Noted television actor Doug Sheehan, remembered for his work on “General Hospital” and “Knots Landing,” passed away at his residence in Big Horn, Wyoming on June 29, 2024 with his wife present. The news was confirmed by Kane Funeral Home. The cause of his death at age 75 remains undisclosed.

Sheehan was born on April 27, 1949 in Santa Monica, California. He started his television career with a guest appearance on a 1978 episode of “Charlie’s Angels.” His career breakthrough was his portrayal of lawyer Joe Kelly on the soap opera “General Hospital,” where he was featured in 205 episodes from 1979 to 1982. This role earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series.

Sheehan’s subsequent significant role was in the CBS series “Knots Landing,” a “Dallas” spinoff. He played the character of reporter Ben Gibson in over 100 episodes from 1983 to 1988. In the eighth season, his character exited the show, heading to South America, never to return.

In a 1989 interview on “The Arsenio Hall Show,” Sheehan commented on the challenges of working in Hollywood, particularly the influence of casting directors. He stated, “Hollywood, as we all know, is not run by the producers, it’s run by casting directors. Casting directors never watch what you’re on…so I’ve spent my whole time sort of breaking down the walls, with the daytime, the nighttime, and half-hour comedy. They don’t know if I can do full-hour comedy yet, so I have to break through.”

Apart from television, Sheehan also had roles in three films: “10” in 1979, “Victor/Victoria” in 1982, and “Cops n Roberts” in 1995.

In the 1990s, Sheehan played Cher’s father, Mel Horowitz, in the TV adaptation of “Clueless.” He also starred in the comedy “Day by Day,” crafted by Andy Borowitz and Gary David Goldberg, which aired on NBC for two seasons from 1988 to 1989. He made guest appearances on various TV series, including “Cheers,” “Columbo,” “MacGyver,” and “Diagnosis Murder.”

Sheehan’s final screen appearances were in 2003 on the series “What I Like About You” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” in which he portrayed Sabrina’s father, Edward Gibson.

Sheehan was married to Cate Abert from 1981 until his passing. His broad-ranging contributions to television, across several decades and diverse genres, underscore his versatility and commitment to his profession.