowhere to Run (1983) - Sheriff Pickett
1983
Lottery! (TV Series)
- Being a Winner (1983)
1983
I Want to Live (TV Movie) as
Sgt. Black
1983
M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (TV Movie) as
Sergeant Wagner
1982
Trapper John, M.D. (TV Series) as
The Chief / Mr. Stone
- Baby on the Line (1983) - The Chief
- John's Other Life (1982) - Mr. Stone
1981
Code Red (TV Series) as
Ollie Thurman
- Land of Make Believe (1982)
- All That Glitters (1981) - Ollie Thurman
1982
Voyagers! (TV Series) as
Mr. Barrow
- Cleo and the Babe (1982) - Mr. Barrow
1982
Annie as
Weasel
1982
The Fall Guy (TV Series) as
Agent Bradshaw
- License to Kill: Part 2 (1982) - Agent Bradshaw
- License to Kill: Part 1 (1982) - Agent Bradshaw
1981
Fantasy Island (TV Series) as
Fix
- The Last Cowboy/The Lady and the Monster (1981) - Fix
1981
The Incredible Hulk (TV Series) as
Johnny
- The Phenom (1981) - Johnny
1981
S.O.B. as
Harold Harrigan
1981
Riker (TV Series) as
Bullard
- Gun Run (1981) - Bullard
1981
Walking Tall (TV Series) as
Ed Morgan
- Deadly Impact (1981) - Ed Morgan
1980
All God's Children (TV Movie) as
Captain Sam Pierce
1980
The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (TV Series) as
The General
- The Martians Are Coming, the Martians Are Coming (1980) - The General
1979
Captain America II: Death Too Soon (TV Movie) as
Everett Bliss
1975
The Rockford Files (TV Series) as
Col. John 'Howling Mad' Smith / Carl Wronko / DEA Agent Al Jollett / ...
- The Hawaiian Headache (1979) - Col. John 'Howling Mad' Smith
- The Queen of Peru (1977) - Carl Wronko
- The Family Hour (1976) - DEA Agent Al Jollett
- The Aaron Ironwood School of Success (1975) - FBI Agent Patrick
- Say Goodbye to Jennifer (1975) - P.I. Floyd Ross
1979
California Fever (TV Mini Series) as
General Bannister
- The Girl from Somewhere (1979) - General Bannister
1979
How the West Was Won (TV Series) as
Grimes
- Luke (1979) - Grimes
1979
Battlestar Galactica (TV Series) as
General Maxwell
- Experiment in Terra (1979) - General Maxwell
1979
David Cassidy - Man Undercover (TV Series) as
Koster
- Death Is a Close Friend, Too (1979) - Koster
1978
The Eddie Capra Mysteries (TV Series) as
J.J. / J.J. Devlin
- The Two Million Dollar Stowaway (1978) - J.J. Devlin
- How Do I Kill Thee? (1978) - J.J.
- Dirge for a Dead Dachshund (1978) - J.J.
- Murder on the Flip Side (1978)
- Murder, Murder (1978) - J.J.
- Nightmare at Pendragon Castle (1978) - J.J.
1978
To Kill a Cop (TV Movie) as
Lieutenant Fitzgerald
1978
Crisis in Sun Valley (TV Movie) as
Thorndike
1977
The Six Million Dollar Man (TV Series) as
Dan Kelly / Roy Palmer
- Return of Death Probe: Part 2 (1978) - Dan Kelly
- Return of Death Probe: Part 1 (1978) - Dan Kelly
- Fires of Hell (1977) - Roy Palmer
1974
Police Story (TV Series) as
Lieutenant / Lieutenant Pete Telenda / Officer Turner / ...
