# Richard Burgi
**Richard Burgi** (full name Richard William Burgi, born 1958) is an American film and television actor best known for playing Detective Jim Ellison on the UPN series *The Sentinel* and [Karl Mayer](https://www.edgepedia.org/karl-mayer), Susan's ex-husband, on *Desperate Housewives*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-burgi/bio/3030000057/) His career began in New York daytime soap operas in the mid-1980s and has since ranged across primetime guest and recurring roles, made-for-television movies, and feature films.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958, Montclair, New Jersey, USA; height 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) |
| Breakout role | Det. Jim Ellison on *The Sentinel* (UPN, 1996–1999), a detective with heightened senses[3](https://thesentinel.fandom.com/wiki/Richard_Burgi) |
| Signature primetime role | Karl Mayer on *Desperate Housewives*, 45 episodes from 2004 to 2012[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) |
| Soap opera roles | Chad Rollo (*Another World*), Randy (*One Life to Live*), Glenn Harrington (*As the World Turns*), Phillip Collier (*Days of Our Lives*), Paul Hornsby (*General Hospital*, 2015–2016), Ashland Locke (*The Young and the Restless*, 2021)[4](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/) • [5](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-interview/) |
| Notable films | *Cellular* (2004), *Fun with Dick and Jane* (2005), *In Her Shoes* (2005), *Hostel: Part II* (2007), *Friday the 13th* (2009)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) |
| Awards | 1 win and 2 nominations per IMDb, including a 2015 Award of Excellence for Supporting Actor[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-burgi/bio/3030000057/) |
| Personal life | Married Liliana Lopez on February 11, 2012; two sons, Jack (born 1996) and Sam (born 2000)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) |
## Early life
Born in [Montclair, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/montclair-new-jersey), roughly 15 miles west of New York City, Burgi grew up surrounded by music: his father played drums, his mother sang, and one of his three brothers or sisters also took up drumming.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) His family was also involved in community theater, and he participated in it during his youth.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) After graduating from Montclair High School he traveled throughout Europe, and [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide)'s biography notes that he traveled across the United States and Europe working various jobs before settling down to start an acting career.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-burgi/bio/3030000057/) He has said he became an actor at age 28.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/)
## Daytime soap operas
Burgi began his acting career in the mid-1980s. In 1986 he landed his first contract role, playing Chad Rollo on NBC's *Another World*, taped at the old [Esther Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/esther-williams)/Douglas Fairbanks studios in Brooklyn; he has credited the show's ensemble environment with giving him his acting chops.[4](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/) From 1986 through 1989 he had recurring roles on two daytime staples, *Another World* and *As the World Turns*, and also appeared in one episode of *One Life to Live*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) On *As the World Turns* he played the mysterious and murderous Glenn Harrington.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/)
After moving to Los Angeles, he played Phillip Collier on NBC's *Days of Our Lives*, a character engaged to Kimberly amid her multiple-personality storyline.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) • [4](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/) He returned to daytime decades later: he played attorney and serial killer D.A. Paul Hornsby on *General Hospital* from 2015 to 2016, and in 2021 he joined *The Young and the Restless* as the wealthy, ruthless media magnate Ashland Locke.[5](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-interview/) • [7](https://www.globaltv.com/richard-burgi-talks-joining-the-young-the-restless/) His Y&R run ended in late 2021, when he said he was fired over an inadvertent violation of the show's COVID protocol, telling reporters he felt terrible about it.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/)
## Primetime television
Moving west, Burgi racked up guest appearances on shows ranging from the sitcoms *Who's the Boss?* and *Empty Nest* to dramas like *Matlock* and *The Flash*. He made his television-movie debut in *Chameleons* (NBC, 1989) and had a more substantial role as an army major in *Danielle Steel's 'Message From Nam'* (NBC, 1993).[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) He had recurring roles on *Jake and the Fatman* and the NBC sci-fi drama *Viper* (1993–1994; 1996–1999).[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/)
