Nicholas Victor Polizos (born August 12, 1947)^[2] is an American film, television and theatre actor.^[3] He is known for playing the recurring role of "Detective Frank Richmond" on the American legal drama television series Boston Legal, Polizos is also known for playing Joe Thomopolous on Who's the Boss? and as "Shep Cale" in Jericho.

Life and career

Polizos was born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama to Greek parents.^[2] He has two sisters, Sandra and Renee.^[1] Polizos attended Robert E. Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1964.^[1] He later attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he studied psychology, in 1967.^[1] After Polizos went to college, he didn't consider studying acting.^[1] He auditioned for the Emory Theatre Department, while it had auditions for the stage play A Man for All Seasons, in which Polizos name wasn't included in the cast listing.^[1] His role was the "Spanish ambassador Chapuys", in which he injured his leg.^[1] Polizos was later called by the casting director and asked to play a part.^[1] He did well with the lines, and he was offered a part.^[1]

Polizos was going to take over the lead role of the character "Captain Sir Thomas Moore",but it was later determined he was not right for the part.^[1] He was cast in a college production, in which Polizos had a week to study his lines to become the character.^[1] Polizos received good review. He later attended Georgia State University, where he continued studying psychology.^[1] He left Georgia State University and Polizos got an audition from a director, who recommended him to perform with a group. Polizos later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Temple University.^[1] Polizos then went on to perform with a summer theatre program in Williamstown, Massachusetts.^[1] He also toured with the production of The History of Rock and Roll, Polizos later moved to New York to begin his career in theatre.^[1]

Polizos worked as a bartender in New York, and was about to give up his acting career in theatre.^[1] He then got a call from casting director, Meg Simon, who cast Polizos to play the role of a "dockworker" and "sailor" in the Broadway play Anna Christie.^[1][2] In 1979, he starred in the Broadway play Whoopee!, where he played Mort".^[2] Polizos then began his film and television career in 1980, as he was offered the role of Billy Baylock in the film Brubaker.^[1] He later borrowed money from his father, to move to Los Angeles, California to earn some acting roles.^[1] In 1985, Polizos appeared in the television pilot called Condor.^[1]

Polizos guest-starred in numerous television programs including Married... with Children, Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Roseanne, The X-Files, Walker, Texas Ranger, Hill Street Blues, Malcolm in the Middle, NYPD Blue, Desperate Housewives, Family Ties, Modern Family, Mad About You, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Practice, Grace Under Fire and The A-Team.^[1] He also appeared on commercials.^[1] In 2007, Polizos appeared in the film Randy and the Mob, in which he auditioned for the starring role of "Randy Pearson",^[4] though he had not noticed that the film would be shot in Atlanta, Georgia.^[4] Polizos is still continuing his acting career, mainly appearing in film and television.^{[citation needed]}