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Richard Dean Anderson (born January 23, 1950) is an American actor and producer whose television work made him a household name. He began his screen career in the mid-1970s and first reached a wide audience as Dr. Jeff Webber on the daytime soap General Hospital (1976–1981). Anderson achieved international stardom as the resourceful Angus MacGyver on MacGyver (1985–1992), a role defined by inventive, non‑lethal problem solving. In 1997 he became the lead of the long-running science‑fiction series Stargate SG-1, portraying Colonel/General Jack O'Neill and anchoring the franchise through television spin‑offs and feature-length continuations. Across his career Anderson has combined leading work in drama and genre television with guest appearances, television films, and voice cameos, and has occasionally taken producing credits on projects in which he appeared.

... Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 23, 1950, Richard Dean Anderson moved into acting after time at St. Cloud State University and Ohio University. His first credited screen work dates to the 1975 short The Birthday Party, and he rose to steady visibility on television playing Dr. Jeff Webber on the soap General Hospital from 1976 to 1981. After several primetime series and TV‑movie roles, Anderson landed the lead in MacGyver (1985–1992), which made him widely recognizable for portraying a clever, gadget‑minded hero who avoided firearms. In 1997 Anderson took the role of Jack O'Neill in Stargate SG-1, staying as the series' central star through 2005 and continuing in a recurring capacity through 2007; he later reprised the character in the franchise’s direct‑to‑video films. His screen work also includes guest roles and one‑off appearances on shows such as The Simpsons and contemporary comedies. Off camera he has taken producing credits on multiple projects tied to his series work, and he has supported several charitable and environmental causes. Anderson has balanced genre stardom with selective television and feature work, remaining active in screen projects and franchise events into the 21st century. Then & Now The 1980s During the 1980s Anderson rose from steady daytime work into international stardom, first known to wide audiences as Dr. Jeff Webber on General Hospital and then as the resourceful Angus MacGyver, the lead of MacGyver (1985–1992). The MacGyver role, defined by inventive, non‑lethal problem solving, made him a household name and a distinctive action-hero figure on television. Across the decade he combined that starring work with TV movies and guest roles that broadened his profile beyond soap and primetime drama. Now (2026) As of 2026 Anderson has largely stepped back from full‑time acting, appearing only occasionally in guest spots, voice cameos and select producing roles while maintaining a lower public profile. He is chiefly remembered for making the clever, non‑violent MacGyver a pop‑culture touchstone and for anchoring the long‑running Stargate SG‑1 franchise. His legacy endures in the lasting influence those series have on genre television and the devoted fan communities they built. Career timeline 1950 Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on January 23. 1975 First credited screen work in the short film The Birthday Party (Marine Corps public information film). 1976–1981 Regular cast member on the soap opera General Hospital as Dr. Jeff Webber. 1982–1983 Starred in the CBS series Seven Brides for Seven Brothers as Adam McFadden. 1983–1984 Played Lt. Simon Adams on the CBS series Emerald Point N.A.S. 1985–1992 Breakout role as Angus MacGyver on the hit action‑adventure series MacGyver. 1994 Returned to the MacGyver character in two television movies produced after the series ended. 1997–2005 (lead); 2005–2007 (recurring) Starred as Jack O'Neill on the science‑fiction series Stargate SG-1, then reduced to a recurring role. 2006 Voiced a version of himself on the animated series The Simpsons (episode "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore"). 2008 Reprised Jack O'Neill in the franchise feature‑length films including Stargate: Continuum. Public reference sources Public biography and credit reference.Primary biography source (public packet) Public biography and credit reference.MacGyver (public profile context) Public biography and credit reference.WKRP in Cincinnati (cast context) Biographical and credit details were checked against Primary biography source (public packet), MacGyver (public profile context), WKRP in Cincinnati (cast context), Stargate Atlantis (cast overview), Ordinary Heroes (TV Movie) cast context.