William Oliver Campbell (born July 7, 1959) is an American film and television actor. He first gained recognition for his recurring role as Luke Fuller on the television series Dynasty, and as the titular character Cliff Secord / The Rocketeer in the superhero film The Rocketeer (1991). He then starred as Rick Sammler on Once and Again (1999–2002), earning a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor – Television Series Drama.
He also portrayed Det. Joey Indelli on Crime Story (1986–88), Dr. Jon Fielding on the miniseries Tales of the City (1993) and its sequels, Darren Richmond on The Killing (2011–13), and Dr. Alan Farragut on Helix (2014–15). Campbell starred as Det. John Cardinal on the Canadian CTV series Cardinal, for which he won three Canadian Screen Awards. He is also known for his film roles in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Gettysburg (1993) and Enough (2002).
Early life Campbell was born on July 7, 1959, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He attended Fork Union Military Academy, Western Albemarle High School and New Trier East High School. His parents divorced when he was very young. He moved to Chicago to study at the American Academy of Art College, but instead chose to pursue acting as a profession, taking classes at the Ted Liss Studio and the Second City Training Center.
Career After appearances in single episodes of Hotel and the hit 1980s sitcom Family Ties, Campbell's first lead role was that of Luke Fuller, Steven Carrington's lover on the fifth season of Dynasty––then the number one show on American television. Following this, he had a regular role as Detective Joey Indelli on the 1986–88 NBC series Crime Story. Campbell was the first choice of the producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation to play the role of William Riker, but lost the role to Jonathan Frakes due to the intervention of Paramount Television head John Pike. Campbell appeared as a guest star during the show's second season, portraying the title character in "The Outrageous Okona".
In 1991, Campbell played the titular role in The Rocketeer opposite Jennifer Connelly. He went on to appear as Quincey Morris, a Texan vampire hunter in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). In 1993, he starred in the short-lived detective series Moon over Miami. That same year, he was seen in the role of Dr. Jon Fielding in the television adaptation of Tales of the City. He appeared in the sequels More Tales of the City in 1998, and Further Tales of the City in 2001.
In 1999, Campbell began his role as Rick Sammler on Once and Again, opposite Sela Ward. The series ran for three seasons until 2002, during which time Campbell received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series. Campbell then had a regular role as Jordan Collier on the sci-fi series The 4400, which aired for four seasons on the USA Network between 2004 and 2007. In 2005, he had a recurring role in the teen soap The O.C.
After his role in the 2002 film Enough, in which he played an abusive husband to Jennifer Lopez's character, he portrayed serial killer Ted Bundy in the 2003 television film The Stranger Beside Me. He then played a college professor accused of raping a student in a 2004 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and also played an accused serial killer who defends himself in the 2007 television series Shark.
In 2010, Campbell had a recurring role in the short-lived revival of Melrose Place. Following this, Campbell took a prominent role in the AMC series The Killing, an American remake of the Danish series of the same name. In 2000, Campbell was named one of the "World's 50 Most Beautiful People" by People magazine. In 2013, he played Abraham Lincoln in the National Geographic television adaptation of the Bill O'Reilly/Martin Dugard book, Killing Lincoln.
From 2017 to 2020, he starred in the Canadian television drama series Cardinal, for which he won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Television Film at the 6th Canadian Screen Awards in 2018, the 7th Canadian Screen Awards in 2019 and the 8th Canadian Screen Awards in 2020.
In 2024, he joined the 2025 reboot of I Know What You Did Last Summer.
Personal life Campbell was engaged to Jennifer Connelly, his The Rocketeer love interest, from 1991 until 1996. He lives with his wife, Anne, and their two children on her family's farm in Moss, Norway.
