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Michael Ontkean Biography and Full Filmography - MovieWise

Quick Facts

Born:
1946-01-24

Birthplace:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Credits:
56 Total Roles

Michael Ontkean

Acting

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Biography

Michael Leonard Ontkean (born January 24, 1946) is a Canadian retired actor. Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ontkean relocated to the United States to attend the University of New Hampshire on a hockey scholarship before pursuing a career in acting in the early 1970s.

He initially came to prominence portraying Officer Willie Gillis on the crime drama series The Rookies from 1972 to 1974, followed by lead roles in the hockey sports comedy film Slap Shot (1977) and the romantic comedy Willie & Phil (1980). In 1982, he had a starring role opposite Harry Hamlin and Kate Jackson in the drama Making Love, in which he portrayed a married man who comes to terms with his homosexuality. Ontkean continued to appear in films, such as Clara's Heart (1988) and Postcards from the Edge (1990) before being cast as Sheriff Harry S. Truman on David Lynch's Twin Peaks (1990–1991), the role for which he is best known.

Known For

Full Filmography

Year Title Role
2014 Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces MOVIE Sheriff Harry S. Truman
2011 The Descendants MOVIE Cousin Milo
2004 North Shore TV Self
2003 Mrs. Ashboro's Cat MOVIE Wes Merritt
2002 A Killing Spring MOVIE Tom Keaton
2000 Bear with Me MOVIE Greg Bradley
2000 Green Sails MOVIE John Scott
1999 Just a Little Harmless Sex MOVIE Jeff
1998 A Chance of Snow MOVIE Matthew 'Matt' Parker
1998 Summer of the Monkeys MOVIE John Lee

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