Ron Glass – American actor

Ron Glass was an American actor known for his role in the TV comedy Barney Miller (1975-1982) and as a pastor Derrial Beech in the sci-fi series Firefly and its sequel, the film Mission Serenity.
Ronald Earle Glass was born on July 10, 1945 in Evansville, Indiana into the family of Lethia and Crump Glass. In 1964 he graduated from the Saint Francis Seminary. Later Glass studied at the University of Evansville, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Years later, he dedicated himself to work on television.
His stage debut took place in Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis before he came to Hollywood. He appeared in episodes of the show Sanford and Son in 1972, an episode of All in the Family in 1973 and the episode Good Times in 1974. In 1975 he got the role of Ron Harris in the show Barney Miller, which lasted until 1982. In the next season Glass also starred with Demond Wilson in the short-lived remake of Odd Couple, titled The New Odd Couple.

In 1992, he starred in the short-lived comedy Rhythm and Blues. In 1996, Ron starred in the NBC sitcom Mr. Rhodes. In 1999 Glass appeared in an episode of Friends as Ross Geller’s lawyer, as well as in The Cosby Show.
Since then, Ron appeared in dozens of television series, including comedies like Family Matters and Teen Angel.
In 2008, he appeared in the movie Lakeview Terrace with Samuel L. Jackson and in the movie Death at a Funeral (2010).
Ron Glass died on November 25, 2016, at the age of 71.

Selected filmography
1973 – Beg, Borrow, or Steal
1974 – The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder
1983 – Sound of Sunshine – Sound of Rain
1987 – Deep Space
1995 – It’s My Party
1997 – Back in Business
1999 – Deal of a Lifetime
1999 – Unbowed
1999 – Incognito
2013 – Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.