Richard Dean Anderson is probably best known as MacGyver, the clever and inventive nonviolent hero who solved problems in his own unique way for seven successful seasons. In his roles before and since, this gifted actor has continued to demonstrate his remarkable talent and versatility.

Richard Dean Anderson grew up with dreams of becoming a professional hockey player, until, at the age of 16, he broke both arms in separate accidents three weeks apart while playing high school hockey. After that he travelled and explored, before turning his attention to acting, pursue performing arts in college, before eventually settling in Los Angeles.

Richard worked as a street mime and juggler and as a jester-singer at a Renaissance-style cabaret. He also worked for a time at Marineland of the Pacific, where he wrote, directed, and performed in the marine mammal shows. His job included holding fish in his mouth for the killer whales to leap up and snatch. He appeared in plays and live theatre as well, including landing a role in Superman in the Bones at the Pilgrimage Theatre. During his early years he also sang and played guitar as part of his friend Carl Dante’s rock band, “Ricky Dean & Dante”.

Richard’s first major TV role was Dr. Jeff Webber on General Hospital, with storylines including a marriage to his brother’s finacée, brain surgery following a self-inflicted gunshot wound, marriage to a woman who sold his infant son and was then committed to a sanitarium, and a relationship with a virginal nurse while searching for his lost son. He then made guest appearances on shows including The Facts of Life, FBI and The Love Boat, with recurring roles in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Emerald Point N.A.S.

In 1985 Richard was cast in his signature role as MacGyver, a breakout show that continues to enjoy popularity all around the world. He also executive produced two MacGyver movies for television; MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis and MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday.

After MacGyver, Richard starred in Legend as Ernest Pratt, an 1870s dime novelist who reluctantly takes on the role of his literary hero, Nicodemus Legend, in a lighthearted blend of western and science fiction. A number of other roles followed until he joined with MGM/UA and Showtime television to produce and star in Stargate SG-1, based on the 1994 movie. As Air Force Colonel Jack O’Neill, Richard led a team of explorers each week through the stargate to worlds throughout the galaxy, a role which for many fans even eclipsed the fame of MacGyver. The highly successful series spawned two spin-offs, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, both of which featured guest appearances by Richard. In 2008, two movies followed, Stargate: The Ark of Truth and Stargate: Continuum, the latter of which also included a brief appearance by Richard.

Since leaving Stargate, Richard has kept in touch with acting through a number of smaller guest roles, in such television series as Saturday Night Live, Fairly Legal, and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23. The fulfillment of a lifelong dream came when he was invited to play himself as a “guest voice” on The Simpsons, one of his favorite TV series. In 2011, Richard made a guest appearance on Raising Hope in an episode that marked the television debut of his daughter, Wylie.

Richard actively supports many charities and organizations. For many years he was on the Board of Trustees for the Challengers Boys and Girls Club, a youth organization founded in 1968 with the help of MacGyver executive producer Stephen Downing, and upon which the Challenger Center of the TV series was based. He is the recipient of the 1995 Celebrity Award from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to terminally ill children, and his commitment to the Foundation has included many opportunities for his young fans to visit the set. He has supported the Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as organizations that support children with AIDS and other life-threatening diseases, and he has done several public service announcements for causes he strongly supports, including the Center for the Prevention of Handgun Violence and Project Literacy US. For many years he has given his support to the Special Olympics, and he was one of the key speakers at the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics games in 1991. Richard has been supportive of the US military, and because of his positive portrayal of an Air Force officer on Stargate SG-1, he was recognized by the Air Force Association as an Honorary Air Force Brigadier General in 2004. In recent years, Richard’s focus has been particularly drawn to environmental and health issues. He had been named to the board of directors of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and he has worked with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in support of his Waterkeeper Alliance, both of which protect local waterways, oceans, and marine life. Personal relationships have also led to Richard’s support of the UCLA Foundation’s Art of the Brain, which funds brain cancer research, and the Keck School of Medicine’s USC Pain Center, which seeks solutions for chronic pain conditions.

Note: Please be advised that incorrect autograph prices were originally posted for Richard. These have been corrected below – 26th May 2024.