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George Dzundza

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George Dzundza
Born (1945-07-19) July 19, 1945 (age 79)
Rosenheim, Bavaria, Allied-occupied Germany
Alma materSt. John's University
OccupationActor
Years active1973–2011
Spouse
Mary Jo Vermeulen
​
​
(m. 1982)​
Children3

George Dzundza (/ˈzʊndzə/ ZUUND-zə;[1] born July 19, 1945)[2] is a retired[3] American actor. He is known for his varied work in film and on television, including The Deer Hunter (1978), Skokie (1981), No Way Out (1987), The Beast (1988), Impulse (1990), White Hunter Black Heart (also 1990), The Butcher's Wife (1991), Basic Instinct (1992), Crimson Tide (1995), Dangerous Minds (also 1995), and City by the Sea (2002).

Dzundza's television roles include Sergeant Max Greevey on the first season of Law & Order (1990-91), Tom Grzelack on Hack (2002-03), Harold O'Malley on Grey's Anatomy (2005-07), and the voices of Arnold Wesker/The Ventriloquist and Perry White in the DC Animated Universe. He also starred on the short-lived sitcom Open All Night (1981). Along with the ensemble cast, Dzundza won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor for his performance in the Robert Altman film Streamers (1983).

Early life and education

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Dzundza was born in Rosenheim, Germany, to Ukrainian father Roman Dzundza[4] and Polish mother Maria Humenecka, who respectively originated from Kalush and Lviv in what is now Ukraine. After the Nazis forced his parents into factory labor, Dzundza spent his early years living in displaced persons camps with them.[5][6]

Dzundza's family moved to Amsterdam in 1949, then moved to the US in 1956, settling in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City.[7] He became a naturalized US citizen.[2] He attended Xavier High School and St. Johns University, and studied under Stella Adler and Harold Clurman.[8][9]

Career

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Dzundza began acting in his freshman year of college at the insistence of another student.[10] However, his professional stage debut was in a 1973 New York Shakespeare Festival production of King Lear,[7] which was later aired as an episode of Great Performances. He starred in the Festival's 1973-74 national tour of That Championship Season.[11] He also starred in the Broadway productions The Ritz and Legend,[11] and in A Prayer for My Daughter at the Public Theatre.[12] In 1979 he played the role of Cully Sawyer in the horror film, Salem's Lot.

Dzundza starred in a short-lived 1981 sitcom series Open All Night,[10] about the owner of a "Store 364" convenience store in Inglewood, California.[13] He portrayed American Nazi leader Frank Collin in the 1981 television film Skokie.[14] In 1983, he starred in Robert Altman's film Streamers, based on the David Rabe play of the same name.[15] The film's ensemble cast collectively won the Best Actor Award at the 40th Venice International Film Festival.

In 1987, Dzundza played Sam Hesselman, a disabled man in a wheelchair, in No Way Out[16][8] and Commander Daskal in The Beast in 1988.[17] Other major film roles of his include The Deer Hunter,[15] Impulse,[15] White Hunter Black Heart, [15] The Butcher's Wife,[15] Basic Instinct,[15] Crimson Tide,[15] Dangerous Minds[15] and City by the Sea.[8]

He was an original cast member of the NBC drama Law & Order,[15] playing NYPD Sergeant Max Greevey in the first season only. Dzundza left after the first season of the show.[18]

His other acting work includes an appearance on The Waltons (1975),[15] and playing the Archie Bunker-like father in the short-lived Christina Applegate sitcom Jesse.[15] He voiced supervillain the Ventriloquist in Batman: The Animated Series,[15] and Perry White in Superman: The Animated Series.[15]

In 2005, he played Anubis (aka "Jim") in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Threads".[15] Dzundza portrayed George O'Malley's father Harold on Grey's Anatomy.[15]

Personal life

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Dzundza has been married to Mary Jo Vermeulen since 1982.[9] They have three daughters and two grandchildren.[9][2]

