R.I.P. – Richard Anderson “Oscar Goldman” From Six Million Dollar Man, Dies At 91!

Today brings another loss to our community. Richard Anderson who portrayed Oscar Goldman on the classic TV series The Six Million Dollar Man and its spinoff, The Bionic Woman, passed away at the age of 91. According to publicist Jonathan Taylor, he died at his home in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

Anderson had a prolific career in film as a character actor long before playing Oscar Goldman, the head of a secret scientific government organization, on the 1970s sci-fi series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman.

He worked in the horror and sci-fi genre only briefly but was cast in a few memorable roles. He appeared in Forbidden Planet (1956), had one of his only starring roles in Curse of the Faceless Man (1958), and starred opposite Rock Hudson in the sci-fi thriller Seconds (1966).

Anderson, who was mentored by Cary Grant and received a huge career boost when he was cast in Stanley Kubrick’s anti-war classic Paths of Glory (1957).

Born on Aug. 8, 1926, in Long Branch, N.J., Anderson and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was 10. After graduating from University High School and serving a 17-month stint in the Army during World War II, he studied at the Actors Laboratory in L.A.

Anderson was working on an NBC show called Lights, Camera, Action in 1949 when, out of the blue, he received a phone call from Grant. “My wife [Betsy Drake] and I saw you on television. We think you’re pretty good, particularly in comedy. Why don’t you come to the studio for lunch?” he said of the invitation in the 1991 book, Evenings With Cary Grant.

“I met him on the set of Crisis. I’ll never forget it. He said, ‘I’d like to help you. You’re a very good actor.’”

As an MGM contract player who started out in the mailroom, Anderson appeared early in his career in such films for the studio as The Magnificent Yankee (1950), Scaramouche (1952), Escape From Fort Bravo (1953) and Forbidden Planet (1956).

Later in his career, Anderson became a sought after voice over artist who narrated countless films and TV shows.

Survivors include his daughters Ashley, Brooke and Deva, a music supervisor for film and TV at Playtone in Los Angeles.

“Our dad was always there for us and showed us by loving example how to live a full and rich life with gratitude, grace, humor and fun,” Ashley said.

All of us at Horror Patch would like to offer our condolences to Richard Anderson’s friends and family.

R.I.P. – Richard Anderson August 8, 1926 – August 31, 2017