William Morgan Sheppard (24 August 1932 – 6 January 2019), also credited by his full name or as Morgan Sheppard, was an English actor who appeared in over 100 films and television programmes, as well as several video games, in a career that spanned over 50 years.
Early life and education William Morgan Sheppard was born on 24 August 1932.
He served in the British Merchant Navy during the Korean War (1950-1953).Exclusive Interview With William Morgan Sheppard WhatCulture. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
Sheppard graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London in 1958.
Career Stage After graduating from RADA, Sheppard spent 12 years as an associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He appeared on Broadway in Marat/Sade (1966) and in Sherlock Holmes (1975).
In 1995 he won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for The Homecoming.
Screen
Sheppard appeared in several episodes of different series of Star Trek, notably The Next Generations "The Schizoid Man" and Voyagers "Bliss". In the feature film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, his role was the warden of a Klingon gulag and in the 2009 reboot Star Trek, he played a member of the Vulcan High Council, but was uncredited. Outside of Star Trek, he is best known for his role as Blank Reg on Max Headroom and his role as the Confederate general Isaac R. Trimble in the films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.
Sheppard appeared in two roles on the science-fiction series Babylon 5, in the episode titled "Soul Hunter", playing the eponymous character and also played Narn war leader G'Sten, an uncle of main character G'Kar, in "The Long Twilight Struggle". He was also a runner-up for the role of Ambassador G'Kar on the series, though the role eventually went to Andreas Katsulas.
Sheppard was one of several Star Trek actors who voiced characters on the animated series Gargoyles, wherein he played the father of Jonathan Frakes' character David Xanatos and the Norse god Odin.
Sheppard and his son, Mark Sheppard, acted together in a few productions. Sheppard appeared in the television series NCIS, in the season six episode "Broken Bird", where he played the older version of a man named Marcin Jerek, while his son played the younger version. He appeared in the opening episode of series six of Doctor Who, "The Impossible Astronaut", playing the character Canton Everett Delaware III. He portrayed an older version of Delaware, while his son portrayed the younger version in the same episode. He and his son are among the few actors who have appeared in both the Star Trek and Doctor Who franchises.
In December 2009, Sheppard voiced the part of Santa in Disney's Christmas special Prep & Landing. Following that, he returned as the voice of Santa in the sequels, Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa and Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice. On 4 December 2010, Sheppard appeared on Hallmark Channel Original Films Farewell Mr. Kringle as Kris Kringle.
Video games
Sheppard voiced several characters in video games.
He narrated the introductions and mission briefings for the first four instalments of the Medal of Honor video game series. He was cast in the 1996 adventure game Zork Nemesis, playing the live-action role of Bishop Francois Malveaux, one of the four alchemists central to the plot of the game.
In 2000, he voiced the character Ignatius Cheese in the game Escape from Monkey Island. Sheppard voiced over for the character John Adams in the Wii game The Conduit. He provided the voice for the character Lucky in the 2002 Xbox game Whacked!.
Sheppard was the narrator for the video game Civilization V and its expansions, providing the voice overs for the intro movies, victory and defeat screens, loading screens, wonders, Great Works, and newly researched technologies.
