Alan Rachins, an Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor renowned for his roles in “L.A. Law” and “Dharma & Greg,” died early Saturday morning, November 2, 2024 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He was 82. His death was attributed to heart failure while sleeping, as confirmed by his manager Mark Teitelbaum.
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rachins abandoned a planned career in his family’s food processing business to pursue his passion for acting. “Rebel Without a Cause” sparked his early interest in performing, leading him to New York City, where he studied under notable acting coaches Kim Stanley and Warren Robertson.
His character Douglas Brackman Jr. on NBC’s “L.A. Law” was described as “eloquent, mercenary, and obnoxious,” a performance that earned him both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations in 1988. Rachins appeared in all eight seasons of the legal drama from 1986 to 1994, later reprising the role in the 2002 TV movie “L.A. Law: The Movie.”
Following “L.A. Law,” Rachins took on the role of Lawrence “Larry” Finkelstein, the hippie father of Jenna Elfman’s character on the ABC sitcom “Dharma & Greg.” He appeared in all 199 episodes during the show’s five-season run from 1997 to 2002.
His early career included a notable appearance in the original 1969 production of “Oh! Calcutta!” on Broadway, where he was one of the disrobing cast members. Before his breakthrough in television, Rachins attended the American Film Institute in Los Angeles and began writing TV scripts.
Throughout his career, Rachins demonstrated versatility across different mediums. He wrote episodes for several television series, including “Hill Street Blues,” “Hart to Hart,” and “The Fall Guy.” He also directed an episode of the CBS procedural “Paris.”
His television work extended beyond his two most famous roles, with guest appearances on shows such as “Dallas,” “The Golden Girls,” “Diagnosis Murder,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” and “Mom.” He also provided voice work, notably as the Clock King in “Batman: The Animated Series.”
Rachins had several film credits, including roles in “Showgirls,” “Thunder Run,” “North,” and “Leave It to Beaver.” His final on-screen appearance was in a 2023 episode of “NCIS.”
Outside of acting, Rachins was a member of Mensa International and supported Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign. He met his future wife, actress Joanna Frank, in an acting class in 1977, and they married the following year. Frank would later play his on-screen spouse on “L.A. Law.”
He is survived by his wife, Joanna Frank, and their son, Robert.
