Michael McGuire

A character actor who stayed below the radar while appearing in numerous films and TV programs, Michael McGuire's most significant work came in the '70s and '80s. His first important part came on the fantasy drama "Dark Shadows," where he had a recurring role in 1970. A year later he was in the offbeat mystery "They Might Be Giants," then had a supporting role in the 1973 thriller "Blade." Other important '70s roles include playing the businessman Gandil in the Charles Bronson period film "Hard Times" and a part in the biographical TV movie "The Great Wallendas." In the '80s he continued his many guest-starring roles and had recurring parts on the short-lived 1984 show "Empire" and the nighttime soap "Knots Landing." He played the fiancé of Diane Chambers on several episodes of "Cheers" and supported leads Ryan O'Neal and John Hurt in the 1982 comedy "Partners." In one of his highest-profile parts he appeared in Clint Eastwood's jazz biopic, "Bird," in 1988 and was manager Sherwin Bash in the 1989 made-for-TV film "The Karen Carpenter Story."