- Stigma (1977) - Lieutenant
- Spitfire (1977) - Lieutenant Pete Telenda
- Year of the Dragon: Part 1 (1975) - Officer Turner
- A Dangerous Age (1974) - Alfonso Taluga
- Cop in the Middle (1974) - Morgan
1977
The Oregon Trail (TV Series) as
Cutler
- Hard Ride Home (1977) - Cutler
1977
Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy (TV Movie) as
Greenway
1977
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV Series) as
Captain
- The Mystery of the Flying Courier (1977) - Captain
1977
The Domino Principle as
Ditcher
1977
Hunter (TV Series) as
Beerwood
- The Costa Rican Connection (1977) - Beerwood
1977
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II (TV Series) as
Al Barber
- Chapter XXI (1977) - Al Barber
- Chapter XX (1977) - Al Barber
- Chapter XVIII (1977) - Al Barber
- Chapter XV (1977) - Al Barber
- Chapter XIV (1977) - Al Barber
- Chapter XIII (1977) - Al Barber
1976
Captains and the Kings (TV Mini Series) as
Capt. Muldoon
- Chapter VII (1976) - Capt. Muldoon
1976
Scott Free (TV Movie) as
Ed McGraw
1975
Ellery Queen (TV Series) as
Frank Flannigan
- The Adventure of the Hardhearted Huckster (1976) - Frank Flannigan
- The Adventure of the Wary Witness (1976) - Frank Flannigan
- The Adventure of the Sunday Punch (1976) - Frank Flannigan
- The Adventure of the 12th Floor Express (1975) - Frank Flannigan
- The Adventure of the Comic Book Crusader (1975) - Frank Flannigan
1975
Switch (TV Series) as
Lt. Griffin / Captain Griffin
- One of Our Zeppelins Is Missing (1976) - Lt. Griffin
- The Walking Bomb (1976) - Lt. Griffin
- Through the Past Deadly (1975) - Lt. Griffin
- Stung from Beyond (1975) - Captain Griffin
- The Late Show Murders (1975) - Lt. Griffin
- Las Vegas Roundabout (1975) - Captain Griffin
1975
Petrocelli (TV Series) as
Lt. John Clifford / Lieutenant John Clifford / Phillip Armor
- The Night Visitor (1976) - Lt. John Clifford
- Mark of Cain (1975) - Lieutenant John Clifford
- Vengeance in White (1975) - Phillip Armor
1975
The Black Bird as
Brad McCormack
1975
Sky Heist (TV Movie) as
Deputy Pat Connelly
1967
Gunsmoke (TV Series) as
Speer / Dunbar / Jake Fielder / ...
- I Have Promises to Keep (1975) - Dunbar
- Lynch Town (1973) - Jake Fielder
- Talbot (1973) - Harkey
- Tara (1972) - Dirk
- Waste: Part 2 (1971) - Speer
- Waste: Part 1 (1971) - Speer
- Lavery (1971) - Harry
- Hackett (1970) - Bronk
- The Devil's Outpost (1969) - Loomis
- Lobo (1968) - Guffy
- The Hidecutters (1968) - Sugar John
- Wonder (1967) - Bo Warrick
1975
A Cry for Help (TV Movie) as
Paul Church
1974
Paper Moon (TV Series) as
Angus
- Green Goods (1974) - Angus
1974
Amy Prentiss (TV Series) as
Ralph O'Brien
- Baptism of Fire (1974) - Ralph O'Brien
1974
Kung Fu (TV Series) as
Dr. Tracer / Max Frazer
- This Valley of Terror (1974) - Dr. Tracer
- Night of the Owls, Day of the Doves (1974) - Max Frazer
1974
Judgment: The Court Martial of the Tiger of Malaya - General Yamashita (TV Movie)
1974
Man on the Outside (TV Movie) as
Lieutenant Matthews
1974
Dirty Sally (TV Series) as
Sheriff
- Wimmen's Rights (1974) - Sheriff
1974
A Case of Rape (TV Movie) as
Det. Riley
1970
The Partridge Family (TV Series) as
Coach / Monty
- Queen for a Minute (1974) - Coach
- Go Directly to Jail (1970) - Monty
1974
The Waltons (TV Series) as
Red Turner
- The Gift (1974) - Red Turner
1973
