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Michael Tolan, born Seymour Tuchow on November 27, 1927, in Detroit, Michigan, was a swarthy, stage-trained actor. While attending Wayne State University and afterward, he performed in radio serials. He studied under acting mentor Stella Adler and appeared in classic theater productions such as "Uncle Vanya," "Candida," "The Importance of Being Earnest," "Oedipus," "Coriolanus," and "The Grass Is Always Greener." He made his Broadway debut in the 1955 George Axelrod comedy "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" This success led to prominent roles in "A Hatful of Rain," "Romanoff and Juliet," "A Majority of One," and "The Far Country."
Tolan began his film career (initially billed as Lawrence Tolan) with small ethnic roles from 1951 to 1953, including appearances in The Enforcer (1951), Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951), Fort Worth (1951), The Savage (1952), Hiawatha (1952), and Ich suche dich (1956). However, lacking opportunities to advance to leading parts, he soon left the film industry.
From the mid-1950s onward, Tolan concentrated on television, becoming a versatile actor in a wide variety of roles over many years. His distinctive voice also suited narration. After a year on The Nurses (1962), his career gained momentum. He portrayed Lazarus in the all-star Biblical epic The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), supported Dustin Hoffman on stage in "The Journey of the Fifth Horse" and appeared in the film John and Mary (1969). He was a regular cast member on The Bold Ones: The Senator (1970). His occasional film roles included a western gunfighter in Hour of the Gun (1967), an inspector in The Lost Man (1969), and doctors in The 300 Year Weekend (1971), All That Jazz (1979), and Talk to Me (1982).
Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, he frequently portrayed authoritative figures such as doctors, psychiatrists, and military officers on series including "Tarzan," "The Rat Patrol," "Mannix," "Felony Squad," "Owen Marshall," "Toma," "The F.B.I.," "Medical Center," "Cannon," "Barney Miller," "McMillan & Wife," "Kojak," "Law & Order," and "Murder, She Wrote." Additionally, he appeared as a recurring romantic interest of Mary Richards on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970).
Recognized for his well-modulated voice, Tolan narrated the acclaimed miniseries The Adams Chronicles (1976). Although his acting roles lessened during the 1980s, he occasionally appeared in guest parts. His final on-screen role was as a judge in the film Perfect Stranger (2007). He was divorced twice, had three daughters, and was briefly married to actress Rosemary Forsyth. Michael Tolan passed away on January 31, 2011, at age 85.
