---
name: "Alan Rachins"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/alan-rachins"
roles: ["Actor","Writer"]
born: "3 October 1942"
died: "2 November 2024"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 64
updated: "2026-09-16T17:02:33.173335+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Alan Rachins

Actor and writer. Born 3 October 1942 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Died 2 November 2024.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer
- **Born:** 3 October 1942, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- **Died:** 2 November 2024
- **Active:** 1981–1995

## Biography

Alan Rachins was an American actor. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 3 October 1942, he died in Los Angeles on 2 November 2024. He began his career on stage, appearing in the original Broadway productions of *After the Rain* and *Hadrian the Seventh*, and the off-Broadway revue *Oh! Calcutta!*. He later studied writing and directing as a fellow at the American Film Institute and wrote episodes for series including *Hill Street Blues*.

Rachins returned to acting with a role in the 1985 film *Always*, which led to his casting as Douglas Brackman Jr. on the legal drama *L.A. Law* (1986–1994). He appeared in nearly all 172 episodes and received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He later played Larry Finkelstein on the sitcom *Dharma & Greg* (1997–2002). His film credits include *Showgirls* (1995), in which he played Tony Moss, and voice roles in animated series such as *Batman: The Animated Series* and *The Spectacular Spider-Man*.

He was married to actress Joanna Frank, who appeared with him on *L.A. Law*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, hollywoodreporter.com, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Showgirls* (1995), Fi1m 42, as Tony Moss — [page](https://film.one/film/showgirls.md)
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), Fi1m 86, Writer — [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)

## Also known for

- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), Louie
- *Young Sheldon* (2017), Vern
- *NCIS* (2003), Bud
- *American Dad!* (2005), Judge (voice)
- *Stargate SG-1* (1997), Colonel Kennedy, Young Doctor
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), Clock King (voice)
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), Grandpa Stein
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), Leon

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/alan-rachins