Alan Rachins, star of L.A. Law and Dharma & Greg, has passed away aged 82.
Rachins’ wife, actress Joanna Frank, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday, November 2.
According to Frank, Rachins, who had been experiencing heart failure, died peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Originally from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and raised in Boston, Rachins pursued his love of acting by moving to New York City, where he studied under renowned instructors Kim Stanley and Warren Robertson.
His dedication paid off with his breakthrough role in the acclaimed legal drama L.A. Law, which premiered in 1986.
Rachins’ portrayal of lawyer Douglas Brackman Jr., the strict and often irritable law firm partner, earned him critical acclaim and a loyal fan following. He remained with the series until it concluded in 1994, per PEOPLE.
L.A. Law proved significant for Rachins both professionally and personally. On the show, he worked alongside his wife who played his on-screen wife, Sheila Brackman.
The character pairing was marked by frequent conflicts, which became a hallmark of their storyline. In another connection to the series, L.A. Law was created by Rachins’ younger brother, the late TV producer and writer Steven Bochco.
Rachins was recognized for his performance in L.A. Law with both an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination in 1988.
Although he didn’t take home the awards, the series itself received widespread acclaim, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series four times, in 1987, 1989, 1990, and 1991.
Reflecting on his two iconic roles, Rachins once spoke about the benefits of exploring different types of characters.
“I love the idea of playing different characters, and I wouldn’t want to be stuck doing the same thing all of the time,” he said in an interview with New Jersey Stage. “That’s one of the great things about Dharma & Greg, it really allowed me to do something different.”
Rachins also discussed his approach to acting and the unpredictable nature of the entertainment industry: “You just do the next thing that comes along and do the best with it you can and see what happens. It’s a crapshoot, and you can’t really exert control.”
In addition to his television work, Rachins took on film roles, appearing in Showgirls and Terminal Voyage, per Metro.
He was also a familiar face to audiences through guest spots on hit shows like General Hospital, Grey’s Anatomy, and NCIS.
His voice talents extended to animated series as well, including Scooby-Doo!, Rugrats, and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
Rachins’ final credited appearance was in the 2023 short film The Lights Above.
He is survived by Frank and their son, Robert.
