Biography: Ken Howard stars as a world-wise ex-cop in "Crossing Jordan," but is perhaps best known for his memorable performance as a streetwise teacher in the classic drama "The White Shadow" – a role he "re-created" in real life as a master class teacher at the American Repertory Theatre Institute and also as an instructor at Harvard University and Harvard Law School.

The Tony Award-winning Howard ("Child’s Play") created a master class in acting at the American Repertory Theatre Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and taught an undergraduate lecture course at Harvard as well as another in oral argument at Harvard Law School.

A native of Manhasset, New York (a suburb of New York City), Howard was captain of the Amherst College basketball team and an aspiring performer who was encouraged before he gained his bachelor of arts degree to apply to the Yale School of Drama by the head of the theater department. In 1968 – two years into the three-year program at Yale – he accepted a small but notable role on Broadway in Neil Simon’s "Promises, Promises." He then originated the role of Thomas Jefferson in the Tony-winning musical "1776" and received a Theatre World award. He later earned a Tony for his work as a young gym coach at a Catholic boys school in "Child’s Play," and over his career has starred on Broadway in "See Saw," "The Norman Conquests," "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" (as the President) and "Rumors." He also earned acclaim for his performance as psychiatrist Martin Dysart in the national tour of "Equus."

Howard attracted even more attention for his feature-film debut "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon" opposite Liza Minnelli in 1970. Later in the decade, he starred in the TV series "Adam’s Rib" and "The Manhunter," but by the late 1970s, he was firmly established in the public’s mind as Coach Reeves on "The White Shadow," a series which he co-created based on his own experience as the only white player on his high school basketball team. In the following years, he also was a regular cast member on the series "It’s Not Easy," "The Colbys" and "Dynasty."

Among Howard’s other TV credits are the miniseries "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town," "The Thorn Birds," "Rage of Angels," "Op Center," "Mastergate" and "Memories of Midnight." His TV movies include "Damien, the Leper Priest," "Victims," "He’s Not Your Son," "The Country Girl" and "Murder in New Hampshire." His film credits also include "1776" (re-creating his stage role), "Such Good Friends," "Clear and Present Danger," "The Net" and "At First Sight." As the voice of books-on-tape, including 20 bestsellers, he won an Emmy for on-camera narration for "Facts for Boys: The Body Human."

Howard feels comfortable with his retired cop alter ego, which he describes as "smart, eccentric, intuitive and lovable." He adds, "I’ve spent so many years of my life in Massachusetts – at Amherst, the Williamstown Theatre and at Harvard -- and I’ve always been fond of the folks in and around Boston."

Howard resides in Malibu, California with his wife, stuntwoman Linda Howard.

His birthday is March 28.

Television Credits:
Crossing Jordan as Max Cavannaugh (2001)
Family Law" (1999) playing "Reardon" in episode: "Film at Eleven" (episode # 2.12) 1/15/2001
Perfect Murder, Perfect Town" (2000) (mini) TV Series .... Alex Hunter
"Practice, The" (1997) playing "Mr. Bradford" in episode: "Race Ipsa Loquitor" (episode # 4.15) 2/20/2000 "West Wing, The" (1999) playing "Mr. Harrison" in episode: "Short List, The" (episode # 1.9) 11/24/1999 "Melrose Place" (1992) playing "Mr. George Andrews" in episode: "Fiddling on the Roof" (episode # 7.15) 11/16/1998 "Practice, The" (1997) playing "Senator" in episode: "Hide and Seek" (episode # 2.11) 11/29/1997 "Melrose Place" (1992) playing "Mr. Andrews" in episode: "Desperately Seeking Samantha" (episode # 6.5) 10/20/1997 "Diagnosis Murder" (1993) playing "David Clarke" in episode: "Slam-Dunk Dead" (episode # 5.5) 10/16/1997 "Melrose Place" (1992) playing "Mr. George Andrews" in episode: "Escape From L.A." (episode # 5.15) 1/13/1997 "Melrose Place" (1992) playing "Mr. George Andrews" in episode: "Nice Work If You Can Get It" (episode # 5.10) 11/25/1996 "Diagnosis Murder" (1993) playing "Special Agt. Dunleavy" in episode: "Murder Can Be Contagious" (episode # 4.2) 9/26/1996 "Client, The" (1995) playing "Charlie Braxton" in episode: "Money Talks" (episode # 1.20) 4/16/1996 "Cape, The" (1996) playing "Congressman Woods" "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Matt Kinkaid" in episode: "Death in Hawaii" (episode # 11.4) 10/16/1994 "Melrose Place" (1992) playing "Mr. George Andrews" in episode: "It's A Bad World After All" (episode # 3.2) 9/19/1994 "One West Waikiki" (1994) playing "Ronald Markham" in episode: "'Til Death Do Us Part" (episode # 1.1) 8/4/1994 "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992) playing "Hartness" in episode: "See No Evil" (episode # 1.56) 2/24/1993 "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Maxwell Hagen" in episode: "Mole, The" (episode # 9.3) 10/4/1992
What Happened?" (1992) TV Series .... Host "Memories of Midnight" (1991) (mini) TV Series .... Kirk Reynolds ... aka "Sidney Sheldon's Memories of Midnight" (1991) (mini) (USA: complete title)
Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story (1991) (TV) .... Bill Smart
Golden Girls, The" (1985) playing "Jerry" in episode: "Commitments, The" (episode # 7.16) 1/25/1992
"Dream Girl, U.S.A." (1986) TV Series .... Himself
"Hitchhiker, The" (1983) in episode: "Homecoming" (episode # 6.2) 1990 "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Bill Boyle" in episode: "Jack and Bill" (episode # 6.5) 10/29/1989 "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Hank Shipton" in episode: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Pt. 2" (episode # 5.22) 5/21/1989 "Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Hank Shipton" in episode: "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Pt. 1" (episode # 5.21) 5/14/1989
Colbys, The" (1985) TV Series .... Garrett Boydston (1985-1986) ... aka "Dynasty II: The Colbys" (1985) (original title) (first four episodes title) "Dynasty" (1981) TV Series .... Garrett Boydston (1985-1986)
It's Not Easy" (1983) TV Series .... Jack Long "Thorn Birds, The" (1983) (mini) TV Series .... Rainer Hartheim
White Shadow, The" (1978) TV Series .... Ken Reeves
Manhunter, The" (1974) TV Series .... Dave Barrett
Adam's Rib" (1973) TV Series .... Adam Bonner
Bonanza in episode: "The Twenty-Sixth Grave" (original airdate: 10/31/1972)