Ken Kercheval

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Ken Kercheval
Born	July 15, 1935 (1935-07-15) (age 74) Wolcottville, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1962 - present
Spouse(s)	? - ? , (?-1966) Ava Fox (1986-1993) Cheryl Paris (1994-2004)

Ken Kercheval (born July 15, 1935, Wolcottville, Indiana) is an American actor, best known for his role as "Cliff Barnes" on the television series Dallas.

Kercheval was born and raised in Clinton, Indiana, to Marine "Doc" Kercheval who worked as a popular local physician, and the former Christine Rieber. He trained under Sanford Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

Kercheval and Larry Hagman were the only cast members to stay with the series throughout its entire run, although Kercheval's character was only a recurring character during the first two seasons. He became a regular cast member in the 1979-1980 season. Kercheval reprised the role of Cliff Barnes in the 1996 Dallas reunion, J. R. Returns, and he appeared in the 2004 reunion special.

In 1991, he also appeared in the reunion movie, I Still Dream of Jeannie, playing Mr. Simpson, a guidance counselor at Anthony Nelson, Jr's (Christopher Bolton) high school and was the temporary master for Anthony's mother, Jeannie (Barbara Eden). This was because Larry Hagman, who played Tony Nelson, was not available to reprise his role, as he had not yet finished his run on Dallas.

Kercheval made his Broadway debut in the 1962 play Something About a Soldier. Additional theatre credits include The Apple Tree, Cabaret, and Here's Where I Belong. He got his start on television in 1966, playing the part of nice, agreeable doctor Nick Hunter on Search for Tomorrow. His film credits include The Seven-Ups with Roy Scheider and Tony LoBianco and F.I.S.T. with Sylvester Stallone.

Kercheval is a lung cancer survivor.

In 2006, he appeared in pantomime at Southampton's Mayflower theatre and Plymouth's Theatre Royal in the performance of White Christmas playing The General. In 2007, he reprised his role at the Edinburgh Playhouse and the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

In 2008 he is expected to appear at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Kercheval recently finished filming a small role in the independent film Corrado, starring Tom Sizemore. In November 2008, he joined fellow castmembers for the 30th Dallas reunion in Dallas, Texas.

External links

• Ken Kercheval at the Internet Movie Database
• Ken Kercheval career and bio sketch at Wabash Valley (Ind.) newsletter weblink

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