Anecdotes

In the late 70s/early 80s during a career lull, he left acting for a time to focus on writing for such TV shows as K 2000 (1982), Capitaine Furillo (1981), Pour l'amour du risque (1979) and Quincy (1976).

One of the original performers of the half play, half musical, fully nude off- Broadway hit "Oh! Calcutta" back in 1969.

The balding actor once hosted an episode of PBS' Aux origines de l'humanité (1974), that was entitled "Sex, Lies and Toupee Tape", which was an informative and humorous look at pattern baldness and its effect on both men and women.

Alan and his wife Joanna Frank have a son.

Balding American character actor known for his unsympathetic work on TV as vain, callous attorney/partner "Douglas Brackman" in La loi de Los Angeles (1986) (1986-1994) and as Dharma's radical father in Dharma & Greg (1997) (1997-2002).

Brother-in-law of Steven Bochco and Dayna Kalins.

Member of American Mensa, as are James Woods, Ben Rollins, Cy Frost, and Derek Barbosa, and listed on the organizations website as a "Famous Member" along with Geena Davis.

Ex-brother-in-law of Barbara Bosson.

Uncle of Jesse Bochco.

Rachins has participated in both DC and Marvel productions, having appeared on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," been the voice of Temple Fugate/The Clock King in the DC animated universe, and the voice of Norman Osborne on "The Spectacular Spider-Man.".

Has a son Robert.

He was among the original Broadway casts of After the Rain and Hadrian the Seventh.

Alan Rachins was an American actor, known for his role as Douglas Brackman in L.A. Law which earned him both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, and his portrayal of Larry (Dharma's hippie father) on the television series Dharma & Greg.

Studied at the American Film Institute.

Made his Broadway debut in 1967 in "After The Rain".

Spent two years at the Wharton School at Penn before moving to New York to try acting.

Graduated from Brookline High School.

Studied acting with the likes of Warren Robertson and Kim Stanley.

Along with his wife, Rachins launched Allofit Productions to adapt books and original screenplays into feature and television projects.

In 1972, Rachins put his acting career on hold when he was accepted as a fellow in the writing and directing programs at the American Film Institute.

Despite his successes as a writer and director, Rachins returned to his acting career with a leading role in Henry Jaglom's independent film, Always. This critically acclaimed film brought him widespread attention and ultimately led to his role on L.A. Law.

He tackled the role of "Albin" in La Cage Aux Folles at the Jupiter Theater, was seen in Love Letters with Swoosie Kurtz at Beverly Hills' Coronet Theatre, and starred in a revival of Promises, Promises with Jason Alexander, Jean Smart, and Alan Thicke at the Freud Theatre in Los Angeles.

He sold scripts to a variety of shows, including The Fall Guy, Hill Street Blues, Knight Rider, Quincy, and Hart To Hart.

Beginning in 1967, he performed in a succession of plays, including the original Broadway productions of After the Rain and Hadrian the Seventh, as well as the original off-Broadway productions of The Trojan Women and the controversial Oh! Calcutta.

He supported Jesse Jackson for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988.