Richard Gilliland
Gilliland in a promotional photo for Operation Petticoat
Born	(1950-01-23)January 23, 1950 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Died	March 18, 2021(2021-03-18) (aged 71) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active	1974–2021
Spouse	Jean Smart ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	2

Richard Morris Gilliland (January 23, 1950 – March 18, 2021) was an American television and movie actor, best known as JD Shackleford in Designing Women (1986–1992).^[1]

Life and career

Gilliland was born in Fort Worth, Texas to parents Richard Velton Gilliland and Betty Gene née Morris Gilliland.^[2] He attended Shawnee Mission South High School in Overland Park, Kansas, graduating in 1968. He was active in plays and musicals.^[3] He studied drama at the University of Kansas for two years before transferring to the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago.^[4] He left school his final year to become a member of the Chicago Free Street Theater. He joined the cast of Godspell in Chicago first as a disciple and then in the leading role before moving to Los Angeles in 1973.^[3]

Gilliland first appeared onscreen in the 1970s.^[4] His notable appearances include The Waltons, Thirtysomething, Party of Five, Little Women,^[4] and a recurring role on Designing Women where he met actress Jean Smart, who starred as Charlene in that series.^[5] On Designing Women he played J. D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of Annie Potts' character Mary Jo Shively. He and Smart married in 1987.^[5] They have two sons, Connor Douglas (born 1989)^[6] and Forrest who was adopted from China in May 2009.^[7]

He played Ellis Kapp on The Unit and Captain Stan Cotter on 24 during season five, while his wife Jean Smart played First Lady Martha Logan in the same season.^[8][9] He also had a recurring role as serial killer Jeffrey Speidel in the NBC series Matlock.

He died following a short illness in Los Angeles, California, on March 18, 2021, at the age of 71.^[10][11]

Select TV and filmography

References

External links

• Richard Gilliland at IMDb 
• Richard Gilliland at AllMovie