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| {{Cast Data | | {{Cast Skeleton|Liam|Sullivan|TOS}} |
| | image=TOS - Actor - Liam Sullivan.jpg | |
| | character=[[Planner]] (uncredited)
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| | series=TOS
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| | born_month=05
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| | born_day=18
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| | born_year=1923
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| | death_month=04
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| | death_day=19
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| | death_year=1998
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| | nationality=US
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| | imdb=0838217
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| | sortkey=Sullivan, Liam
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| | image2=Planner.jpg}}
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| '''William E. Liam Sullivan''' (18 May 1923―19 April 1998) was an American actor and singer, professionally credited as '''Liam Sullivan'''. He portrayed the primary [[Planner]], a [[Theta|Theta-class lifeform]], in {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II|prose=y}}, a role for which he was uncredited but later identified through computer-aided facial recognition.
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| Sullivan's television career spanned 46 years across more than 115 productions.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_filmography">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/|title=Liam Sullivan|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> His Romanesque features and precisely modulated voice made him ideally suited to portray smoothly roguish, arrogant or cynical characters, particularly in genre television.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_biography_features">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=his%20Romanesque%20features%20and%20precisely%20modulated%20voice%20ideally%20suited%20to%20smoothly%20roguish%2C%20arrogant%20or%20cynical%20gents|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> Sullivan's most notable genre television appearances include ''[[w:The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'', ''[[w:Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek: The Original Series]]'', ''[[w:Logan's Run (TV series)|Logan's Run]]'', ''[[w:Lost in Space|Lost in Space]]'', and ''[[w:Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)|Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea]]''.
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| == Early life and education ==
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| Sullivan was born William Edward Sullivan on 18 May 1923 in Jacksonville, Illinois.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_birth_info">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan%20was%20schooled%20at%20Illinois%20College|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> He was the son of Lee A. Sullivan Sr. (1889–1968) and Nell Sullivan (née Griffiths, 1891–1957).<ref group="external" name="findagrave_sullivan_memorial">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17088617/liam-sullivan#:~:text=Sullivan%20Family%20plot|title=Liam Sullivan (1923-1998)|publisher=Find a Grave|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> His grandfather, W.E. Sullivan (1861–1932), founded the Eli Bridge Company, which built the innovative Big Eli Ferris Wheel in Jacksonville in May 1900.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_eli_bridge">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=compiling%20a%20biographical%20history%20of%20the%20Eli%20Bridge%20Company%20who%20built%20the%20innovative%20%27Big%20Eli%27%20Ferris%20Wheel%20in%20Jacksonville%2C%20Illinois%20in%20May%201900|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> The business remained in operation within the Sullivan family throughout his lifetime.<ref group="external" name="jacksonville_journal_eli_bridge">{{cite web|url=https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/slideshow/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-Jacksonville-223148.php#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan%20is%20the%20grandson%20of%20W.E.%20Sullivan%20who%20established%20the%20Big%20Eli%20Bridge%20Company%20and%20built%20Ferris%20Wheels|title=10 things you may not know about Jacksonville actor Liam Sullivan|author=Dominic Genetti|publisher=Jacksonville Journal-Courier|date=22 June 2021|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan attended Jacksonville High School and Illinois College, where he had his first experience with acting in regional theater.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_illinois_college">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan%20was%20schooled%20at%20Illinois%20College%20while%20having%20his%20first%20fling%20with%20the%20acting%20profession%20in%20regional%20theater|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> He later studied drama at Harvard University before pursuing a professional acting career.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_harvard">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=He%20then%20studied%20drama%20at%20Harvard|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| == Career ==
