Actor Mitchell Ryan, known for roles in Dharma & Greg and Lethal Weapon, died on Friday, March 4, 2022, of congestive heart failure. He was 88 years old.

Ryan starred in Dharma & Greg as Greg’s buttoned up, snobbish businessman father Edward who was often at odds with Dharma’s free spirited dad. He was featured in the late ‘90s/early 2000s sitcom’s entire five season run.

Ryan was born in Cincinnati on January 11, 1934, and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the navy in the special services entertainment unit during the Korean War, then he moved to New York to start his acting career.

His onscreen career began in 1958 in Thunder Road, then after a few TV guest appearances, he landed the role of ex-con Burke Devlin in Dark Shadows. He notably played ranch hand Shorty Austin in Monte Walsh, starred with Clint Eastwood in High Plains Drifter and Magnum Force, and was in Electra Glide in Blue and The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, he had recurring roles in TV shows like Chase, Executive Suite, The Chisholms, North and South, and Santa Barbara. On film, Ryan was the first main villain in the Lethal Weapon franchise as a drug smuggling retired general.

In the ‘90s, Ryan was in The Golden Girls, Matlock, NYPD Blue, Judge Dredd, he played the leader of a cult in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, was in Liar Liar, and played Minnie Driver’s dad in Grosse Pointe Blank.

After Dharma & Gregg, he was in The West Wing, The Drew Carey Show, and was set to appear in Valley of Shadows.