Originally a student of playwriting at Columbia University, Richard Mulligan began his acting career in regional theater and soon after made his Broadway debut in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "All the Way Home". In addition to his continuing Broadway career, Mulligan has successfully transferred his unique comedic talents to television and film. On the big screen he has appeared in such films as The Heavenly Kid (1985), Teachers (1984), Little Big Man (1970) and The Big Bus (1976). He has also performed in a number of Blake Edwards ' films, including S.O.B. (1981), A Fine Mess (1986), Micki + Maude (1984) and Trail of the Pink Panther (1982). Mulligan has made numerous guest-starring television appearances, but it was his role as Burt Campbell in Witt-Thomas-Harris' offbeat comedy series "Soap" (1977) that earned him his first Emmy award . He also starred in the series "Reggie" (1983). His movie-of-the-week and miniseries credits include Poker Alice (1987) (TV), Harvey (1996) (TV), Pueblo (1973) (TV) and the acclaimed Guess Who's Coming for Christmas? (1990) (TV) with Beau Bridges . He is the brother of director Robert Mulligan .

Younger brother of director Robert Mulligan .Mulligan was cremated, and no memorial service was held, at his own request.Won two Emmys for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. However, he finally accepted his Emmy in 1989 for "Empty Nest" (1988) because in 1980 he had been participating in the Screen Actors' Guild strike at the time of the The 32nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1980) (TV), during which he had won for "Soap" (1977).Studied playwrighting at Columbia University.Was Jason Robards ' stand-by in the 1962 Broadway production of "A Thousand Clowns.".He has a son, James Mulligan .Ex-wife Rachel Ryan was 29 years younger than he was.The character "Nagilum", from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)'s season two episode, "Star Trek: The Next Generation: Where Silence Has Lease (#2.2)" (1988), was named after him for being the first choice to play the role. But the role was given to actor Earl Boen .Appeared in Blackboard Jungle (1955) uncredited.Worked with both Lee Grant and her daughter, Dinah Manoff . Grant and Mulligan appeared in the movie Teachers (1984); Mulligan and Manoff appeared in the sitcoms "Soap" (1977) and "Empty Nest" (1988).Appeared in four series created by Susan Harris : "Soap" (1977), "The Golden Girls" (1985), "Empty Nest" (1988), and "Nurses" (1991). In the latter three, he played the same character, Dr. Harry Weston.