Wayne Grace
Born: 1940-05-07 in Pomona, California, USA
Died: 2022-08-13
Known For: Acting
Biography
Wayne Grace (7 May 1940 – 13 August 2022; age 82) was an American character actor known for his robust screen presence, distinctive voice, and prolific career spanning stage, film, and television. Born in Pomona, California, he honed his craft at institutions including Mount San Antonio College (where he was classmates with Sam Shepard), Wayne State University, San Francisco State College, and under the tutelage of legendary acting teacher Sandy Meisner in New York. He spent years performing in regional and Off-Broadway theater—including notable work with the Odyssey Theatre and Pacific Resident Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles—before establishing himself as a recognizable face in Hollywood. Grace built a massive resume of film credits, often playing tough, authority, or character parts in major motion pictures such as Robert Altman's McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves, Ron Howard's Far and Away, David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, and Volcano. On television, he was a ubiquitous guest star appearing across decades of classic programming, ranging from Little House on the Prairie, The Rockford Files, Seinfeld, Frasier, The X-Files, and Medium. Science fiction fans particularly recognize him for making guest appearances across multiple series in the Star Trek franchise, playing the Romulan Torak in Star Trek: The Next Generation ("Aquiel"), a Cardassian Legate in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ("Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"—sharing an episode with Leslie Hope), and the Klingon Admiral Krell in Star Trek: Enterprise ("Divergence"), in addition to providing voice work for video games like Star Trek: Klingon Academy. He passed away on August 13, 2022, at the age of 82 at his home in Venice Beach, California, due to complications from bladder cancer.
Filmography
2009
- All About Steve as Retired Mine Supervisor
- Coyote County Loser as Fred Hopps
2006
- Midnight Clear as Hungry Old Man
2005
- Medium as Christopher Russo
2004
- The Work and the Glory as First Land Agent
2003
- Easy Sex as Drunk Gambler
2002
- I Don't Know Jack as Self
2001
- Star Trek: Enterprise as Fleet Admiral Krell
- Mulholland Drive as Bob Brooker
1997
- Volcano as O.E.M. Staffer #9
- Alien Avengers II as Carl Dalton
1996
- The Lazarus Man as Major Gaffney
- Stolen Memories: Secrets from the Rose Garden as Cletis
1995
- Lord of Illusions as Loomis
1994
- Madman of the People as Brodsky
- The Chase as Chief Boyle
- It Runs in the Family as Emil Bumpus
- Scanner Cop as Officer Dooley
1993
- The X-Files as Sheriff Hamilton
- Frasier as Farmer
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Legate
- Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Marcus Jennings
- Fallen Angels as Sergeant
- Fire in the Sky as Cyrus Gilson
- The Thing Called Love as R.C.
1992
- Far and Away as Bourke
1990
- Dances with Wolves as Major
- Buried Alive as Bill Scorby
- Slumber Party Massacre III as O'Reilly
1989
- Seinfeld as Ukrainian
- Tales from the Crypt as Fire Chief
- Homer and Eddie as Preacher
- Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II as Vanir
- Heroes Stand Alone as Major Grigori
1988
- Twins as Cell Guard
- Frank Nitti: The Enforcer
1987
- Star Trek: The Next Generation as Governor Torak
- The Running Man as 911 Security Officer #1
- Six Against the Rock as Officer Bristow
- In the Mood as Bus Driver
1985
- Mask as Drug Dealer
1984
- Night Court as Roosevelt
- Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter as Officer Jamison
1981
- Falcon Crest as Monash-Henchman
1978
- Libra as Jim
- Wild and Wooly as O'Rourke
1975
- Wonder Woman as Captain
1974
- Little House on the Prairie as Guard
- The Rockford Files as Deek
1973
- Kojak as Grisco Cummings
- Magnum Force as Palancio's Hitter
- The Laughing Policeman as Inspector Tom Brennan
1971
- McCabe & Mrs. Miller as Bartender