Harrison Young


Harrison Richard Young was an American character actor. He is best known for playing the elderly James Ryan in Saving Private Ryan.

Biography

Born in 1930 in Port Huron, Michigan, Harrison briefly served in the United States Army during the Korean War before being discharged at the rank of second lieutenant. Beginning his acting career at the Port Huron Little Theater, he moved to New York in 1973 and went on to play the lead role in the play Short Eyes in Broadway.
Young gained recognition for his role as the elderly Private James Ryan in Steven Spielberg's war epic Saving Private Ryan. Having starred in over 100 films and television episodes, Young's other credits include Passions, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses.
Harrison and his wife Denise had three daughters. He died on July 3, 2005, in Los Angeles at the age of 75 and was buried at Woodland Cemetery in Port Huron.

Filmography

  • 1991: Down Home as Lenny
  • 1991: Reasonable Doubts as Drunk
  • 1992: Waxwork II: Lost in Time as James Westbourne
  • 1992: Guncrazy as Mr. Hickok, Howard's Dad
  • 1992: A Child Lost Forever: The Jerry Sherwood Story as Neighbor
  • 1993: The Micronots! as Montgomery
  • 1994: Marilyn, My Love
  • 1995: ER as Parmelli
  • 1996: Erotic Confessions as Roger Goodman, Department Store Owner
  • 1996: Humanoids from the Deep as Sergeant
  • 1996: Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering as Drifter
  • 1996: Ned and Stacey as Mr. Palmer
  • 1996: Boston Common as Homeless Man
  • 1997: The Night That Never Happened as Dad
  • 1997: Click as Senator Gyrgich
  • 1997: Butterscotch as Smiley
  • 1997: True Vengeance as Sam Brown
  • 1997: Law & Order as Gus
  • 1997: Melrose Place as Drunk
  • 1997: The Game as Obsequious Executive
  • 1997: Total Security as Waiter #1
  • 1997: Expose as Councilman Kaye
  • 1997: Madam Savant as County Judge
  • 1998: Second Skin
  • 1998: Running Woman as Old Man
  • 1998: The Opposite of Sex as Medical Examiner
  • 1998: How to Make the Cruelest Month as Helpful Drunk
  • 1998: Primary Colors as Sam
  • 1998: Champions as Senator Able
  • 1998: Saving Private Ryan as Old James Ryan
  • 1998: Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Old Man
  • 1998: Beverly Hills, 90210 as Grandpa Ed Taylor
  • 1999: Blast from the Past as Bum
  • 1999: Sliders as Henry Nichols
  • 1999: Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as Vagrant
  • 1999: Yonggary as Dr. Wendel Hughes
  • 1999: Work with Me as Sullivan
  • 1999: Durango Kids as Uncle Gus
  • 1999: Witness Protection as Mr. O'Connor, Cindy's Father
  • 1999: Ugly Naked People Bob, Tour Guide
  • 2000: Providence as Monroe Ellison
  • 2000: The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle as General Foods
  • 2000: Crocodile as Sheriff Bowman
  • 2000: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Judge Cohen
  • 2000: Starforce as Wizened Council Member
  • 2000: The Norm Show as Simon
  • 2000: The Beach Boys: An American Family as Buddy Wilson
  • 2000: Blue Shark Hash as Captain Jack
  • 2001: Passions as Palmer Harper
  • 2001: The Korean War as President Eisenhower
  • 2001: Red as Kidnapper
  • 2001: The West Wing as Senator Grissom
  • 2002: Sopranos S4E3 Old Doctor on commercial on TV
  • 2002: 7th Heaven as Frank
  • 2002: Bubba Ho-tep as Elvis' Roommate
  • 2002: Demon Under Glass as James Conroy
  • 2002: Trance as Henry Santorini
  • 2002: Ken Park as Tate's Grandfather
  • 2002: Hi Frank! as Frank
  • 2003: The Lyon's Den as Mr. Fenderson
  • 2003: House of 1000 Corpses as Don Willis
  • 2003: The Last Cowboy as Preacher
  • 2003: First Watch as CIA Director
  • 2004: Green Arrow Fan Film as Kyle Magnor
  • 2005: One More Round as Mr. Rexosovich
  • 2005: Inheritance as Grandfather
  • 2005: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as Harmony's Dad
  • 2006: The Pleasure Drivers as John
  • 2006: Cracking Up as Bob Briscoe
  • 2008: The Flyboys as Grandpa Thomas