Silk Stalkings FAQ

THE SILK STALKINGS FAQ

The Silk Stalkings Frequently Asked Questions List

Last update: December 1996

Contributors

Diane M. DeMelo, Marcy A. Kulic, Michael F. Deaterla, Kyle J. Nolan, Julie Jarvis, Maria M. Tiongson

Overview

Welcome to the Silk Stalkings FAQ, a collection of answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the television show that airs on the USA Cable Network. Here you will find episode listings, character descriptions, actor's biographies, and other information about the show. This FAQ is a work in progress and will continue to be updated.

What is a FAQ list?

FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. However, this list is not limited to frequently asked questions, but rather *any* Silk Stalkings related questions and answers.

The FAQ may be duplicated and distributed to other networks and BBSs UNMODIFIED, with all authorship and copyright information intact. The sale of this document or use of this document in a for-profit project is expressly forbidden. Silk Stalkings is a registered trademark of Stu Segall Productions, Stephen J. Cannell Productions, the USA Cable Network and New World Distribution. The Silk Stalkings FAQ is a fan publication and is not intended to infringe upon properties held by the above.

Index

This FAQ is divided into the following parts:

1) WWW and e-mail resources

1.1 What Silk Stalkings archives are available?

2) Production Notes

2.1 Production and distribution
2.2 Air date history
2.3 Where the series is set and filmed
2.4 Why the show is called Silk Stalkings

3) About the original main characters

3.1 How Chris and Rita first met
3.2 Why Chris and Rita call each other Sam
3.3 Why golf is mentioned so often
3.4 What some of the other metaphors mean
3.5 What ever happened to Rita's brain aneurysm?
3.6 What is known about Rita's family?
3.7 What else is known about Rita
3.8 What is known about Chris's family
3.9 What else is known about Chris's background
3.10 Their car codes
3.11 Who has Rita golfed with?
3.12 Who has Chris golfed with?
3.13 Have Chris and Rita ever golfed together?
3.14 How many times have Chris and Rita been shot?
3.15 Why their relationship worked so well
3.16 What happened to Chris and Rita?
3.17 Why Chris was killed off

4) About the replacement lead characters

4.1 Who is Holly Rawlins?
4.2 Who is Michael Price?
4.3 What ever happened to Holly (Layton) and Michael (Kokotakis)?
4.4 Who are Tom Ryan and Cassandra (Cassie) St. John?

5) About the lead actors

5.1 What else has Mitzi Kapture appeared in?
5.2 What else has Rob Estes appeared in?
5.3 What episodes did Kapture and Estes direct?
5.4 Why did Mitzi Kapture and Rob Estes leave the show?
5.5 Have Tyler Layton and Nick Kokotakis appeared in anything else?
5.6 What else has Chris Potter appeared in?
5.7 What else has Janet Gunn appeared in?

6) Who were all the Captains?

6.1 Capt. Benjamin Hutchinson
6.2 Lt. Lou Hudson
6.3 Capt. Harry Lipschitz

7) About the actors who play the captains and their families

7.1 Ben Vereen
7.2 Robert Gossett
7.3 Charlie Brill
7.4 Mitzi McCall (Frannie Lipschitz)

8) What about other recurring characters?

8.1 The medical examiners
8.2 The D.A's. office
8.3 True "characters"

9) The credits of actors in recurring roles

9.1 Chuck Sloan
9.2 Lucky Lin
9.3 Danny Gans
9.4 Gina Raverra
9.5 William Anton
9.6 Dennis Paladino
9.7 John Byner
9.8 Raye Birk
9.9 Tony Nittoli
9.10 Marie Marshall
9.11 Eric Pierpoint
9.12 Kim Morgan Greene
9.13 Kate Hodge
9.14 Suanne Braun
9.15 Nancy Valens
9.16 Pat Harrington
9.17 Kristen Cloke
9.18 Chip Mayer
9.19 Krista Tesreau
9.20 Kelly Garrison
9.21 Juliette Jeffers

10) Why do the same actors appear over and over as different characters?

11) Credits of Creator Stephen J. Cannell

11.1 Cannell Bio From America On Line, January 1996

12) Executive Producer David Peckinpah

13) Producer Stuart Segall

14) Other Production Credits

15) Where can I find an Episode Guide?

16) Where to send fan mail

17) Related Publications

18) Acknowledgments

19) Contributors

20) Comments? Suggestions? Corrections?

1. WWW and E-Mail Resources

The FAQ is maintained by Kyle Nolan, please email any FAQ related info, questions, answers, corrections, comments etc to stalker@imbetterthanyou.com.

1.1 What Silk Stalkings archives are available?

As of this writing, the only archives and maintainers I know of are:

WWW:

The Stalker On-Line (maintained by Kyle J. Nolan)
http://stalker.imbetterthanyou.com/

Silk Stalkings Page (maintained by Diane M. DeMelo)
http://www.ici.net/cust_pages/ddemelo/silk.html

The USA Network Silk Stalkings Backlot
http://www.usa-network/com/content/backlot/silk.html

A number of fans aalso maintain web pages easily found via current search engines or by links from The Stalker On-Line or Diane's Silk page

Newsgroups:

news:alt.tv.silk-stalkings

2. Production Notes

3. About the Original Main Characters

3.1 How Chris and Rita first met

This was never explained. We only know that Chris and Rita were already partners and best friends from the pilot. We assume they met by being partnered together or working in the same division. In the pilot episode, Rita is saying something to Chris, and she says, "When I met you four years ago......" She doesn't tell us how they met, but we learn they've known each other for 4 years when the series begins. Chris previously had worked narcotics division, and Rita in vice before being assigned in the homicide division. Both held the rank of sergeant until the Dec. 10, 1995, episode "The Last Kiss Goodnight" in which Rita was promoted to lieutenant and given the title chief of detectives shortly before Chris's death.

