Richard William Burgi (born July 30, 1958) is an American
film and
television actor. His notable roles include two troublesome ex-husbands, that of
Amy Brenneman in
Judging Amy and
Teri Hatcher in
Desperate Housewives; the cocky Elite Hunting client Todd in
Hostel: Part II and the
detective with heightened
senses James Ellison on the
UPN series
The Sentinel.
Biography
Career
Burgi began his career in New York City with work in commercials, which led to regular roles on the daytime
soap operas
One Life to Live,
Days of our Lives,
Another World and
As The World Turns. He was cast as the lead in the
UPN primetime series
The Sentinel, which was cancelled after three seasons, leaving key plot issues unresolved; an intense fan campaign convinced the network to film an additional half-season worth of episodes to end the series properly.
Since 2004, Burgi has guest starred on
Desperate Housewives playing
Karl Mayer, the ex-husband of
Susan Mayer played by
Teri Hatcher and the father of
Julie Mayer played by
Andrea Bowen. During his character's
story arc, he has also dated
Edie Britt and began having an affair with
Marcia Cross's character
Bree Van De Kamp. His character now has a more prominent role for the sixth season as his affair with Bree continues.
In 2009, Burgi filmed a memorable guest stint on the hit FX drama
Nip/Tuck. He played Dr. Logan Taper, a potential replacement for Dr. Christian Troy. Taper was outed, though, when the doctors found him making love to a tweed couch.
Burgi's additional television credits include appearances in
24,
Firefly,
Reaper,
Point Pleasant,
CSI,
The District,
Matlock,
Providence,
Las Vegas,
Just Shoot Me!,
Seinfeld,
Action, and
Harper's Island.
Burgi's screen credits include
In Her Shoes,
Fun with Dick and Jane,
Cellular,
Hostel: Part II,
Starship Troopers 2,
Friday the 13th and
Shanghai Red.
Personal life
Burgi was born in
Montclair, New Jersey. He is a supporter of both the
San Clemente-based Surfrider Foundation, which works to protect and preserve shoreline and coastal environments, and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, a
Laguna Beach volunteer-run and funded organization which tends to the needs of sick or injured seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals. Richard is also great friends with New York's own actor Jimmy "Canno" Cannizzaro. His brother Chuck Burgi is the drummer for Billy Joel.
Burgi married Lori Kahn on November 25, 1995. They have two sons, Jack and Samuel.
External links
DEFAULTSORT:Burgi, Richard
