Richard Portnow

Richard Portnow

Known for
Acting
Born
January 26, 1947 (age 79)
Birthplace
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Biography

Richard Portnow (born January 26, 1947, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American character actor. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Kindergarten Cop, Barton Fink, Sister Act, Seven, Private Parts, in which he played Howard Stern's father, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, Law Abiding Citizen and Trumbo. On television he played defense attorney Harold Melvoin on The Sopranos and Judge Peter Harding on Boston Legal.

Known For

Photos

Richard Portnow photoRichard Portnow photo

Filmography

2025
Dog Patrol: Operation Santa Paws poster

Dog Patrol: Operation Santa Paws

Movie · as Oscar Golden

2025
Sinatra! Eternity poster

Sinatra! Eternity

Movie · as Walter Winchell

2024
Matlock poster

Matlock

TV · as Judge Colton P. Davidson · 1 ep

2021
Roe v. Wade poster

Roe v. Wade

Movie · as Justice William Douglas

2020
Talking Sopranos poster

Talking Sopranos

TV · as Self · 1 ep

2019
Stakeout poster

Stakeout

Movie · as Pat Reed

2018
Higher Power poster

Higher Power

Movie · as Charles Margrey

2018
Frank and Ava poster

Frank and Ava

Movie · as Walter Winchell

2018
Andover poster

Andover

Movie · as Shamus Trout

2018
Holly Day poster

Holly Day

Movie · as Benny

2017
The Gliksmans poster

The Gliksmans

Movie · as Tim Neuman

2016
Café Society poster

Café Society

Movie · as Walt

2016
Soy Nero poster

Soy Nero

Movie · as Murray - the Garage Owner

2016
Timeless poster

Timeless

TV · as Mayor William Hale Thompson · 1 ep

2015
Trumbo poster

Trumbo

Movie · as Louis B. Mayer

2015
Parallel

Parallel

Movie · as Stewart

2014
Nanny Cam poster

Nanny Cam

Movie · as Detective Jones

2014
This Last Lonely Place poster

This Last Lonely Place

Movie · as Jason Pure

2013
Oldboy poster

Oldboy

Movie · as Bernie Sharkey

2013
In the Dark poster

In the Dark

Movie · as Detective Archer

2013
Underdogs poster

Underdogs

Movie · as John Handon II

2013
Duke poster

Duke

Movie · as Carroll Green

2012
2 Jacks poster

2 Jacks

Movie · as Lorenzo

2012
A Night of Nightmares

A Night of Nightmares

Movie · as Cliff Tanner

2012
Hitchcock poster

Hitchcock

Movie · as Barney Balaban

2012
Imaginary Friend poster

Imaginary Friend

Movie · as Dan

2012
Elementary poster

Elementary

TV · as Eddie Eichorn · 1 ep

2011
The Christmas Pageant poster

The Christmas Pageant

Movie · as Leo Brenner

2011
Suits poster

Suits

TV · as Pete Kreeling · 1 ep

2011
Grimm poster

Grimm

TV · as Daniel Troyer · 1 ep

2011
Franklin & Bash poster

Franklin & Bash

TV · as Richard Kohl · 1 ep

2011
Shameless poster

Shameless

TV · as Johnny Boxcars · 1 ep

2010
Killer by Nature poster

Killer by Nature

Movie · as Walter

2010
The Wish List poster

The Wish List

Movie · as Lenny

2010
How to Make It in America poster

How to Make It in America

TV · 1 ep

2010
Outlaw poster

Outlaw

TV · as Sen. Sidney Vidalin · 8 eps

2010
Hawaii Five-0 poster

Hawaii Five-0

TV · as Creed's Attorney · 1 ep

2009
Law Abiding Citizen poster

Law Abiding Citizen

Movie · as Bill Reynolds

2009
Under New Management poster

Under New Management

Movie · as Carmello Conforte

2009
The Minis poster

The Minis

Movie · as Jack

2009
Life Is Hot in Cracktown poster

Life Is Hot in Cracktown

Movie · as Guy from 4 K

2009
Castle poster

Castle

TV · as Milt Boyle · 1 ep

2009
Parks and Recreation poster

Parks and Recreation

TV · as Mitch Savner · 2 eps

2009
The Good Wife poster

The Good Wife

TV · as Judge Ben Margovski · 1 ep

2008
Tinker Bell poster

Tinker Bell

Movie · as Minister of Autumn (voice)