3.2 Why Chris and Rita call each other Sam

They are calling each other after golf great "Slammin" Sam Snead, the greatest golfer who ever lived, according to Chris and Rita. This was mentioned in the Pilot (1.1)

Learn more about Slammin' Sammy Snead

3.3 Why golf is mentioned so often

It was used mainly in the first and second season, but not much after that. Golf is used as a metaphor for 'sex' and a 'golfer' is someone who engages in the sport of golf (see above). The golf metaphors were very integral to the first season episodes but phased out throughout Season 2.

3.4 What some of the other metaphors mean:

As in many shows, Silk Stalkings has made extensive use of metaphors or "shop" terms, which include:

Blue floater = dead body in the water
Silver Platter = An unbelievably neat crime
Bull Pit (also Cop Shop) = PBPD Headquarters
Golf = Sex
Silk Stalking = high society crime of passion
Bunker shot = Society murders
Black bag job = unethical, not-by-the-book system of researching a crime
DB = dead body

3.5 What ever happened to Rita's brain aneurysm?

Rita had recently learned of her medical condition in the Pilot (1.1) and was told that surgical correction could only be done with great danger so she decided to just live with the risk. Her doctor told her she could continue living a normal life with a small risk of instant death if the aneurysm burst. She seemed to relish the excitement of operating on the edge in this world of power, wealth and psychopaths because her own life was on the line in this unusual way. She also didn't tell her captain, fearing she'd be put on medical leave, given desk duty or worse. The aneurysm was mentioned in several first season episodes. Chris felt that Rita wouldn't let people get close to her because she was afraid she might die on them. However by the second season Rita had seemingly been miraculously cured and the aneurysm was never mentioned again, although she did occasionally pop an aspirin on-screen in later episodes.

3.6 What is known about Rita's family

Rita's mother died when Rita Lee Fontana (her true full name) was born in 1965. Rita's father, Donald Fontana, was a wealthy business man who doted on his only child. He became involved in some bad business deals during the 1960's and lost millions of dollars. He lost everything including his fancy home and he was forced to take an apartment with Rita. He became progressively more depressed and began drinking a lot. Rita came home from school one day, at the age of seven, and found her father in the bathtub, dead of a gunshot wound to the head (Going to Babylon, 1.2). Rita was raised by foster parents, Tom and Sue Lance. She has one foster brother that we know of, Michael Ferrara, a photographer with a shady lifestyle. She took the last name of "Lance" because of her foster parents, who raised and loved her as one of their own. Her foster parents were mentioned on and off throughout the first four seasons but were never seen. In the fifth season, she told Michael Price (Partners 2, 5.9) that they died a "few years ago." In the episode "Going to Babylon 1.2), Rita as a 6-year-old was played in a flashback by Alison Cuffe.

3.7 What else is known about Rita

As a child, her father read Mother Goose rhymes to her, and she grew up loving "Suzy Pratt" detective stories. She attended Palm Beach High School and State College. In the episode "Ask the Dust" (4.8), viewers learned she was able to attend college only because she won a scholarship offered by the Winston Krane family, with whom her own father had been associated socially. While investigating Krane's murder in this episode, the widow, Karen Krane, reveals she had saved one of Rita's most-cherished childhood toys, a Victory Flyer tricycle. In the early seasons, Rita lived at 400 East Palm Drive, drove a Jeep, and her phone number was 555-4793 (from "Men Seeking Women" 1.5).

3.8 What is known about Chris's family

Chris's mother, Anna Alexis, is a famous actress (Baser Instincts 2.1) and Chris's father Benny Lorenzo is a lawyer (Baser Instincts and Time Share 4.11). His parents were divorced when Chris was 10 years old (Hardcopy 1.7). Chris got tired of being shuffled between his parents from coast to coast so he went to live with his maternal grandmother, Rose, in Palm Beach. Chris told Rita in "Baser Instincts" that his grandmother showed him more love than his parents ever did. Rose died some time ago.

3.9 What else is known about Chris's background

Chris was born April 12, 1963, in Philadelphia. He attended Palm Beach schools, graduated from Palm Beach High in 1981 and earned his bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State in 1985. After working street patrol, he was assigned to the robbery unit in 1988. He lived first at 4613 Fairway. He was a former boy's league basketball coach, also enjoyed boxing and played a saxophone.

3.10 Their car codes

Rita's car code in the episodes "Going to Babylon" and "Internal Affair" was "One-X-Ray-9."

Chris's car code in "Internal Affair" was "One-X-Ray-Thirteen."