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| === Stage work ===
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| Sullivan made his way to New York and first appeared on Broadway in ''The Constant Nymph'' in 1951.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_constant_nymph">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=first%20appeared%20on%20Broadway%20in%20%22The%20Constant%20Nymph%22%20in%201951|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> His Broadway career also included appearances in ''Merchant of Venice'' and the Mike Nichols production of ''The Little Foxes''.<ref group="external" name="variety_sullivan_obituary_broadway">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/news/liam-sullivan-74-1117470562/#:~:text=Sullivan%27s%20Broadway%20career%20included%20%22The%20Constant%20Wife%2C%22%20%22Merchant%20of%20Venice%22%20and%20the%20recent%20Mike%20Nichols%20production%20of%20%22The%20Little%20Foxes|title=Liam Sullivan, 74|publisher=Variety|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> He later returned to the West Coast to perform in a Los Angeles stage production of ''Mary Stuart''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_mary_stuart">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=He%20later%20returned%20to%20the%20West%20Coast%20to%20perform%20in%20an%20LA%20stage%20production%20of%20%22Mary%20Stuart%22|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| === Television ===
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| By the early 1950s, Sullivan began appearing in television roles.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_television_start">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=By%20the%20early%201950s%2C%20he%20began%20appearing%20in%20television|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> He became a familiar presence across all genres, from western to science fiction. Sullivan's only recurring television role was as Major Mapoy, the villainous cattle baron, in all 26 episodes of the ABC Western series ''The Monroes'' during the 1966–67 season.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_monroes">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/#:~:text=In%201966%E2%80%9367%20season%2C%20he%20appeared%20as%20Major%20Mapoy%20in%20all%20twenty%2Dsix%20episodes%20of%20the%20ABC%20Western%20series%20The%20Monroes|title=Liam Sullivan|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan's television credits included ''[[w:Star Trek|Star Trek]]'', ''[[w:The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]'', ''[[w:Dragnet (series)|Dragnet]]'', ''[[w:Hawaii Five-O|Hawaii Five-O]]'', ''[[w:Dallas (1978 TV series)|Dallas]]'', and ''[[w:L.A. Law|L.A. Law]]''.<ref group="external" name="variety_sullivan_tv_credits">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/news/liam-sullivan-74-1117470562/#:~:text=TV%20credits%20included%20%22Star%20Trek%2C%22%20%22Twilight%20Zone%2C%22%20%22Dragnet%2C%22%20%22Hawaii%20Five%2DO%2C%22%20%22Dallas%22%20and%20%22L.A.%20Law|title=Liam Sullivan, 74|publisher=Variety|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> Among his many television credits, two stand out as particularly memorable: his sadistic philosopher-king Parmen in the ''Star Trek'' episode "Plato's Stepchildren", and his obnoxious social-climbing upstart Jamie Tennyson in ''The Twilight Zone'' episode "The Silence", who unwisely accepts a bet for a half-million dollars that he can remain silent for a year.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_notable_roles">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=Among%20his%20many%20TV%20credits%20two%20stand%20out%20above%20all%3A%20his%20sadistic%20philosopher%2Dking%20Parmen%20from%20the%20Star%20Trek%20(1966)%20episode%20%22Plato%27s%20Stepchildren%22%2C%3B%20and%20his%20obnoxious%20social%2Dclimbing%20upstart%20Jamie%20Tennyson%20in%20%22The%20Silence%22%20(The%20Twilight%20Zone%20(1959))%20who%20unwisely%20accepts%20a%20bet%20for%20a%20half%2Dmillion%20dollars%20that%20he%20can%20remain%20silent%20for%20a%20year|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| In "Plato's Stepchildren", which aired on 22 November 1968, Sullivan played Parmen, a tyrannical leader of a small community of people with telekinetic abilities who decides he wants McCoy to stay against his will on the planet as their doctor.<ref group="external" name="imdb_star_trek_plato_cast">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708443/fullcredits/#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan,Parmen|title=Star Trek: Plato's Stepchildren - Full cast & crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> The episode is historically significant for featuring television's first scripted interracial kiss between Captain [[Memoryalpha:James T. Kirk|Kirk]] and Lieutenant [[Memoryalpha:Uhura|Uhura]].