Personal life Sheppard and his wife Regina are the parents of actor Mark Sheppard. He died on 6 January 2019 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 86.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1962StrongroomAlec1967Marat/SadeA Mad Animal1968Tell Me LiesGuest1973The Roses of EyamWilliam HancockTelevision film1974Antony and CleopatraScarus1977The DuellistsThe Fencing MasterRachel and the Beelzebub BombardiersSalvationist1978The NativityFlaviusTelevision film1980The Sea Wolves'Patch' LovecroftThe Elephant ManMan In PubHawk the SlayerRanulf1983NutcrackerGeorge PeacockThe KeepAlexandru1984LassiterSweenyCamilleCaptainTelevision filmThe Zany Adventures of Robin HoodSaxon thief1985The Dirty Dozen: Next MissionGerman GeneralMax Headroom: 20 Minutes into the FutureBlank RegADGracchus TV Mini-Series The Doctor and the DevilsLandlord1986Lady JaneExecutioner1987Cry FreedomPolicemanGunsmoke: Return to DodgeDigger McCloudTelevision film1988Elvira: Mistress of the DarkVincent TalbotLucky StiffPa1990Wild at HeartMr. Reindeer1991Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered CountryKlingon Prison Warden1992There Goes the NeighbourhoodTrick Bissell1993Needful ThingsFather MeehanGettysburgMaj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble / NarratorTaking Liberty1994Following Her HeartAnders LundquistTelevision film1996The LotteryMayor Warner1997Nether WorldOld Timer1998Goldrush: A Real Life Alaskan AdventureWhiskersTelevision filmPocahontas II: Journey to a New WorldCaptainVoice, direct-to-videoThe EscapeLongTelevision filmHurricane FestivalCharles1999Treasure of Pirate's PointCharles Vane / CaptainThe Hungry Bachelors ClubMr. Ringold2001Room 101Landers2003Gods and GeneralsMaj. Gen. Isaac TrimbleAtlantis: Milo's ReturnErik HellstromVoice, direct-to-video A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.Small Town ConspiracyTaylorMurder, She Wrote: The Celtic RiddleDennyTelevision film2005Love's Long JourneyScottie2006Love's Abiding JoyScottieThe PrestigeMerrit2007A Stranger's HeartFred LandrethTelevision filmTransformersCaptain Archibald WitwickyAlong the WayMr. Hereck2008Over Her Dead BodyFather MarksSo Long JimmyPoppy GarfieldJapanVoice2009Star TrekVulcan Science MinisterUncreditedPrep & LandingSanta ClausVoice, television film2010Mysterious IslandCaptain NemoFor Christ's SakeFather MonahanPrep & Landing: Operation: Secret SantaSanta ClausVoice, television film2011Meeting SpencerLarry LindPrep & Landing: Naughty vs. NiceSanta Claus2012The Last MarkUncle Bill2012The Guy...Who Was in That ThingSelf2013The Devil's DozenApril ApocalypsePopsFree BirdsVoice2016Last Man ClubWill HodgesFinal film role
Television Year Title Role Notes1961Theatre NightArthur BroadbentEpisode: "Celebration"; credited as Morgan Sheppard1962Z-CarsRon ProbertEpisode: "The Five Whistles"; credited as Morgan Sheppard1971LandlordEpisode: "Smithereens"1973William HancockTelevision film; credited as Morgan SheppardThe Up and Down, In and Out, Round About ManCurrently UnknownEpisode: "The Winner"; credited as Morgan Sheppard1974Crown CourtDr. Martin HuntersmithEpisode: "Nuts"New Scotland YardHarry HainesEpisode: "All That Glitters"Dial M for MurderUsherEpisode: "The Man in the Middle"; credited as Morgan SheppardAntony and CleopatraScarusTelevision film; credited as Morgan SheppardMarked PersonalHearst2 episodes1975Churchill's PeopleSabinianusEpisode: "The Lost Island"; credited as Morgan SheppardDet. Chief Insp. MorrisonEpisode: "Jackpot"; credited as Morgan Sheppard1976ForemanEpisode: "The Watcher"; credited as Morgan SheppardZ-CarsJoe BurnhamEpisode: "Contact"; credited as Morgan SheppardWaltersEpisode: "Gnaws"; credited as Morgan Sheppard1977TargetBarmanEpisode: "Hunting Parties"London Belongs to