The White Shadow

Background:

Actor Ken Howard is famous for starring as Ken Reeves in the classic TV series “The White Shadow,” which ran on CBS from 1978 to 1981. Prior to that he starred in the series “Adam's Rib” (1973) and “Manhunter” (1974-1975) and had roles in “It's Not Easy” (1983), “Dynasty” and “The Colbys” (1985 to 1986). More recently, Howard returned to series TV in NBC's “Crossing Jordan” in which he portrayed Max Cavanaugh from 2001 to 2005. He then portrayed Joe Samuels on “Cane” (2007).

Howard has also acted in a number of TV films and miniseries and has guest starred in numerous TV shows. He won a 1981 Daytime Emmy Award for his presentation of the ideal father in the ABC special “The Body Human: Facts for Boys” (1980). On the big screen, Howard dotted his resume with roles in “Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon” (1970), “Such Good Friends” (1971), “The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie” (1972), “Clear and Present Danger” (1994), “The Net” (1995) and “At First Sight” (1999). His more recent credits include “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story” (2005), “In Her Shoes” (2005), “Arc” (2006), “Michael Clayton” (2007), “Rambo” (2008), “2:13” (2008), “Grey Gardens” (2008) and “The Beacon” (2009). He will soon costar in “A Numbers Game” and “Facing Kate” (both 2010).

On stage, Howard is best known for his Tony winning role as a young gym coach in the Broadway production of “Child's Play” (1970). He netted a Theatre World Award portraying Thomas Jefferson in “1776” (1969), a role he recreated for the 1972 movie version. Other Broadway credits include “Seesaw” (1973), “Little Black Sheep” (1975), “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue” (1976) and “Rumor” (1988).

As for his private life, Howard is married to stuntwoman Linda Fetters. He was previously married to Margo Coleman (together from 1977 to 1991) and actress Louise Sorel (together from 1973 to 1976). Howard is an active supporter of the National Kidney Foundation. In 2000, he underwent a kidney transplant.

Basketball

Childhood and Family:

Kenneth Joseph Howard Jr., professionally known as Ken Howard, was born in El Centro, California, on March 28, 1944. His father, Kenneth J Howard Sr., passed away from Alzheimer's on May 14, 1995, at the age of 79. His mother's name is Martha Carey. His younger brother, Donald Howard, died on August 14, 1999, of liver disease at age 47. Ken was raised in the Long Island community of Manhasset, New York, and attended Manhasset High School, where he was on the basketball team. Thanks to his athletic ability, he was offered numerous athletic scholarships but he declined them in favor of studying liberal arts at Amherst College. It was there that he developed a passion for theater. Ken then attended the Yale School of Drama, but left after two years to pursue a stage career.

In 1973, Ken married actress Louise Sorel, but they divorced in 1976. He next married Margo Coleman, the daughter of advice columnist Ann Landers, in 1977. They divorced in 1991. Currently, Ken is married to Linda Fetters, a stuntwoman he married in 1992. They live in Los Angeles, California.

Child's Play

Career:

Ken Howard made his stage debut at age 16 when he landed a part in a local production of “Annie Get Your Gun.” Seven years later, he left Yale to take a small part in the Broadway musical “Promises, Promises” (1967), by Neil Simon. His work paid off in 1969 when he picked up a Theatre World Award after originating the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Tony winning musical “1776,” which was directed by Peter H. Hunt. He later reprised the role for the 1972 movie version of the same name. His stage career gained an additional boost in 1970 when he won rave reviews and a Tony for Best Featured Actor for his work in the thriller “Child's Play” (1970), where he played a gym coach at a Catholic boy’s school.

Howard kicked off his film career costarring as Arthur in the comedy “Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon” (1970). He went on to star in “Such Good Friends” (1971), with Dyan Cannon and “The Strange Vengeance of Rosalie” (1972), opposite Bonnie Bedelia. In 1973, Howard headed to Hollywood to star as a young assistant DA named Adam Bonner in the TV series adaptation of “Adam's Rib,” opposite Blythe Danner, who was also his costar in 1972's movie version “1776.” The ABC sitcom failed to find an audience and he returned to Broadway with 1973's “Seesaw,” opposite Michele Lee. The following year, he starred in the CBS series “Manhunter.” The show, however, was canceled after one season.

