John Randolph was a New York-born actor who appeared as Al Harris, Roseanne and Jackie's abusive father in two episodes of Roseanne. John is also recognized for his roles in numerous Planet of the Apes films.
Life and career[]
A veteran of stage, film and television for six decades, he appeared in many guest roles on many popular TV series such as *M*A*S*H, Trapper John, M.D., Family Ties, Dynasty, Quincy, M.E., and Hawaii Five-O. John also appeared in numerous film roles, in films such as O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971) with John Wayne, as John Mitchell in All the President's Men (1976), with Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. Heaven Can Wailt (1979) with Warren Beatty, and Julie Christie, and Prizzi's Honor with Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, and Robert Loggia.
Randolph supported radical causes such as better housing for war veterans, for striking miners in Harlan County, and against the death penalty for Willie McGee and for convicted spies, Ethel Rosenberg and Julius Rosenberg. After serving in the United States Army Air Force during World War II, he was branded a member of the Communist Party and appeared in front of the 'House of Un-American Activities Committee' in 1955, refusing to name names. As a result, Randolph was blacklisted and could not appear in Hollywood movies or on television.
Among others blacklisted and denied work for many years were future Apes actors Kim Huntet, John Ireland, Victor Kilian and Jeff Corey, and screenwriters [[Michael Wilson and Howard Dimsdale. Randolph retained his radical political views and was an active member of the Screen Actors Guild, Amnesty International, Council of American-Soviet Friendship, Medical Aid to El Salvador and Artists Against Apartheid. [1]
External Links[]
References[]