Wayne Grace

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.