Bruce French, ‘Passions’ Actor and a Veteran of the Stage, Dies at 79

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I’m deeply saddened to share that the reliable character actor, Bruce French, known for his captivating roles in theater and television, including Father Lonigan on the soap opera “Passions,” a seemingly blind priest with an uncanny ability to foresee impending evil, has passed away at the age of 79.

French passed away last Friday in Los Angeles due to issues related to Alzheimer’s disease. His spouse of 34 years, well-known actress from Days of Our Lives, Eileen Barnett, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

Originally from Iowa, this individual boasts over 150 acting credits on IMDb. He made guest appearances on several David E. Kelley shows including L.A. Law, Picket Fences, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Boston Public, and Boston Legal. Additionally, he was seen on three Star Trek series – The Next Generation, Voyager, and Enterprise – as well as in the 1998 movie Star Trek: Insurrection.

Or, more succinctly:

Iowa-born actor has over 150 roles on IMDb, guest-starred on various David E. Kelley shows, appeared on three Star Trek series and the film Star Trek: Insurrection.

Additionally, he portrayed the affluent neighbor opposite the questionable roles played by Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver in both seasons of the 2007-08 FX series titled “The Riches“.

As a dedicated gamer immersed in the world of soap operas, I’ve witnessed French embody the compassionate Lonigan across nine seasons on the small screen, from NBC’s premiere in July 1999 to the final episode on DirecTV’s 101 Network in August 2008. Harmony’s heart was always found at the local gaming arcade, where my character frequently butted heads with Alistair Crane, a ruthless businessman portrayed by both David Bailey and later John Reilly. His underhanded dealings ultimately led to my character losing his precious sight in this captivating tale of love, loss, and redemption.

French has portrayed characters of faith in numerous films and TV series, including Mission: Impossible III (2006). Interestingly, he even carried a priest’s clerical collar to auditions as told by Barnett.

Born on Independence Day, 1945, in Reinbeck, Iowa, this individual was the son of a mortician. He earned his degree from the University of Iowa, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and honed his acting skills at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

In 1972, he began his acting career off-Broadway in the play “The Shadow of a Gunman“. Later, in 1974, he made his screen debut in the movie “Man on a Swing“, directed by Frank Perry and starring Cliff Robertson and Joel Grey. He then appeared in two other notable films in 1978: Hal Ashby’s “Coming Home” and Robert Mulligan’s “Bloodbrothers“.

Or, more concisely:

He debuted off-Broadway in 1972’s “The Shadow of a Gunman“, followed by his screen debut in the 1974 film “Man on a Swing” directed by Frank Perry. In 1978, he starred in two other significant films: Hal Ashby’s “Coming Home” and Robert Mulligan’s “Bloodbrothers“.

French made its cinematic debut in various films such as “Christine” (1983), “Mr. Mom”, “Fletch” (both from 1985), “Murphy’s Romance”, “Legal Eagles” (all from 1986), “Wildcats”, “Jurassic Park III” (2001), “Mr. Deeds”, “Thank You for Not Smoking”, “Beginners”, and “Beautiful Boy” (all from different years up to 2010).

In the realm of television, I graced countless shows that spanned from heartwarming dramas like “The Waltons” and comedies such as “Soap” and “Cheers,” to prime-time soaps like “Dallas” and “Falcon Crest.” I also appeared on sitcoms like “Family Ties,” “Hill Street Blues,” “Moonlighting,” and the iconic “Designing Women.” My presence could even be found in shows like “Who’s the Boss?”, “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The West Wing,” “Gilmore Girls,” “Bones,” “Mad Men,” “Eli Stone,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.

Among the roles he cherished on stage, French particularly enjoyed portraying Lucky in a Los Angeles Actors Theatre’s performance of Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot,” which was broadcasted as part of KCET’s “Theatre in America” series in 1977.

In addition, he shone exceptionally in the role of the disheartened teacher Andrew Crocker-Harris during a performance of Terence Rattigan’s “The Browning Version” at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice in 2009.

Approximately four years back, French was identified as having Alzheimer’s, as Barnett stated. Besides his wife, who he initially met at the University of Iowa and reconnected with after 25 years, subsequently marrying in January 1991, his nieces Claire and Paula are also survivors.

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2025-02-09 23:55