Richard J. Zobel Jr. (June 5, 1952 – October 4, 2005) was an American actor. He starred as the attorney Aaron Levinsky in the original Broadway run of Nuts in 1980. Over the course of his career, he was also a singer, instrumentalist, animator, writer, and producer.
Career Zobel was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and moved to New York City for his acting career.
New York and Hollywood acting career Zobel's Off-Broadway credits included All's Well That Ends Well and The Taming of the Shrew in the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park in 1978, and The Country Girl in 1984.Richard Zobel at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
He starred as the attorney Aaron Levinsky in the original Broadway run of Nuts in 1980. He appeared in small and supporting film roles, and had guest appearances in over a dozen television series including The X-Files, ER, China Beach, Hill Street Blues, and Star Trek: Voyager, from 1984 through 1999. He was also a singer and a musician.Rubber Chicken Cards: From the Beak. Archived June 28, 2009."Who's behind the Best Electronic Greeting Cards?". RubberChickenCards.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
He acted and sang in, and was the vocal arranger for, the 1987 film Walker, and the 2008 making-of documentary about the film, Dispatches from Nicaragua, is dedicated to his memory.Walker [Original Soundtrack] at AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2017.Dispatches from Nicaragua (2008): Full Cast & Crew at the Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
Lexington Conservatory Theatre Zobel was a founding company member of Lexington Conservatory Theatre and friend and collaborator of co-founder Oakley Hall III. He performed with them in numerous roles and continued his association with the company when it moved to Albany, NY and became Capital Repertory Theatre. Zobel starred as the title role in Hall's first adaptations of Alfred Jarry's Ubu Roi (called Ubu Rex) and its sequels, in New York City Off-Off-Broadway and at Lexington, co-producing as well as creating the masks for it. He also appeared in the world premiere of Hall's Grinder's Stand. Zobel's work with the two companies totaled more than 200 performances over the course of two decades.Independent Lens. The Loss of Nameless Things: The Players (page 2). PBS. Retrieved December 23, 2017.Oakley Hall III. "UBU ROI by Alfred Jarry; Translated by Oakley Hall III" (Production Notes). Firlefanz-Gallery.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
In 2004, Zobel appeared in the documentary The Loss of Nameless Things, recalling his experience of working with Lexington Conservatory Theatre and Oakley Hall III.Independent Lens. The Loss of Nameless Things: The Film. PBS. Retrieved December 23, 2017. It was his last appearance on film.
Rubber Chicken Cards In 2000, Zobel co-founded Rubber Chicken Cards, which sells online greeting cards that combine voice-over acting with irreverent humor, with fellow actor and Lexington alumni Steven Rotblatt.Verrier, Richard. "Actor Plays His Cards Right". Los Angeles Times. July 5, 2006.Verrier, Richard. "Rubber Chicken Tickles the Funny Bone." The Standard. July 19, 2006. For the cards Zobel sang, played several instruments, wrote scripts, did animation, and voiced numerous characters.
Zobel died of cancer in October 2005 in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he lived. He was survived by his wife and daughter.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1984Once Upon a Time in AmericaReporter 21984TeachersPropes1985Turk 182TV Interviewer1987From the HipMatt Cowens1987WalkerLemuel1992To Sleep with a VampireCabby1993Warlock: The ArmageddonBarker1995Tall TaleBarkeep1998MontanaSimms
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1983–1984The Edge of NightEric Blake15 episodes1985Search for TomorrowElmo2 episodes1987Hill Street BluesScanlonEpisode: "Dogsbreath Afternoon"1987–1988Crime StoryLt. Col. Milton Dance4 episodes1988Simon & SimonHead of SecurityEpisode: "Simon & Simon and Associates"1989MatlockVal Delaney2 episodes1990Mancuso, F.B.I.FBI Counter Intelligence Agent1990Parker KaneJack MoodyTelevision film1990Jake and the FatmanMannyEpisode: "'Round Midnight"1990The Young RidersMcPhalenEpisode: "Star Light, Star Bright"1991Mrs. Lambert Remembers LoveMitchTelevision film1991China BeachTonyEpisode: "Through and Through"1992Melrose PlaceEmployment OfficerEpisode: "Friends & Lovers"1993Knots LandingMiddle-Aged HippieEpisode: "Some Like It Hot"1993Bodies of EvidenceBertEpisode: "Flesh and Blood"1994M.A.N.T.I.S.Homeless ManTelevision film1997ERMr. BartokEpisode: "You Bet Your Life"1997Star Trek: VoyagerGaumenEpisode: "The Raven"1997–1998ProfilerBen Farrarini3 episodes1999The X-FilesAlEpisode: "Three of a Kind"
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