Ted Bessell

Attending both Georgetown University and the University of Colorado, he graduated in 1958 and focused on acting. He studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Born in New York City, Ted's early career included guest appearances in soap operas, Lover Come Back (1961) and It's a Man's World (1962).

Ted went on to appear as "Frankie" on Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964), but his big break was as "That Guy" on the successful Marlo Thomas Television series That Girl (1966). As "Don Hollinger", he played the boyfriend of aspiring actress "Ann Marie".

Remained friends with That Girl (1966) costar Marlo Thomas until his death.

His biggest burst of post-"That Girl" fame came with the role, in the next-to-last season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970), of Mary Richards's beau.

In a tragic twist of irony, Bessel guest starred in Marcus Welby, M.D.: Echo from Another World (1971) where he played a doctor who misdiagnoses a patient who ends up having an aortic aneurysm. Bessel himself died of an aortic aneurysm 25 years after the episode aired.

After that, he appeared in a number of short lived Television comedy series including Me and the Chimp (1972), Good Time Harry (1980) and Hail to the Chief (1985). After being stereotyped as the good boyfriend, Ted found jobs hard to find so he moved towards the direction and production end of Television.

Ted directed episodes of The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) and Sibs (1991).

On The Simpsons 1991 episode 'I Married Marge', Homer and Marge walk down the aisle as Marge says "Well you may not look like Ted Bessel, but you're just as nice." What appears to be a 'That Girl' reference was more likely an insider nod of recognition. Ted Bessel directed many episodes of The Tracy Ullman Show, which is where The Simpsons originated. Both Marge (Julie Kavner) and Homer (Dan Castellaneta) were members of the live-action supporting cast he worked with.