Jon Cypher, an American actor, was born on January 13, 1932, in New York City. He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1949 and Brooklyn College in 1953. Cypher made his television debut as the Prince in the original 1957 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring alongside Julie Andrews in the title role.
He is particularly renowned for his portrayal of Chief of Police Fletcher Daniels in the acclaimed television series Hill Street Blues, a role he played throughout the show's lifetime from 1981 to 1987. Cypher also appeared as Commanding General Marcus Craig on the television show Major Dad, alongside Gerald McRaney and Beverly Archer, and as Howard Millhouse in the short-lived television series Probe.
Additionally, he is well-known for his roles as Dr. Alex Keith on As the World Turns (1977-1979) and Dr. Arthur Donelly on Santa Barbara (1988-1989). His other television credits include recurring roles as Belson in The F.B.I., Dirk Maurier in Dynasty, Eric Brandon in Marcus Welby, M.D., and Jeff Munson in Knots Landing. Cypher also provided the voice of comic villain Spellbinder in the animated television series Batman Beyond.
On the big screen, Cypher made his film debut as the villain Frank Tanner in the 1971 Western Valdez Is Coming, opposite Burt Lancaster and Susan Clark. He has since appeared in films periodically up until the late 1990s, mostly in featured character parts.
Cypher has also had an active career on the stage, appearing in both musicals and plays. He made his Broadway debut as Wister LaSalle in the original 1959 production of Harvey Breit's The Disenchanted. He returned to Broadway in 1962 to replace Patrick O'Neal as the Reverend T. Lawrence Shannon in the original production of Tennessee Williams's The Night of the Iguana. Cypher portrayed the role of Dr. Carrasco in the original 1965 cast of Man of La Mancha, later taking over the role of Don Quixote.
He also performed the role of Bert Jefferson in the original musical Sherry! by James Lipton and Laurence Rosenthal in 1967. Cypher's other Broadway credits include The Great White Hope, 1776, Coco, and Big: the musical.
