Dennis Dugan, who was born and raised in Wheaton, Illinois, discovered his passion for acting during his high school years. After completing his studies at Chicago’s Goodman Theater School in 1969, he made the move to New York City. There, he gained early experience performing off-Broadway in plays such as “A Man’s Man” and “The House of Blue Leaves.” By 1973, Dennis had relocated to Hollywood, where he started building his television career with appearances in episodic series and TV-movies, including “Death Race” and “The Girl Most Likely To …”, both of which aired on ABC that same year.
His feature film debut came the following year in 1974, where Dennis delivered a standout comedic performance in Jonathan Kaplan’s lighthearted drive-in classic, “Night Call Nurses.” This role marked the beginning of a string of notable appearances, including parts in “The Day of the Locust,” “Night Moves,” and “Smile” in 1975. Dennis Dugan’s career took a significant leap forward in 1976 when he played the role of Nick Nolte’s loyal best friend in the immensely popular miniseries “Rich Man, Poor Man,” which was the most-watched television event of its time on ABC.
Later that year, he took on the lead role in the NBC TV-movie “Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours,” a performance that not only showcased his talent but also introduced him to influential executive producers Stephen J. Cannell and Steven Bochco. Dennis Dugan revisited the Richie Brockelman character in episodes of NBC’s “The Rockford Files” and later in the brief 1978 spin-off series “Richie Brockelman, Private Eye,” further solidifying his presence in the television landscape.
Smile (1975), directed by Michael Ritchie, is widely regarded as Dennis Dugan’s highest rated film. On the other hand, one of his lowest rated works includes Problem Child (1990), which received a much more mixed reception from both critics and audiences alike. While Dennis Dugan has had a long and varied career in film, these two movies represent the extremes in terms of their reception and overall popularity.