Jon Cypher
Biography
Biography
Jon Cypher was a popular character actor on television and the stage, periodically appearing in feature films as well. In 1957, Cypher played the role of the prince opposite Julie Andrews as Cinderella in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical of the same name which aired live on television. After that, he continued to work off-and-on in television, but established his name in theater throughout the next decade. His first big screen role was in the Burt Lancaster Western, "Valdez is Coming." Through the 1970s he appeared in a number of hit television programs, including "Police Woman," "McMillian & Wife," and "Marcus Welby, M.D.," to mention just a few. The in-demand Cypher also worked on soap operas such as "General Hospital" and "As the World Turns." His most popular and memorable role, however, was as a regular on the hit groundbreaking cop show "Hill Street Blues" as Chief Fletcher Daniels. Cypher took full advantage of his highly visible six-season run on the show, parlaying it into an array of one-off and recurring appearances on such concurrent prime-time hits as "Dallas," "Dynasty," "Knots Landing," and "Knight Rider." Over a decade later, he guested as Waylon Cox on the rough-and-tumble Chuck Norris Western adventure "Walker, Texas Ranger" before beginning to move away from the acting world in his old age.