Michael Ontkean
Actor

Michael Ontkean Net Worth

Michael Ontkean is a Canadian-American actor born on January 24, 1946 in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known for his role as Ned Braden in the cult classic Slap Shot (1977). He grew up playing hockey and earned a scholarship to the University of New Hampshire, where he was a standout player. After graduating, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He had his breakthrough with a lead role in the TV series The Rookies (1972). He also starred in the controversial 1982 film Making Love (1982) and had a major role in Paul Mazursky's Willie & Phil (1980). His most memorable role since the early '80s was Sheriff Harry S Truman in David Lynch's cult classic TV series Twin Peaks (1990). He continues to act while living in Hawaii with his second wife, Jamie Smith Jackson.
Michael Ontkean is a member of Actor

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actor
Birth Day January 24, 1946
Birth Place  Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Age 78 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Aquarius
Occupation Actor
Years active 1955–2011
Spouse(s) Francis Ontkean (m. 1971, div. 1980) Jamie Smith Jackson (? – present)
Children 2

💰 Net worth: $10 Million (2024)

Michael Ontkean, a renowned Canadian actor, is reported to have an estimated net worth of $10 million in 2024. With a stellar career spanning several decades, Ontkean has established himself as a talented performer in both film and television. He garnered significant recognition for his roles in various notable productions, captivating audiences with his exceptional acting skills. Throughout his career, Ontkean has captivated viewers with his versatility and ability to bring depth and nuance to his characters, earning him a reputable position in the entertainment industry.

Biography/Timeline

1959

Ontkean was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, the son of Muriel (née Cooper), an Actress, and Leonard Ontkean, a boxer and actor. He was a child actor in Vancouver and he appeared on the Canadian television series Hudson's Bay (1959). His family later relocated to Toronto, where he attended St. Michael's Choir School, Holy Rosary and later, St. Michael's College School.

1971

Ontkean began in Hollywood by guest starring in The Partridge Family in 1971, and he was a television guest player on such shows as Ironside and Longstreet, but his break was in the ABC series The Rookies (1972–1976), in which he played Officer Willie Gillis for the first two seasons.

1972

Other early movie roles included Necromancy (1972) with Orson Welles; Voices (1979) with Amy Irving; Willie & Phil (1980) with Margot Kidder; The Blood of Others (1984); The Allnighter and Maid to Order (both 1987) (the latter with Ally Sheedy); Clara's Heart (1988) with Whoopi Goldberg, and Bye Bye Blues (1989).

1977

Ontkean's hockey skill played a large role in his landing the role of Ned Braden in Slap Shot (1977), as he performed all of his on-ice shots himself. In 1979 he appeared in the first episode of Tales of the Unexpected.

1982

Making Love (1982) is about a married man who discovers his homosexuality. Ontkean was not the director's first choice for the film: Arthur Hiller had previously approached Tom Berenger, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, william Hurt and Peter Strauss to play the lead, before finally approaching Ontkean. According to Hiller, the reaction of most actors was to tell him not to even consider them for the role. The film reunited Ontkean with Kate Jackson; the two had previously co-starred together in The Rookies. Many years later, Ontkean tried to prevent clips from the film from being shown in The Celluloid Closet, a 1996 documentary about LGBT characters in film, but he was unsuccessful.

1985

Ontkean subsequently appeared in many film and television productions including Kids Don't Tell (1985) with JoBeth Williams; The Right of the People (1986); In Defense of a Married Man (1990); In a Child's Name (1991) with Valerie Bertinelli; Legacy of Lies (1992); Rapture and Vendetta II: The New Mafia (both 1993); Swann: A Mystery and The Stepford Husbands (both 1996); Summer of the Monkeys and A Chance of Snow (both 1998) (the latter again with JoBeth Williams); Bear with Me (2000), and Mrs. Ashboro's Cat (2003).

1990

Ontkean appeared as Sheriff Harry S. Truman in David Lynch and Mark Frost's Twin Peaks (1990). He filmed scenes for Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me but, like many others from the original TV series, his scenes were deleted from the final film.

2004

Ontkean had a recurring role on Fox's short-lived series North Shore in 2004, and also appeared in the 2008 comedy TV show Sophie. He also featured in the 2011 film The Descendants, which was his last role before he decided to retire from acting.

2017

Ontkean was approached to reprise his role as Sheriff Truman for the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks but declined to come out of retirement. His role was replaced by Robert Forster, playing Sheriff Truman's brother Frank.

Some Michael Ontkean images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.