Campbell holds permanent resident status in Canada, and lived for several years in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Campbell is a rugby enthusiast, having played for the Virginia Rugby Football Club, Chicago Lions RFC and the Santa Monica Rugby Club.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1989Call from SpaceYoung ManShort film1991The RocketeerCliff Secord / The RocketeerCheckered FlagTommy Trehearn1992Bram Stoker's DraculaQuincey Morris1993The Night We Never MetShepGettysburgLt. Andrew Lewis Pitzer1994DickwadChetShort film1995Under the Hula MoonMarvin1995Out ThereDelbert Mosley1996Lover's KnotSteve Hunter1997ElissaWillShort filmMenno's MindMennoHarrisonLast Chance LoveRobert1998Miles Keogh2001Streete Wilder2002EnoughMitch Hiller2003Gods and GeneralsMaj. Gen. George Pickett2008Ghost TownRichard2010Almost KingsRon2012Fat Kid Rules the WorldMr. BillingsThe DisappearedMannie2013CopperheadAbner Beech2014Red KnotCapt. EmersonSinclairOperation RogueMilitary NewscasterCredited as Ollie Campbell2022TrollDr. David SecordNarvikGeorge L.D. Gibbs2025I Know What You Did Last SummerGrant SpencerTrustPeter10 Things I Hate About LifeUnfinished and unreleased
Television Year Title Role Notes1984Family TiesLyleEpisode: "Best Man"1984–85DynastyLuke FullerRecurring role1985First StepsDwayneTV film1986Dream WestLt. GainesTV miniseries1986–88Crime StoryDet. Joey IndelliRegular role 1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation Captain Thadiun Okona Episode: "The Outrageous Okona"1989CBS Summer PlayhouseWayneEpisode: "The Heat"1993Moon over MiamiWalter TatumMain roleArmistead Maupin's Tales of the CityJon FieldingTV miniseries1995Out ThereDelbert MosleyTV film1996Lt. John BartonTV film1997LukeEpisode: "A Year in the Life"1998FrasierDr. Clint WebberEpisode: "The Perfect Guy"Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the CityJon FieldingTV miniseriesMonday After the MiracleJohn MacyTV filmMax QClay JarvisTV film1999Dead Man's GunJohn SlatteryEpisode: "The Regulator"1999–2002Once and AgainRick SammlerMain role2000In the BeginningMosesTV miniseries2001Further Tales of the CityDr. Jon FieldingTV miniseries2002CMT 40 Greatest Women of Country MusicHostTV special2003Ted BundyTV filmTom BartosEpisode: "Goodbye"2004Law & Order: Special Victims UnitRon PolikoffEpisode: "Doubt"2004–07Jordan CollierMain role2005Carter BuckleyRecurring role2007–08SharkWayne CallisonEpisode: "Wayne's World"2008Al ShinesTV film2009MeteorDet. Jack CroweTV miniseriesEurekaDr. Bruce ManliusEpisode: "Shower the People"RevolutionTom HartTV film2010Melrose PlaceBen Brinkley3 episodes2011–12, 2014Darren RichmondRegular role (seasons 1–2), "Eden"2013Killing LincolnAbraham LincolnTV filmFull CircleTrent Campbell3 episodes2014Lizzie Borden Took an AxAndrew JenningsTV filmDeliriumThomas FinemanUnsold TV pilot2014–15HelixDr. Alan FarragutMain role2017ModusDale TylerRecurring role (season 2)2017–20CardinalDet. John CardinalMain role2019–20Dave Secord (voice)Main role 2022–24 Star Trek: Prodigy Captain Thadiun Okona (voice) 3 episodes2023FBIDetective Jack LombardoEpisode: "Sins of the Father" 2023 Something Undone Pastor Cape 5 episodes2024Mr. & Mrs. SmithParker MartinGuest star
Awards and nominations Institution Year Category WorkResultCanadian Screen Awards2018Best Actor, Television Film or MiniseriesCardinal20192020Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role2021Golden Globe Awards2000Best Actor – Television Series DramaOnce and AgainInternational Emmy Awards2018Best ActorCardinalMonte-Carlo Television Festival2018Outstanding Actor in a Drama TV SeriesPeople's Choice Awards2000Favorite Male Performer In A New TV SeriesOnce and AgainSatellite Awards2002Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television FilmFurther Tales of the City
See also List of Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members
References
External links