Acting Career
| Fred Dryer | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Frederick Dryer |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, writer, director |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Notable work(s) | Hunter |
| Spouse(s) | Tracy Vaccaro (m. 1983–1988) «start: (1983)–end+1: (1989)»"Marriage: Tracy Vaccaro to Fred Dryer" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Dryer) |
| Website | |
| freddryer.net | |
Prior to the start of his show business career, Dryer flexed his acting muscles when he helped cover Super Bowl IX for SPORT magazine. Fed up with the grandiose and self-important nature of the NFL's championship match, then-editor Dick Schaap hired Dryer and Rams teammate Lance Rentzel for this journalistic assignment. Donning costumes inspired by The Front Page, "Scoops Brannigan" (Dryer) and "Cubby O'Switzer" (Rentzel) peppered players and coaches from both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings with questions that ranged from clichéd to downright absurd. This became the inspiration for the eccentricities that surround Media Day at the Super Bowl. Dryer also briefly served as a color analyst on CBS's NFL coverage in 1981.
In the early 80's when producers/ creators Glen Charles, Les Charles and James Burrows were developing the soon-to-be hit sitcom, Cheers, Dryer, along with two other actors, was considered for the role of lead character, Sam Malone. Ted Danson ultimately won the role, but Dryer later appeared as sportscaster (and former Red Sox teammate of Sam's) Dave Richards in the episodes "Sam at Eleven", "Old Flames", "Love Thy Neighbor", and "'I' On Sports".
Dryer's best-known acting role came in the 1980s television crime drama Hunter, in which he costarred with Stepfanie Kramer. Dryer also starred in the action-thriller movie Death Before Dishonor as well as Mike Land in the TV series Land's End (21 episodes, 1995–1996). He portrayed legendary DC Comics military hero Sgt. Rock, during his appearance on Justice League. Dryer got married in May 1983 (divorced in 1988) to actress and Playboy centerfold Tracy Vaccaro, who also worked with him on Hunter and Land's End. Together, they have at least one daughter. Dryer still resides in Los Angeles and has his own production company (Fred Dryer Productions).
Fred Dryer is frequently mentioned in season two of Adult Swim's Frisky Dingo as presidential candidate Xander Crews's prospective running mate. There is also a collage of images of him in Simon's room, and Xander is shown painting him in his bedroom.
In January 2009 Fred Dryer can be seen in a more intense role for cable TV commercial for SMS research company, which obliquely makes reference to his NFL record of two safeties in a game from 1973. Fred Dryer is also now a spokesman for the law service Injury Solutions.
Read more about this topic: Fred Dryer
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