‘Battlestar Galactica,’ ‘Law & Order’ actor dies at 81

“Law & Order” and “Battlestar Galactica” actor Harry Johnson has died. He was 81.

His wife, Christiane, confirmed the news of his death to Deadline on Thursday.

Johnson died in Los Angeles on Jan. 2 due to a long illness.

The entertainer worked in Hollywood for more than four decades, with one of his early roles being “Battlestar Galactica” in 1978.

He then appeared in several hit TV shows such as “MAS*H,” “Quincy M.E.,” “Law & Order,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Days of Our Lives” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

Additionally, Johnson had memorable cameos in “Dynasty,” “Who’s the Boss?,” “Thirtysomething,” “Melrose Place” and “Party of Five.”

In 1981, he starred with “Batman” actor Adam West in the TV film “Time Warp.”

In the 1990s, he did major voiceover work and starred in the Harry & Louise ads — commercials that opposed former president Bill Clinton’s healthcare plan.

Johnson also did other narration work on “Law & Order” for more than 20 years.

He even dipped his toes into the literary world, writing novels under the pen name Harry Castle.

He released the book “Fugitive Romance: The Fictional Memoir of a Hollywood Screenwriter” in 2013 and a short-story collection titled “Miracles & Misfits.”

He then lent his voice to the Need for Speed video game series.

Johnson was born in December 1942 in Plainfield, New Jersey, and in the 1970s and ’80s, he often was credited with the pseudonym Chip Johnson.

He was also one of the last contract players for Universal Studios.

Christiane and Johnson were married for 15 years and he had two stepchildren, Oliver and Penelope. 

She told Deadline that her late husband loved to sail and “was renowned with colleagues for his wit and habit of bringing a brightness to sets, making work a pleasure.”