Quick Facts
Born:
1946-01-24
Birthplace:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Credits:
56 Total Roles
Michael Ontkean
Acting
The MovieWise Take
Refining cinematic analysis...
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.
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
The Descendants
Cousin Milo
Twin Peaks
Harry S. Truman
Twin Peaks
Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Slap Shot
Ned Braden
Postcards from the Edge
Robert Munch
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
Sheriff Harry S. Truman
The Outer Limits
Dr. Charles McCamber
The Outer Limits
Dr. Field
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 |