Now semi-retired, Dzundza resides in Astoria, Oregon, where he directs community and regional theatre productions.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 Massage Parlor Murders Mr. Creepy Also assistant director
1974 Fischia Il Sesso Dean
1975 The Happy Hooker Chet
1978 The Deer Hunter John Welsh
1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Eugene
1983 Streamers Cokes
1984 Best Defense Steve Loparino
1986 No Mercy Captain Stemkowski
1987 No Way Out Sam Hesselman
No Man's Land Uncle Mike Uncredited
1988 The Beast Daskal
Honor Bound Wocjinski
1990 Impulse Lt. Joe Morgan
White Hunter Black Heart Paul Landers
1991 The Butcher's Wife Leo Lemke
1992 Basic Instinct Detective Gus Moran
1995 Crimson Tide COB Walters
Dangerous Minds Hal Griffith
1997 That Darn Cat Boetticher
Do Me A Favor Wallace Muller
1998 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero Dr. Gregory Belson (voice) Direct-to-video[19]
Species II Colonel Carter Burgess Jr.
1999 Instinct Dr. John Murray
2000 Above Suspicion Stamos
2002 Determination of Death Mac
City by the Sea Reg Duffy
2005 National Lampoon's Adam & Eve Eve's dad
2006 Superman: Brainiac Attacks Perry White (voice) Direct-to-video[19]
2010 The Chosen One Norman [20][21]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1974 Kung Fu Mr. Evans / 1st John Episode: "Night of the Owls, Day of the Doves"
Great Performances Gentleman Episode: "King Lear"
1975 Movin' On Charlie Banner Episode: "From Baltimore to Eternity"
Starsky & Hutch Crandell Episode: "Snowstorm"
The Waltons A.J. Covington Episode: "The Abdication"
Grady George Kosinski 3 episodes
Joe Forrester Episode: "The Best Laid Schemes"
1976 Bert D'Angelo/Superstar Mike Zuber Episode: "Murder in Velvet"
1977 The Streets of San Francisco Paul Weber Episode: "The Canine Collar"
1978 The Defection of Simas Kudirka Gruzauskas Television film
1979 Salem's Lot Cully Sawyer Miniseries
1979–1980 Young Maverick Clem 2 episodes
1981 Skokie Frank Collin Television film
A Long Way Home Floyd Booth
1981–1982 Open All Night Gordon Feester 13 episodes
1983 The Face of Rage Nick Television film
Faerie Tale Theatre The Woodsman Episode: "Sleeping Beauty"
1984 The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck Lt. DeCarlo Television film
When She Says No Paul Fellows
1984, 1988 CBS Schoolbreak Special Mr. Elder / Arthur Jennings 2 episodes
1985 The Rape of Richard Beck Blastig Television film
Brotherly Love Lieutenant Conde
The Execution of Raymond Graham Prison Chaplain
1986 The Disney Sunday Movie Pete Selzer Episode: "2 1/2 Dad"
The Twilight Zone Colonel Ilyanov Episode: "Red Snow"
One Police Plaza Detective Gustav Stamm Television film
1987 Crime Story Ivan Ivanovitch Patchenko Episode: "Mig 21"
Glory Years John Moss Television film
1988 Something Is Out There Frank Dileo 2 episodes
1989 Terror on Highway 91 Sheriff Jessie Barton Television film
The Ryan White Story Dr. Kleiman
Cross of Fire Boyd Gurley Miniseries
1990–91 Law & Order Sergeant Max Greevey Main cast (22 episodes)
1992 What She Doesn't Know Jack Kilcoin Television film
1993–95 Batman: The Animated Series Arnold Wesker/The Ventriloquist, G. Carl Francis, Chubb (voices) 6 episodes[19]
1993 The Untouchables Warden Wyandotte 3 episodes
Animaniacs Ivan Bloski (voice) Episode: "Plane Pals"[19]
1994 The Babymaker: The Dr. Cecil Jacobson Story Cecil Jacobson Television film
Matlock Michael Brennan Episode: "Brennan"
The Enemy Within Jake Television film
1996 The Limbic Region Lloyd
Road Rovers Gustav Hovac (voice) Episode: "Where Rovers Dare"[19]
1996–99 Superman: The Animated Series Perry White (voice) 10 episodes[19]
1997 The New Batman Adventures Arnold Wesker/The Ventriloquist (voice) Episode: "Double Talk"[19]
1998–99 Jesse John Warner Sr. Main cast (22 episodes)
2000 Touched by an Angel Bud Baxter Episode: "The Empty Chair"
Third Watch Faith's Dad Episode: "Know Thyself"
2002 The Agency Helmut Episode: "The Gauntlet"
2002–03 Hack Tom Grzelak Main cast (22 episodes)
2005 Stargate SG-1 Jim/Anubis Episode: "Threads"
2005–07 Grey's Anatomy Harold O'Malley 7 episodes
2006 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Coach (voice) Episode: "The Secret Snake Club vs. P.E."
2008 October Road Gloy Daniels Episode: "Hat? No Hat?"
2009 The Beast Lieutenant Platko Episode: "Two Choices"
2011 Danni Lowinski Augustus 'Gus' Lowinski Television film

