Leland Orser

Leland Orser
Orser in 2016
Born
Leland Jones Orser

(1960-08-06) August 6, 1960
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1991–present
Spouses
(m. 1987; div. 1989)
    (m. 2000)
    Children1

    Leland Jones Orser (born August 6, 1960) is an American actor, director and writer. He has appeared in numerous film and television roles since his debut in 1991, notably as Lucien Dubenko on the television series ER (2004–09), Father Romero on Ray Donovan (2015–16), Richard Stratton on American Gigolo (2022–present), and Sam Gilroy in the Taken film series (2008–14). He is the husband of actress Jeanne Tripplehorn.[1]

    Early life

    Orser was born in San Francisco, California on August 6, 1960.[2] He graduated from Connecticut College in 1982, and studied Acting at Drama Studio London.[3][4]

    Career

    Orser began his career as a stage actor, and was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Secret Rapture in 1991.[5][6] That same year, he made his television debut in 1991 on the series Gabriel's Fire, and went on to appear in programs such as The Golden Girls, Cheers, L.A. Law, The X-Files, NYPD Blue, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. In 1999, he played Dr. Arthur Zeller in The Outer Limits episode "Descent".

    He appeared in Seven (1995) as a man who was involuntarily recruited to kill a prostitute. He was credited as "Crazed Man in Massage Parlour". He played Larry Purvis in Alien Resurrection (1997).

    He played the antagonist Richard Thompson in the Denzel Washington thriller The Bone Collector (1999). In 2001, he had a role in Pearl Harbor as an injured officer saved by Kate Beckinsale's character. In 2003, he appeared as Wesley Owen Welch in the Marvel Comics superhero film Daredevil.

    Orser also appeared in various roles in the Star Trek franchise, among them playing a Changeling posing as the Romulan Colonel Lovok in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "The Die Is Cast" and in the episode "Sanctuary" playing a bit part as a member of the Skrreean race. He also played a homicidal hologram in the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Revulsion". In Star Trek: Enterprise, he played the character "Loomis" in the time-travel episode "Carpenter Street".[7]

    He played Ansel in the drama thriller film Faults.[8] From 2004–09, he played Chief of Surgery Dr. Lucien Dubenko, a recurring character, on ER. Most recently he has appeared in all three of the Taken film series as "Sam".

    In 2010, Orser made his directorial debut with the film Morning.

    Personal life

    Orser married Roma Downey in 1987; they divorced in 1989. In 2000, he married Jeanne Tripplehorn, with whom he had co-starred in Peter Berg's dark comedy Very Bad Things; they have one son.[1]

    Filmography

    Film

    Year Title Role Notes
    1993 Cover Story Julian
    1995 Baby Face Nelson Benny Bakst
    Dead Badge Pellman
    Phoenix Doctor Riley
    Girl in the Cadillac Used car salesman
    Seven Crazed Man in Massage Parlour
    1996 Invader Michael Perkett, NASA
    Escape from L.A. Test Tube
    Independence Day Tech / Medical Assistant #1
    Red Ribbon Blues James
    1997 Excess Baggage Detective Barnaby
    Alien Resurrection Larry Purvis
    1998 Very Bad Things Charles Moore
    Saving Private Ryan Lieutenant DeWindt
    1999 Resurrection Det. Andrew Hollinsworth
    The Bone Collector Richard Thompson
    2000 Rebel Yell Billy Idol
    2001 Pearl Harbor Major Jackson
    2003 Daredevil Wesley Owen Welch
    Confidence Lionel Dolby
    Runaway Jury Lamb
    2004 Twisted Edmund Cutler
    2006 The Good German Bernie
    2008 Taken Sam Gilroy
    2009 Give 'Em Hell, Malone Murphy
    2010 Morning Mark Also director and screenwriter
    2012 Taken 2 Sam Gilroy
    2014 The Guest Spencer Peterson [9]
    Faults Ansel Roth [10]
    The Gambler Larry
    Taken 3 Sam Gilroy
    2015 The Devil's Candy Preacher
    2018 Blindspotting Judge
    2019 The Art of Self-Defense Detective McAllister
    2022 Amsterdam Mr. Nevins

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    1991 The Golden Girls Waiter Episode: "The Case of the Libertine Belle"
    1992 Cheers Guy at table saying he needs a tune up Episode: "Do Not Forsake Me, O' My Postman"
    1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Gai Episode: "Sanctuary"
    1994 The X-Files Jason Ludwig Episode: "Firewalker"
    1994–1997 NYPD Blue Zeppo, Carl, John Highsmith 3 episodes
    1995 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Colonel Lovok/Changeling Episode: "The Die is Cast"
    Ned & Stacey Phil Episode: "Portrait of a Marriage"
    Piranha Terry Wechsler TV movie
    Murder One Myron Elkins Episode: "Chapter 2"
    1996 Married... with Children Director Episode: "Kiss of the Coffee Woman"
    1997 Star Trek: Voyager Dejaren Episode: "Revulsion"
    1998–2000 The Pretender Argyle 3 episodes: "Amnesia", "Unsinkable", "Cold Dick"
    1999 The Outer Limits Dr. Arthur Zeller Episode: "Descent"
    2002 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Morris Pearson Episode: "Stalker"
    2003 Star Trek: Enterprise Loomis Episode: "Carpenter Street"
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Kevin Walker Episode: "Coerced"
    2004–2009 ER Dr. Lucien Dubenko 61 episodes
    2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Malcom Parker Episode: "Gum Drops"
    2007 Shark Brent Gilroy Episode: "Porn Free"
    2009 24 Martin Collier 4 episodes
    Law & Order: Criminal Intent 1 episode
    2012 Magic City Mike Strauss 2 episodes
    A Gifted Man Charlie Reinhart Episode: "In Case of (Re)Birth"
    Scandal Sanders Black Episode: "Enemy of the State"
    2013 Touch Dr. Linus 3 episodes: "Accused", "Fight or Flight", "Leviathan"
    Revolution John Sanborn 3 episodes: "The Stand", "Ghosts", "Clue"
    2015–2016 Ray Donovan Father Romero 10 episodes
    2016–2019 Berlin Station Robert Kirsch 27 episodes
    2019 I Am the Night Peter Sullivan Miniseries; 4 episodes
    2021 Brand New Cherry Flavor Mike Nathans 2 episodes
    2021–2023 Blindspotting Carl 3 episodes
    2022 American Gigolo Richard Stratton Main cast
    2025 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Harris Vernon Episode: "First Light"

    References

    1. ^ a b Peter Hartlaub (April 24, 2010). "S. F. native Orser opens dark door as director". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
    2. ^ "Orser, Leland 1960–". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
    3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-08. Retrieved 2019-08-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    4. ^ Rules, L. "Famous Drama Studio London Alumni". Ranker. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
    5. ^ Rose, Lloyd (18 March 1991). "STUDIO AMONG TOP HAYES NOMINEES". The Washington Post.
    6. ^ "Nominees & Recipients Database". TheatreWashington. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
    7. ^ "The Alien Resurrection of Leland Orser", littlereview.com; retrieved February 10, 2006.
    8. ^ Faults (film), dreadcentral.com; accessed November 7, 2016.
    9. ^ The Guest
    10. ^ Leland Orser - Faults