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| Sullivan appeared in another ''Twilight Zone'' episode, "The Changing of the Guard", in which he played the Headmaster who must deliver news to an aging teacher played by [[w:Donald_Pleasence|Donald Pleasence]].<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_twilight_zone_headmaster">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=Liam%20appeared%20in%20another%20Twilight%20Zone%20episode%2C%20%22The%20Changing%20of%20the%20Guard%22%2C%20but%20this%20time%20was%20overshadowed%20by%20Donald%20Pleasence|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| In the ''Dragnet'' episode "The Big Prophet" (1968), Sullivan as his character Brother William, a thinly disguised portrayal of Timothy Leary, held forth for the entire half-hour on the benefits of LSD and marijuana while Joe Friday argued the opposing view.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_dragnet_brother_william">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/#:~:text=In%20the%20Dragnet%20episode%20%22The%20Big%20Prophet%22%20(1968)%2C%20Sullivan%20as%20his%20character%20Brother%20William%20(a%20thinly%20disguised%20portrayal%20of%20Timothy%20Leary)%20held%20forth%20for%20the%20entire%20half%2Dhour%20on%20the%20benefits%20of%20LSD%20and%20marijuana%20while%20Joe%20Friday%20argued%20the%20opposing%20view|title=Liam Sullivan|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan's other science fiction television appearances included playing Nexus in the ''Lost in Space'' episode "His Majesty Smith", scientist Anthony Sterling in the ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' episode "Leviathan", and an appearance in the ''Logan's Run'' television series.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_scifi_appearances">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/#:~:text=He%20portrayed%20Patrick%20Henry%20in%20the%20Daniel%20Boone%20episode%20%22Love%20and%20Equity%22%2C%20scientist%20Anthony%20Sterling%20in%20the%20Voyage%20to%20the%20Bottom%20of%20the%20Sea%20episode%20%22Leviathan%22%2C%20Nexus%20in%20the%20Lost%20in%20Space%20episode|title=Liam Sullivan|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan often portrayed villains throughout his acting career. He once stated: "Playing truly evil people is a great way to release tension and anger and disgust with humanity. Show bad people what they really look and act like and maybe they'll recognize themselves and change. Who knows?"<ref group="commentary" name="imdb_sullivan_villain_quote">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=Playing%20truly%20evil%20people%20is%20a%20great%20way%20to%20release%20tension%20and%20anger%20and%20disgust%20with%20humanity.%20Show%20bad%20people%20what%20they%20really%20look%20and%20act%20like%20and%20maybe%20they%27ll%20recognize%20themselves%20and%20change.%20Who%20knows%3F|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| === Film ===
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| Sullivan's film work included ''[[w:The Magic Sword (1962 film)|The Magic Sword]]'' (1962), ''[[w:In the Cool of the Day|In the Cool of the Day]]'' (1963), ''[[w:One Man's Way|One Man's Way]]'' (1964), ''[[w:Major Dundee|Major Dundee]]'' (1965) with Charlton Heston, and ''[[w:That Darn Cat! (1965 film)|That Darn Cat!]]'' (1965) as FBI Agent Graham.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_films">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/#:~:text=He%20appeared%20in%20films%20such%20as%20That%20Darn%20Cat!%20(1965)%20as%20Graham%20and%20The%20Magic%20Sword%20(1962)|title=Liam Sullivan|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| === ''Battlestar Galactica'' ===
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| In 1978, Sullivan portrayed the primary [[Planner]]—a [[Theta|Theta-class lifeform]]—in the ''[[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' episode {{OS|The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II|prose=y}}, which aired on 29 October 1978.<ref group="production" name="bsg_wiki_gun_ice_planet_cast">{{cite web|url=https://en.battlestarwiki.org/The_Gun_on_Ice_Planet_Zero,_Part_II#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan%20as%20Planner%20(uncredited)|title=The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II|publisher=Battlestar Wiki|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> His role was uncredited in the original broadcast and was only identified decades later through computer-aided facial recognition technology employed by researchers documenting the series.<ref group="production" name="bsg_wiki_sullivan_uncredited">{{cite web|url=https://en.battlestarwiki.org/Liam_Sullivan#:~:text=a%20role%20for%20which%20he%20was%20uncredited%20but%20later%20identified%20through%20computer%2Daided%20facial%20recognition|title=Liam Sullivan|publisher=Battlestar Wiki|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Bits and pieces of Sullivan's unnamed character can be seen in the deleted scenes for this episode on both the DVD and Blu-Ray releases.<ref group="production" name="jetsmedia_sullivan_deleted_scenes">{{cite web|url=http://www.jetsmedia.ca/blog/gun-on-ice-planet-zero-50318c#:~:text=Bits%20and%20pieces%20of%20his%20(unnamed)%20character%20can%20be%20seen%20in%20the%20Deleted%20Scenes%20for%20this%20episode%20on%20both%20the%20DVD%20and%20Blu%2DRay%20releases|title=Gun on Ice Planet Zero|publisher=Jetsmedia|date=9 November 2020|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| == Final years ==
