Terry O'Quinn
Terry O'Quinn is an acclaimed American actor, recognized for his powerful performances in film and television. Born on July 15, 1952, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, he grew up in a large Irish American family and developed an interest in acting during high school. O'Quinn pursued theater studies at Central Michigan University and the University of Iowa, which eventually led him to a successful stage career before transitioning to screen acting. He gained widespread fame for his role as John Locke in the hit series "Lost" (2004-2010), which earned him an Emmy Award and established him as a pop culture icon.
Before "Lost," O'Quinn starred in notable films like "The Stepfather" (1987) and had various television appearances, including roles in "Millennium" and "JAG." Throughout his career, he has maintained a presence in both film and television, appearing in a variety of series such as "Hawaii Five-O," "666 Park Avenue," and "Emergence." O'Quinn is known for his commitment to the craft of acting and often highlights the significance of local theater. He was previously married to Lori Binkley, with whom he has two sons, and he enjoys playing the guitar in his leisure time.
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Subject Terms
Terry O'Quinn
Actor
- Born: July 15, 1952
- Place of Birth: Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Contribution: Terry O’Quinn is an Emmy Award–winning actor, best known for his roles in The Stepfather (1987), Millennium (1996–99), and Lost (2004–10).
Background
Terrance Quinn was born on July 15, 1952, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, along the St. Mary’s River bordering Canada. Born to Irish American parents who raised him Roman Catholic, O’Quinn was one of eleven siblings. His family later moved to Newberry, Michigan, and O’Quinn developed his interest in acting while in high school.
He attended college in the early 1970s at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and later enrolled at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he studied theater for three semesters but never graduated. While in college, a friend dared him to audition for a part in Henry IV. He got the part and began pursuing a career as a stage actor in regional and national theater productions. Around this time he moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and changed his surname to O’Quinn when he registered with the Actors Equity union. This was so he would not be confused with professional model-turned-actor Terrance Quinn.
He starred in several theater productions before his career in film and television took off. In the late 1970s, he appeared in such plays as The Shadow Box, Watch on the Rhine, and Much Ado about Nothing at Center Stage in Baltimore.
Career
While working on a play in Baltimore, O’Quinn got a role as an Army captain in the western Heaven’s Gate (1980). The role required that O’Quinn ride a horse, so he took lessons from a local trainer named Lori Binkley, whom he married in 1979. The movie starred several big name actors, including Christopher Walken and Jeff Bridges, but was one of the biggest box-office failures in history. For its $44 million budget, the film grossed less than $3 million domestically.
The failure of Heaven’s Gate did not put an end to O’Quinn’s career, however. Throughout the 1980s, O’Quinn worked steadily on the stage and in film and television. In 1981, he made his television debut on the daytime soap opera The Doctors and then had minor roles in the films All the Right Moves (1983), Silver Bullet (1985), and SpaceCamp (1986).
In 1987, O’Quinn starred as the title character in the thriller The Stepfather. He played Jerry Blake, a mild-mannered sociopath who marries widows and divorcees with children in the hopes of finding the perfect family. When he finds a family unsatisfactory, he murders them. The film received mostly positive reviews and O’Quinn’s performance was especially applauded. Revered film critic Roger Ebert even stated that O’Quinn’s performance was the highlight of the film. For that role, O’Quinn was nominated for a Saturn Award and an Independent Spirit Award for best actor. He starred in the film’s 1989 sequel, The Stepfather II.
In 1988, he played a lawyer in the action film Young Guns, and the following year he appeared in the television movie Roe vs. Wade. Throughout the 1990s, O’Quinn made appearances on several television shows, including Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1994, Homicide: Life on the Street in 1995, and a recurring role on JAG from 1995 to 2002.
