Joe Beaudoin Jr.: initial creation

2026-06-08T04:05:30Z

initial creation

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{{Cast Data
| image=John Steadman.jpg
| size= 200px
| character= [[John Steadman]]
| series= 1980
| born_month= 10
| born_day= 10
| born_year= 1927
| death_month= 6
| death_day= 6
| death_year= 2005
| nationality= US
| imdb= 0253020
| sortkey= Elcar, Dana
}}

'''Dana Elcar''' (born Ibson Dana Elcar;<ref group="footnotes" name="birthname_ibson_ibsen">The Television Academy obituary and the ''Santa Paula Times'' obituary both give the birth name as "Ibson Dana Elcar." The ''Playbill'' obituary records it as "Ibsen Dana Elcar." "Ibson" is used here, as it appears in two independent contemporaneous sources.</ref> October 10, 1927 – June 6, 2005) was an American actor who portrayed [[John Steadman]], a water-hoarding rancher, in the [[Galactica 1980|''Galactica 1980'']] episode "[[Space Croppers]]".<ref group="external" name="imdb_spacecroppers_fullcredits_elcar">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0585500/fullcredits/#:~:text=Dana%20Elcar%20%C2%B7%20John%20Steadman|title=Galactica 1980: Space Croppers – Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Over a career spanning five decades, he accumulated more than 150 television and film credits.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_career_150">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=appeared%20in%20more%20than%20150%20television%20productions%20and%20feature%20films%20in%20a%20career%20that%20spanned%20more%20than%2050%20years|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He is best known for playing Pete Thornton, director of operations at the Phoenix Foundation, in the ABC adventure series ''[[w:MacGyver (1985 TV series)|MacGyver]]'' (1985–1992).<ref group="external" name="seattletimes_elcar_macgyver_role">{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/macgyver-co-stars-career-spanned-tv-films-and-stage/#:~:text=MacGyver%20ran%20on%20ABC%20from%201985%20to%201992.%20Mr.%20Elcar%20played%20the%20best%20friend%20and%20boss%20of%20the%20title%20character|title='MacGyver' co-star's career spanned TV, films and stage|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=11 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Stage ===

The son of Danish immigrants, Elcar was born in [[w:Ferndale, Michigan|Ferndale, Michigan]].<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_birth_michigan">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=son%20of%20Danish%20immigrants%2C%20Ibson%20Dana%20Elcar%20was%20born%20October%2010%2C%201927%2C%20in%20Ferndale%2C%20Michigan|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> At the [[w:University of Michigan|University of Michigan]], where he played linebacker on the football team, he founded the Ann Arbor Theater.<ref group="external" name="santapaulatimes_elcar_ann_arbor_lb">{{cite web|url=http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/archivestory.php/aid/9052/Dana_Elcar:_SPTC_founder,_noted_character_actor,_director_passes_away.html#:~:text=founded%20the%20Ann%20Arbor%20Theater%20while%20attending%20the%20University%20of%20Michigan%2C%20where%20the%206%20foot%202%20inch%2C%20250%20pounder%20was%20a%20linebacker|title=Dana Elcar: SPTC founder, noted character actor, director passes away|author=Kelly, Peggy|publisher=Santa Paula Times|date=10 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He joined the [[w:United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] in 1948<ref group="external" name="imdb_elcar_trivia_navy">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0253020/trivia/#:~:text=Joined%20the%20U.S.%20Navy%20in%201948|title=Dana Elcar – Trivia|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> and in the early 1950s moved to [[w:New York City|New York City]], driving a taxi while studying drama with [[w:Sanford Meisner|Sanford Meisner]] at the [[w:Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre|Neighborhood Playhouse]].<ref group="external" name="santapaulatimes_elcar_meisner_cab">{{cite web|url=http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/archivestory.php/aid/9052/Dana_Elcar:_SPTC_founder,_noted_character_actor,_director_passes_away.html#:~:text=moved%20to%20New%20York%20City%20where%20he%20studied%20under%20the%20famed%20Sanford%20Meisner%20at%20the%20Neighborhood%20Playhouse%2C%20driving%20a%20cab%20to%20support%20his%20studies|title=Dana Elcar: SPTC founder, noted character actor, director passes away|author=Kelly, Peggy|publisher=Santa Paula Times|date=10 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

