Ron Masak

Ronald Alan Masak (born July 1, 1936) is an American actor. He began as a stage performer, and much of his work was in theater until he transitioned to film and television, where he became a familiar character actor.

Ron Masak
Masak in 1973.
Born
Ronald Alan Masak

(1936-07-01) July 1, 1936
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1959–present
Spouse(s)Kay Knebes (1961–present); 6 children

Film

As with many performers, it was the Army that provided Ron with a platform from which to display his all-around talents for performing, writing and directing. In 1960-61, Ron toured the world doing vocal impressions in the all-Army show entitled "Rolling Along".

In 1968, he appeared alongside Vince Lombardi in the short film, Second Effort.[1][2] That same year, he also appeared in a supporting role in the submarine action film Ice Station Zebra.

In addition to two guest appearances on the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, he also had a role in the pilot film for "Jeannie" star Barbara Eden's subsequent series Harper Valley PTA and worked again with "Jeannie" co-star Larry Hagman in an episode of the crime series The Rockford Files.

Television

Masak's first screen role was as the Harmonica Man in "The Purple Testament", an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1960. Masak appeared as "Mike the boxer" on The Flying Nun, season 1, episode 26 ("Where There's a Will"), which first aired March 13, 1968. Masak appeared as "Officer #2" on Bewitched, Season 7, Episode 4 ("Samantha's Hot Bedwarmer"), first aired on October 15, 1970, and “Irving Bates Sr” Season 6, Episode 23 (“Just a Kid Again”).

He had a guest appearance as Beauregard Jackson in the episode "Hurricane" on Land of the Lost. He appeared in the second season of Barney Miller episode of "The Horse Thief" as officer Shriker, and was a guest star in the "Welcome Home, Vince" episode of The Feather and Father Gang in 1977 and in the episode "The Two-Million-Dollar Stowaway" of The Eddie Capra Mysteries in 1978. In 1981, he guest starred on the Magnum, P.I. episode "Skin Deep". He also guest starred on an episode of Quincy, M.E.

He is perhaps best known for a recurring role on Murder, She Wrote as the Cadillac convertible-driving Sheriff, Mort Metzger, although he did make appearances as two other characters in the series, in "Footnote to Murder" as Lt. Meyer and in "No Accounting for Murder" as Marty Giles.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, he was dubbed "The King of Commercials" for his many commercials, including voice-over work, most notably for a Vlasic pickles ad. From 1982-83, he voiced "Meatballs" on the CBS cartoon series Meatballs & Spaghetti. He did the voice for Veteran Holt in the video-game Medal of Honor: European Assault.

In 1990, Masak was a panelist on the revival of the television game show, To Tell the Truth, and appeared on several other game shows as a panelist (including Match Game, Password Plus and Super Password).

Personal life

Masak married Kay Knebes in 1961; they have six children.

Masak is also the first cousin of actor Michael Gross of Family Ties and former Saturday Night Live cast member Mary Gross.

He was honorary sheriff of Tarzana, California for 35 years.[3]

Selected filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1968 The Monkees Count Dracula 1 episode
Ice Station Zebra Paul Zabrinczski
Second Effort Ron
1969 Daddy's Gone A-Hunting Paul Fleming Uncredited
A Time for Dying Sam, the Bartender
1970 Tora! Tora! Tora! Lt. Laurence Ruff - USS Nevada
1971 Evel Knievel Pete
The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker 1st Baseball Fan
1975 Lucky Lady voice
The Man from Clover Grove Claude Raintree
1976 Woman in the Rain
1978 Laserblast Sheriff
Harper Valley PTA Herbie Maddox
1982 The Neighborhood Nick Riccardo TV movie
1983 Dragster Yankee Announcer Mel Allen Uncredited
1985 Diff’rent Strokes Ray
1989 Listen to Me Monica's Father
1995 Cops n Roberts Vince Palermo
1998 No Code of Conduct Julian Disanto
2000 The Thundering 8th Spike Sills
2002 The Stoneman Detective Lt. J.D. Hill
The Making of Bret Michaels Himself
2006 The Benchwarmers Principal
2014 My Trip Back to the Dark Side Mr. James Griffin

References
  1. Maraniss, David. "Coach, Symbol, Savior". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  2. Overman, Stephen J. (1999). ""Winning Isn't Everything, It's The Only Thing", the Origin, Attribution, and Influence of a Famous Football Quote" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  3. "Ron Masak Biography (1936-)". www.filmreference.com.
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