Actor Alan Rachins has died at 82 years old.
Alan died in his sleep due to heart failure in the “early morning hours” on Saturday, November 2 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, his wife, actress Joanna Frank, told The Hollywood Reporter. The two tied the knot in 1978 after they met in an acting class. The two worked together on L.A. Law and played a married couple in the 1985 film, Always.
The actor was best known for his roles as Douglas Brackman Jr. on L.A. Law and the hippie father of Jenna Elfmans character on Dharma & Greg.
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Alan’s career includes many movies in addition to television work. He’s made in appearances in Thunder Run, North, and Showgirls. The actor was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, later moving to New York to study acting. There he became one of the original cast members of Broadway’s After the Rain and Hadrian the Seventh. Also while there, he was a writing and directing fellow at the American Film Institute.
His training in writing and directing led him to write episodes for shows such as Hill Street Blues, Hart to Hart and The Fall Guy. Additionally, Alan directed a 1980 episode of the CBS procedural Paris, which starred the late James Earl Jones. Furthermore, Alan launched the company Allofit Productions with his wife Joanna. Through Allofit Productions the couple adapted books and original screenplays into feature and television projects.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans shared their condolences as they mourned Alan’s death.
“Absolutely gutted to hear this. Not only was Alan a fabulous actor but he was gracious enough to talk with me for over an hour, not just about his time with TALES FROM THE CRYPT, but about Old Hollywood. Just a kind, generous man with some great stories,” one wrote. Another added, “Saddened by the loss of Alan Rachins today. He was great as Larry Finkelstein from “Dharma and Greg” but he always remains immortal as Douglas Brackman from “L.A. Law”. Will be binge-watching that show in his honor. Rest in power to you, Mr. Brackman. #LALaw #RIPAlanRachins.”
A third mentioned, “Alan Rachins was excellent on both LA Law and Dharma and Greg – demonstrating an excellent range of acting in just those two roles…sorry to hear he passed today.”
Alan is survived by wife Joanna and the pair’s son Robert.