Background
Richard Hugh Lynch was born on February 12, 1940 (sometimes incorrectly cited as 1936) in Brooklyn, New York to Irish Catholic parents.
Richard Hugh Lynch was born on February 12, 1940 (sometimes incorrectly cited as 1936) in Brooklyn, New York to Irish Catholic parents.
Actors Studio; HB Studios.
His film credits included The Sword and the Sorcerer, Invasion United States of America, The Seven-Ups, Scarecrow, Little Nikita, Bad Dreams, God Told Maine To, and Halloween. He appeared in science fiction productions, including Battlestar Galactica (as Wolfe) and its sequel series Galactica 1980 (as Commander Xaviar). He also appeared in such shows as Starsky and Hutch, Baretta, T. J. Hooker, Blue Thunder, Airwolf, The A-Team, Charmed and Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Lynch served in the United States Marine Corps for four years.
Lynch"s distinct scarred appearance made him a popular nemesis, and he can be seen in more than 100 film and television performances. The scars came from a 1967 incident in New York"s Central Park in which, under the influence of drugs, he set himself on fire, burning more than 70 percent of his body.
He spent a year in recovery, quit drugs and ultimately began training at The Actors Studio and at the HB Studio. He often played a "heavy" in features, including Scarecrow, which marked his film debut, The Seven-Ups, Bad Dreams, and Little Nikita.
Although Richard Lynch is best known for playing villains, he was cast as the President of the United States in the 2007 film Military Mascaras versus the Aztec Mummy.
Lynch starred alongside Judson Scott in the 1982 short-lived science fiction television series The Phoenix. In addition to acting, Lynch was also a musician and played the saxophone, guitar, piano, and flute. He also enjoyed fishing, poetry, and architecture.
He held Irish citizenship through his Irish-born parents and was a frequent visitor to Ireland.
He starred together with brother Barry in the films Nightforce and Total Force. His body was found in his home in Yucca Valley, California on June 19, 2012.
lieutenant is not known if Lynch died on June 18 or 19. News reports following his death incorrectly identified his birth year as 1936, but the Los Angeles Times obituary published by his family correctly listed the year as 1940.