In 1978, Howard found TV success when he was cast in the starring role of Ken Reeves, a pro basketball player who becomes a high school coach, in the series “The White Shadow,” which he also co-created based on his experiences as the only white player on his high school basketball team. The sport themed series ran on CBS from 1978 to 1981.

Howard went on to make several TV films, including “The Critical List” (1978) and “Father Damien: The Leper Priest” (1980) and took home a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming (Performers) for his performance as the ideal father in the CBS afternoon special “The Body Human: Facts for Boys” (1980). When “The White Shadow” was axed, the actor offered strong performances in two miniseries in 1983, NBC's “Rage of Angels,” as Adam Warner, and ABC's “The Thorn Birds,” as Rainer Hartheim, before revisiting series TV with “It's Not Easy” (also 1983). The sitcom, however, had a short life. From 1985 to 1986, Howard could be seen playing Garrett Boydston on the ABC series “Dynasty” and “The Colbys.” He also served as a host in the syndicated beauty pageant series “Dream Girl USA” in 1986 and later that year, reprised his role of Adam Warner for the sequel “Rage of Angels: The Story Continues.” He next appeared in the TV films “The Man in the Brown Suit” and “Strange Interlude” (both 1988).

After teaching at Harvard in the 1980s, Howard became more selective in his acting projects and emerged as a movie character player. From 1990 to 1995, he played roles in the TV films “Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Smart Story” (1990, as Helen Hunt's father-in-law), Sidney Sheldon's “Memories of Midnight” (1991), “Mastergate” (1992), “Hart to Hart: Hart to Hart Returns” (1993) and “Her Hidden Truth” (1995). He also appeared in the motion pictures “Oscar” (1991, with Sylvester Stallone), “Ulterior Motives” (1992), “Clear and Present Danger” (1994, starred Harrison Ford) and Sandra Bullock's vehicle “The Net” (1995). He also co-wrote and co-produced the independent film “Challenge the Wind” (1990), hosted the reality series “What Happened” (NBC, 1992 to 1993) and in 1994 began his recurring role of George Andrews on Fox's “Melrose Place,” a part he held until 1998.

Howard continued to work on TV and in films throughout the rest of the decade. He acted in the TV film adaptation of “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” (1997), based on books by Jillian Karr and Karen Katz, portrayed Horace White in the independent action movie “Tactical Assault” (1998), starred as a business executive in the TV drama “A Vow to Cherish” (1999) and was cast as the father of Val Kilmer in the Irwin Winkler directed “At First Sight” (1999). In addition, he appeared in two episodes of the TV series “Diagnosis Murder” (1996-1997) and guest starred as Judge Peyton Cabot Harrison III in a 1999 episode of “The West Wing.”

In the early 2000s, Howard guest starred in such shows as “The Practice,” “Family Law,” “Arli$$” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He also appeared in the TV miniseries “Perfect Murder, Perfect Town: JonBenét and the City of Boulder” (2000). He was then cast as the father of Jill Hennesey's character in the NBC series “Crossing Jordan” (2001-2005). After leaving the series in 2005, he appeared with Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning and Kris Kristofferson in the Dreamworks film “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story,” supported Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine in the Curtis Hanson directed comedy “In Her Shoes” (both 2005) and acted in “Arc” (2006). He also made guest appearances in series like “George Lopez,” “The Office,” “Ghost Whisperer,” “Conviction,” “Huff” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (all 2006).

In 2007, Howard portrayed the father of Melissa Gilbert in the TV film “Spring Thaw,” supported George Clooney for the Warner Bros. drama film “Michael Clayton,” which was written and directed by Tony Gilroy, and completed Vince Di Meglio's “Smother,” opposite Dax Shepard and Mike White. In September 2007, he joined the cast of the ABC drama series “Cane.” In 2008, he appeared in “Rambo,” the thriller “Still Waters” and as Sheriff Sedgewick in “2:13,” a thriller starring Mark Thompson and Mark Pellegrino. He also had a supporting role in “Grey Gardens,” opposite Justin Louis, Drew Barrymore, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Jessica Lange and Daniel Baldwin.

Howard will soon costar in “A Numbers Game” and “Facing Kate” (both 2010).

Awards:

• Daytime Emmy: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Children's Programming - Performers, “The Body Human: Facts for Boys,” 1981

• Tony: Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic), “Child's Play,” 1970

• Theatre World: “1776,” 1969