3.11 Who has Rita golfed with?

Pilot (1.1) -- Mark Dennison, doctor who diagnosed the aneurysm
Hardcopy (1.7) -- Tyler, the rock concert promoter
Squeeze Play (1.12) -- D.J. Martin, Rita's former flame who gave her up for drugs and baseball
Judas Kiss (2.14) -- Brent, who later tried to kill her
4th Season -- Eric Russell, NYPD cop turned writer and an alcoholic; In "Into the Fire" (4.22) Rita thought she was pregnant with Eric's baby
5th Season -- Chris Lorenzo, her partner and best friend of five years

3.12 Who has Chris golfed with?

Pilot (1.1) -- Just broken up with Reno
S.O.B. (1.3) -- Melissa, radio talk show host
In the Name of Love (1.4) -- Ursula, who he never got to cook a pasta dinner for
Men Seeking Women (1.5) -- Rikki, a stripper and former ex-girlfriend (whom he'd last seen seen three years earlier)
Curtain Call (1.8) -- Sarah, Chris's high-school sweetheart
Internal Affair (1.15) --Tracy Lynn Toller, sister of the teen-ager that Chris shot in the opening scene
Witness (1.16) -- Chris starts dating Annie, a clothing designer
Domestic Agenda (1.17) -- Chris and Annie move in together
Lady Luck (1.18) -- Annie leaves Chris for a job in Italy
Goodtime Charlie (2.2) -- Chris is back with Rikki again
Hot Rocks (2.7) -- Chris meets Shelby, an FBI agent
Meat Market (2.18) -- Chris dates Shelby
The Perfect Alibi (3.3) -- Lana, twin sister to the murder suspect Lisa
Ladies Night Out (3.10) -- Chris meets Rikki again and thinks her 10 month old son could be his
Season 4 -- Jillian Dupree (the surgeon who operated on him after he was shot in Dark Heart (3.23) She later left in Cadillac Jack (4.21) for Boston after being offered a job at Mercy Hospital, Chris refused to go with her
Season 5 -- Rita Lee Lance, his partner and best friend of five years

Numerous others have been mentioned but never seen. In School of Hard Rocks (4.10) Rita bet him that he couldn't remember the names of all the women he had slept with and he compiled an impressive list.

3.13 Have Chris and Rita ever golfed together?

Yes, in the season 5 episode, Partners Part 1 (5.8). Chris and Rita were best friends from the start, in fact they were closest in the first few seasons. They both realized that their friendship was much too important to risk losing it through sex. There were times when they had to go undercover as a couple, such as in Going to Babylon (1.2), Social Call (2.3) and Soul Kiss (2.21) and had to pretend to be intimate. However, they never became romatically/sexually involved before the fifth season episode of Partners Part 1.

Partners 1&2 (5.8, 5.9) -- Chris and Rita make love for the first time
Glory Days (5.10) -- Rita discovers she is pregnant
Til Death Do Us Part (5.11) -- Chris and Rita get married
The Last Kiss Goodnight (5.12) -- Rita is widowed

3.14 How many times have Chris and Rita been shot?

Rita-2
In the Name of Love (1.4) -- shoulder
The Sock Drawer (1.14) -- thigh

Chris-4
The Sock Drawer (1.14) -- butt
Look the Other Way (2.22) -- arm
Dark Heart (3.23) -- chest, shot by psychotic Debra Bouchard
The Last Kiss Goodnight (5.12) -- chest, shot by paid assassin and killed

3.15 Why their relationship worked so well

Silk Stalkings was remarkable for the fact that its co-stars did not fall into each other's arms, according to Larry Bonko in a Nov. 6, 1995, article in The Virginian Pilot. Bonko pointed out both were single. Both spent long hours together. She put her life on the line for him. He did the same for her. They were attracted to each other from the first case they worked. Yet, they were never more than friends - like sister and brother -- for the first three seasons. There were times when Lance and Lorenzo, working undercover as a married couple, thought about sharing a bed. But it never happened until the fifth season. "There was something special between them from the first episode," said David Peckinpah, executive producer, referring to the great chemistry. It didn't matter to fans what dopey case about phone sex, gigolos for hire or suddenly dead volleyball players the two were working on. "The fun of "Silk Stalkings" is in watching the two detectives spar with each other, flirt a little, come to the rescue of each other, love each other without getting physical. Both Kapture and Estes know how to apply the light touch."

Another factor is the contrast between Lance and Lorenzo's relationship and those of all the murderous, wierd, drunken, down-and-out, or psychotic characters who did golf a lot and couldn't keep their lives under control while Chris and Rita did.

3.16 What happened to Chris and Rita?

In "The Last Kiss Goodnight" Chris was shot protecting Rita from so-called "cop-killer" bullets. He took two to the chest, was rushed to Palm Beach Memorial Hospital and later died at 10:52 p.m. Dec. 10, 1995. Rita, widowed, alone and pregnant turned in her badge in Dead Asleep (5.13) and left because she didn't want anything to happen to the last piece of Chris she had left, their baby. Lorenzo was given full military honors at Pond Grove cemetery, including taps, the firing squad salute and the Scottish bagpipe version of "Amazing Grace." The gunman was former vice detective Wayne Burns, who later was killed by a drug lord he and his dead, dirty partner, vice detective Ray Quiller, had worked for, Jesus Montoya, who subsequently died in a shootout with Det. Holly Rawlins and Capt. Harry Lipschitz.

