# Miguel Ferrer
**Miguel Ferrer** (1955 – January 19, 2017) was an American character actor known for his roles as the corporate executive Bob Morton in *RoboCop* (1987) and the abrasive FBI forensic expert Albert Rosenfield in [David Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-lynch)'s *Twin Peaks*, and for television roles on *Crossing Jordan* and *NCIS: Los Angeles*. He began his career as a professional drummer before turning to acting at 24.[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-tv-56371-story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | Born 1955 in Santa Monica, California; died January 19, 2017, of throat cancer, aged 61[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) |
| Family | Eldest son of Oscar-winning actor José Ferrer and singer Rosemary Clooney; cousin of George Clooney[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) |
| Music career | Studio drummer by his late teens; one of three drummers, including Ringo Starr, on Keith Moon's 1975 album *Two Sides of the Moon*; toured with his mother and Bing Crosby[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) |
| Breakthrough film role | Bob Morton, the executive who designed the title cyborg, in *RoboCop* (1987)[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) |
| Signature TV role | FBI Agent Albert Rosenfield in *Twin Peaks* (ABC, 1990–91), *Fire Walk with Me* (1992), and the 2017 revival[5](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/Miguel_Ferrer) |
| Later series regulars | Dr. Garret Macy on *Crossing Jordan* (2001–07) and Owen Granger on *NCIS: Los Angeles* (2012–17)[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) |
| Voice work | Shan Yu, the Hun leader, in Disney's *Mulan* (1998)[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001208/fullcredits) |
## Family and early life
Ferrer was born in [Santa Monica, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-monica-california), into what the *Guardian* obituary calls Hollywood royalty. His father, [José Ferrer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jose-ferrer), won the best-actor Oscar in 1951 for *Cyrano de Bergerac*; his mother was [Rosemary Clooney](https://www.edgepedia.org/rosemary-clooney), one of America's foremost popular singers, and George Clooney is his cousin.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) His parents' marriage was tumultuous; they divorced twice, and Ferrer described feeling lost in the face of their drinking and arguing.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary)
**Music came first.** His father's talent intimidated him, so he went into music rather than acting. He was drawn to the drums as a child after seeing Little Ricky play them on *I Love Lucy* and [Ringo Starr](https://www.edgepedia.org/ringo-starr) perform with the Beatles on *The Ed Sullivan Show*.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) A professional musician by his late teens, he was chosen as one of three drummers, including Ringo Starr, to perform on [Keith Moon](https://www.edgepedia.org/keith-moon)'s 1975 solo album *Two Sides of the Moon*, and he toured with his mother and with [Bing Crosby](https://www.edgepedia.org/bing-crosby), her *White Christmas* co-star, on her mid-1970s tour.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) • [1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) "I played with her from about the time I was 18, and I conducted for her many times, too," he told the Cincinnati Enquirer in 2002.[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html)
The stigma of receiving special treatment as the son of a famous actor was enough to make him hold off from acting until he was 24.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-tv-56371-story.html) His friend and band mate Billy Mumy, best remembered as [Will Robinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-robinson) on *Lost in Space*, talked him into his first role, playing a drummer in an episode of the NBC sitcom *Sunshine* in 1975.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) • [7](https://sagaftra.foundation/programs/386/?form=SAFMembers)
## Film career
Ferrer's first major film role was the one that defined his screen persona: Bob Morton in [Paul Verhoeven](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-verhoeven)'s *RoboCop* (1987), the arrogant, ambitious young OCP executive who designed the title cyborg and whose success angers his in-house rival Dick Jones.[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) • [8](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/robocop) Critics described the character as a coke-snorting corporate punk, and the role made his reputation as a scene-stealer.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) Before it, he had appeared in small parts including a first officer in *Star Trek III: The Search for Spock* (1984); ironically, his first television role, in *Magnum, P.I.* in 1981, had cast him as his own father's younger self.[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary)
**Character work rather than leads.** After *RoboCop* he worked primarily as a character actor, specializing in cranky or seamy types and over-the-top, obsessive villains.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) He achieved leading man status only once, in the little-seen independent thriller *The Harvest* (1993), playing a hack screenwriter involved in a Mexican body-parts racket; his co-star Leilani Sarelle became his first wife.[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) His other films included *Hot Shots! Part Deux* (1993), [Steven Soderbergh](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-soderbergh)'s *Traffic* (2000), in which he played a drug dealer, [John Sayles](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-sayles)'s *Sunshine State* (2002) and *Silver City* (2004), [Jonathan Demme](https://www.edgepedia.org/jonathan-demme)'s remake of *The Manchurian Candidate* (2004), and *Iron Man 3* (2013), in which he portrayed the vice president.