Celebrity Nooz: Michael Ontkean

Michael Ontkean (Actor) - Slap Shot

Updated: 6/19/23

Name: Michael Ontkean

Birth Name: Michael Leonard Ontkean

Born: January 24, 1946 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Claim To Fame: Michael Ontkean is a retired Canadian actor best known for playing Officer Willie Gillis on the crime drama series The Rookies from 1972 to 1974, followed by lead roles in the hockey sports comedy film Slap Shot (1977), and as Sheriff Harry S. Truman on David Lynch's Twin Peaks (1990-1991).

Family Life: Ontkean was married to Frances E. Knight from 1971 to 1980. He then married Jamie Smith-Jackson in 1987, an actress and design director; together they have a daughter, Sadie Sapphire Ontkean, and a stepdaughter, Jenna Millman.

Info: The son of Muriel, an actress, and Leonard Ontkean, a boxer and actor.

He attended St. Michael's Choir School and Holy Rosary Catholic School before attending St. Michael's College School.

Earned a hockey scholarship to the University of New Hampshire; in his three years on the varsity program, Ontkean scored 63 goals and 111 points in 85 games played.

Trivia: He was a child actor in Vancouver, appearing on the Canadian television series Hudson's Bay (1959).

His break was in the ABC series The Rookies (1972-1976), in which he played Officer Willie Gillis for the first two seasons; he was replaced by actor Bruce Fairbairn.

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 1982, Ontkean gain attention for playing a married man who comes to terms with his homosexuality in the film Making Love. The film reunited Ontkean with Kate Jackson; the two had previously co-starred together in The Rookies.

Ontkean appeared as Sheriff Harry S. Truman in David Lynch and Mark Frost's Twin Peaks (1990-1991).

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.

He had a supporting role in the 2011 film The Descendants, which was his last role to date before he decided to retire from acting.

Ontkean was approached to reprise his role as Sheriff Truman for the 2017 revival of Twin Peaks. Ultimately, he did not return and role was replaced with Robert Forster playing Sheriff Truman's brother Frank. Forster was initially David Lynch's first choice to play Harry Truman in 1990.

Where Are They Now: Ontkean retired from acting back in 2011. I don't expect him to come back to the screen, but you never know.

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