Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Ron Glass

Highest Rated: 82% Serenity (2005)

Lowest Rated: 18% Houseguest (1995)

Birthday: Jul 10, 1945

Birthplace: Evansville, Indiana, USA

In the 1970s and '80s, Ron Glass made a career on TV sitcoms spinning wisecracks and quite often playing the personification of the ambitious "buppie," most notably as the style-conscious Det. Ron Harris on the long-running sitcom "Barney Miller" (ABC, 1975-82). As he aged, Harris showed a wider range, including a memorable turn as the spiritual Shepherd Book on cult TV favorite "Firefly" (Fox 2002). With solid Midwestern roots, the Indiana-born and bred Glass made his stage debut at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis before migrating to Hollywood. His first TV work was in an episode of "Sanford and Son" (NBC 1972-77) in 1972, which he followed with an appearance on "Good Times" (CBS 1974-79) as a con artist posing as a blind man. In 1975, he landed "Barney Miller," where his character Ron Harris became a fan favorite with his suave, upscale tastes and wry personality. After the demise of that series, Glass was given a shot at headlining a series, teaming with Demond Wilson in "The New Odd Couple" (ABC 1982-83), in which Glass played the Felix Ungar character. During the rest of the '80s, he guest-starred on numerous TV series, often playing smarmy or egomaniacal characters. He was a country-club nemesis for Sherman Helmsley on several episodes of "Amen" (NBC 1986-1991) and an outrageously self-absorbed celebrity pushing Carl Winslow around on "Family Matters" (ABC 1989-1998). Glass returned to series TV in 1992 as the sales manager of a radio station on the short-lived "Rhythm and Blues" (NBC 1992-93), which focused on the exploits of a Caucasian DJ at a black radio station. He next co-starred in the sitcom "Mr. Rhodes" (NBC 1996-97), a vehicle for stand-up comedian Tom Rhodes. Glass also appeared in the occasional TV-movie, beginning with thug roles in "Beg, Borrow or Steal" and "Shirts and Skins" (both ABC, 1973), and in "Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star" (NBC, 1983). Additionally, Glass directed sitcoms, including episodes of "STAT!" (ABC, 1991). His feature film appearances were fairly limited, but included roles as doctors in both "Houseguest" (1995), starring Sinbad, and Randal Kleiser's "It's My Party" (1996). On the small screen, his distinctive, smooth voice was used to great effect in the animated hit series "Rugrats" (Nickelodeon 1991-2004), where he voiced Randy Carmichael, a role he reprised in the sequel series "Rugrats All Grown Up" (2004-08). Back in live action, Glass landed another series regular role in the short-lived comedy "Teen Angel" (ABC 1997-98) and again scored a part in the equally short-lived drama "The Education of Max Bickford" (CBS 2001-02). In 2002, the veteran actor landed a coveted role in the Joss Whedon's highly anticipated sci-fi drama "Firefly" (Fox, 2002), playing the holy man Shepherd Book, who frequently served as the conscience for the ship's captain and crew. Mishandled by Fox, the series was canceled after only a handful of airings, but after DVD sales on the series proved healthier than its initial ratings and built a rabid core audience, the actor reprised the role for a dramatic sequence in Whedon's surprise feature film follow-up "Serenity" (2005). A recurring role on the James Woods legal drama "Shark (CBS 2006-07) was followed by a reunion with Whedon with a recurring role on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (ABC 2013- ). Ron Glass died of respiratory failure in Los Angeles on November 26, 2016. He was 71.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

82% 91% Serenity
Watchlist
59% 56% Recess: School's Out
Watchlist
44% 39% Lakeview Terrace
Watchlist
44% 45% Death at a Funeral
Watchlist
18% 55% Houseguest
Watchlist
Let's Switch
Watchlist
22% Deep Space
Watchlist
Crash
Watchlist
Shirts/Skins
Watchlist
Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 91% Strange Frame: Love & Sax Philo D Grenman (Voice) - 2012
44% 45% Death at a Funeral Duncan (Character) $42.7M 2010
44% 39% Lakeview Terrace Harold Perreau (Character) $39.3M 2008
82% 91% Serenity Shepard Meria Book (Character) $25.3M 2005
59% 56% Recess: School's Out Dr. Lazenby / Tech #2 (Voice) $36.7M 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Private Affair Unknown (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 14% Deal of a Lifetime Mr. Creighton (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Incognito Unknown (Character) - 1999
18% 55% Houseguest Dr. Derek Bond (Character) $26.3M 1995
No Score Yet 22% Deep Space Jerry Merris (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster Midnight Brewster (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Crash Jerry Grant (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet No Score Yet Let's Switch LaRue Williams (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shirts/Skins Mr. Brown (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Beg, Borrow... or Steal Ray Buren (Character) - 1973

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 81% CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unknown (Guest Star) 2014
95% 91% Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Unknown (Guest Star) 2013-2014
No Score Yet 75% Major Crimes Unknown (Guest Star) 2013
No Score Yet 82% CSI: New York Colby Glass (Guest Star) 2011
68% No Score Yet Dirty Sexy Money D.A. Dennis Ford (Guest Star) 2008
No Score Yet 79% All Grown Up Unknown (Voice) 2003-2008
52% 50% Shark Unknown (Guest Star) 2006-2007
77% 96% Firefly Book (Character) 2002-2003
No Score Yet 41% The Proud Family The Talking Baby (Guest Voice) 2001-2003
79% No Score Yet The Education of Max Bickford Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet 93% Rugrats Randy Carmichael (Guest Voice) 1993 1999 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Yes, Dear Unknown (Guest Star) 2001
76% 80% Star Trek: Voyager Loken (Guest Star) 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Zoe ... Unknown (Guest Star) 2000
78% 93% Friends Russell (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Twice in a Lifetime Charlie Winters/Charlie Summers (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Teen Angel God's Cousin Rod (Character) 1997-1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Practice Unknown (Guest Star) 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mr. Rhodes Roland Flecher (Character) 1996-1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet Designing Women Unknown (Guest Star) 1993
80% No Score Yet The Royal Family Deacon Hudson (Guest Star) 1992
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote Lt. Hanrahan (Guest Star) 1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet 227 Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet The New Odd Couple Unknown (Character) 1982-1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barney Miller Det. Ron Harris (Character) 1975-1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hart to Hart Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sanford and Son Unknown (Guest Star) 1972 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Good Times Henry Anderson (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Streets of San Francisco Earl (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Bob Newhart Show Elevator Repair Man (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maude Unknown (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet 85% All in the Family Unknown (Guest Star) 1973