Gerald has slowed down a little bit but compared to most legacy actors; he’s busier than ever. Just since the new teens, 2010 onward, he’s had a six-episode appearance in “Mike & Molly,” had eight episodes as Barlow Connally in “Longmire,” and acted as Raymond Tusk in “House of Cards” — which earned him a Screen Actor’s Guild Award nomination.
He’s been in “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Castle,” “This Is Us,” (earning him an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series), “Santa Clarita Diet,” and really so many more. There are even more roles coming down the pipeline.
The Husband's Early Roles
McRaney's very first role was in the 1969 slasher flick “Night of Bloody Terror,” where he played the main character, Wesley Stuart. His first television role, three years later, was in the show “Night Gallery” as Tuttle, who appeared in three different episodes.
He appeared in a trio of episodes of “Gunsmoke” between 1973-75 and had numerous single-episode appearances. In the mid-seventies, he started to appear more often, appearing for two, three, four, or more episodes on numerous shows. He also had similar roles in movies, with relatively unknown films, including sequels to “Night of Bloody Terror,” as well as “Keep Off My Grass!”
McRaney's Biggest Roles
McRaney's big break came with “Simon & Simon,” a show that ran from 1981 to 1989, in which he played Rick Simon for one-hundred and fifty-six episodes. He appeared on “The Neverending Story” as the main character's father. He was the title character – as well as the executive producer – for the show “Major Dad” from 1989 to 1993.
He's one of those actors that has been in dozens or even hundreds of TV movies and a single episode of this show and that show. Turn on the television during the eighties, the nineties, or the beginning of the new millennium, and there's a pretty good chance you'll see him.
The Other Women
Before McRaney met Delta, he was married twice. The first time was before he even started acting, getting married to Beverly Root when he was only twenty years old. The relationship didn't last long, and the couple separated in 1971.
After getting steady work as an actor for ten years, McRaney tied the knot again, this time with Pat Moran in 1981. Their relationship was longer, but it too was destined to fail, and the couple separated in 1989. Thankfully, Gerald wasn't going to stay single for long. In fact, he and Delta got married that very same year.
Creators Against the Network
“Designing Women” premiered in 1985, and the creators were certain it was going to be a hit. The network, on the other hand, wasn't so sure. The show included stars Delta Burke and Dixie Carter, and the entire cast excelled in their roles. It took a little bit of time for all of the actresses and actors to really find themselves and find the audience they were looking for.
Nobody could deny the second season was a bonafide hit, and Delta Burke was one of the names on everyone's lips. She was riding high with her friends from the show, but the perfection wouldn't last.