Chris Carter, the creator of the hit paranormal series The X-Files (1995–2002), took a liking to O’Quinn and cast him in two episodes of the show. Carter then gave him a role on his series Millennium (1996–99) as FBI agent Peter Watts. When Millennium was cancelled during its third season, Carter cast O’Quinn in a science-fiction miniseries he had developed, called Harsh Realm. O’Quinn played Omar Santiago, a retired combat veteran living in a virtual reality game created by the US government.
In 2002, O’Quinn appeared in several episodes of the action series Alias. The show’s producer, J. J. Abrams, enjoyed O’Quinn’s performance and later cast him in his next series, the supernatural mystery drama Lost (2002–10). The show was one of the most popular series of the decade and was a pop-cultural phenomenon. O’Quinn played John Locke, a troubled but brilliant man stranded on a desert island following a plane crash. The show followed Locke and the other survivors of the crash as they try to piece together the mysterious aspects of the island.
O’Quinn’s performance was highly acclaimed, earning him the Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 2007 (for which he was nominated in 2005 and 2010, as well). The role also earned him a Saturn Award for best supporting actor on television in 2005 and a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series in 2006.
Following Lost, O’Quinn appeared on eleven episodes of the crime series Hawaii Five-O (2011–12) as Commander Joe White. In 2012, he starred in the supernatural series 666 Park Avenue, which aired for only one season. In 2012 and 2013, O’Quinn appeared in three episodes of the sci-fi series Falling Skies, for which he was nominated for a Saturn Award for best guest starring role in a series in 2013.
O’Quinn next appeared in the short-lived crime drama series Gang Related (2014) and in one season of the drama series Full Circle (2015), before appearing in the romantic drama film New Life (2016). He continued to appear in recurring roles in various television series throughout the late 2010s, including the crime drama Secrets and Lies (2016); the horror fantasy Castle Rock (2018), based on the works of horror writer Stephen King; the Amazon Prime original comedy thriller Patriot (2017–18); and the science fiction drama Emergence (2019), about a police chief’s investigation into the appearance of a young girl near the site of a mysterious accident. In the years that followed, O'Quinn continued appearing on television and in film, most notably playing Texas Ranger Wesley Walker on the series Perpetual Grace, LTD (2019), Martin Queller on the miniseries Pieces of Her (2022), and Bryon LaCroix on FBI: Most Wanted (2020-2022). In addition, he played Major General Beale, the leader of the Civic Republic, on The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (2024). He also starred in Resident Alien (2021-2024), a show about an alien hiding out in Colorado. On the silver screen, he played Grandpa James in Unsung Hero (2024).
Impact
A prolific stage and screen actor for two decades, O’Quinn became popular thanks to his critically acclaimed role on Lost. Besides receiving several nominations and awards, his character John Locke became a major pop-cultural icon. Despite his critical success on film and television, O’Quinn still stresses the importance of local theaters and acting groups.
Personal Life
O’Quinn married Lori Binkley in 1979. Together they have two sons, Oliver and Hunter. The two divorced in 2010. When not acting, he enjoys playing the guitar.
Bibliography
Bernstein, Abbie. “Terry O’Quinn 666 Park Avenue and Lost Interview.” Buzzy Mag. Buzzy Multimedia, 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 23 July 2013.
Fernandez, Maria Elena. “Lost’s Terry O’Quinn Eager to Take Character’s Next Turn.” Chicago Tribune. Tribune Newspaper, 8 Mar. 2009. Web. 23 July 2013.
Loudermilk, Suzanne. “Lost and Found.” Baltimore Magazine. Rosebud Entertainment, May 2010. Web. 24 June 2013.
Moninger, Sara Epstein, and Tom Snee. “Lost Opportunities.” Spectator. University of Iowa, May 2010. Web. 23 July 2013.
Paska, Willa. “Terry O’Quinn on His New Show and Lost’s Finale.” Vulture. New York Media, 19 Aug. 2012. Web. 23 July 2013.
"Terry O'Quinn." IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm0642368. Accessed 18 Sept. 2024.