Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor Alan Rachins, known for his memorable roles in “L.A. Law” and “Dharma & Greg,” passed away on November 2, 2024. His death occurred at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, and was due to heart failure during sleep, as stated by his manager Mark Teitelbaum. Rachins was 82 at the time of his death.
A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rachins chose to leave a planned career in his family’s food processing business to follow his love for acting. The film “Rebel Without a Cause” was a major influence on his early interest in the performing arts. This led him to New York City, where he trained under renowned acting coaches Kim Stanley and Warren Robertson.
Rachins’ portrayal of the character Douglas Brackman Jr. on NBC’s “L.A. Law” was characterized as “eloquent, mercenary, and obnoxious.” His performance earned him nominations for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe in 1988. Rachins was part of all eight seasons of the legal drama that ran from 1986 to 1994, and he later revisited the role in the 2002 TV movie “L.A. Law: The Movie.”
After “L.A. Law,” Rachins embraced the role of Lawrence “Larry” Finkelstein, the free-spirited father of Jenna Elfman’s character in the ABC sitcom “Dharma & Greg.” He was a part of all 199 episodes of the show, which lasted for five seasons from 1997 to 2002.
In his early career, Rachins made a prominent appearance in the original 1969 production of “Oh! Calcutta!” on Broadway, where he was one of the actors who disrobed on stage. Before achieving success on television, Rachins attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles and started writing scripts for TV.
Rachins showcased versatility throughout his career across various forms of media. He penned episodes for several TV series, including “Hill Street Blues,” “Hart to Hart,” and “The Fall Guy,” and directed an episode of the CBS procedural series “Paris.”
Rachins’ television career extended beyond his most well-known roles, with guest appearances on shows like “Dallas,” “The Golden Girls,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” and “Mom.” He also lent his voice to characters, notably as the Clock King in “Batman: The Animated Series.”
His filmography includes roles in “Showgirls,” “Thunder Run,” “North,” and “Leave It to Beaver.” Rachins’ last on-screen appearance was in a 2023 episode of “NCIS.”
Rachins also held membership in Mensa International and backed Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign. He met his future spouse, actress Joanna Frank, in an acting class in 1977, and they married the next year. Frank later portrayed his on-screen wife on “L.A. Law.”
Rachins is survived by his wife, Joanna Frank, and their son, Robert.