3.17 Why Chris was killed off

The original storyline intended for Chris and Rita, according to executive producer of the show David Peckinpah, was to have Chris and Rita tumble into bed together and then realize they had ruined their professional relationship and friendship. Chris would then go to Chicago, leaving Rita behind with a new partner, Price. Knowing that it was out of character for Lorenzo to leave his pregnant lover, Peckinpah had to come up with another storyline. When Mitzi realized she was pregnant this changed everything and set into action a new storyline. Knowing that it was out of character for Lorenzo to leave his pregnant lover, Peckinpah had to come up with another departure; Chris Lorenzo killed in the line of duty. Lorenzo was killed in the episode The Last Kiss Goodnight (5.12) leaving behind his wife Rita and unborn child.

4. About The Replacement Lead Characters

4.1 Who is Holly Rawlins?

Holly is street wise cop from the South who became Sergeant Chris Lorenzo's new partner in Til Death Do Us Part (5.11) when Chris and Rita were married and could no longer be partners on the force. She is played by newcomer, Tyler Layton, 27. Holly was described in TV Guide as a tough southern girl who grew up in trailer parks while on the run from an abusive stepfather and tornadoes, and whose sister died of a drug overdose. She was teamed up with Detective Michael Price in episodes 5.13 through 5.22.

4.2 Who is Michael Price?

Originally a Chicago cop, he was brought up to Palm Beach PD on an Officer's exchange program. He left Chicago because of a broken relationship. He was teamed up with Sergeant Rita Lance in Partners 1 & 2 because they had worked a Homicide-Narco case together. He is played by newcomer, Nick Kokotakis, 31, from New York. In "Uncivil Wars (5.14), Price revealed his brother, Brian, had stolen his finance, Kate, who appeared in Palm Beach and wanted him back.

4.3 What ever Happened to Holly (Layton) and Michael (Kokotakis)?

The storylines carrying over from the fifth to the sixth seasons never explained why the characters left Palm Beach. In "The Runaway Strip" (6.1), it is known only that Capt. Harry Lipschitz was short-handed when he teamed divorced ex-partners Tom Ryan and Cassie St. John back together.

4.4 Who are Tom Ryan and Cassandra (Cassy) St. John?

New leads Chris Potter and Janet Gunn are Sgt. Tom Ryan and Sgt. Cassandra (Cassy) St. John, two homicide detectives, previously partners and married, who must now learn to put their feelings aside and get the job done in the elite oceanside community of Palm Beach, Florida. The season premiere was telecast on Sunday, September 8, 1996. Tom is a a rugged, witty, romantic former college football star turned detective and Cassy, a savvy, hard to work with but scrupulously honest perfectionist. In "The Runaway Strip," they were reluctantly re-teamed by Captain Lipschitz (Charlie Brill) who, short staffed, must put them on a case involving the murder of a female Naval officer. Tom and Cassy must develop a unique way of dealing with their renewed "closeness." Tom continuously mourns the loss of the beloved car and dog he lost in the divorce and Cassy, while chiding him for it, retains a fondness for Tom's overly sentimental poetry.

5. About the Lead Actors

5.1 What else has Mitzi Kapture appeared in?

Date of Birth: May 2, 1964

Besides Silk Stalkings, Mitzi has appeared in:

MacGyver (episodes "Wasteland" and "Rock the Cradle") in 1991
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991)
Private Road: No Trespassing (1987), House II: The Second Story (1987)
Lethal Pursuit (1988)
Liberty & Bash (1990)
The Vagrant (1992)

5.2 What else has Rob Estes appeared in?

Date of Birth (location): 22 July 1963, Norfolk, Virginia
Spouse: Josie Bissett (1 May 1992 - present)

Rob has appeared in:

A Loss of Innocence (TV) (1996)
Sweet Temptation (TV) (1996)
Melrose Place (1996) Kyle
Come Die with Me: A Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer Mystery (1994)
Lady Against the Odds (1992)
Thunderboat Row (1989)
Perfect People (1988)
Student Exchange (1987)
One small role in The Young Riders (1989)
Melrose Place in 1992 (Sam the ex-boyfriend of Jane Mancini (Estes real life wife Josie Bissett)
"Days of Our Lives" Glen Gallagher (1986-87)
Aces: Iron Eagle III (1992)
Checkered Flag (1990, unsold TV pilot)
Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge (1989)
Trapper County War (1989)
Uninvited (1988)

Notable Guest Appearances
"21 Jump Street" (1987), as College Student (season 4)

5.3 What episodes did Kapture and Estes direct?

Mitzi Kapture: Mother Love (3.22), New Blood (4.19)
Rob Estes: Jasmine (2.12), Head 'N' Tail (3.17), Champagne on Ice (4.17)

5.4 Why did Mitzi Kapture and Rob Estes leave the show?

Rob had quit at the end of the fourth season but agreed to shoot 12 episodes into the fifth season. He left to move onto other projects and spend more time with his wife, Josie Bissett. Mitzi had intended to stay on the show and her character Rita would be teamed up with a new detective, Michael Price. However, into filming the third episode into the fifth season, she revealed she was pregnant, thus changing the original storyline intended for Chris and Rita. Mitzi made the decision to leave the show because she didn't want to perform while pregnant. Her delivery: Jan. 24, 1996, a daughter named Madison. She is married to songwriter, Bradley Kapture, who played "Chip" in Vengeance (4.12).

