Richard Paul

Paul was born in Los Angeles, California.[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in public affairs from Claremont Men's College and a Master of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. He was nearing completion of a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona in Tucson when he gave up his career as a therapist to become a full-time performer.

From 1977 to 1979, he played Mayor Teddy Burnside in Carter Country. His famous catchphrase was "Handle it, Roy, handle it!".

In 1980, he co-starred in the ABC comedy One in a Million which aired for only one season,[2] and on an episode of M*A*S*H as Capt. Bill Bainbridge.

Paul was also a frequent panelist on Match Game from 1978 to 1982, and later played the recurring character of Cabot Cove mayor Sam Booth in Murder, She Wrote. During the late 80s and early 90s, he also had a recurring role as TV station manager Mr. Strowbridge on Full House.

In a 1981 episode of WKRP in Cincinnati titled "Clean Up Radio Everywhere", Paul played Rev. Bob Halyers, a character inspired by evangelist Jerry Falwell; the part was written for Paul by the show's creator Hugh Wilson. Paul would later go on to portray Falwell in the 1990 made-for-television movie Fall From Grace, about Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, and then in the 1996 theatrical release The People vs. Larry Flynt.[3][4]

Paul was in the film Eating Raoul (1982), written and directed by Paul Bartel.[5] Also in 1982, he co-starred on the short-lived sitcom Herbie, the Love Bug. He later appeared in Bartel's short film, The Secret Cinema, which was part of the Amazing Stories series on television, and in Bartel’s Not for Publication.[6]

He volunteered with Actors and Others for Animals and served on their Board of Directors. He was on the Mental Health Advisory Board of Los Angeles County. He volunteered at childhood immunization clinics for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. He read books into tapes by special request at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles. He married Patty Oestereich on September 7, 1968, in Pasadena, California, and they remained married until his death.[1]

Paul died of cancer at age 58 on Christmas Day (December 25) 1998 at his home in the Studio City area of Los Angeles.[7]

• Richard Paul at IMDb
• Richard Paul discography at Discogs