2008
Good Time Max poster

Good Time Max

Movie · as Head Administrator

2008
The Spirit poster

The Spirit

Movie · as Donenfeld

2008
The Mentalist poster

The Mentalist

TV · as Phil · 1 ep

2007
Perfect Stranger poster

Perfect Stranger

Movie · as Narron

2007
The Indian poster

The Indian

Movie · as Elliot

2007
Chasing Robert poster

Chasing Robert

Movie · as Ed Thorton

2007
Dirt poster

Dirt

TV · as Teddy Jick · 1 ep

2006
Find Me Guilty poster

Find Me Guilty

Movie · as Max Novardis

2006
National Lampoon's TV: The Movie poster

National Lampoon's TV: The Movie

Movie · as Sergeant

2006
Hannah Montana poster

Hannah Montana

TV · as Marty Kline · 1 ep

2005
Under the City poster

Under the City

Movie · as Minks

2005
Meet the Mobsters poster

Meet the Mobsters

Movie · as Jerry Kaminski

2005
Trump Unauthorized poster

Trump Unauthorized

Movie · as Mayor Ed Koch

2005
Grey's Anatomy poster

Grey's Anatomy

TV · as Saul Schmitt · 1 ep

2004
Tony n' Tina's Wedding poster

Tony n' Tina's Wedding

Movie · as Vinnie Black

2004
Boston Legal poster

Boston Legal

TV · as Judge Peter Harding · 4 eps

2003
Cold Case poster

Cold Case

TV · as Oscar Anderson (2008) · 1 ep

2003
Las Vegas poster

Las Vegas

TV · as Lester Colette · 1 ep

2003
Nip/Tuck poster

Nip/Tuck

TV · as Manny Caldarelo, Manny Caldarello · 1 ep

2002
Poolhall Junkies poster

Poolhall Junkies

Movie · as Toupee Jay

2002
The Shield poster

The Shield

TV · as Jim Wright · 1 ep

2001
Zigs poster

Zigs

Movie · as Arnold Zigman

2001
Laughter on the 23rd Floor poster

Laughter on the 23rd Floor

Movie · as Harry

2001
Double Bang poster

Double Bang

Movie · as Lieutenant Shatkin

2000
The Ghost of Spoon River poster

The Ghost of Spoon River

Movie · as Agent Cicarelli

2000
Happy Accidents poster

Happy Accidents

Movie · as Trip

2000
The Unscarred poster

The Unscarred

Movie · as Tommy Matolla

2000
Fallen Arches poster

Fallen Arches

Movie · as Nicky Kaplan

1999
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai poster

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Movie · as Handsome Frank

1999
Ballad of the Nightingale poster

Ballad of the Nightingale

Movie · as Arnie D'Angelo

1999
The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All poster

The Substitute 3: Winner Takes All

Movie · as Vincent Lo Russo

1999
Road Kill poster

Road Kill

Movie · as Charboneau

1999
Witness Protection poster

Witness Protection

Movie · as Niko

1999
Judging Amy poster

Judging Amy

TV · as AAG Charles Novotny · 1 ep

1999
Ryan Caulfield: Year One poster

Ryan Caulfield: Year One

TV · 8 eps

1999
The Sopranos poster

The Sopranos

TV · as Attorney Melvoin, Harold 'Mel' Melvoin · 10 eps

1998
My Giant poster

My Giant

Movie · as Producer

1998
Milo poster

Milo

Movie · as Lieutenant Parker

1998
Postal Worker poster

Postal Worker

Movie · as Dr. Nicolas Brink

1998
Shadow of Doubt poster

Shadow of Doubt

Movie · as Marvin Helm

1998
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas poster

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Movie · as Wine Colored Tuxedo

1998
Lured Innocence poster

Lured Innocence

Movie · as Jack Shelby

1998
Desert Thunder poster

Desert Thunder

Movie · as Adm. Le Clair

1997
Private Parts poster

Private Parts

Movie · as Ben Stern

1997
Mad City poster

Mad City

Movie · as Brackett's Agent

1997
Bella Mafia poster

Bella Mafia

Movie · as Anthony Moreno

1997
Guy poster

Guy

Movie · as Al

1996
Bogus poster

Bogus

Movie · as M. Clay Thrasher

1996
Spin City poster

Spin City

TV · as Mr. Paterno · 1 ep

1996
EZ Streets poster

EZ Streets

TV · as Frank Collero · 13 eps

1995
Se7en poster

Se7en

Movie · as Dr. Beardsley

1995
Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning poster

Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: Lightning

Movie · as Monaghan

1995
Man of the House poster

Man of the House

Movie · as Joey Renda

1995
S.F.W. poster

S.F.W.

Movie · as Gerald Parsley

1995
Donor Unknown

Donor Unknown

Movie · as Hal Cooney

1995
JAG poster

JAG

TV · as Sibby Lonegro · 1 ep

1994
Dragstrip Girl poster

Dragstrip Girl

Movie · as Det. Dryden

1994
Trial by Jury poster

Trial by Jury

Movie · as Leo Greco

1994
Lipstick Camera poster

Lipstick Camera

Movie · as Detective Vorkopich

1994
Across the Moon poster

Across the Moon

Movie · as Roy

1994
Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice poster

Ray Alexander: A Taste For Justice

Movie

1993
Night Eyes 3 poster

Night Eyes 3

Movie · as Kaplan

1993
Based on an Untrue Story poster

Based on an Untrue Story

Movie · as Disturbing Caller

1993
Heart and Souls poster

Heart and Souls

Movie · as Max Marco

1993
The Incredible Life and Times of Robert Ripley Believe It or Not! poster

The Incredible Life and Times of Robert Ripley Believe It or Not!