5.5 Have Tyler Layton and Nick Kokotakis appeared in anything else?

"Silk Stalkings" is their first television series. Kokotakis did several commercials and appeared in "Hercules, the Legendary Journeys," according to TV Guide.

5.6 What has Chris Potter appeared in?

Chris Potter, best known for his starring role as Peter Caine in "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," has also guest starred in "Lonesome Dove," "The Hidden Room," "Counterstrike" and "Top Cops." Potter was born in Toronto and raised in London, Ontario, Canada. Potter's parents instilled a love for the arts and sports in him at an early age. His break came when Canadian actress Martha Henry attended of his plays, suggested that Potter try acting as a career, and cast him in the Canadian production of Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues in Toronto. A month later, Potter landed a role in the popular Canadian TV comedy, Material Worlds, before moving on to American television. He and his wife, a high school teacher, make their home in London, Ontario. The couple has 3 daughters. Chris also supplies the voice of Gambit on the popular animated series X-Men.
For more info on Chris, check out the The Chris Potter Pages
More pictures of Chris can be found at ftp://ftp.cac.psu.edu/pub/people/lms5/kftlc/gifs/

5.7 What has Janet Gunn appeared in?

Actress Janet Gunn, a Texas native, most recently starred as Kelly Cochrane in the popular CBS series "Dark Justice." Her other credits include the films "The Quest" (as Carrie), "Marquis de Sade" with Nick Mancuso and "Night of the Running Man" with Scott Glenn. Janet already has some experience with Silk as she starred in the third season episode, "Sex, Lies and Yellow Tape."

6) Who were all the Captains?

6.1 Hutch

Captain Benjamin Hutchinson also known as "Hutch" was the first Captain Chris and Rita worked under in the silk stalkings detail. They also called him "Skipper." We saw a lot of him during the first season and occassionaly in the second season. Hutch was rotated down to Lauderdale at the end of the second season. He was originally a hardboiled cop from Detroit. Hutch was played by veteran actor, Ben Vereen. Hutch also hated the FBI, whom he called "Fumble, Bumble and Incompetent."

6.2. Lieutenant Hudson

Lt. Lou Hudson was introduced in Goodtime Charlie (2.2) and was seen throughout the second season. He was a vice captain, as well as Chris's former captain. Late in season 2 when Hutch was rotated to Fort Lauderdale (due in real life to Ben Vereen's auto accident) he was transferred to homicide. He was played by actor, Robert Gossett.

6.3 Harry "the lip" Lipschitz

Captain Harry Lipschitz was the final Captain on departmental rotation who Chris and Rita worked under throughout the entire third, fourth and fifth season. Originally from New York, he and his wife, Frannie Lipschitz (played by Mitzi McCall) moved down to Palm Beach. Captain Harry Lipschitz is played by actor, Charlie Brill. Mitzi and Charlie both played the same characters on two different episodes during the second season, first in "Star Signs" (2.19) and then in "Soul Kiss" (2.21). Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill are married in real life, and are known to older members of the audience from their days as Brill & McCall, a comedy act that frequently appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

7. About the actors who played the captains and their families

Source: The Internet Movie Database. Note: the titles that start with a quote (") are TV series

7.1 Ben Vereen (Capt. Hutchinson)

DOB: 10 October 1946, Miami, Florida

1. Once Upon a Firest (1993) Phineas (voice)
2. Intruders (1992) (TV) Gene Randall
3. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Capt. Hutchinson
4. Kid Who Loved Christmas, The (1990) (TV)
5. Mother Goose Rock `n' Rhyme (1990) (TV) Itsy Bitsy Spider
6. Buy & Cell (1989) Shaka
7. Jenny's Song (1988) (TV)
8. "J.J. Starbuck" (1987) (TV) E.L. "Tenspeed" Turner
9. "You Write the Songs" (1986-87) host
0. "A.D. (1985, mini) Ethiopian
11. Lost in London (1985) (TV)
12. Zoo Gang, The (1985) The Winch
13. "Ellis Island" (1984, mini) Roscoe Haines
14. Jesse Owens Story, The (1984) (TV)
15. "Webster" (1983) Uncle Phillip Long
16. "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe" (1980) (TV) E.L. Turner "Tenspeed"
17. All That Jazz (1979) O'Connor Flood
18. "Roots" (1977, mini) Chicken George
19. Louis Armstrong - Chicago Style (1976) (TV)
20. Funny Lady (1975) Bert Robbins
21. "Zoo Gang, The" (1973)
22. Gas-s-s-s (1970) Carlos
23. Sweet Charity (1969)

7.2 Robert Gossett (Lieutenant Hudson)

1. Net, The (1995) Ben Phillips
2. Ray Alexander: A Menu for Murder (1995) (TV)
3. White Man's Burden (1995) John
4. Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills (1994) (TV) Detective Lukes
5. Ray Alexander: A Taste for Justice (1994) (TV)
6. Donato and Daughter (1993) (TV)
7. Batman Returns (1992) TV Anchorman
8. Ladykiller (1992) (TV) Plainclothes Cop
9. Locked Up: A Mother's Rage (1992) (TV)M
10. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Lieutenant Hudson
11. Common Ground (1990) (TV) Arnold
12. Shannon's Deal (1989) (TV) Dover

7.3 Charlie Brill (Capt. Lipschitz)

1. "Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby" (1993) (TV), vocal
2. "I Yabba-Dabba Do!" (1993 (TV), vocal)
3. "Silk Stalkings," (USA), Capt. Harry Lipschitz
4. "Deep Blood," (1989) (TV)
5. "Malibu" Bikini Shop," (1985), Sol Federman
6. "The Man Who Wasn't There," (1983), Rostoloni
7. " Blackbeard's Ghost," (1968), Edward
8. "Star Trek," (TV), Arne Darvin (episode "The Trouble with Tribbles").