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [9](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/miguel-ferrer-a-star-of-ncis-los-angeles-crossing-jordan-dies-at-61/2017/01/19/5a1403aa-de95-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html) • [10](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/news/miguel-ferrer-obituary-authority-figure-with-comic-book-edge)
## Television
Television was where Ferrer did his main work. In 1990 he scored his signature role as FBI Agent Albert Rosenfield, the foul-tempered forensics expert, on David Lynch and [Mark Frost](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-frost)'s *Twin Peaks* (ABC, 1990–91), and he reprised the character in the feature *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me* (1992).[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer) He had previously worked with Mark Frost on an episode of *Hill Street Blues*, and in 1991 he starred in Frost and Lynch's short-lived series *On the Air* as Bud Budwaller.[5](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/Miguel_Ferrer) In 1990 and 1991, besides *Twin Peaks*, he carried recurring roles in two other series simultaneously, as a DA in *Shannon's Deal* and a Louisiana cop in *Broken Badges*.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary)
**Series regular roles.** He was [Jill Hennessy](https://www.edgepedia.org/jill-hennessy)'s acerbic boss, chief medical examiner Dr. Garret Macy, on NBC's *Crossing Jordan* from 2001 to 2007, and directed four episodes of the series.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) He played the gruff boss of [Michelle Ryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/michelle-ryan)'s character in the 2007 *Bionic Woman* series, and from 2012 until his death he was Owen Granger, the assistant director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, on CBS's *NCIS: Los Angeles*.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) Guest and recurring appearances ranged across *Hill Street Blues*, *T.J. Hooker*, *Miami Vice*, *Will & Grace*, *Desperate Housewives*, and *Psych*.[10](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/news/miguel-ferrer-obituary-authority-figure-with-comic-book-edge) • [11](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/miguel-ferrer) At the time of his death he had filmed the first episode of the *Twin Peaks* revival for Showtime, in which his performance was broadcast posthumously in 2017.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [5](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/Miguel_Ferrer)
## Voice work
Ferrer became a popular voiceover artist. He voiced the ruthless Hun leader Shan Yu in Disney's animated *Mulan* (1998) and went on to voice many animated superhero characters, the series *Jackie Chan Adventures*, and films such as *Rio 2* (2014); he also voiced Death in *Adventure Time*.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary) • [6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001208/fullcredits) In the comic book *Spider-Man 2099*, the hero's alter ego, Miguel O'Hara, was named after him.[3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary)
## Death
Ferrer died of throat cancer on January 19, 2017, at his home in Los Angeles, aged 61.[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) • [9](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/miguel-ferrer-a-star-of-ncis-los-angeles-crossing-jordan-dies-at-61/2017/01/19/5a1403aa-de95-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html) *Twin Peaks* co-creator Mark Frost wrote on Twitter, "Great talent, better man. Working & writing for him was a highlight in every part of my life."[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) His cousin George Clooney issued a statement saying that "Miguel made the world brighter and funnier."[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) He was survived by his second wife, the producer Lori Weintraub, two sons, Lukas and Rafi, from his first marriage, which ended in divorce, and two stepsons.[1](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html) • [3](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary)
## References
1. [Miguel Ferrer, star of 'RoboCop,' 'NCIS: Los Angeles' and 'Twin Peaks,' dies at 61, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-miguel-ferrer-obituary-20170119-story.html)
2. [Focus: Catching the Acting Gene, Los Angeles Times (1994)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-10-30-tv-56371-story.html)
3. [Miguel Ferrer obituary, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/jan/23/miguel-ferrer-obituary)
4. [Miguel Ferrer Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/miguel_ferrer)
5. [Miguel Ferrer, Twin Peaks Wiki](https://twinpeaks.fandom.com/wiki/Miguel_Ferrer)
6. [Miguel Ferrer full credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001208/fullcredits)
7. [Miguel Ferrer from "Traffic" and NBC's hit drama "Crossing Jordan", SAG-AFTRA Foundation](https://sagaftra.foundation/programs/386/?form=SAFMembers)
8. [Robocop, Reelviews Movie Reviews](https://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/robocop)
9. [Miguel Ferrer, a star of 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' 'Crossing Jordan,' dies at 61, The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/miguel-ferrer-a-star-of-ncis-los-angeles-crossing-jordan-dies-at-61/2017/01/19/5a1403aa-de95-11e6-ad42-f3375f271c9c_story.html)
10. [Miguel Ferrer obituary: an authority figure with a comic-book edge, Sight and Sound, BFI](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/news/miguel-ferrer-obituary-authority-figure-with-comic-book-edge)
11. [Miguel Ferrer, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/miguel-ferrer)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Ev to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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