Spencer Milligan

Spencer Milligan (born September 10, 1937) is an American actor best known for playing Rick Marshall, the father of Will and Holly Marshall, on the first two seasons of the 1970s children science fiction TV series, Land of the Lost. The fictional Marshalls were an American family who found themselves transported to a mysterious realm overrun with dinosaurs and other exotic, fearsome creatures. The show was the creation of Sid and Marty Krofft and has since become a cult classic. It is now available on DVD.^[1]

Acting career

Milligan left the show after the second season. It was widely believed by fans that he left because of a "salary dispute." In fact, Milligan wanted his share of merchandising royalties that the show generated. In an interview with the Associated Press, the then 70-year-old Milligan elaborated:

On the show, Milligan's character Rick Marshall was replaced by his brother, Jack Marshall, played by actor Ron Harper. Milligan did not return for a brief scene, shot in the credits of the third season, showing Rick Marshall being transported out of the Land of the Lost. One of the show's crew played the role instead, wearing a wig resembling Milligan's hair and standing with his back to the camera.^[3][4]

Although Spencer Milligan made various guest-starring roles on TV in the 1970s, his career cooled in the 1980s, with his last credited role being in 1987. He settled in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area in the 1990s, where he taught acting at Adam Roarke's Film Actors Lab (where Lou Diamond Phillips studied). One of Milligan's students was actor Benton Jennings. Milligan eventually moved back to his family's home in Wisconsin.^[5] His last known acting performance was in 1987, when he appeared on General Hospital.^[6]

In addition to teaching acting, Milligan has directed local plays.

Partial filmography

References

External links

• Spencer Milligan at the Internet Movie Database