Ron Masak Lifeless: ‘Homicide, She Wrote’ Sheriff Was 86

Ron Masak, the character actor finest identified for portraying Sheriff Mort Metzger on “Homicide, She Wrote,” died on Thursday. He was 86.

In response to a household assertion, Masak died of pure causes and was surrounded by his spouse, Kay, and 6 kids.

Born in Chicago, Sick. on July 1, 1936, Masak studied theater at Chicago Metropolis School and made his appearing debut with the Drama Guild in 1954. All through the Sixties and ’70s, he would seem in iconic tv collection comparable to “The Twilight Zone” (1960), “The Monkees” (1968), “Get Sensible” (1968), “I Dream of Jeannie” (1968-69), “Bewitched” (1969-70), “The Mary Tyler Moore Present” (1971), “Love Thy Neighbor” (1973), “Police Story” (1975-1978) and “Surprise Lady” (1978).

He hit his large break as Sheriff Mort Metzger on “Homicide, She Wrote” in 1985, showing in over 40 episodes of the beloved collection till its finish in 1996. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s can also be when Masak started to get a repute because the “King of Commercials,” primarily as a consequence of his voiceover work for Vlasic pickles, Rice-A-Roni and others.

Masak additionally appeared in round 25 characteristic movies, together with “Ice Station Zebra” (1968), “Second Effort” (1968), “A Time for Dying” (1969), “Evel Knievel” (1971), “Laserblast” (1978), “Take heed to Me” (1989), “The Benchwarmers” (2006) and “Angels on Faucet” (2018). In response to his IMDb web page, Masak was connected to 2 upcoming initiatives, “The Curse of the Gorgon” and “Quigley 2,” which was in pre-production.

Masak performed an integral function in varied charity occasions over time, together with for Wounded Warriors, Little one Assist, Susan G. Komen Basis, Cystic Fibrosis Basis, Particular Olympics and the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.

He’s survived by his spouse, Kay, their six kids and 10 grandchildren.