7.4 Mitzi McCall (Frannie Lipschitz)

1. Opposite Sex and How to Live with Them, The (1992) Frieda Crown
2. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Frannie Lipschitz
3. Chance of a Lifetime (1991) (TV) Bea
4. White Palace (1991) Sophie Rosen
5. Deep Blood (1989) (TV)
6. Cry Baby Killer, The (1958) Evelyn
7. Machine Gun Kelly (1958) Harriet
8. War of the Satellites (1958) Mitzi
9. You're Never Too Young (1955) Skeets

8) Who were all the recurring characters?

8.1 Medical Examiners:

Season 1 & 2:
Dr. Bart Lincoln (played by Chuck Sloan)
Dr. Weinstein (Lucy Lin/Freda Foh Shen)
Roger (Danny Gans)

Season 3:
Hattie Morgan (Gloria Reuban -- currently on ER)
Dr. Bart Lincoln (Chuck Sloan) - (3.3, 3.7)
Diana Roth (Gina Raverra)

Season 4 & 5
Dr. Taylor (Kate Hodge)
Keisha (Juliette Jeffers)

1. Bad Company (1995) ADR Voice
2. I Love Trouble (1994) Kim's Friend
3. "M.A.N.T.I.S." (1994) (TV) Newswoman
4. North (1994) female newscaster
5. Fatal Instinct (1993) prison reporter
6. Running Mates (1992) (TV) Reporter B
7. "Silk Stalkings" (1991-) (TV) Dr. Weinstein 8. Notable appearance: "Baywatch" (1987-) (TV) Lin Wa (episode "Promised Land")

1. Batman Forever (1995) Crime Boss Moroni
2. Witch Hunt (1994) (TV)
3. Stepfather III (1992) (TV) Mr. Thompson
4. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Donnie "Dogs" Dibarto
5. Sitter, The (1991) (TV)
6. Switch (1991) Duke
7. Total Exposure (1991) Detective Alberts
8. Turn Back the Clock (1989) (TV) Doorman #2

9.7 John Byner

1. In the Heat of the Night: Grow Old Along with Me (1995) (TV) Tom Harwood
2. Munchie Strikes Back (1994)
3. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Cotton Dunn
4. Black Cauldron, The (1985) (voice) Gurgi/Doli
5. Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) Radu
6. Stroker Ace (1983) Doc Seegle
7. Will: G. Gordon Liddy (1982) (TV) Nixon's Voice
8. Murder Can Hurt You (1980) (TV)
9. Guide for the Married Woman, A (1978) (TV)
10. Man in the Santa Claus Suit, The (1978) (TV)
11. Three on a Date (1978) (TV)
12. "Soap" (1977) Detective Donahue (1978-1980)
13. "Practice, The" (1976) Dr. Roland Caine
14. Great Smokey Roadblock (1976)
15. "John Byner Comedy Hour, The" (1972)
16. "Steve Allen Comedy Hour, The" (1967)
17. "Garry Moore Show, The" (1950)

9.8 Raye Birk

1. Illegal in Blue (1995) Gary Dedmarch
2. Cries from the Heart (1994) (TV) aka Touch of Truth (1994)
3. Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) Papshmir
4. Barbarians at the Gate (1993) (TV) Travis Gaines
5. Caught in the Act (1993) (TV) Sterling
6. Josh and S.A.M. (1993) Hotel Manager
7. Class Act (1992) Principal Kratz
8. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Atticus Dunn
9. Aftermath: A Test of Love (1991) (TV) Dr. Frenzel
10. Doc Hollywood (1991) Simon Tidwell
11. Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again (1990) (TV)
12. Challenger (1990) (TV) Joseph Kilminster
13. Martians Go Home (1990) Speaker on TV
14. Perry Mason: The Case of the Lethal Lesson (1989) (TV)
15. "Wonder Years, The" (1988) Mr. DiPerna (1988-1991)
16. Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, The (1988) Pahpshmir (1988)
17. "Popcorn Kid, The" (1987) Leonard Brown
18. Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) Vanya
19. Burglar (1987) The Jogger
20. Stepford Children, The (1987) (TV)
21. Throw Momma from the Train (1987) Pinsky
22. "Fresno" (1986) (mini) Mr. Loats
23. Deadly Messages (1985) (TV) Harding
24. Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The (1984) Reporter (1984)
25. Best Defense (1984) Sonny
26. "Star Trek The Next Generation" (1987) (TV) Wrenn (episode "Haven")
26. "Nowhere Man" (TV) (1995), Toby Alder

