David Coleman Dukes was an American character actor. He had a long career in films, appearing in 35. Dukes starred in the miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, and he was a frequent television guest star. Later in life, Dukes had recurring roles on shows such as Pauly, Sisters and Dawson's Creek.
Personal life
Dukes was born in San Francisco, California, the son of a California Highway Patrol Officer. David Dukes was the eldest of four boys: David, James, Robert and Joe Paul. He married his first wife, Carolyn McKenzie, on October 9, 1965 when he was a student at the College of Marin. Their son Shawn David Dukes was born on March 31, 1966. Dukes also had a daughter Annie by his second wife Carol Muske.
Career
Dukes' film career included 35 movies. Throughout his career, he was a television guest star, notably as the man who attempted to rape Edith Bunker on All in the Family, an advertising executive on The Jeffersons, and as a blind bully on Three's Company. During the 1980s, Dukes appeared in the dual miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance. He received an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor for his role in The Josephine Baker Story and appeared as Arthur Miller in Norma Jean & Marilyn. He was a regular on the first season of Sisters, playing the transvestite husband of oldest sister Alex. Dukes' role became a recurring character in subsequent seasons. On Dawson's Creek, he had the recurring role of Mr. McPhee, father to Jack and Andie from the second through fourth seasons. He also starred in Without a Trace as the ex-husband of Kate Nelligan.
Theater
Dukes had considerable stage experience, first appearing on Broadway in 1971. He later appeared in a revival of Molière's The School for Wives. Dukes' theatrical roles included as Dracula, Doctor Frankenstein, and Antonio Salieri in the original production of Amadeus, replacing Ian McKellen. He also replaced John Lithgow in the original production of David Henry Hwang's play M. Butterfly, and he received a Tony nomination in 1980 for best featured actor in a play for Bent. In 1998, he was one of the three characters in a London West End production of Art with Stacy Keach and George Wendt.
Audio
David Dukes recorded several audiobooks, most notably Isaac Asimov's unabridged Prelude to Foundation.
Sudden death
Dukes died of a heart attack on October 9, 2000, in Spanaway, Washington, while on location shooting the Stephen King miniseries Rose Red. Dukes is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. At the end of Season 4 Episode 7 of Dawson's Creek "You Had Me At Goodbye" which aired on November 15, 2000, and in which Dukes appeared, has an image of him with the word "In Loving Memory David Dukes 1945 - 2000".
