Donnelly Rhodes

Donnelly Rhodes
PerformerRDM
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Portrays:	Dr. Cottle
Date of Birth:	December 4, 1937
Date of Death:	January 8, 2018
Age at Death:	80
Nationality:	CAN
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		@ BW Media
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IMDb profile

Donnelly Rhodes Henry (December 4, 1937 – January 8, 2018) was a distinguished Canadian actor who portrayed Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sherman Cottle in the Re-imagined Series of Battlestar Galactica. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rhodes became one of Canada's most recognizable character actors over a career spanning more than five decades.

Early Life and Training

Rhodes was born Donnelly Rhodes Henry on December 4, 1937, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of journalist and playwright Ann Donnelly Henry. He was the brother of actor Tim Henry and sister Loa Henry. His father Cecil Sexsmith abandoned the family early on, leaving his mother to raise the children independently.

Initially, Rhodes trained to be a park warden for the National Park Service in Manitoba before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force as an airman-mechanic. While serving in the RCAF in 1956, he joined the RCAF Station Winnipeg Drama Group, which sparked his interest in theater and ultimately led him to pursue acting as a career.

Professional Training and Early Career

After leaving the Royal Canadian Air Force, Rhodes studied at the Manitoba Theatre Centre under the guidance of renowned director John Hirsch, who encouraged him to audition for the newly established National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. Rhodes was the only Manitoban accepted into the inaugural graduating class of 1963, where he met his first wife, Martha Buhs, who adopted the stage name Henry.

His first professional stage appearance was in the Manitoba Theatre Centre's March 1958 production of Death of a Salesman, and he also served as stage manager for Rainbow Stage during the summers of 1959 and 1960. After making his professional debut as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire at the Stratford Festival, Rhodes became a contract player for Universal Pictures in Hollywood.

Career Highlights

Film and Early Television Work

Rhodes made his film debut in Gunfight in Abilene (1967), followed by a memorable supporting role as a gunslinger in the classic western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, he appeared in numerous television series including Mission: Impossible, Bonanza, Wagon Train, and Maverick.

Notable Television Roles

Rhodes achieved significant recognition for his role as the suave Phillip Chancellor Sr. on the American soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1974 to 1975, though he deliberately left the show to avoid becoming typecast in a single role. Perhaps his most beloved American television role was as the dim-witted escaped convict Dutch Leitner on the satirical series Soap from 1978 to 1981.

In Canadian television, Rhodes starred as Dr. Grant Roberts in the popular family series Danger Bay from 1985 to 1990, playing a marine veterinarian and family man. His most acclaimed Canadian television role was Detective Leo Shannon in the critically praised CBC crime drama Da Vinci's Inquest from 1998 to 2005.

Battlestar Galactica

Rhodes joined the cast of the Re-imagined Battlestar Galactica as Dr. Sherman Cottle, the chain-smoking Chief Medical Officer aboard the battlestar Galactica. Notably, Rhodes was originally one of three finalists for the role of Colonel Saul Tigh, but when that role went to Michael Hogan, the impressed producers created the recurring role of Dr. Cottle specifically for Rhodes.

Dr. Cottle became known for his gruff bedside manner, medical expertise, and his characteristic habit of smoking cigarettes in most scenes, creating a memorable and distinctive character that resonated with both fans and critics. His performance as the irascible doctor provided both medical authority and comic relief throughout the series' run from 2004 to 2009.

Awards and Recognition

Rhodes received numerous accolades throughout his distinguished career. In 2002, he won the Gemini Award for Best Actor in a Leading Dramatic Role for his performance as Detective Leo Shannon in Da Vinci's Inquest. In 2006, he was honored with the prestigious Gemini Earle Grey Award for Lifetime Achievement, recognizing his significant contributions to Canadian television.

Additional honors included recognition by the Union of British Columbia Performers with the Sam Payne Award for Lifetime Achievement in February 2009, and a star on Granville Street's Star Walk in Vancouver as part of the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Throughout his life, Rhodes maintained diverse interests beyond acting. While he enjoyed music and horses, his true passion was boats, and he often said that if he hadn't succeeded as an actor, he would have pursued a career as a naval architect. Rhodes was married four times and had two children.

Rhodes also provided voice work for the CBC Radio One space opera/comedy series Canadia: 2056, lending his distinctive voice to the role of the US president at the start of each episode.

Final Years and Death

In his later career, Rhodes continued working steadily, making guest appearances on series such as The X-Files (appearing in two different roles), Smallville, Psych, Supernatural, and the CW's Arrowverse shows including The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

Donnelly Rhodes died of cancer on January 8, 2018, at the Baillie House Hospice in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, at the age of 80. His death prompted tributes from colleagues and fans, with Battlestar Galactica co-star Tricia Helfer writing:

Rhodes made guest appearances on more than 100 television series throughout his career, establishing himself as one of Canada's most prolific and respected character actors. His legacy encompasses not only his memorable performances but also his dedication to his craft and his generous mentorship of younger actors throughout his distinguished career.

References