| Richard Burgi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard William Burgi July 30, 1958 Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Lori Kahn (1995-present) |
Richard William Burgi (born July 30, 1958) is an American film and television actor. He's known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives.
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Burgi was born in the suburbs of Montclair, New Jersey. His family was involved in community theatre.[1] His brother Chuck Burgi was a drummer for Billy Joel. After high school, Burgi travelled through the US and Europe, taking odd jobs.[2]
Burgi married Lori Kahn on November 25, 1995. They have two sons, Jack and Samuel, that live in Laguna Beach, California. Jack was born December 8, 1996, and Samuel (Sam) was born August 15, 1998.
Burgi began his career in New York which led to regular roles on the Manhattan-based daytime soap operas One Life to Live, Another World and As The World Turns. After moving to Los Angeles, he starred on another soap opera, Days of our Lives. He later received a role on Viper after a string of guest appearances on television shows, including a television film debut in Chameleons in 1989. His first lead role was in the 1994 television series One West Waikiki.[1]
Burgi was cast as the lead in the series The Sentinel, which was cancelled after three seasons, leaving key plot issues unresolved; an intense fan campaign convinced the network to film an additional half-season worth of episodes to end the series properly. He later received recurring roles on The District, 24 and Judging Amy as well as bit parts in other television series and films.[1] In the 1998 made-for-TV remake of the movie I Married a Monster, Burgi starred as Nick Farrell (the monster).
Since 2004, Burgi has appeared on Desperate Housewives playing Karl Mayer, soon promoted to a regular cast member in season two. He also starred in the big screen thriller Cellular in 2004 as well as a remake of Fun with Dick and Jane and chick flick In Her Shoes as Toni Colette's love interest in 2005. In 2007, Burgi was cast in the horror film Hostel: Part II. Also, in 2009, he played the police officer in Friday the 13th.
Burgi also guest stars as Thomas Wellington in CBS's Harper's Island (2009)
In 2010, Burgi guest starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 2011, Burgi guest starred on TV Land's Hot in Cleveland.[3]
In 2011 it was announced that he would play Karl Parker In My Family USA which premiers on September 26th 2011
In 2011 Burgi gained a new recurring role as CIA hitman Clyde Decker, who is part of a government conspiracy targeting Chuck.