R.I.P. Richard Herd of T.J. Hooker, Star Trek: Voyager and Seinfeld

The actor also played a memorable captain on M*A*S*H. He was 87.

The Everett Collection

Richard Herd projected authority. In one of his earliest television roles, the Boston-born actor made a memorable appearance on M*A*S*H. In the episode "Back Pay," Hawkeye submits a bill to the Army for money be believes due to him ($38,215.11). The Army, in turn, sends Captain Bill Snyder (Herd) to investigate the claims. Herd has previously portrayed the real-life General Omar Bradley in the miniseries Ike: The War Years.

It was not longer before Herd landed a regular role as a boss in uniform. From 1982–84, the actor played Capt. Dennis Sheridan, the stereotypically stern cop boss of William Shatner on T.J. Hooker.

Herd as Capt. Snyder on M*A*S*H

In the 1990s, he worked his way up to "Admiral" on two beloved sci-fi series, SeaQuest 2032 (Admiral Noyce) and Star Trek: Voyager (Admiral Owen Paris). 

Sitcom lovers will remember Herd as Mr. Matt Wilhelm, George Costanza's immediate supervisor in the New York Yankees organization on Seinfeld.

In recent years, Herd reprised his role as Admiral Paris for the Trekkie-made fan film Star Trek: Renegades. Cementing his status at Trek conventions, Herd has also played the Klingon warrior L'Kor in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Herd's screen career began alongside a more notable film debut — he was Arnold Schwarzenegger's first movie, Hercules in New York. That led to roles in All the President's Men and The China Syndrom. He also had small recurring parts in Dallas, V: The Final Battle and Quantum Leap.

On Tuesday, May 26, Herd passed away, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 87.

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23 Comments

FloridaTopCat 10 months ago
RIP, Mr. Herd! Loved your episodes on Seinfeld!
dmzabooo 39 months ago
The Karl Malden look a like guy died too? Man this has been a really Covid-crappy year on top of a lot of my childhood t v stars passing away. Getting old sucks
MarkSpeck DMZABO 31 months ago
You mention that he looked like Karl Malden...interestingly enough, Herd appeared in one of the last-season episodes of The Streets of San Francisco!
KathrynJordan 46 months ago
RIP Richard Herd. I always liked your appearance in M*A*S*H. T.J. Hooker was another favorite TV show that I enjoyed watching.
Antonio 46 months ago
Thank you all for the great memories. The world being saddened by a virus that threatens us all, you all have given us a happy memory, a ray of sunshine that we so desperately need right now....thank you and God bless you all!!
Wiseguy 46 months ago
It was not longer before Herd landed a regular role...
he was Arnold Schwarzenegger's first movie...
...and The China Syndrom.
THISTRANGEFFECT 46 months ago
Herd always reminded me of Karl Malden.
stunningkennyg 46 months ago
I met him when he came to Milwaukee for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica @ Humboldt Park. One of the nicest guys you would want to meet.
AlF 46 months ago
"You've got to go downtown, George! It's all downtown! Just like the song says..."
AlF 46 months ago
Hopefully joining the Sunshine Carpet Cleaners cult paid off for Tania...
TomBurkhart 46 months ago
Carl Malden looking guy
Very much so. As is noted in my post, I thought of Malden every time I saw Herd.
JJMenter 46 months ago
I fondly remember him and all his great stories when we would attend the Las Vegas Star Trek conventions. He always enjoyed these and always had a smile and a great funny line or two.
Pacificsun 46 months ago
He also played a memorable and poignant role in Quantum Leap as Captain Galaxy.
Barry22 Pacificsun 46 months ago
That was a great episode, especially at the end when he reads a letter from a young Sam. He also made a cameo in the final episode.
LeeWaller Pacificsun 46 months ago
I loved that episode.
Pacificsun Pacificsun 46 months ago
Certainly one of my favorites. It was an homage to the all the Quantum Leap fans who's imaginations had been strong ever since childhood! Another was when Gene Stockwell sang "Marigold, Marigold" in an episode, in a clip that I've never found anywhere.
Wiseguy Pacificsun 46 months ago
'...whose imaginations...' Who's is the contraction of who is/was/has.
Pacificsun Pacificsun 46 months ago
Correction to myself (including Wiseguy's) but it is Dean Stockwell.

I so hate that we don't have an edit feature on this commenting platform! Grrrr!
TravisBalling 46 months ago
In addition to V: The Final Battle he played John the Aliens leader in V the original miniseries. He will be missed.
CarlBergmanson 46 months ago
I have appeared as an extra in 2 films - the first was with my good friend Marvin (who had a real part as one of the bad guys - “Cricket”) - in a really terrible 1979 film called “Lovely But Deadly”. I actually made it into the final film - with a close up!

Mr. Herd was one of the stars - I vaguely remember seeing him on the set, he was friendly and seemed like a genuinely nice guy - RIP
PortelaJ 46 months ago
Enjoyed his 15 minutes of M*A*S*H fame. RIP Mr. Heard
Sway 46 months ago
Versatile actor. Played it great as the straight guy to George Costanza in Seinfeld. RIP
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