Frederick Coffin

Frederick D. Coffin (January 16, 1943 – July 31, 2003) was an American film actor, singer, songwriter, and musician.

Frederick Coffin
Frederick Coffin
Born
Frederick D. Coffin

(1943-01-16)January 16, 1943
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJuly 31, 2003(2003-07-31) (aged 60)
Other namesHolden McGuire
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
OccupationActor
Years active19732003
Spouse(s)Barbara Monte-Britton (19772003) (his death)

Early life

Coffin was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1943 to actress Winifred Deforest Coffin and writer Dean Coffin, and was one of five children. He was educated at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio, where he studied theater and was also a serious athlete, graduating in 1961. He enrolled the University of Michigan in 1962, where he intended to play football but instead decided to focus on acting, earning a B.A. then a master's degree in theater.

Career

Coffin made his screen debut in 1973 when he appeared in the television film Much Ado About Nothing, an adaptation of the play, in which he also starred. He appeared in his first feature film in 1976 in the drama Dragonfly, with Beau Bridges and Susan Sarandon. His second feature was the Golden Globe nominated King of the Gypsies, with Shelley Winters. In 1980, Coffin had a leading role in the cult horror classic Mother's Day, his role as the sadistic "Ike" is one he is best known for. Coffin credited himself as Holden McGuire for Mother's Day. During the 1980s, Coffin appeared in several films: the horror film Alone in the Dark, which starred Donald Pleasence, Without a Trace, Nothing Lasts Forever, the biography film Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling with Richard Pryor, the action comedy A Fine Mess with Ted Danson, and The Bedroom Window. In the 1990s, Coffin continued to appear in films, one of which he is known for is the comedy film Wayne's World, with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, and the Steven Seagal film Hard to Kill. He would appear in two final films before his death in 2003: View from the Top with Gwyneth Paltrow, and Identity with John Cusack.

Although, it was in fact television that Coffin appeared in mostly throughout his career, his first appearance in a television series was in Great Performances, which starred actors such as Walter Cronkite, who presented the series, Julie Andrews and Liza Minnelli. He also made guest appearances in many well known series including Kojak, Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, The Twilight Zone, Remington Steele, Dallas, in which he appeared for six episodes, L.A. Law, The X-Files, Walker, Texas Ranger, Murder, She Wrote, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and the soap operas Ryan's Hope and The Edge of Night.

Coffin starred in many television films including Under Siege, the 1989 miniseries Lonesome Dove and the 1995 film adaptation of A Streetcar Named Desire. He was originally cast as the voice of the father in the series Family Dog, he was later replaced by actor Martin Mull.

In 1997, he returned to his alma mater as that year's Knight Fellow, one of Western Reserve Academy's most distinguished honors.

Coffin was also a talented singer, songwriter, and musician.[1]