His early New York stage career included the original American productions of [[w:Harold Pinter|Harold Pinter]]'s ''[[w:The Dumb Waiter|The Dumb Waiter]]'' and ''[[w:The Caretaker (play)|The Caretaker]]'', [[w:Dylan Thomas|Dylan Thomas]]'s ''[[w:Under Milk Wood|Under Milk Wood]]'', and [[w:Samuel Beckett|Samuel Beckett]]'s ''[[w:Waiting for Godot|Waiting for Godot]]''.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_offbroadway_pinter">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=first%20American%20productions%20of%20Harold%20Pinter%27s%20The%20Dumb%20Waiter%20and%20The%20Caretaker%2C%20Dylan%20Thomas%27%20Under%20Milk%20Wood%20and%20Samuel%20Beckett%27s%20Waiting%20for%20Godot|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He also appeared in ''[[w:Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' opposite [[w:George C. Scott|George C. Scott]] and in several [[w:Phoenix Theatre (New York)|Phoenix Theatre Company]] productions, including ''[[w:Androcles and the Lion|Androcles and the Lion]]''.<ref group="external" name="playbill_elcar_stage_scott_phoenix">{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/dana-elcar-actor-of-stage-and-macgyver-is-dead-at-77-com-126463#:~:text=Richard%20III%20opposite%20George%20C.%20Scott%20and%20several%20Phoenix%20Theatre%20Company%20productions%2C%20including%20Androcles%20and%20the%20Lion|title=Dana Elcar, Actor of Stage and "MacGyver," Is Dead at 77|author=Simonson, Robert|publisher=Playbill|date=13 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

Elcar made his Broadway debut in 1955 in [[w:Roald Dahl|Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[w:The Honeys|The Honeys]]'', opposite [[w:Hume Cronyn|Hume Cronyn]] and [[w:Jessica Tandy|Jessica Tandy]].<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_broadway_debut_honeys">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=Broadway%20debut%20in%201955%20in%20Roald%20Dahl%27s%20The%20Honeys%2C%20opposite%20Hume%20Cronyn%20and%20Jessica%20Tandy|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> His subsequent Broadway credits included ''Good as Gold'' (1957), ''Semi-Detached'' (1960), and ''A Murderer Among Us'' (1964). In 1964 he served as understudy to [[w:Alec Guinness|Alec Guinness]] in ''[[w:Dylan (play)|Dylan]]'' and to [[w:Jason Robards|Jason Robards]] in [[w:Eugene O'Neill|Eugene O'Neill]]'s ''[[w:Hughie|Hughie]]''.<ref group="external" name="playbill_elcar_broadway_understudies_guinness">{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/dana-elcar-actor-of-stage-and-macgyver-is-dead-at-77-com-126463#:~:text=understudy%20to%20two%20famous%20performances%3A%20Alec%20Guinness%20as%20poet%20Dylan%20Thomas%20in%201964%27s%20Dylan%3B%20and%20Jason%20Robards%20as%20the%20title%20character%20in%20Eugene%20O%27Neill%27s%20Hughie|title=Dana Elcar, Actor of Stage and "MacGyver," Is Dead at 77|author=Simonson, Robert|publisher=Playbill|date=13 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

After moving to [[w:Los Angeles|Los Angeles]] in 1968,<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_la_move_1968">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=After%20moving%20to%20Los%20Angeles%20in%201968|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Elcar co-founded the L.A. Actors' Theater in the mid-1970s.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_la_actors_theater">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=founded%20two%20theater%20companies%E2%80%94the%20L.A.%20Actor%27s%20Theater%20and%20the%20Santa%20Paula%20Theater%20Center|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> In 1985, with fellow actor [[w:William Lucking|William Lucking]], he co-founded the Santa Paula Theater Center in [[w:Santa Paula, California|Santa Paula, California]],<ref group="external" name="sptc_about_page_founding_1985">{{cite web|url=https://www.santapaulatheatercenter.org/about.html#:~:text=formed%20in%201985%20by%20veteran%20stage%2C%20film%20and%20TV%20actors%20Bill%20Lucking%2C%20and%20the%20late%20Dana%20Elcar|title=About – Santa Paula Theater Center|publisher=Santa Paula Theater Center|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref><ref group="footnotes" name="sptc_date_discrepancy">The Santa Paula Theater Center's own history records the founding year as 1985; the IMDb trivia page for Elcar gives 1987, which appears to correspond to the year the organization moved to its current building.</ref> serving as its artistic director for six years.<ref group="external" name="santapaulatimes_elcar_sptc_director_6yrs">{{cite web|url=http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/archivestory.php/aid/9052/Dana_Elcar:_SPTC_founder,_noted_character_actor,_director_passes_away.html#:~:text=served%20as%20its%20artistic%20director%20until%20the%20early%201990s|title=Dana Elcar: SPTC founder, noted character actor, director passes away|author=Kelly, Peggy|publisher=Santa Paula Times|date=10 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He also directed episodes of ''[[w:Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]'', ''[[w:The Rockford Files|The Rockford Files]]'', and ''MacGyver''.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_directed_episodes">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=He%20also%20directed%20episodes%20of%20Baa%20Baa%20Black%20Sheep%2C%20The%20Rockford%20Files%20and%20MacGyver|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