Movie · as Robert L. Ripley

1993
Boy Meets World poster

Boy Meets World

TV · as Stan · 1 ep

1993
The Nanny poster

The Nanny

TV · as Phillipe · 1 ep

1993
Walker, Texas Ranger poster

Walker, Texas Ranger

TV · as Irving Rothbart - LaRue's Attorney · 1 ep

1993
Dave's World poster

Dave's World

TV · as Leon · 1 ep

1993
Home Free poster

Home Free

TV · as Vic · 1 ep

1993
Fallen Angels poster

Fallen Angels

TV · as Jack Malkov · 1 ep

1993
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman poster

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

TV · as Barry Barker · 1 ep

1992
Sister Act poster

Sister Act

Movie · as Willy

1992
There Goes the Neighborhood poster

There Goes the Neighborhood

Movie · as Marty Rollins

1992
Beethoven poster

Beethoven

Movie · as Ammunition Company Rep (uncredited)

1992
Mad About You poster

Mad About You

TV · as Arthur · 2 eps

1991
Barton Fink poster

Barton Fink

Movie · as Detective Mastrionotti

1991
Father of the Bride poster

Father of the Bride

Movie · as Al - the Tux Salesman

1991
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster poster

Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

Movie · as Dave Barrett

1991
For the Boys poster

For the Boys

Movie · as Milt, Recording Studio

1991
Dinosaurs poster

Dinosaurs

TV · as Mel Luster (voice) · 3 eps

1991
The New WKRP in Cincinnati poster

The New WKRP in Cincinnati

TV · 1 ep

1991
The Commish poster

The Commish

TV · as Benny · 1 ep

1990
Kindergarten Cop poster

Kindergarten Cop

Movie · as Captain Salazar

1990
Havana poster

Havana

Movie · as Mike MacClaney

1990
Chattahoochee poster

Chattahoochee

Movie · as Dr. Debner

1990
Tune in Tomorrow... poster

Tune in Tomorrow...

Movie · as Uncle Luke

1990
Dream On poster

Dream On

TV · as Roy · 1 ep

1989
Meet the Hollowheads poster

Meet the Hollowheads

Movie · as Mr. Crabneck

1989
Say Anything... poster

Say Anything...

Movie · as Agent Stewart

1989
A Deadly Silence poster

A Deadly Silence

Movie · as D.A. Ed Jablonski

1989
Original Sin poster

Original Sin

Movie · as Vincent

1989
Peter Gunn poster

Peter Gunn

Movie · as Spiros

1989
Seinfeld poster

Seinfeld

TV · as Ray · 1 ep

1988
Twins poster

Twins

Movie · as Chop Shop Owner

1988
In Dangerous Company poster

In Dangerous Company

Movie · as Kellog

1988
Something Is Out There poster

Something Is Out There

TV · 1 ep

1988
Dear John poster

Dear John

TV · as Harry · 1 ep

1987
Good Morning, Vietnam poster

Good Morning, Vietnam

Movie · as Dan 'The Man' Levitan

1987
Wanted: Dead or Alive poster

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Movie · as Agent

1987
The Squeeze poster

The Squeeze

Movie · as Ruben

1987
Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam poster

Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam

Movie · as Harry Long

1987
Radio Days poster

Radio Days

Movie · as Sy

1987
The House of Blue Leaves poster

The House of Blue Leaves

Movie · as Billy Einhorn

1987
Tin Men poster

Tin Men

Movie · as Carly

1987
Almost Partners poster

Almost Partners

Movie · as Nicky

1987
Hiding Out poster

Hiding Out

Movie · as Mr. Lessig

1987
Wiseguy poster

Wiseguy

TV · 1 ep

1987
The Oldest Rookie poster

The Oldest Rookie

TV · 1 ep

1987
Beauty and the Beast poster

Beauty and the Beast

TV · as Naj · 1 ep

1986
Courage poster

Courage

Movie · as Frankie Ce De Baca

1985
Desperately Seeking Susan poster

Desperately Seeking Susan

Movie · as Party Guest

1985
The Equalizer poster

The Equalizer

TV · as Police Lieutenant, Detective · 2 eps

1984
Murder, She Wrote poster

Murder, She Wrote

TV · as Walter Pell, Lt. Walt Murphy · 1 ep

1984
Tales from the Darkside poster

Tales from the Darkside

TV · as Curtis · 1 ep

1983
Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer poster

Trackdown: Finding the Goodbar Killer

Movie · as Bartender

1982
American Playhouse poster

American Playhouse

TV · as Billy Einhorn · 1 ep