Robert Mandan (February 2, 1932 – April 29, 2018) was an American actor. He was best known to television viewers as Chester Tate on the 1970s ABC sitcom "Soap" and often played a white-collar worker.
On Married... with Children, he played Walter Traugott, a baseball team owner (and possibly a federal agent or wanted criminal) who is out to get Jefferson D'Arcy in the Season 8 episode, "The D'Arcy Files".
Early Life[]
Born in Missouri, Mandan grew up in Southern California. He attended Pomona College.
Career[]
Television[]
Mandan first acted in such television serials as NBC's From These Roots and businessman Sam Reynolds on Search for Tomorrow .
His sitcom appearances prior to Soap include an auctioneer in the 1972 premiere episode of Sanford and Son, attorney Mr. Morrison in a 1973 episode of All in the Family, and Maude's gay friend Barry on a 1974 episode of Maude. In 1972, Mandan appeared in the first episode of the last season of Mission Impossible as Tim Sharkey. He also appeared in the Barnaby Jones episodes titled "Counterfall", "Killer on Campus" and "Prisoner of Deceit" and guest-starred in an episode of the western series Sara in 1976. He played Woody Billingsley in The Love Boat S2 E16 sketch "Like Father, Like Son" in 1979.
He played Mr. Kirby in the 1979 NBC television adaptation of You Can't Take it With You and the ineffective but well-meaning Colonel Fielding on the 1981 TV adaptation of Private Benjamin.
He also had roles in two movies in 1982, as school principal Walter J. Coolidge in Zapped! and Senator Charles Wingwood in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
In 1982 he also played Henry's older brother Bill Rush in Too Close for Comfort.
From 1984 to 1985, he played James Bradford on ABC's Three's a Crowd opposite John Ritter, and in 1986 he was Peace Corps member Dr. Bruce Gaines, who married Mrs. Garrett (played by Charlotte Rae) in her final episodes on The Facts of Life. He appeared as Steven in the 1990 episode of The Golden Girls entitled "Great Expectations". In 1991, he reunited with Katherine Helmond for two episodes of her next series, Who's the Boss?.
In 1993, he played the Cardassian diplomat Kotan Pa'Dar in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Cardassians", who learned of the survival of a son he had believed lost in a terrorist attack.
His return to serials included the roles of Maxwell Hammer, a friend of Minx, on Santa Barbara, Mr. Jonesy (alongside Louise Sorel) on Days of Our Lives from 1997 to 1998, and guest-starring as a judge on General Hospital in early 2006.
Theater[]
He appeared onstage throughout his career. Mandan made his Broadway debut in 1956 in Speaking of Murder and later appeared in the 1970 musical Applause.
Aside from Applause, he starred in the pre-Broadway version of the 1990s revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as J.B. Biggley, he played Andrew Wyke in several touring company productions of the Anthony Shaffer mystery, Sleuth, and he was in the 2002 production of A Twilight Romance at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank, California. One of his last appearances was in a production of "King Lear" at Electric Lodge Venice, California in 2006.
Game Shows[]
Mandan was a frequent special guest on The $25,000 Pyramid during the 1980s. He also appeared on many other game shows, including Match Game, Family Feud, Super Password, Chain Reaction, and Hollywood Squares.
Death[]
Mandan passed away on April 29, 2018, following a long battle with prostate cancer. He was 86 years old.
He was later cremated, with his ashes given to his wife.
Trivia[]
- Mandan was friends with Katherine Helmond who co-starred with him on Soap. They later reunited on Who's The Boss in 1991 and then again in 2002 for the stage production of A Twilight Romance. He was also friends with Gordon Jump, who later appeared on MWC as Earl Tot.