Joe Urla
Joe Urla | |
|---|---|
 Urla (upper right) with David Schramm, David Strathairn, John Amos and Joe Grifasi in The Boys Next Door, 1987 | |
| Born | December 25, 1958 Pontiac, Michigan, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan Yale School of Drama |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse | Jayne Atkinson[1] |
Joe Urla (born December 25, 1958)[2] is an American film, stage and television actor. He is best known for playing the recurring role of Elaine Benes's co-worker Dugan in the American sitcom television series Seinfeld.
Life and career
Urla was born in Pontiac, Michigan. He attended and graduated from Pontiac Central High School. After graduating, he attended the University of Michigan.[3] He also attended the Yale School of Drama,[4] earning his master's degree.[3] He began his screen career in 1986, appearing in the CBS crime drama television series The Equalizer, starring Edward Woodward and Keith Szarabajka. The next year, he appeared in the NBC crime drama television series Miami Vice, starring Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago, Michael Talbott, Olivia Brown and Edward James Olmos. During his screen career, he appeared in stage plays such as Henry IV (as Prince Hal),[5][6] The Boys Next Door (as Barry Klemper),[7][8] Puntila and Matti, His Hired Man[1] and The Way of the World.[9]
Later in his career, in 1990, Urla starred as Officer Larry Alby in the ABC drama television series H.E.L.P., starring along with Tom Breznahan, Lance Edwards, Kim Flowers, Marjorie Monaghan, Wesley Snipes and John Mahoney.[10] He guest-starred in numerous television programs including Homicide: Life on the Street, Dave's World, Home Improvement, Matlock, Law & Order (and its spin-offs Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent), The Good Wife, The Blacklist and Spin City, and played the recurring role of Elaine Benes's co-worker Dugan in the NBC sitcom television series Seinfeld. He also appeared in films such as The Bodyguard (as Minella),[11] The Wilde Wedding, Che and Strange Days.[12]
Urla's most recent role was in the CBS police procedural television series Blue Bloods, starring Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Len Cariou and Tom Selleck.[13]
References
- ^ a b "Newlyweds form a Powerhouse partnership". Poughkeepsie Journal. Poughkeepsie, New York. July 15, 1988. p. 1D. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Joe Urla". AllMovie. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Schweiger, Alice (May 6, 1990). "'H.E.L.P' star says he owes his success to U-M". The Ann Arbor News. Ann Arbor, Michigan. p. 30. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tichenor, Mary-Jane (June 24, 1989). "Champagne, gala party open WTF's 35th season". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. p. 23. Retrieved July 23, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Tichenor, Mary-Jane (July 8, 1989). "Dark threads in 'Henry IV'". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. p. 17. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Pendleton's 'Henry IV': The center will not hold". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. July 10, 1989. p. 12. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Johnson, Malcolm (July 17, 1987). "Comedy, pathos in 'Boys': Griffin play explores lives of retarded". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. 31. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gussow, Mel (November 25, 1987). "Stage: 'Boys Net Door' at Lamb's". The New York Times. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
- ^ Kissel, Howard (May 22, 1991). "Crazed new 'World,' with nothing in it". Daily News. New York, New York. p. 373. Retrieved August 1, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 Through 2010, 2d Ed. McFarland. p. 450. ISBN 9780786486410 – via Google Books.
- ^ Willis, John (February 2000). Screen World 1993: Volume 44. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 13. ISBN 9781557831750 – via Google Books.
- ^ Brode, Douglas (October 30, 2015). Fantastic Planets, Forbidden Zones, and Lost Continents: The 100 Greatest Science-Fiction Films. University of Texas Press. p. 421. ISBN 9781477302477 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Joe Urla List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved August 1, 2025.