Richard Anderson, 'Six Million Dollar Man' and 'Bionic Woman' Actor, Dead at 91

Richard Anderson, known to TV fans as Oscar Goldman on "The Six Million Dollar Man" (1974-1978) and "The Bionic Woman" (1976-1978) — a role that made him the first actor to play the same character on two shows simultaneously — died at 91 Thursday, Variety reports.

Anderson, a stern, handsome supporting player, made his film debut in 1947, eventually appearing in such noteworthy movies as "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949), "Forbidden Planet" (1956) and the Stanley Kubrick-directed "Paths of Glory" (1957).

A staple on TV for nearly 50 years, Anderson had recurring roles on such shows as "Perry Mason" (1964-1966), "Dan August" (1970-1971) and "Dynasty" (1986-1987), and appeared in the phenomenally rated finale of "The Fugitive" (1967), but it was his performance as unflappable government boss Oscar Goldman that earned him a place in TV history.

It was Anderson's voice, in the opening of "The Six Million Dollar Man," that uttered the memorable lines, "Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that men. Better than he was before — better, stronger, faster."

Lee Majors, who starred as Steve Austin on "The Six Million Dollar Man," told THR, "Richard became a dear and loyal friend, and I have never met a man like him. I called him Old Money. His always stylish attire, his class, calmness and knowledge never faltered in his 91 years. He loved his daughters, tennis and his work as an actor. He was still the sweet, charming man when I spoke to him a few weeks ago."

Lindsay Wagner, Jaime Summers on "The Bionic Woman," told THR, "I can't begin to say how much I have always admired and have been grateful for the elegance and loving friendship I was blessed to have with Richard Anderson."

Anderson later produced several TV films revisiting the bionic characters. He cast a young Sandra Bullock in 1989's "Bionic Showdown."