Daniel Joseph "Dan" Lauria is an American television, stage, and film actor.
Early life Lauria, an Italian-American, was born in Brooklyn,
New York, the son of Carmela and Joseph J. Lauria.
He also lived in Lindenhurst, New York.
He graduated from Lindenhurst Senior High School in 1965 as a varsity football player,
and he briefly taught physical education at Lindenhurst High School.
A Vietnam War veteran, Lauria served as an officer in the US Marine Corps in the early
1970s, at the same point in his life that Jack Arnold, his character in The Wonder Years
did during the Korean War.
He got his start in acting while attending Southern Connecticut State University in New
Haven, Connecticut, on a football scholarship.
Career Lauria is best known for his portrayal of
Jack Arnold, the money-conscious father on the TV series The Wonder Years, that ran from
1988 to 1993.
He also played James Webb in the 1998 TV miniseries From the Earth to the Moon and Commanding
Officer, USA in 1996's Independence Day.
More recently he has appeared in a War Veterans public service announcement and as Police
Commissioner Eustace Dolan in The Spirit.
He appeared as Coach Hamstrung in The Three Stooges N.Y.U.K.
on AMC in 2000.
Lauria appeared on stage in New York in the summer of 2006 in an Off Broadway production
of "A Stone Carver" by William Mastrosimone with Jim Iorio and Elizabeth Rossa.
Lauria also had a small role in a Season two episode of Army Wives, as well as a season
one episode of The Mentalist.
In 2009, Dan has appeared as General Lee Whitworth, M.D.
on T.V.
series Criminal Minds Season 4.
He has also appeared in an episode of Boy Meets World, starring Ben Savage, the younger
brother of The Wonder Years's Fred Savage.
In late 2009, Lauria returned to the Off Broadway stage, appearing as Jimmy Hoffa in Brian Lee
Franklin's Good Bobby, a fictionalized account of Robert Kennedy's rise.
In 2010, Lauria appeared as Vince Lombardi in the Broadway play Lombardi.
The play received positive reviews, with sports writer Jim Hague commenting, "Lauria truly
becomes Vince Lombardi.
You almost forget you're watching an actor.
He's Lombardi through and through, down to the wire-framed glasses and intimidating scowl."
North Bergen football coach Vince Ascolese, who met Lombardi, commented "I really felt
like he was Lombardi.
It was uncanny."
In 2012, Lauria played the part of Jean Shepard in the Broadway production of A Christmas
Story: The Musical, a role which he reprised off Broadway at Madison Square Garden in 2013.
He currently plays Jack Sullivan on the Steve Byrne sitcom "Sullivan and Son" On TBS.
Filmography
South Bronx Heroes Doing Life TV movie with Tony Danza
Stakeout David
The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake Another Stakeout
In the Line of Duty: Ambush in Waco Amazing Grace
Excessive Force II: Force on Force Faithful
Independence Day No One Could Protect Her
Terror in the Family Prison of Secrets
From the Earth to the Moon Wide Awake
Stranger in My House Big Momma's House 2
The Bronx is Burning The Spirit
How I Met Your Mother Alien Trespass
Criminal Minds Donna On Demand
Life of Lemon Law and Order: Criminal Intent
Television Rogan, "Utopia Now" Scarecrow and Mrs. King
Man whose wife gives birth aboard plane "Growing Pains"
Jack Arnold, The Wonder Years Todd Martin, "Terror In The Family"
Judge Lamb, "Wheels" Boy Meets World Salvatore Matacio, "A Father's Image" Walker,
Texas Ranger Coach Walt Arnold, "Hothead", Smallville
Allen Blaisdell, "Secret Agent Man" JAG Allen Blaisdell, "The One That Got Away" JAG
Allen Blaisdell, "Touchdown" JAG Allen Blaisdell, "Back in the Saddle" JAG
Father, "Damaged", "Law and Order Special Victims Unit
Ellis Conway, "Voices", Ghost Whisperer Bill Peterson, "Poker?
I Barely Know Her", Psych Boxing Gym Owner, "Traffic" Law and Order:
Criminal Intent Ray Masters, "Personal Fouls" Law and Order:
Special Victims Unit Judge Raymond Gillot, "Head Games" Harry's
Law Jack Sullivan, Sullivan & Son
Bill Wallace "Earth Mover", "Batman Beyond" Season 2; Episode 2
References
External links
Dan Lauria at the Internet Movie Database