9.9 Tony Deacon Nittoli (Dominic DiBarto)

1. "Silk Stalkings" (1991--) (TV), Dominic DiBarto
2. "Everything's Relative" (1987) (TV) Mickey Murphy

9.10 Marie Marshall

1. Ring of the Musketeers (1994) Melody
2. Shakedown aka Blue Jean Cop (1988) Muffy

Notable Guest Appearences
"Live Shot" (1995), as Rosie Pomeranz (ep 'Day One' 1995)
"Babylon 5" (1993), as Dodger (ep 'GROPOS' 1995)
TV commercial for Radio Shack cellular phone as Window Shopper (1995)
"Marshal, The" (1995), as [unknown] (11/20/95)

Other recurring regulars:

9.11 Eric Pierpoint (as Eric Russell, Season 4)

1. Alien Nation: Body and Soul (1995) (TV) George Francisco
2. Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994) (TV) George Francisco
3. Children of the Dark (1994) (TV)
4. Midnight Man (1994) Paddy White
5. Forever Young (1992) Fred
6. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Eric Russell
7. "WIOU" (1990) Marc Adamson
8. "Alien Nation" (1989) George Francisco
9. Invaders from Mars (1986) Sgt. Rinaldi
10. Windy City (1984) Pete

9.12 Kim Morgan Greene (Melissa)

1. Dr. Jekyll & Ms. Hyde (1995) Paparazzi Lady/Party Lady
2. Fast Company (1995) (TV)
3. Scorned (1994)
4. Soft Kill, The (1994) Kimberly Lewis
5. "Silk Stalkings" (1991) Melissa Cassidy
6. Destination America (1987) (TV)
7. "Colbys, The" (1985) Channing Carter Colby (1986-1987)
8. "Days of Our Lives" (1965) Sheila Salsbury
9. "Another World" (1964) Nicole Love

9.13 Kate Hodge (Paige)

1. "George Wendt Show, The" (1995) Libby
2. Crowfoot (1995) (TV) Nora Stoltz
3. Hidden II, The (1994) Juliet
4. Rapid Fire (1992) Karla Withers
5. "Silk Stalkings" (1991)
6. Love Kills (1991) (TV)
7. "She-Wolf of London" (1990) Randi Wallace
8. Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) Michelle
9. "Nowhere Man" (1995), as Nancy Angie (ep 'The Spider Webb' (09/95)
10. "Xena: Warrior Princess" (1995), as Celesta (God of Death)
11. "Simon" (1995), as [unknown]

Kristen was born September 2 in Van Nuys, California. She attended California State University, Northridge. Her first feature film role was the female lead in Megaville (1990), opposite Billy Zane. She is best known from her current role as Shane Vansen in the television series "Space: Above And Beyond" (1995). In addition to her acting, she is associate artistic director of The Alliance Repertory Company in Burbank, California, where she writes, produces and directs.

1. "Space: Above and Beyond" (1995) Shane Vansen
2. "Winnetka Road" (1994) MayBeth
3. Mother of the Bride (1993) (TV) Francine
4. Part of the Family, A (1993) (TV)
5. Caged Fear (1992)
6. Stay Tuned (1992) Velma
7. Marrying Man, The aka Too Hot to Handle (1991) Louise
8. Megaville (1990)

Notable Guest Appearences
"Mad About You" (1992), as [unknown]
"Quantum Leap" (1989), as [unknown]
"Doogie Howser, M.D." (1989), as [unknown]
"Dear John" (1988), as [unknown]
"Murder, She Wrote" (1984), as [unknown]
"Cheers" (1982), as [unknown]

TV show regular:
Renegade (1992-) Lt. Donald "Dutch" Dixon)
Scene of the Crime (1992 as 'the host')

TV appearances (1 or several episodes):
Silk Stalkings

Shows Produced by Cannell (important shows are *'ed):

Mission Impossible (as a writer)
*The Rockford Files
Tenspeed and Brownshoe (1980)
*The Greatest American Hero (1981-83)
*The A-Team (1983-87)
*Hardcastle and McCormick (1983-86)
The Rousters (1983-94)
*The Riptide (1984-86)
*Hunter (1984-91)
The Last Precinct (1986)
Stingray (1986-87)
J.J. Starbuck (1987-88)
*21 Jump Street (1987-92)
*Wiseguy (1987-90)
Werewolf (1987-89)
Sonny Spoon (1988-89)
Booker (1989-90)
Top of the Hill (1989)
UNSUB (1989)
*The Commish (1991-95)
Palace Guard (1991)
Scene of the Crime (1991-93)
*Silk Stalkings (1991-)
The Hat Squad (1992)
*Renegade (1992-)

Other Shows that Cannell was affiliated with:

Toma
Baretta
City Of Angels
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Broken Badges
The 100 Lives Of Black Jack Savage
Street Justice (Distributor Only)
Missing Persons
Traps
Hawkeye: The First Frontier
Marker
Profit (in the works with FOX)

11.1 Cannell Bio From America On Line, January 1996

From his introduction to television production as co-creator, writer, and producer of the long-running NBC series "The Rockford Files", to the 1979 formation of his own independent television production company, Stephen J. Cannell has proven to be not only one of television's most prolific writers, but also one of Hollywood's most dynamic personalities.

