Spencer James Milligan (September 10, 1937 – April 18, 2024) was an American actor. He was best known for the role of Rick Marshall, the father of Will and Holly Marshall, on the first two seasons of the 1970s children science fiction TV series, Land of the Lost.
Career Prior to breaking into proper TV and film, in 1970, Milligan appeared, at age 33, in a United Airlines short tourism film about the City of Chicago, along with Shelley Long, during her modeling days at age 20-21, years before starring in Cheers.
Milligan left Land of the Lost after the second season due to a dispute with the producers of the show. Milligan wanted his share of any merchandising profits or royalties that the show generated. In a 2009 interview with the Associated Press, Milligan elaborated:
The show replaced Milligan's character Rick Marshall with Rick's brother Jack Marshall, played by actor Ron Harper. Milligan did not return for the brief scene at the beginning of "After-Shock," the first episode of the third season. This scene, which was also used in the opening credits of the third season, showed Rick Marshall being transported out of the Land of the Lost. Jon Kubichan, who both wrote and produced the episode, played the role instead, wearing a wig resembling Milligan's hair and standing with his back to the camera.Land of the Lost at kensforce.com at mediawhack.com
Although Spencer Milligan made various guest-starring roles on TV in the 1970s, his career slowed down in the 1980s. During the 1980s, Milligan lived in Malibu. He then relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area in the 1990s, where he taught acting at Adam Roarke's Film Actors Lab (where Lou Diamond Phillips studied). One of Milligan's students was actor Benton Jennings. Milligan eventually moved back to his family's home in Wisconsin.Forum thread at landofthelost.com His last known televised acting performance was in 1987, when he appeared on General Hospital.Land of the Lost at celebritynooz.com
In addition to teaching acting, Milligan directed local plays.
Death Milligan died in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on April 18, 2024, at the age of 86.
Filmography A partial filmography follows.
Film Sleeper (1973) as Jeb Hrmthmg The Man From Clover Grove (1975) as Fester McLong The Photographer (1974) as Clinton Webber
Television Year Film Role Notes 1974 Land of the Lost Rick Marshall 30 episodes (1974-1975) 1975 Gunsmoke Jinx Tobin "Brides and Grooms" 1976 The Keegans Pat Keegan TV movie 1976 The Bionic Woman Reed "Fly Jaime" 1977 The Bionic Woman Schmidt "Motorcycle Boogie" 1979 Quincy M.E. Cliff Hanna "Walk Softly Through the Night" parts 1 & 2 1979 Alice David "Little Alice Bluenose" 1980 Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Haskell TV movie 1981 Terror Among Us Alex TV movie 1982 Police Squad! Eddie Casales "Revenge and Remorse (The Guilty Alibi)" 1987 The Magical World of Disney Detective "You Ruined My Life" 1987 General Hospital Ray Gibbons 7 episodes
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