Personal life and death

Coffin was married to actress Barbara Monte-Britton from September 25, 1977 to his death on July 31, 2003 from lung cancer.[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1976DragonflyWalter Craigle
1978King of the GypsiesBasketball Coach
1980Mother's DayIkeCredited as Holden McGuire
1981Dead RingerHimselfDocumentary film
1982Alone in the DarkJim Gable
1983Without a TraceOfficer Coffin
1984Nothing Lasts ForeverLunar Shopping Observer
1986Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is CallingDr. Weissman
A Fine MessTraffic Cop
1987The Bedroom WindowDetective Jessup
1988Shoot to KillRalph
A Time of DestinyEd
1989Out ColdSergeant Haroldson
1990Hard to KillLieutenant Kevin O'Malley
1991If Looks Could KillLieutenant Colonel Larabee
V.I. WarshawskiHorton Grafalk
1992Wayne's WorldOfficer Koharski
1994There Goes My BabyMr. Maran
1998Memorial DaySenator Jerald Lancaster
1999The BaseGeneral Albert BeckerDirect-to-video
2002"Diagnosis:Murder- Town without Pity"Mathew Campbell
2003View from the TopMr. Stewart
IdentityDetective Varole(final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1973Much Ado About NothingBorachioTelevision film
1974Great PerformancesSecond Guard / OswaldEpisodes: "Antigone", "King Lear"
1977Secret ServiceLieutenant MaxwellTelevision film
19761977KojakLieutenant Bill LeeEpisodes: "A Shield for Murder: Parts 1 & 2", "Sister Maria"
1978Once Upon a ClassicSagramoreEpisode: "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court"
1980The Jilting of Granny WeatherallDr. HarryTelevision film
Death PenaltyEddieTelevision film
Ryan's HopeJim HurleyEpisodes: #1227, #1230, #1250
1982Muggable Mary, Street CopUsed Car SalesmanTelevision film
1983An Invasion of PrivacyAlvinTelevision film
The Edge of NightStephen Markham
1984Concealed EnemiesThomas MurphyTelevision film
Hill Street BluesTony YankovichEpisode: "Ewe and Me, Babe"
1985Scandal SheetTelevision film
MoonlightingPawnbrokerEpisode: "Pilot"
AmosRolandTelevision film
1986The Twilight ZoneMaxEpisode: Season 1.14 - segment: "The Misfortune Cookie"
Under SiegeDan MurphyTelevision film
Remington SteeleJoe GullicksonEpisode: "Steele in the Running"
Mr. and Mrs. RyanBeckermanTelevision film
The Deliberate StrangerJerry ThompsonTelevision film
Comedy FactoryLucas HanlonEpisode: "Chameleon"
Manhunt for Claude DallasFrank WestonTelevision film
1987Private EyeTelevision film
Crime StorySlim MahoneyEpisode: "The Battle of Las Vegas"
Amazing StoriesAl LewisEpisode: "Such Interesting Neighbors"
DallasAlfred Simpson6 episodes
HunterLloyd FredericksEpisodes: "City of Passion: Parts 1, 2 & 3"
I Married Dora'Buck'Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Forever?"
1988The Days and Nights of Molly DoddBrianEpisode: "Here's a Message from Your Local Bag Lady"
Something Is Out ThereCharles CalvinEpisode: "Night of the Visitors"
1989Fair GameRick WinchesterTelevision film
Lonesome Dove'Big Zwey'4 episodes
The Robert Guillaume ShowEpisode: "Together Again"
Jake and the FatmanClark BeaudineEpisode: "Side by Side"
A Peaceable KingdomPete LathamEpisode: "Chimp"
Mancuso, F.B.I.SullivanEpisode: "Little Saigon"
Settle the ScoreTuckerTelevision film
1990The Young RidersSutroEpisode: "Unfinished Business"
Glory DaysMr. LovejoyEpisode: "The Kids Are Allright"
Crash: The Mystery of Flight 1501Wes GoddardTelevision film
1991MacGyverKarl MeredithEpisode: "Deadly Silents"
1992The CommishJoe McKellarEpisodes: "Adventures in the Skin Trade: Parts 1 & 2"
19871993L.A. LawBill Novicky / John Shale4 episodes
1993RenegadeEpisode: "Lyon's Roar"
The X-FilesChief Joe McGrathEpisode: "Fallen Angel"
1994Secret Sins of the FatherL.J. ThielmanTelevision film
Secret Sins of the FatherFatherEpisode: "Ned Zed"
Dragstrip GirlMr. BickfordTelevision film
Walker, Texas RangerTate BrodieEpisode: "Rainbow Warrior"
TexasZaveTelevision film
1995A Streetcar Named DesireSteveTelevision film
19891996Murder, She WroteTim Mulligan / Tony Sable / Stanford Lomax / Lieutenant Roy Flint4 episodes
1996Murder OneWayne CormierEpisode: "Chapter Ten"
AndersonvilleCollinsTelevision film
The Siege at Ruby RidgeDoug WilksTelevision film
1997Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanDanforthEpisode: "The Dam"
Night ManEpisode: "Face to Face"
1999Zenon: Girl of the 21st CenturyParker WyndhamTelevision film
Days of Our LivesWardenEpisode: #8556
2000Perfect Murder, Perfect TownTelevision film
Beyond Belief: Fact or FictionSheriff Driscoll"The FBI Story"
The Invisible ManCharlie FogertyEpisode: "The Catevari"
Rocket's Red GlareMitch GreerTelevision film
BullWayne WesleyEpisode: "Final Hour"
2001The DistrictEpisode: "A Southern Town"
ProvidenceSteven ZellerEpisode: "Home Sweet Home"
Family LawDoug PerlissEpisode: "Sacrifices"
2002A Town Without PityMatthew CampbellTelevision film
American FamilyEpisode: "La Llorona: Part 2"
For the PeopleMr. ColeEpisode: "Our Own"
Presidio MedEpisode: "When Approaching a Let-Go"
Jackie Chan AdventuresMr. MacDonaldEpisode: "When Pigs Fly"
Video Games
Year Title Role Notes
1999Land of the Lore IIIInnkeeper/Morrison/The Last ManVoice
2002Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi OutcastStormtrooper 1Voice

References

  1. "Fred Coffin Sings". Soundcloud.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  2. "Frederick Coffin". Variety. Variety Magazine.
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