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Raymond Herbert Wise (born 20 August 1947; age 76), better known as Ray Wise, is an American actor who has made two appearances in the Star Trek franchise. He first played Liko in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Who Watches The Watchers". Later, he guest-starred as Arturis in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Hope and Fear".
Born in Akron, Ohio, Wise is a veteran of over 100 film and television projects, though he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Leland Palmer on the cult drama series Twin Peaks. Other television roles for which he is known include the recurring character of Vice President Hal Gardner on the Fox series 24 and his current role as The Devil in the CW series Reaper. Perhaps his best known film roles are those of Dr. Alec Holland in Wes Craven's 1982 cult horror favorite Swamp Thing and Leon Nash in the 1987 science fiction/action hit RoboCop.
Career
1970s
In 1970, Wise landed the regular role of Jamie Rollins on the CBS soap opera Love of Life, remaining with the show until 1976. The following year, he appeared in Broadway stage productions of two classical plays: William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, with Jennifer Savidge, and Molière's Tartuffe, with Roy Brocksmith and Stefan Gierasch. Wise played Benvolio in the former and Damis in the latter.
In 1978, Wise was cast in his first TV guest appearance by director Cliff Bole, who later directed many Star Trek episodes. The part was for an episode of the action/drama series Charlie's Angels. This was followed with an appearance on Paramount Television's Barnaby Jones, in an episode with TNG regular Jonathan Frakes and directed by Leo Penn.
1980s
Wise made his major feature film debut with a brief role as a man in a TV soap opera in the 1982 horror-thriller Cat People. The principal cast of this film included fellow Star Trek alumni Ed Begley, Jr., Malcolm McDowell, and John Larroquette; the movie's special make-up effects were handled by Thomas R. Burman, Bari Burman, and Edouard F. Henriques, among others.
Wise's next film role came in Wes Craven's Swamp Thing, the 1982 cult horror/science fiction favorite based on the DC Comics character. In this film, Wise starred as Doctor Alec Holland, the scientist who was transformed into the title creature. His co-stars in this film included Adrienne Barbeau and Nicholas Worth. Wise and Barbeau again worked together in the 1985 CBS TV movie Seduced.
Also in 1982, Wise appeared on the primetime soap opera Dallas in the recurring role of Brad Sullivan. He was seen in eight episodes of the show, working with performers such as Susan Howard (who was a regular on the show), Bill Erwin, Bruce French, John Larroquette, Leigh J. McCloskey, J. Patrick McNamara, Charles Napier, Paul Sorensen, and Morgan Woodward.
In 1984, Wise guest-starred on T.J. Hooker, the police drama which starred William Shatner and James Darren. His subsequent TV credits during the 1980s included recurring roles on The Colbys (with Ricardo Montalban and Tracy Scoggins), L.A. Law (with Corbin Bernsen and Earl Boen), and Knots Landing. In the latter series, he appeared as "The Dealer" in seven episodes, the last of which featured Tina Lifford.
Wise played the supporting role of Leon Nash in the 1987 blockbuster RoboCop. Wise's character in this film was the right-hand man of gang leader Clarence Boddicker, who was played by fellow Trek veteran Kurtwood Smith. Both of their character were responsible for the torture and murder of police officer Alex Murphy, who was later transformed into RoboCop; Murphy was played by Peter Weller, who later guest-starred on Star Trek: Enterprise. Other actors Wise worked with on this film included Ronny Cox, Robert DoQui, and Miguel Ferrer.
1990s
Wise is perhaps best known for his role on the cult television series Twin Peaks, in which he played mentally-unstable lawyer Leland Palmer, whose daughter's murder served as the catalyst for the events of the series. Wise appeared in the first 17 episodes of the series, the last of which revealed Leland to be his own daughter's killer (while possessed by a demon) and concluded with his own death. Wise returned the series for its final episode, playing a grinning doppelganger of his Leland Palmer character.
Wise reprised his role as Palmer in the 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. Wise's co-stars in both the series and the film included Mädchen Amick and Miguel Ferrer. The series also starred Richard Beymer and featured a recurring performance by Carel Struycken.
In the acclaimed 1992 film Bob Roberts, Wise played the supporting role Chet MacGregor, the manager of the title character's senatorial campaign. Lee Arenberg also appeared in this film. Wise's subsequent film credits included Rising Sun (1993, with Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Clyde Kusatsu) and The Chase (1994, with Natalia Nogulich).
During the 1993-1994 television season, Wise was a regular on the CBS soap opera Second Chances. His castmates on this series included fellow TNG guest star and RoboCop co-star Ronny Cox, as well as TNG alumni Erich Anderson, Brenda Bakke, and Michelle Phillips. The series only lasted that one season, although Wise later worked with Phillips in a 1999 episode of Diagnosis Murder entitled "The Flame," which also featured Joanna Cassidy. Wise worked alongside Beth Toussaint on another soap opera, Savannah, but this series ended after one season, as well.
Wise's TV guest appearances during the 1990s included a 1994 appearance of The Larry Sanders Show, on which Penny Johnson and Wallace Langham were regulars. He later had brief recurring roles on Sleepwalkers (which starred Bruce Greenwood) and Beverly Hills, 90210 (in which he and Leigh Taylor-Young played husband and wife). On the latter show, Wise was directed by Chip Chalmers and Anson Williams.
Other Trek connections
- Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders II (1980 TV movie) directed by Michael O'Herlihy
- Lou Grant (1 episode, 1981) with Phillip Pine
- Madame X (1981 TV movie) with Len Cariou, Granville Van Dusen, and Tony Plana
- Emerald Point N.A.S. (2 episodes, 1984) with Gail Strickland
- Trapper John, M.D. (1 episode, 1984) with Madge Sinclair, Bibi Besch and Vincent Schiavelli
- Remington Steele (1 episode, 1984) with Jerry Hardin and Jimmie F. Skaggs
- The A-Team (1 episode, 1985) with Dwight Schultz and Wendy Schaal
- Airwolf (1 episode, 1986) again working with Wendy Schaal)
- Condor (1987 TV movie) with James Avery and Carolyn Seymour
- Beauty and the Beast (1 episode, 1987) starring Ron Perlman
- Moonlighting (1 episode, 1989) with Jack Blessing, Virginia Madsen, and Barbara Tarbuck
- Season of Fear (1989 film) with Clancy Brown and Michael J. Pollard
- Write to Kill (1990 film) with Andreas Katsulas and France Nuyen
- The Secret Life of Archie's Wife (1990 TV movie) with Gordon Clapp
- Fire in the Dark (1991 TV movie) with Viola Stimpson
- Body Shot (1993 film) with Jonathan Banks, Charles Napier, and Kenneth Tobey
- The Killing Box (1993 film) with Corbin Bernsen
- The Secrets of Lake Success (1993 mini-series) with Lanei Chapman, Samantha Eggar, Stan Ivar, Brian Keith, Jeff Rector, Liz Vassey, and William Wintersole
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1 episode, 1994) with Gregg Henry
- Liz: The Elizabeth Taylor Story (1995 TV movie) with Michael Cavanaugh, Christine Healy, Michael McGrady, and Eugene Roche
- Dream On (1 episode, 1995), with Michael McKean
- Courthouse (1 episode, 1995) with Bob Gunton, Dan Gauthier, and Jacqueline Kim
- Evasive Action (1998 film) with Clint Howard and Ed O'Ross
- The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon (1998 TV movie) directed by Tim Kelleher
- Vengeance Unlimited (1 episode, 1998) with Gregg Henry, Daniel Roebuck, and Scott Alan Smith
- Sports Night (1 episode, 1998) with Brad William Henke