Richard X Slattery

Richard Xavier Slattery (June 26, 1925 – January 27, 1997) was an American character actor in film, theater and television. Slattery appeared in such films as A Distant Trumpet, The Boston Strangler, Walking Tall, The No Mercy Man and Herbie Rides Again.

Contents

• Union 76 1978 TV commercial
• Filmography
• References

Richard Xavier Slattery was distinguished by a square-jawed look and a rough, gravelly voice that made him ideal as a "tough guy" character, usually as a cowboy or a cop or a drill sergeant type. He had been an NYPD police officer for twelve years (1948–1960) and started his acting career in police academy training films, and in community theater in the Bronx.

Slattery appeared in the first season of The Odd Couple, episode #2 "The Fight of the Felix". After Oscar gets into a fight with a hockey player played by Slattery, Felix tries to stand up for his roommate, but ends up in the boxing ring instead (original air date: October 8, 1970).

He also has had numerous guest appearance roles in television, including Route 66, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, 77 Sunset Strip, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, F Troop, The Virginian, Bonanza, The Partridge Family, The Mod Squad, Emergency!, The Waltons, Ironside, Kojak, The San Pedro Beach Bums, and Knight Rider

Slattery starred in a revival of the play The Time of Your Life, starting March 17, 1972, at the Huntington Hartford Theater in Los Angeles.

During the 1970s, Slattery was featured in many TV commercials for 76 gasoline, playing a grandfatherly service station owner named Murph (filmed at the 76 station adjacent to Dodger Stadium). He had featured roles in three series: The Gallant Men (as 1st Sgt. John McKenna), Mister Roberts (as Captain John Morton), and C.P.O. Sharkey (as Captain "Buck" Buckner). He appeared on the Cannon episode, "The Cure That Kills," as a carnival owner, an episode which aired as a rerun on MeTV on February 2, 2014.

His son, Kevin, is a television producer (Just Shoot Me).