=== Television ===

Elcar made his television debut in 1954 in the daytime drama "A Time to Live".<ref group="external" name="playbill_elcar_tv_debut_1954">{{cite web|url=https://playbill.com/article/dana-elcar-actor-of-stage-and-macgyver-is-dead-at-77-com-126463#:~:text=debut%20on%20television%20came%20in%201954%20in%20%22A%20Time%20to%20Live|title=Dana Elcar, Actor of Stage and "MacGyver," Is Dead at 77|author=Simonson, Robert|publisher=Playbill|date=13 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> From 1966 to 1967, he played Sheriff George Patterson on the ABC gothic soap opera ''[[w:Dark Shadows|Dark Shadows]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_darkshadows_elcar_patterson_character">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059978/characters/nm0253020#:~:text=Sheriff%20Patterson|title=Dark Shadows – Dana Elcar as Sheriff Patterson|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> His 1970s television work included recurring roles in ''[[w:Baretta|Baretta]]'' (as Inspector Shiller) and ''[[w:Baa Baa Black Sheep (TV series)|Baa Baa Black Sheep]]'' (as Colonel Thomas A. Lard), as well as guest appearances on ''[[w:Gunsmoke|Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[w:Hawaii Five-O|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[w:Mannix|Mannix]]'', ''[[w:Kung Fu (TV series)|Kung Fu]]'', and ''[[w:Falcon Crest|Falcon Crest]]''.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_regular_tv_70s">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=regular%20roles%20on%20Baretta%20and%20Baa%20Baa%20Black%20Sheep%2C%20and%20appeared%20in%20guest%20spots%20on%20dozens%20of%20series%2C%20including%20The%20Defenders%2C%20Mannix%2C%20Gunsmoke|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

In 1980, Elcar guest starred as [[John Steadman]] in the [[Galactica 1980|''Galactica 1980'']] episode "[[Space Croppers]]", which aired on April 27, 1980.<ref group="external" name="imdb_spacecroppers_cast_steadman_elcar">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0585500/fullcredits/#:~:text=Dana%20Elcar%20%C2%B7%20John%20Steadman|title=Galactica 1980: Space Croppers – Full Cast & Crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

From 1985 to 1992, Elcar co-starred in all seven seasons of ''MacGyver'' as Pete Thornton, [[w:Richard Dean Anderson|Richard Dean Anderson]]'s boss and closest friend.<ref group="external" name="seattletimes_elcar_macgyver_all_seven_seasons">{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/macgyver-co-stars-career-spanned-tv-films-and-stage/#:~:text=MacGyver%20ran%20on%20ABC%20from%201985%20to%201992.%20Mr.%20Elcar%20played%20the%20best%20friend%20and%20boss%20of%20the%20title%20character%2C%20played%20by%20Richard%20Dean%20Anderson|title='MacGyver' co-star's career spanned TV, films and stage|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=11 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> After four seasons, he told producers he was losing his sight to [[w:glaucoma|glaucoma]]; rather than recasting the role, they wrote the condition into Pete Thornton's storyline.<ref group="external" name="seattletimes_elcar_glaucoma_4seasons">{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/macgyver-co-stars-career-spanned-tv-films-and-stage/#:~:text=Elcar%2C%20who%20suffered%20from%20glaucoma%2C%20told%20producers%20he%20was%20going%20blind%20after%20four%20seasons%20with%20%22MacGyver%2C%22%20so%20they%20adapted%20his%20character%20to%20match%20his%20medical%20condition|title='MacGyver' co-star's career spanned TV, films and stage|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=11 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> Anderson later recalled of the experience:

{{quote|text=At a time when I had very little business being called an actor, he made things so easy for me. It was a learning experience that was very warm and loving for all seven years.|source=[[w:Richard Dean Anderson|Richard Dean Anderson]], ''[[w:The Seattle Times|The Seattle Times]]'', June 11, 2005<ref group="commentary" name="seattletimes_anderson_quote_elcar">{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/macgyver-co-stars-career-spanned-tv-films-and-stage/#:~:text=At%20a%20time%20when%20I%20had%20very%20little%20business%20being%20called%20an%20actor%2C%20he%20made%20things%20so%20easy%20for%20me|title='MacGyver' co-star's career spanned TV, films and stage|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=11 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>}}

After ''MacGyver'' ended in 1992, Elcar continued acting despite having lost his sight entirely, subsequently playing blind characters in episodes of ''[[w:Law & Order|Law & Order]]'' and ''[[w:ER (TV series)|ER]]''.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_blind_law_er">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=played%20blind%20characters%20in%20episodes%20of%20Law%20%26%20Order%20and%20ER|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> His final screen credit was a 2002 episode of ''ER''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_elcar_final_credit_er_2002">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0253020/filmotype/actor#:~:text=ER%20(TV%20Series)|title=Dana Elcar – Filmography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

=== Film ===

Elcar's film debut came in [[w:Sidney Lumet|Sidney Lumet]]'s ''[[w:Fail Safe (1964 film)|Fail-Safe]]'' (1964).<ref group="external" name="santapaulatimes_elcar_failsafe_film_debut">{{cite web|url=http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/archivestory.php/aid/9052/Dana_Elcar:_SPTC_founder,_noted_character_actor,_director_passes_away.html#:~:text=film%20debut%20was%20in%20the%20classic%201964%20Fail%20Safe|title=Dana Elcar: SPTC founder, noted character actor, director passes away|author=Kelly, Peggy|publisher=Santa Paula Times|date=10 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He went on to appear in more than 40 films,<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_40_film_credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=eventually%20appeared%20in%20more%20than%2040|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> among them ''[[w:The Learning Tree|The Learning Tree]]'' (1969), ''[[w:The Sting|The Sting]]'' (1973) as FBI Agent Polk,<ref group="external" name="imdb_elcar_sting_polk">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253020/#:~:text=The%20Sting%20F.B.I.%20Agent%20Polk|title=Dana Elcar|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> ''[[w:2010: The Year We Make Contact|2010: The Year We Make Contact]]'' (1984) as Soviet scientist Dimitri Moisevitch,<ref group="external" name="imdb_elcar_2010_moisevitch">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0253020/#:~:text=Dimitri%20Moisevitch|title=Dana Elcar|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> and ''[[w:All of Me (1984 film)|All of Me]]'' (1984).<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_films_learning_sting">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=The%20Learning%20Tree%2C%20The%20Sting%2C%20The%20Champ%20and%20All%20of%20Me|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

== Personal life ==

Elcar settled in [[w:Santa Paula, California|Santa Paula, California]] in the mid-1980s.<ref group="external" name="santapaulatimes_elcar_santa_paula_resident">{{cite web|url=http://m.santapaulatimes.com/news/archivestory.php/aid/9052/Dana_Elcar:_SPTC_founder,_noted_character_actor,_director_passes_away.html#:~:text=resident%20of%20Santa%20Paula%20since%20the%20mid-1980s|title=Dana Elcar: SPTC founder, noted character actor, director passes away|author=Kelly, Peggy|publisher=Santa Paula Times|date=10 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He died on June 6, 2005, at Community Memorial Hospital in [[w:Ventura, California|Ventura, California]], of complications from pneumonia, aged 77.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_death_june6">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=died%20June%206%20at%20Community%20Memorial%20Hospital%20in%20Ventura%2C%20California%2C%20of%20complications%20from%20pneumonia|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref> He was survived by his companion, Thelma M. Garcia, three daughters, and a son.<ref group="external" name="televisionacademy_elcar_survivors_garcia">{{cite web|url=https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/actor-dana-elcar-dies-77-50-years-tv-and-movies#:~:text=survived%20by%20his%20companion%2C%20Thelma%20M.%20Garcia%2C%20three%20daughters%20and%20a%20son|title=Actor Dana Elcar Dies at 77: 50 Years of TV and Movies|publisher=Television Academy|date=17 June 2005|accessdate=7 June 2026}}</ref>

== Notes ==

{{reflist|group=footnotes}}

== References ==

=== External Sources ===
{{reflist|group=external}}

Dana Elcar - Revision history

Joe Beaudoin Jr.: initial creation