Throughout his career, the Emmy Award-winning writer/producer has written more than 350 episodes of the series he has created, and produced and executive-produced more than 1500 episodes. He has created or co-created over 35 shows, including: THE ROCKFORD FILES, BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP, BARETTA, CITY OF ANGELS, THE DUKE, CHASE, RICHIE BROCKELMAN, PRIVATE EYE, STONE, TENSPEED AND BROWN SHOE, THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO, THE A-TEAM, THE ROUSTERS, HARDCASTLE AND MCCORMICK, RIPTIDE, THE LAST PRECINCT, STINGRAY, J.J. STARBUCK, SONNY SPOON, 21 JUMP STREET, WISEGUY, HUNTER, TOP OF THE HILL, BOOKER, BROKEN BADGES, DISNEY PRESENTS THE 100 LIVES OF BLACK JACK SAVAGE, THE COMMISH, SILK STALKINGS, PALACE GUARD, RENEGADE, TRAPS, MARKER, and HAWKEYE.

Cannell's writing talents and desires burgeoned in his teen years, yet when he graduated from college, he took a job with his father's interior design firm to support his young family. He wrote every evening and soon sold several story ideas to MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE, but was considered too young and inexperienced to write the actual script.

Cannell worked steadily at his after-hours script writing for more than four years before he was able to make his next sale, an episodic television script for IT TAKES A THIEF. Prompted by this initial success, he left the field of interior design, never to return. Cannell's television career truly took off in 1966, when he submitted a script for the Universal series ADAM 12. The producers and actors were so impressed by the storyline and dialogue, that Cannell was immediately offered the position of head writer. His years of effort had suddenly turned Cannell into an "overnight success."

While working at Universal Studios, Cannell increasingly gained the respect of his colleagues for his skills as a writer and his instincts as a creator of new programming. THE ROCKFORD FILES, BARETTA, and BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP, are among the many popular shows he created while at Universal. In 1979, Cannell decided to form his own independent production company, Stephen J. Cannell Productions Inc., in order to achieve "creative control." The company started off soundly with TENSPEED AND BROWN SHOE starring Ben Vereen and Jeff Goldblum. THE A-TEAM, RIPTIDE, HUNTER, and 21 JUMP STREET are just a few of the successful series that have been produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Inc.

In spite of his outstanding success in the production field, however, Cannell considers himself primarily a writer. "This is the only studio in town that I know that's run by a writer for writers," he states. "If I ever stopped production or running a studio, I'd still be writing. I spend too much time at a typewriter to be called anything but a writer." Most recently, Cannell has made his transition into the literary world with the publication of his first novel, a political thriller, THE PLAN.

12) Executive Producer David Peckinpah

The filmography lists the titles for which David Peckinpah was invloved:

Writer
1. Man of the House (1995) (story)
2. Obsessed (1992) (TV)

Miscellaneous crew
1. Private Hell 36 (1954) (dialogue director)

Producer
1. "Silk Stalkings" (1991)

13) Producer Stuart Segall

The filmography lists the titles for which Stuart Segall was involved:

Producer
1. "Silk Stalkings" (1991)

Director
1. Drive-In Massacre (1976)

The following is a list of addresses where you can write regarding Silk Stalkings.

To write a cast member (fan mail/phtoto request):
     (name of the cast member)
     c/o Stu Segall Productions
     4705 Ruffin Rd.
     San Diego, CA 92123

To write Stephen Cannell Productions:
     Stephen J. Cannell Productions
     RE: Silk Stalkings
     7083 Hollywood Blvd.
     Los Angeles, CA 90028

To write The USA Network:
     USA Network
     Director of Programming RE: Silk Stalkings
     1230 Avenue of the Americas
     New York, NY 10020
     (212) 408-9100

To write the Distributors of SS:
     New World/Genesis Distribution
     RE: Distribution of Silk Stalkings
     1440 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
     Los Angeles, CA 90025
     (310) 444-8344

To write the SS Publicity Firm
     Michelle Marx, Inc.
     6308 W. 89th Street, Suite 338
     Los Angeles, CA 90045
     (310) 645-9717
     (310) 645-9590 - Fax

To write the SS Fan Club:
     Silk Stalkings Fan Club
     c\o Kyle Nolan
     16 Tallard Rd.
     Westford, MA 01886

To write Stu Stegall Productions:
     Stu Segall Productions
     RE: Silk Stalkings
     4705 Ruffin Rd.
     San Diego, CA 92123

17) Publications

The Stalker is the newsletter of the Silk Stalkings fan club. Email Kyle Nolan for more information.

18) Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Diane DeMelo who really got the FAQ started when it was only an idea in my lazy mind. Also to Michael Deaterla, who made significant revisions and additions that really enhanced this FAQ. Please note that most of this FAQ in its current form was laborously put together by Marcy Kulic. All sentences written in the first person come from her.

19) Contributors

Diane M. DeMelo, Marcy A. Kulic, Michael F. Deaterla, Kyle J. Nolan, Julie Jarvis, Maria M. Tiongson

20) Comments? Suggestions? Corrections? Additions?

This FAQ is a work in progress. If you have any additional information you think should be included please email me, Kyle. If there is something you would like to see here also let me know. If anyone is willing to take over the maintenance of the FAQ, please let me know--as I do not have a lot of free time to devote to this.