Actor. He is best remembered for his Emmy award winning role of Dr. Donald Westphall in the television series, St. Elsewhere (1982 to 1988). Born Edward Paul Flanders in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was the son of Bernice Brown and Francis Michael Flanders. He began his acting career in the play "Mr. Roberts," in San Diego, California, before moving on to Broadway plays, including stage performances in San Francisco, Washington DC and New York City. From there he moved on to television roles, usually small bit parts and guest actor roles. From 1967 to 1975, he was a guest actor on several television shows, including Hawaii Five-O, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Barnaby Jones, M*A*S*H, and Marcus Welby, MD. In addition, he appeared in several made for television movies, including "Eleanor and Franklin" (1976), "Blind Ambition" (1979), and "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper" (1981). He would continue in three mediums, television shows, made for television movies, and the stage. In 1974, he won a Tony award for Best Supporting Actor in his role of Phil Hogan, in Eugene O'Neill's stage play "A Moon for the Misbegotten," for which he also won an Emmy Award in 1976 for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor when the play was filmed for television. About this time, he married actress Ellen Geer; they would have three children: Scott, Suzanne, and Ian. In 1982, he began his role of Dr. Donald Westphall, in the television drama series, "St. Elsewhere" for which he won a Best Actor Emmy Award in 1983. He would be nominated again for this role, in 1985, 1986 and 1987, although the awards would go to other actors. As a character actor, he was considered a favorite to play President Harry S. Truman in a number of movies, ranging from "Truman at Potsdam" (1976) to "MacArthur" (1977). In 1977, he won another Emmy for his role of President Truman in the television special, "Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking." His last role was the small bit part of Walter Sims, in "Bye, Bye Love" (1995). Flanders would work in television movies through the 1990s, but following his divorce from his wife in 1992, and having financial difficulties with his northern California ranch, he suffered from bouts of depression. He took his own life by a self-inflicted gunshot in Denny, California, in February, 1995.
Actor. He is best remembered for his Emmy award winning role of Dr. Donald Westphall in the television series, St. Elsewhere (1982 to 1988). Born Edward Paul Flanders in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was the son of Bernice Brown and Francis Michael Flanders. He began his acting career in the play "Mr. Roberts," in San Diego, California, before moving on to Broadway plays, including stage performances in San Francisco, Washington DC and New York City. From there he moved on to television roles, usually small bit parts and guest actor roles. From 1967 to 1975, he was a guest actor on several television shows, including Hawaii Five-O, the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Barnaby Jones, M*A*S*H, and Marcus Welby, MD. In addition, he appeared in several made for television movies, including "Eleanor and Franklin" (1976), "Blind Ambition" (1979), and "The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper" (1981). He would continue in three mediums, television shows, made for television movies, and the stage. In 1974, he won a Tony award for Best Supporting Actor in his role of Phil Hogan, in Eugene O'Neill's stage play "A Moon for the Misbegotten," for which he also won an Emmy Award in 1976 for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor when the play was filmed for television. About this time, he married actress Ellen Geer; they would have three children: Scott, Suzanne, and Ian. In 1982, he began his role of Dr. Donald Westphall, in the television drama series, "St. Elsewhere" for which he won a Best Actor Emmy Award in 1983. He would be nominated again for this role, in 1985, 1986 and 1987, although the awards would go to other actors. As a character actor, he was considered a favorite to play President Harry S. Truman in a number of movies, ranging from "Truman at Potsdam" (1976) to "MacArthur" (1977). In 1977, he won another Emmy for his role of President Truman in the television special, "Harry S. Truman: Plain Speaking." His last role was the small bit part of Walter Sims, in "Bye, Bye Love" (1995). Flanders would work in television movies through the 1990s, but following his divorce from his wife in 1992, and having financial difficulties with his northern California ranch, he suffered from bouts of depression. He took his own life by a self-inflicted gunshot in Denny, California, in February, 1995.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Advertisement
