Richard Biggs

Richard Biggs
Richard Biggs at a B5-Event in
Stuttgart, Germany, 2000.
Born(1960-03-18)March 18, 1960
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 22, 2004(2004-05-22) (aged 44)[1]
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActor
Years active1985–2004
Spouse
Lori Kay Biggs
​
​
(m. 1998)​
Children2
Parent(s)Col. Richard Biggs
Delores Biggs

Richard James Biggs II (March 18, 1960 – May 22, 2004) was an American television and stage actor, known for his roles on the television series Days of Our Lives and Babylon 5.

Early life

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Biggs graduated from Minot High School (Minot, ND). He attended the University of Southern California on scholarship, studying theatre.[1] He briefly taught at a Los Angeles high school before landing his first major television role, that of Dr. Marcus Hunter on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.[1]

Biggs was diagnosed with hearing problems when he was 13, and was partially deaf in one ear, completely deaf in the other.[1] He frequently used his celebrity status to raise money for the Aliso Academy,[2] a private school in Rancho Santa Margarita, California that serves deaf children.[3][4]

Career

From 1987 until 1994, Biggs played the role of Dr. Marcus Hunter on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.[5][6]

He appeared as Dr. Stephen Franklin on the well-regarded science fiction series Babylon 5 (1994–1998), reprising the role in the final aired episode of the spin-off show, Crusade ("Each Night I Dream of Home").[6]

After Babylon 5, he played roles on Any Day Now[5][6] and Strong Medicine,[6][7] as well as the recurring role of Clayton Boudreaux on the soap opera Guiding Light.[6][7]

Biggs' stage credits include The Tempest, Cymbeline and The Taming of the Shrew.[8]

At the time of his death, he was a regular on the television series Strong Medicine; following his death, his character was killed in an off-screen traffic accident.[7][9] He also guest starred as a visiting scientist on Tremors: The Series.[3] Biggs' final film appearance was in Special Report: Zombie Invasion, a short film also featuring Biggs' Babylon 5 costar, Bruce Boxleitner, released as a companion piece to the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead on DVD.[3] His final television appearance was as a guest star on a 2004 episode of the Nickelodeon series Drake & Josh, entitled "The Gary Grill" portraying an FBI agent, which was dedicated to his memory. He only won one award in his career. That award was the Soap Opera Digest Award for Supporting Actor.[5][6][3][10]

Personal life

He grew up on Air Force bases across the US because his father Colonel Richard was in the Air Force.

He married Lori Kay Gebers Biggs[11] on August 1, 1998. They have two sons Richard James III and Hunter Lee.[1][12]

Death

Biggs collapsed at his home in Los Angeles, and died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center of complications stemming from aortic dissection on May 22, 2004.[1] He was 44 years old.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Unnatural Causes Unknown
1987 Walk Like a Man Salesman
1988 Miracle Mile Brian Jones
1992 One Stormy Night Marcus Hunter
1995 The Alien Within Hawkes
1998 Babylon 5: In the Beginning Dr. Stephen Franklin
1998 Babylon 5: Thirdspace Dr. Stephen Franklin
1998 Forever Love Dr. Berris
1998 Babylon 5: The River of Souls Dr. Stephen Franklin
2001 Ablaze Garrison

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Three's a Crowd Bailiff Episode: "September Song"
1985 TJ Hooker Frawley Episode: "The Chicago Connection"
1986 Stingray Cabin Guard Episode: "As Far as the Eye Can See"
1986 The Twilight Zone Dr. Tomson Episode: "The Toys of Caliban"
1987–1992 Days of Our Lives Marcus Hunter Regular role
1994–1998 Babylon 5 Stephen Franklin Series regular
2001–2002 Guiding Light Clayton Boudreux 2 episodes
2003 Tremors Roger Garrett 2 episodes
2004 Drake & Josh FBI agent Episode: "The Gary Grill"; dedicated in memory
2000–2004 Strong Medicine Milo Morton Recurring

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Woo, Elaine (May 28, 2004). "Richard Biggs, 44; Television Actor Known for Featured Roles in 'Babylon 5,' 'Days of Our Lives'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Green, Michelle Erica. "Richard Biggs: Any Day Now, Back To Babylon". www.littlereview.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Richard Biggs". sharetv.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  4. ^ "Aliso Academy For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing". TaxExemptWorld.com. November 3, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Stanton, Barry W. (January 4, 2018). "What Happened to Richard Biggs? – 2018 Update". Gazette Review. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Richard Biggs". IMDb. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c "Richard Biggs". Metacritic. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  8. ^ "Richard Biggs Biography (1961-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Fractured". Strong Medicine. Season 5. Episode 5.
  10. ^ "'Days of Our Lives' named favorite soap opera". Point Pleasant Register. Vol. 55, no. 40. Associated Press. February 17, 1993. p. 8. Retrieved November 9, 2018 – via Google News.
  11. ^ http://www.wireimage.com/celebrity-pictures/Richard-Biggs-and-wife-Lori-at-the-Pasadena-Civic-Auditorium-in/74706977 Photograph Of Lori and Ricahrd
  12. ^ https://www.jason47.com/days/biggs.html Richard Biggs Jr Tribute