Timothy Patrick Murphy (November 3, 1959 – December 6, 1988) was an American actor, widely known for his role as Mickey Trotter on the CBS prime time soap opera Dallas from 1982 to 1983.
Career Murphy started his acting career as an adolescent in several television commercials, and from there he went on to act in the 1978 miniseries Centennial. From 1980 to 1981, he played young conman Spencer Langley on the CBS daytime drama Search for Tomorrow. Murphy portrayed troubled Mickey Trotter on the CBS prime time soap opera Dallas from 1982 to 1983. During the 1984–1985 television season, he played series regular Chip Craddock on the ABC prime time drama Glitter. In addition to this, he appeared in episodes of the television shows Quincy, M.E., CHiPs, Teachers Only, Hotel, The Love Boat and Hunter.
Murphy appeared in the 1981 film The Bushido Blade. One of Murphy's most substantial roles was in the 1984 feature film Sam's Son, the film biography of the early life of actor Michael Landon, in which he played the character of Gene Orowitz (the young Landon).
In 1984, he won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor (Guest) in a TV Series for his work on The Love Boat.
Personal life and death Murphy was gay, as reported by his life partner Mark Patton.
Murphy died of AIDS on December 6, 1988, in Sherman Oaks, California, aged 29.
His younger brother, Patrick Sean Murphy (born January 29, 1965), died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center during the September 11, 2001 attacks. He was 36 years old.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1978 The Paper Chase Michael Burch Episode: "Nancy" 1978 Centennial Christian Zendt TV miniseries; Episode: "The Longhorns" 1979 The Seekers Jarod Kent TV miniseries 1979 The Love Boat Terry Gibson Episode: "Too Young to Love" 1980–81 Search for Tomorrow Spencer Langley Unknown episodes 1980 A Time for Miracles Will TV movie 1981 The Bushido Blade Midshipman Robin Burr Feature film 1982 CHiPs Alex Episode: "In the Best of Families" 1982 Teachers Only Jeremy Episode: "Quote, Unquote" 1982 Quincy, M.E. Nick Stadler Episode: "The Mourning After" 1982–83 Dallas Mickey Trotter Main cast (27 episodes) 1983 The Love Boat Kent Holden Episode: "So Help Me Hannah" 1983 The Love Boat David Episode: "Bricker's Boy" 1984 Sam's Son Gene Orowitz Feature film 1984 With Intent to Kill Drew Lanscott TV movie 1984 Hotel Andy / Kevin Walker Episodes: "Tomorrows" / "Final Chapters" 1984–85 Glitter Chip Craddock Main cast (14 episodes) 1985 The Love Boat Curtis Williams Episodes: "A Gentleman of Discretion" (Parts 1 & 2) 1986 Hunter Jeffery Wyatt Episode: "True Confessions" 1988 Doin' Time on Planet Earth Jeff Richmond Feature film, (final film role)
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