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Richard William Burgi (born July 30, 1958) is an American film and television actor. He's known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives. Burgi was born in the suburbs of Montclair, New Jersey. His family was involved in community theatre. His brother Chuck Burgi was a drummer for Billy Joel. After high school, Burgi travelled through the US and Europe, taking odd jobs. Burgi married Lori Kahn on November 25, 1995. They have two sons, Jack and Samuel, that live in Laguna Beach, California. Jack was born December 8, 1996, and Samuel (Sam)... MORE

Richard William Burgi (born July 30, 1958) is an American film and television actor. He's known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives. Burgi was born in the suburbs of Montclair, New Jersey. His family was involved in community theatre. His brother Chuck Burgi was a drummer for Billy Joel. After high school, Burgi travelled through the US and Europe, taking odd jobs. Burgi married Lori Kahn on November 25, 1995. They have two sons, Jack and Samuel, that live in Laguna Beach, California. Jack was born December 8, 1996, and Samuel (Sam) was born August 15, 1998. Burgi began his career in New York which led to regular roles on the Manhattan-based daytime soap operas One Life to Live, Another World and As The World Turns. After moving to Los Angeles, he starred on another soap opera, Days of our Lives. He later received a role on Viper after a string of guest appearances on television shows, including a television film debut in Chameleons in 1989. His first lead role was in the 1994 television series One West Waikiki. Burgi was cast as the lead in the series The Sentinel, which was cancelled after three seasons, leaving key plot LESS