MeHenry Knockell6 episodesWhen the Boat Comes InDixon3 episodesNed HarrisEpisode: "Coffin Ships"1978Enemy at the DoorRaymond GirardEpisode: "By Order of the Fuhrer"; credited as Morgan SheppardPolice ConstableEpisode: "Home & Abroad"; credited as Morgan SheppardOutMr. SmithEpisode: "The Moment He Opened His Envelope"; credited as Morgan Sheppard1979SampsonEpisode: "To Honour and Obey"RebeccaBen2 episodesGorloisEpisode 1MinderJohnEpisode: "Come in T-64, Your Time Is Ticking Away"Sherlock Holmes and Doctor WatsonMan in the Morgue / Mischkin2 episodes1980ShōgunSpecz5 episodes1981MasadaRoman SergeantEpisode 1Bill Masen's fatherPiet Roos3 episodes1987–1988Max HeadroomBlank Reg7 episodes1987–1989CrossbowOtto / Parker2 episodes1989Star Trek: The Next GenerationDr. Ira GravesEpisode: "The Schizoid Man"1989–1990MacGyverDr. Zito2 episodes1991Designing WomenProfessor BurtonEpisode: "Tales Out of School"1992–1993Sailor / Douglas / ManVoice, 4 episodes1993–1996Biker Mice from MarsLawrence Lactavius LimburgerVoice, 65 episodes1993Quantum LeapGooshie, the MinerEpisode: "Mirror Image"1993–1994seaQuest DSVThe Old Man, Professor Martinson7 episodes1994–1995Babylon 5Warleader G'Sten / The Soul Hunter2 episodes1994–1996Iron ManDum Dum DuganVoice1995FrasierMr. DrakeEpisode: "The Club"Murder, She WroteDr. Fredrick GrundbergEpisode: "Twice Dead"1995–1996GargoylesPetros Xanatos, Odin, King Kenneth, Radar, Security GuardVoice, 7 episodes1996American GothicMr. EmmettEpisode: "To Hell and Back"Poltergeist: The LegacyGrave DiggerEpisode: "The Fifth Sepulcher"1998JAGMaj. Viktor LushovEpisode: "To Russia with Love"1999Tracey Takes On...Geoffrey AylissEpisode: "Hair"Star Trek: VoyagerQataiEpisode: "Bliss"2000Diagnosis: MurderDr. Tom ArnebergEpisode: "The Unluckiest Bachelor in L.A."Lead JackalVoice, episode: "Cheetahs Never Prosper"2000–2001Days of Our LivesCharles3 episodes2001–2002HellsingPeter FargasonVoice, English dub, 10 episodes2002Justice LeagueMerlinVoice, episode: "A Knight of Shadows"Crossing JordanClive AlpertEpisode: "The Truth Is Out There"2003CharmedMerrillEpisode: "The Day the Magic Died"Licensed by RoyaltyMister13 episodes2004Kingdom HospitalNarrator3 episodes2005AliasMilo SabineEpisode: "Echoes"Cold CaseDan O'BrienEpisode: "Creatures of the Night"Gilmore GirlsTown ElderEpisode: "Blame Booze and Melville"2006–2007Biker Mice from MarsLawrence LimburgerVoice, 3 episodes2007Criminal MindsJohn CaulfieldEpisode: "Birthright"2009NCISMarcin Jerek / Mr. PainEpisode: "Broken Bird"2010Legend of the SeekerThe KeeperVoice, 3 episodesMad MenRobert PryceEpisode: "Hands and Knees"2011Doctor WhoOld Canton Everett Delaware IIIEpisode: "The Impossible Astronaut"It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaFather CullenEpisode: "How Mac Got Fat"DexterFather Nicholas GalwayEpisode: "Sin of Omission"2012Young JusticeSardathVoice, episode: "Earthlings"2016Teddy ChislingtonEpisode: "And the Trial of the Triangle"
Video games Year Title Role Notes1995ShannaraTroll King, Eventine Elessedil1996Zork NemesisBishop Francois Malveaux1997OutlawsBloodeye Tim1999Medal of HonorColonel Stanley Hargrove2000Star Wars: Force CommanderHeavy Gun Trooper / Ruulian Strip MinerEscape from Monkey IslandIgnatius CheeseMedal of Honor: UndergroundColonel Stanley Hargrove2001Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyGurlukovich Soldiers2002Medal of Honor: Allied AssaultColonel Stanley HargroveMedal of Honor: FrontlineColonel Stanley HargroveWhacked!Lucky2006Medal of Honor: HeroesColonel Stanley Hargrove2009Afro SamuraiDaimyoThe ConduitJohn AdamsThe Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark AthenaPavlo, SenateWetWilliam Ackers2010Civilization VNarrator, Additional voices
References
External links
W. Morgan Sheppard (Aveleyman)