The Girl with Something Extra (TV Series) as
Policeman
- It's So Peaceful in the Country (1973) - Policeman
1973
Columbo (TV Series) as
Harry Stone
- Candidate for Crime (1973) - Harry Stone
1972
The Rookies (TV Series) as
Mr. Felker
- Cry Wolf (1973) - Mr. Felker
- To Taste of Terror (1972) - Mr. Felker
- The Bear That Didn't Get Up (1972) - Mr. Felker
1973
One Little Indian as
Pvt. Dixon
1973
The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) as
Herman Ledeker - Bus Driver
- Beyond Vengeance (1973) - Herman Ledeker - Bus Driver
1972
Skyjacked as
John Bimonte
1971
Bless the Beasts & Children as
Wheaties
1971
The Andromeda Strain as
Toby (technician)
1970
Mission: Impossible (TV Series) as
Deputy Mayor Charles Peck / Florian Vaclav
- Takeover (1971) - Deputy Mayor Charles Peck
- The Martyr (1970) - Florian Vaclav
1970
The Odd Couple (TV Series) as
Cop
- It's All Over Now, Baby Bird (1970) - Cop
1970
The Intruders (TV Movie) as
Pomerantz
1970
The Lawyer as
Charlie O'Keefe
1970
Lancer (TV Series) as
Rufus
- Splinter Group (1970) - Rufus
1970
Cutter's Trail (TV Movie) as
Clay Wooten
1969
The F.B.I. (TV Series) as
Honky-tonk bookkeeper
- Journey Into Night (1969) - Honky-tonk bookkeeper
1969
Here Come the Brides (TV Series) as
Janitor / Gil
- Land Grant (1969) - Janitor
- The Wealthiest Man in Seattle (1969) - Gil
1968
The Virginian (TV Series) as
Seth Pettit / Seth Petitt / Wrengell
- The Girl in the Shadows (1969) - Seth Petitt
- Ride to Misadventure (1968) - Seth Pettit
- Jed (1968) - Seth Pettit
- The Death Wagon (1968) - Wrengell
1969
The Outcasts (TV Series) as
Ramsey
- They Shall Rise Up (1969) - Ramsey
1968
Shadow on the Land (TV Movie) as
Private
1968
Adam-12 (TV Series) as
Floyd Delman
- Log 91: You're Not the First Guy's Had the Problem (1968) - Floyd Delman
1968
Daniel Boone (TV Series) as
Mick O'Toole
- The Spanish Fort (1968) - Mick O'Toole
1968
I Spy (TV Series) as
Clay
- A Few Miles West of Nowhere (1968) - Clay
1967
The Wild Wild West (TV Series) as
Sloan
- The Night of the Running Death (1967) - Sloan
1967
Cimarron Strip (TV Series) as
Christie
- Nobody (1967) - Christie
1967
How Much Loving Does a Normal Couple Need? as
Barney Rickert
1967
Gunfight in Abilene as
Rebel Soldier (uncredited)
1967
First to Fight as
O'Brien
1966
The Big Valley (TV Series) as
Wes
- A Day of Terror (1966) - Wes
1964
Father Goose as
Helmsman - Submarine USS Sailfin (uncredited)
1963
Captain Newman, M.D. as
Patient (uncredited)
1962
Surfside 6 (TV Series) as
Garth
- Portrait of Nicole (1962) - Garth
Soundtrack
1984
Fame (TV Series) (performer - 4 episodes)
- The Ballad of Ray Claxton (1984) - (performer: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - uncredited)
- The Monster That Devoured Las Vegas (1984) - (performer: "Give My Regards to Broadway" - uncredited)
- Blizzard (1984) - (performer: "Hush, Little Baby" - uncredited)
- Spontaneous Combustion (1984) - (performer: "The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" - uncredited)
Archive Footage
1985
Fame (TV Series) as
Quentin Morloch
- School Is Out (1985) - Quentin Morloch
1976
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Private Dixon
- One Little Indian: Part 2 (1976) - Private Dixon
- One Little Indian: Part 1 (1976) - Private Dixon
References
Ken Swofford Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA