Geoff Pierson

Geoffrey Pierson is an American actor known for his roles on the TV series Unhappily Ever After as Jack Malloy, the father of a dysfunctional family whose best friend is a stuffed animal rabbit named Mr. Floppy, and Dexter as Captain Tom Matthews.

Biography
Pierson was born and raised in Chicago, the son of Helen T. (née McGinness) and Roy J. Pierson. After graduating from high school, he moved to New York to attend Fordham University. He earned a Bachelor's Degree and went on to the Yale School of Drama where, in 1980, he earned his masters.

He began his career in summer stock theater productions outside of Chicago, making his professional debut at the Shady Land Summer Theatre in Marengo, IL in 1976. The following year, he enrolled at Yale and by 1978 had made his NYC stage debut in the small role of a doctor in Wings. The handsome actor remained with the play when it transferred to Broadway, simultaneously commuting to New Haven to work on his MFA.

He continued to act on stage, amassing extensive credits on stage, including the Broadway production of Tricks of the Trade in which he appeared with George C. Scott.

Pierson didn't begin an onscreen career until he was 40 years old, starting with 1981's The Mating Season. His feature film credits include Behind Enemy Lines (2001) with Gene Hackman, Two Bits (1995) with Al Pacino and he was directed by Alan Arkin in Necessary Parties (1988).

In 1983, he landed the role of Frank Ryan on daytime drama Ryan's Hope, a show he starred on for three years. He also appeared in several other daytime serials including Texas, Another World and One Life to Live.

By the 90s,and now on TV,Pierson had begun to make his mark in primetime sitcoms; he got a recurring role in Grace Under Fire as Grace's ex-husband Jimmy, and simultaneously he was tapped as the lead in Unhappily Ever After, playing half of a couple facing a bitter divorce who learn they cannot live without one another.

In between, he guest starred on such series as, Party of Five (1994), New York Undercover (1994), Against the Law (1990), Kate & Allie (1984) and Law & Order (1990).

In the 2000s he has continued to be a prominent figure in prime time TV shows with recurring roles in series such as That 80's Show, 24 as President John Keeler, and Dexter as Captain Matthews, while playing guest star roles in series like The West Wing, Monk, NYPD Blue, Desperate Housewives, Veronica Mars, Criminal Minds, Numb3rs, Rules of Engagement, Medium, Life and Fringe.

Criminal Minds
He portrayed retired FBI Agent, and now writer and lecturer, Max Ryan that came back to the BAU as a temporary consultant when an unsolved case of his became top priority after 20 years of inactivity of the unsub in the Season One episode Unfinished Business.

Filmography

 * Fringe - What Lies Below (2010) TV episode - Arnold McFadden
 * Dexter - 20 episodes (2006-2009) TV episodes - Captain Tom Matthews
 * Better Off Ted - Father, Can You Hair Me? (2009) TV episode - Elijah Palmer
 * The Mentalist - Red John's Footsteps (2009) TV episode - Noah
 * World's Greatest Dad (2009) - Principal Anderson
 * Life - Trapdoor (2008) and Mirror Ball (2009) TV episodes - Charlie Crews Sr.
 * It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Mac & Charlie Die: Part 1 (2008) TV episode - Warden
 * Get Smart (2008) - Vice President
 * Rodney - Hell Week (2005), A Tisket, a Casket (2006) and Hot Tub Blues (2008) TV episodes - Dale Hamilton
 * Changeling (2008) - S.S. Hahn
 * Medium - Drowned World (2008) TV episode - Sam Winters
 * A Line in the Sand (2008) - The Mayor
 * Rules of Engagement - Russell's Father's Son (2008) TV episode - Franklin Dunbar
 * Sweet Nothing in My Ear (2008) (voice) - Max
 * Already Dead (2007) - Pierce
 * Numb3rs - Pandora's Box (2007) TV episode - CEO Aaron Helm
 * D-War (2007) - Secretary of Defense
 * The Valley of Light (2007)
 * Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service - Faking It (2006) TV episode - Roy Carver
 * Criminal Minds - Unfinished Business (2006) TV episode - Max Ryan
 * Stay (2006) - Dad
 * Veronica Mars - Green-Eyed Monster, Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner (2005) TV episodes - Stewart Manning
 * The Poseidon Adventure (2005) - Admiral Jennings
 * Desperate Housewives - Live Alone and Like It (2005) TV episode - Sam
 * 24 - 18 episodes (2003-2005) TV episodes - President John Keeler / Senator John Keeler
 * Eyes - Pilot (2005) TV episode - David Wycker
 * NYPD Blue - La Bomba (2005) TV episode - Phil Beckett
 * Deal (2005) - Harvey
 * Monk - Mr. Monk and the Captain's Wife (2004) TV episode - Harry Bolston
 * Spartan (2004) - Pearce
 * Windy City Heat (2003) - President of Show Business
 * The West Wing - Swiss Diplomacy (2002), 7A WF 83429 and Jefferson Lives (2003) TV episode - Senate Minority Leader Tripplehorn
 * The Drew Carey Show - Two Days of the Condo (2003) TV episode - Ted
 * The O'Keefes - Football (????) TV episode - Coach Finkel
 * Touched by an Angel - Song for My Father (2003) TV episode - Richard
 * The District - Untouchable (2003) TV episode - Matthew Kendon
 * That '80s Show - 13 episodes (2002) TV episodes - R.T. Howard
 * Sabrina, the Teenage Witch - Sabrina's Date with Destiny and Humble Pie (2001) TV episodes - President Wayne Banning
 * Venomous (2001) - Gen. Arthur Manchek
 * Behind Enemy Lines (2001) - Admiral Donnelly
 * Friends - The One with Rachel's Date (2001) TV episode - Mr. Franklin
 * Nash Bridges - Jump Start, Blow Out (2000) and Slam Dunk (2001) TV episodes - Deputy Chief Max Pettit
 * Becker - 2001 1/2: A Graduation Odyssey (2001) TV episode - Mr. Tipton
 * The Division - Absolution (2001) TV episode - Jerry Ragonese
 * Popular - Ex, Lies and Videotape (2000) TV episode - Mr. Ford
 * Cosby - Book 'Em, Griff O (1999) TV episode - Mr. Dixon
 * Unhappily Ever After - 100 episodes (1995-1999) TV episodes - Jack Malloy
 * The Right Way (1998)
 * Grace Under Fire - 30 episodes (1994-1998) TV episodes - Jimmy Kelly
 * Leave It to Beaver (1997) - Football Coach Gordon
 * Two Bits (1995) - Dr. Wilson
 * Party of Five - Fathers and Sons and Games People Play (1994) TV episodes - Elliott Bishop
 * New York Undercover - Sins of the Father (1994) TV episode - Matthew Long
 * Law & Order - Out of Control (1991) - Lawyer and Old Friends (1994) TV episodes - OCCB Investigator
 * The Adventures of Pete & Pete - The King of the Road (1993) TV episode - Mr. Perfect
 * Another World (1964) TV series - Roger Jackson (unknown episodes, 1992)
 * Against the Law - Damages (1991) TV episode - Duke
 * Alien Nation - Green Eyes (1990) TV episode - Dr. Bogg
 * Murder in Black and White (1990) - Father with Boat
 * Days of Our Lives (1965) TV series - Barney Gillespie (unknown episodes, 1989)
 * Kate & Allie - The Maltese Chotchke (1985) Chandler and A Tree Grows on West 56th Street (1989) TV episodes - Councilman Sloane
 * Married with Children - Just Married... with Children (1988) TV episode - Roland Squab
 * Mutts (1988) - Stuart Gillman
 * Necessary Parties (1988) - Stephen Mills
 * Search for Tomorrow (1951) TV series - Dr. Sullivan (1985-86) (unknown episodes)
 * The Equalizer - Bump and Run (1985) TV episode - Lawyer
 * Ryan's Hope - 15 episodes (1983-1985) TV episodes - Frank Ryan
 * Texas - 6 episodes (1981) TV episodes - Detective Donovan
 * The Mating Season (1980)

DIRECTOR

 * Unhappily Ever After - Tiffany's Birthday and The Fencing Show (1998) TV episodes

THEATER

 * Doctor, Wings, New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, NewYork City, 1978
 * Angelo and Pompey, Measure for Measure, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT
 * Hildy in The Front Page, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT
 * Lord Lucius, Timon of Athens, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT
 * Wang, The Bundle, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT
 * American Buffalo, Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk, VA
 * Glengarry Glen Ross, Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk, VA
 * Les liaisons dangereuses, Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk, VA
 * Otherwise Engaged, Virginia Stage Company, Norfolk, VA
 * Miss Julie, Roundabout Theatre, New York City
 * Playing with Fire, Roundabout Theatre, New York City
 * Stanley Kowalski, A Streetcar Named Desire, Center Stage, PA.
 * Crossing Delancy, Jewish Repertory Theatre, New York City
 * The Gamblers, American Stage Company
 * Speed the Plow, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Philadelphia, PA
 * Stringbean, California Theatre
 * Tricks of the Trade, New York City
 * Circle in the Square, New York City
 * I Won't Dance, Broadway production, New York City
 * Ubu Rex, New York City

LINKS

 * For an up-to-date Filmography: imdb.com/Geoffrey Pierson