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
2002 Superman: Shadow of Apokolips Perry White[19]
2004 Shellshock: Nam '67 Platt
2009 Batman: Arkham Asylum Blackgate Thug Uncredited

Stage appearances

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Year Title Role Venue Notes
1973 King Lear Gentleman Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway For Shakespeare in the Park
That Championship Season George Sikowski U.S. tour
1974 Mert and Phil Dream Man Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway
1975-76 The Ritz Abe Longacre Theatre, Broadway
1976 A Streetcar Named Desire McCarter Theatre, Princeton
Legend William F. P. Morgan Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway
1977 As To The Meaning of Words Hartman Theatre, Stamford
1977 A Prayer for My Daughter Kelly Public Theater, Off-Broadway
1999 Measure for Measure Pompey Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles

Awards and nominations

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Institution Year Category Work Result
Gold Derby Awards 2007 Drama Guest Actor Grey's Anatomy Won
2010 Drama Guest Actor of the Decade Nominated
Venice Film Festival 1983 Best Actor Streamers Won[a]

References

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  1. ^ "Say How? A Pronunciation Guide to Names of Public Figures". Loc.gov. 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2015-08-26.
  2. ^ a b c "Dzundza, George 1945—". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Webb, Patrick (August 7, 2023). "Everyday People: Retired actor wants audiences to question". The Astorian. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "New Yorkers bring culture to Catskills". ukrweekly.com. 13 September 1998. Archived from the original on January 5, 2006.
  5. ^ Jakle, Jeanne (December 26, 1998). "Nice-guy actor won't turn fans away - or off". San Antonio Express-News / mySA.com. S.A. Life. Retrieved 2015-08-26 – via newsbank.com.
  6. ^ "New Yorkers bring culture to Catskills". ukrweekly.com. 13 September 1998. Archived from the original on January 5, 2006.
  7. ^ a b "George Dzundza". TCM.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "George Dzundza". stellaadler.com. Stella Adler Studio of Acting. 20 August 2015. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c Bengel, Erick (March 13, 2014). "Dzundza directs Coaster Theatre production". The Astorian (December 7, 2018 ed.). Cannon Beach Gazette. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via dailyastorian.com.
  10. ^ a b Jacobs, Jay S. (February 26, 2003). "George Dzundza". PopEntertainment.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "George Dzundza – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  12. ^ "A Prayer for My Daughter". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  13. ^ Handler, David (March 3, 1982). "'Open All Night' is weird -- but good". The Madison Courier. Madison, Indiana. p. B7. Retrieved November 16, 2012.
  14. ^ "Film documents Skokie's resistance to Neo-Nazis". San Diego Jewish World. 2020-11-02. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "George Dzundza Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  16. ^ Slovick, Matt. "No Way Out". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  17. ^ Kehr, Dave (2 December 1988). "'The Beast' Intrigues with Its Point of View". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-11-05.
  18. ^ Courrier, Kevin; Green, Susan (November 22, 1999). Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, California: Renaissance Books. p. 111. ISBN 1-58063-108-8.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h "George Dzundza (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 12, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  20. ^ Block, Alex Ben (March 6, 2013). "Film Investors' Lawsuit Against Rob Schneider Moves to L.A. Superior Court". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Leo, Vince (August 30, 2010). "The Chosen One review (2010)". qwipster.net. Retrieved September 12, 2024.

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with Guy Boyd, David Alan Grier, Mitchell Lichtenstein, Matthew Modine, and Michael Wright.
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