Danny Goldring (1946-2022)
|
Veteran Chicago stage and screen actor Danny Goldring passed away peacefully from kidney disease in Chicago on December 2, 2022 at the age of 76. Known for his dramatic, thick, red hair he was a true gentleman, a kind man, someone whose fellow-feeling was genuine and the foundation of his greatness as an actor – and so very counterintuitive to the heavies he played convincingly. Peers often described Goldring as the consummate professional who would gladly take on any challenging role, and for a time it seemed that if there was a film shot in Chicago, Danny was in it.
After graduating from the Goodman School of Drama, Danny’s first role was in 1973 in the 11th Street Theater’s production (an Arlington Park Theatre transfer) of Dale Wasserman's adaptation of the Ken Kesey novel “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest”. He immediately forged what would be a lasting friendship with Chicago favorite Jack Wallace, and their unmistakable chemistry led to warm critical plaudits which launched Danny’s extensive acting career. The craggy-faced, husky-voiced actor made his screen debut in 1976 in the TV movie “The Million Dollar Rip-Off” and was quickly typecast to playing a host of detectives, motorcycle cops and army officers. Notable stage credits include: Goodman’s “Dandelion Wine” (1976), Body Politic’s “Lunching” (1977), Goodman's David Mamet Festival (2006), Red Orchid Theatre's “The Earl” in (2011) and American Blues Theater's revival of “The Rainmaker”(2015). His on-camera credits are legion, and the following is just a taste of his work: “Dig Two Graves” (2014), TV series “Boss” (2011-2012) in a recurring role as an ex cop-turned-barkeep, the lead in “Chicago Overcoat” (2009) as a ravaged, washed-up police detective, including wonderful scenes with Stacy Keach, “The Dark Knight” (2008) as one of the Joker’s minions, “Six Feet Under” TV series (2005), “Star Trek: Enterprise” TV series (2001-2002), “The Practive” (1999), “Early Edition” (1998-2000), the Alpha Hirogen Karr in the World War II holodeck simulation of the “Star Trek: Voyager” 1995 double episode “The Killing Game”, “Turks” (1999), “Chain Reaction” (1996) with Keanu Reeves, “ER” TV series (1995), “Virtuosity” (1995) with Denzel Washington, “Two Fathers: Justice for the Innocent” (1994) with Robert Conrad and George Hamilton, “The Fugitive” (1993) with Harrison Ford, “Excessive Force” (1993), NYPD Blue (1993), “Deep Space Nine” (1993) as a Starfleet officer and a Cardassian Legate, “Angel Street” (1992) and Vice Versa (1988). Nominated for Midwest Independent Film Festival’s Best Actor twice - “Dig Two Graves” in 2015 and “Chicago Overcoat” in 2010. Nominated for Best Actor by Twister Alley International Film Festival for the 2016 “Cellar Door”. Danny was a naval officer’s son, traveling extensively around the US with the family following the father’s postings, and after attending prep school in Maryland, he ultimately followed in his father’s military footsteps with an Army Signals Corps stint in Vietnam. After being discharged, Goldring attended Trinity University in Texas, and ultimately graduated from the Goodman School of Drama. Danny's spirits, his love of company and jokes, were kept up through his final years battling Parkinson's. He is survived by his wife actress Diane Dorsey. |