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| During the latter stages of his life, Sullivan combined acting with writing. Just prior to his death, he was working on a novel and was also in the process of compiling a biographical history of the Eli Bridge Company.<ref group="external" name="imdb_sullivan_books_writing">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838217/bio/#:~:text=During%20the%20latter%20stages%20of%20his%20life%2C%20Liam%20combined%20acting%20with%20writing%20and%2C%20just%20prior%20to%20his%20death%2C%20was%20working%20on%20a%20novel.%20He%20was%20also%20in%20the%20process%20of%20compiling%20a%20biographical%20history%20of%20the%20Eli%20Bridge%20Company|title=Liam Sullivan - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> In the months prior to his death, Sullivan had signed publishing contracts for two books.<ref group="external" name="variety_sullivan_book_contracts">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/news/liam-sullivan-74-1117470562/#:~:text=In%20the%20months%20prior%20to%20his%20death%2C%20Sullivan%20had%20signed%20publishing%20contracts%20on%20two%20books|title=Liam Sullivan, 74|publisher=Variety|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan's final screen appearance was as a Reporter in the TNT miniseries ''[[w:George Wallace (film)|George Wallace]]'' (1997), directed by [[w:John_Frankenheimer|John Frankenheimer]] and starring [[w:Gary_Sinise|Gary Sinise]] and [[w:Angelina_Jolie|Angelina Jolie]].<ref group="external" name="imdb_george_wallace_sullivan_reporter">{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0119189/fullcredits/#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan,Reporter|title=George Wallace (TV Mini Series 1997) - Full cast & crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan died of a heart attack on 19 April 1998 in Los Angeles at age 74.<ref group="external" name="variety_sullivan_death">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/news/liam-sullivan-74-1117470562/#:~:text=Liam%20Sullivan%2C%20a%20longtime%20stage%2C%20screen%20and%20television%20actor%2C%20died%20April%2019%20of%20a%20heart%20attack%20in%20Los%20Angeles.%20He%20was%2074|title=Liam Sullivan, 74|publisher=Variety|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> He was survived by a brother, a sister, three nieces and five nephews.<ref group="external" name="variety_sullivan_survivors">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/news/liam-sullivan-74-1117470562/#:~:text=He%20is%20survived%20by%20a%20brother%2C%20a%20sister%2C%20three%20nieces%20and%20five%20nephews|title=Liam Sullivan, 74|publisher=Variety|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> Memorial services were held at 2 p.m. on 17 May 1998 at the Church of Religious Science, 260 Pass Avenue, Burbank.<ref group="external" name="variety_sullivan_memorial">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1998/legit/news/liam-sullivan-74-1117470562/#:~:text=Memorial%20services%20will%20be%20held%20at%202%20p.m.%20on%20May%2017%20at%20the%20Church%20of%20Religious%20Science%2C%20260%20Pass%20Ave.%2C%20Burbank|title=Liam Sullivan, 74|publisher=Variety|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| Sullivan has a marker at Diamond Grove Cemetery in Jacksonville, Illinois, in the Sullivan family plot on the west side of Section L near the road, without an individual headstone.<ref group="external" name="findagrave_sullivan_burial">{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17088617/liam-sullivan#:~:text=Buried%20in%20the%20Sullivan%20Family%20plot%20without%20an%20individual%20marker.%20Location%20is%20on%20the%20west%20side%20of%20Section%20L%20near%20the%20road|title=Liam Sullivan (1923-1998)|publisher=Find a Grave|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref> However, cemetery personnel have indicated this may be just a marker to honor Sullivan, as records cannot be located to confirm whether he is physically interred there following his death in California.<ref group="external" name="jacksonville_journal_cemetery_uncertainty">{{cite web|url=https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/slideshow/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-Jacksonville-223148.php#:~:text=A%20marker%20for%20Liam%20Sullivan%20in%20Jacksonville%27s%20Diamond%20Grove%20Cemetery%2C%20but%20that%27s%20not%20where%20the%20story%20ends.%20It%27s%20not%20entirely%20known%20if%20Liam%20is%20physically%20buried%20here.%20Cemetery%20personnel%20said%20this%20is%20just%20a%20marker%20to%20honor%20Liam%20Sullivan.%20He%20died%20of%20a%20heart%20attack%20in%20Los%20Angeles%2C%20however%2C%20records%20cannot%20be%20located%20to%20confirm%20if%20California%20is%20his%20official%20resting%20place|title=10 things you may not know about Jacksonville actor Liam Sullivan|author=Dominic Genetti|publisher=Jacksonville Journal-Courier|date=22 June 2021|accessdate=23 January 2026}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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| === Commentary and Interviews ===
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| {{reflist|group=commentary}}
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| === Production History ===
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| {{reflist|group=production}}
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| == External Links ==
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| {{Ext-wikipedia|Liam Sullivan}}{{Ext-ma|article=Liam Sullivan}}
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| * {{findagrave|17088617|Liam Sullivan}}
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