**First lead.** His first lead came on the short-lived CBS police drama *One West Waikiki* (1994), playing a Honolulu detective opposite [Cheryl Ladd](https://www.edgepedia.org/cheryl-ladd)'s medical examiner; Burgi recalled that the pilot ranked in the top 10.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) • [4](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/)
**The Sentinel.** He then starred for three seasons as Detective Jim Ellison on *The Sentinel* (UPN, 1996–1999), a supernatural procedural in which his character's five senses were mystically heightened after he survived 18 months in the Peruvian jungle.[3](https://thesentinel.fandom.com/wiki/Richard_Burgi) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) When the network threatened cancellation in 1998, an Internet campaign organized by fans helped win the show another season before UPN finally canceled it in 1999.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) The series was shot in Vancouver, which Burgi has described as "really magic"; his son was born there.[4](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/)
**24 and the 2000s.** In the first season of Fox's *24* (2001) he played Alan York, an imposter of a man murdered after his daughter was kidnapped.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) He had been in contention for the show's lead role, which went to [Kiefer Sutherland](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiefer-sutherland); co-creator Joel Surnow called him afterward to offer the supporting part.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/news/richard-burgi-desperately-38057/) Through the 2000s he appeared in recurring roles on *Judging Amy* as the judge's bitter ex-husband, *The District* as the captain of Internal Affairs, and *Point Pleasant*, along with guest spots on *Las Vegas*, *Chuck*, and *One Tree Hill*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/)
**Desperate Housewives.** Beginning in 2004 he played Karl Mayer, the roguish ex-husband of [Susan Mayer](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-mayer) ([Teri Hatcher](https://www.edgepedia.org/teri-hatcher)) on ABC's *Desperate Housewives*, a role he said let him display his mischievous side.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) The part began as recurring, but he joined the regular cast for the second season, and he appeared in 45 episodes between 2004 and 2012.[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) He later reunited with that show's creator, [Marc Cherry](https://www.edgepedia.org/marc-cherry), on *Devious Maids*, playing Henri, brother of Susan Lucci's character.[4](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/)
## Film work
Burgi's feature credits include the sci-fi sequel *Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation* (2004), in which he played a disillusioned Mobile Infantry captain; the action thriller *Cellular* (2004); the [Jim Carrey](https://www.edgepedia.org/jim-carrey) comedy *Fun with Dick and Jane* (2005); the [Cameron Diaz](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-diaz) comedy *In Her Shoes* (2005); [Eli Roth](https://www.edgepedia.org/eli-roth)'s *Hostel: Part II* (2007) as Todd; and the 2009 remake of *Friday the 13th*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/) Later film work includes *The Green Inferno* (2013), *No Letting Go* (2015), and *Final Frequency* (2021).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/)
## Recognition and personal life
TV Guide lists a 2015 Award of Excellence for Supporting Actor among his honors, along with nominations including a 2006 Gold Derby TV Award for Ensemble of the Year and a 2021 Soap Hub Award nomination for Favorite *The Young & The Restless* Actor.[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-burgi/bio/3030000057/) He enjoys surfing and has volunteered for environmental causes, including a 2011 celebrity surfathon benefiting Santa Monica Baykeeper and other organizations.[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-burgi/bio/3030000057/) He married Liliana Lopez on February 11, 2012, and has two sons, Jack (born 1996) and Sam (born 2000).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/)
## References
1. [Richard Burgi, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0121404/)
2. [Richard Burgi Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-burgi/bio/3030000057/)
3. [Richard Burgi, The Sentinel Wiki (Fandom)](https://thesentinel.fandom.com/wiki/Richard_Burgi)
4. [Richard Burgi dishes about his daytime and prime-time career, Soap Opera Digest (June 21, 2021)](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-dishes-about-his-daytime-and-prime-time-career/)
5. [Richard Burgi interview, Soap Opera Digest (March 24, 2021)](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/richard-burgi-interview/)
6. [Richard Burgi, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/richard-burgi/)
7. [Richard Burgi Talks Joining The Young & The Restless, Global TV (March 16, 2021)](https://www.globaltv.com/richard-burgi-talks-joining-the-young-the-restless/)
8. [Richard Burgi Is Desperately Happy, TV Guide (2005)](https://www.tvguide.com/news/richard-burgi-desperately-38057/)
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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 Br to B*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license