Ted Wass

For the English association football player, see Ted Wass (footballer).
Ted Wass
Born Theodore Wass
(1952-10-27) October 27, 1952
Lakewood, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation Actor, television director
Years active 1977–present
Spouse(s) Nina Wass (1996–present)
Janet Margolin (1979–1993) (her death)

Theodore "Ted" Wass (born October 27, 1952), is an American television director and former actor. He is best known for his roles as Danny Dallas on the series Soap (1977–1981) and as Nick Russo on the NBC sitcom Blossom (1991–1995). Since Blossom ended its run in 1995, Wass has retired from acting and has focused only on directing episodic television.

Education and early career

Wass was born in Lakewood, Ohio. He attended Glenbard West High School and graduated in 1970.[1] He later graduated from DePaul University's Goodman School of Drama.[2]

In 1976, Wass made his Broadway debut in the production Grease playing Danny Zuko.[2]

Acting

He made his television debut as Danny Dallas on Soap opposite stage veteran Katherine Helmond from 1977-1981.

He starred in Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), one of the post-Peter Sellers films in the franchise, as a detective engaged by police chief Dreyfus to track down Inspector Clouseau.[3]

He played struggling musician Bobby Shelton (who trades his soul - and his family - to become ill-fated rock star "Billy Wayne") in the black comedy film Oh, God! You Devil (1984).

He played a sports journalist caught up in a murder in female-Tarzan film Sheena (1984), which received five nominations in the Razzie Awards.[4]

In 1986, he starred in TV movie Triplecross, directed by David Greene, in which he, Markie Post, and Gary Swanson are cops who receive a huge sum of money from a kidnap victim and become private detectives, competing against each other to solve cases.[5] This was intended as a pilot but the series was never picked up.

He played the central character's father in Blossom (1991-1995), a sitcom about a teenage girl with two brothers being brought up by her single father, which was Ted's last acting role.

He appeared on Broadway with his Soap co-star Diana Canova in Neil Simon's They're Playing Our Song.

Personal life

Wass' first wife was actress Janet Margolin, who died in 1993 at age 50 from ovarian cancer; they had two children, Julian and Matilda. His second wife is producer Nina Wass.[6]

Actor filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Family Sam Trask Episode: "A Safe House"
1977 Handle with Care Cpl. Tillingham Television pilot
1977–1981 Soap (TV series) Danny Dallas Main cast (77 episodes)
1979 The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal Vinnie Television film
1979 The Thirteenth Day: The Story of Esther Simon Television special
1982 I Was a Mail Order Bride Robert Fitzgerald Television film
1983 Baby Sister David Mitchell Television film
1983 Curse of the Pink Panther Sgt. Clifton Sleigh Feature film
1984 Sheena Vic Casey Feature film
1984 Oh, God! You Devil Bobby Shelton Feature film
1985 Sins of the Father Gregory Scott Murchison Television film
1986 The Longshot Stump Feature film
1986 Triplecross Elliott Taffle Television film
1986 The Canterville Ghost Harry Canterville Television film
1986 Sunday Drive Paul Sheridan Television film (The Disney Sunday Movie)
1987 CBS Summer Playhouse Mickey Episode: "Mickey and Nora"
1988 Shades of Love: Sunset Court Dr. Jimmy Fielding Television film
1988 Pancho Barnes Frank Clake Television film
1989 Men (TV series) Dr. Steven Ratajkowski Main cast (6 episodes)
1989 Fine Gold Andre Feature film
1990 Sparks: The Price of Passion Steve Warner Television film
1991–1995 Blossom (TV series) Nick Russo Main cast (113 episodes)
1993 Triumph Over Disaster: The Hurricane Andrew Story Bryan Norcross Television film
1993 Danielle Steel's Star Ernie Television film

Director filmography

References

  1. ↑ "History". glenbard1958.
  2. 1 2 Lights shine on The Theatre School gala honorees, DePaul University
  3. ↑ Brunsdale, Mitzi M. (2010). Icons of Mystery and Crime Detection: From Sleuths to Superheroes. ABC-CLIO. p. 184.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Staci Layne (2007). Animal Movies Guide. p. 18.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow. p. 215.
  6. ↑ Ted Wass Biography (1952-), Film Reference
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