Ramon Bieri

Heavyset American character actor whose typical screen personae tended to be gruff westerners irate cops and hardboiled gangsters A decorated Korean War veteran Bieri appeared on stage from 1954 both on Death of a Salesman 1975 and offBroadway He latterly acted with the ensemble of San Diegos Old Globe Theatre notably as the tough captain in Mr Roberts 1995 On screen from 1962 as a bit part player he went on to have a prolific career as guest star of 1970s and 80s TV shows Bieri also starred in his own somewhat shortlived NBC sitcom Joes World 1979 as a Detroit house painter with five kids and assorted problems In private life he was said to have been a keen fisherman and sailor Bieri died in May 2001 in Woodland Hills from cancer at the age of 71