{{Short description|American actor (1955–2026)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Rif Hutton | image = Rif Hutton at Kirk Baily Celebration of Life.jpg | caption = Hutton at the Kirk Baily celebration of life in 2022 | birth_date = {{birth date|1952|11|28}} | birth_place = San Antonio, Texas, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2026|4|18|1952|11|28}} | death_place = Pasadena, California, U.S. | alma_mater = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1983–2026 | spouse = {{marriage|Bridget Hoffman|2001}}<ref name="Film Reference"/> }}
'''Rif Hutton''' (November 28, 1952 – April 18, 2026) was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Dr. Ron Welch in the comedy-drama series ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'', appearing in that series from 1990 up to its conclusion in 1993. From 1997 to 2001, he appeared in a recurring role as Lt. Cmdr. Alan Mattoni on the series ''JAG''. Hutton is also notable for playing Russ Beeler, a fictional owner of a KFC establishment, appearing in a number of KFC commercials in the early to mid 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|author=Stuart Elliott |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/19/business/media-business-advertising-kfc-s-very-real-problems-may-be-solved-lake-edna.html?src=pm |title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS: ADVERTISING; KFC's Very Real Problems May Be Solved in Lake Edna - New York Times |work=The New York Times |date=1992-05-19 |accessdate=2012-07-30}}</ref>
==Early life and career== Hutton was born in San Antonio, Texas, and was raised in East Orange, New Jersey. He moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s to pursue an acting career. He went to many auditions in his early years, but soon found himself broke and homeless, getting assistance from friends.<ref name="LA Times"/>
He went on to guest star in a number of notable television series including ''The Jeffersons'', ''Night Court'', ''L.A. Law'', ''Married... with Children'', ''Hunter'', ''Wings'', ''Murphy Brown'', ''The Larry Sanders Show'', ''Getting By'', ''Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'', ''Family Matters'', and ''Cold Case'' among others.<ref name="Film Reference"/>
Hutton also appeared in stage productions in the Los Angeles area as well as working as a voice actor.<ref name="Film Reference"/>
==Personal life and death== Hutton was married twice. His first marriage was to a woman named Pat, an actress and stand-up comedian.<ref name="LA Times">{{cite web|author=LIBBY SLATE |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-23-ca-1478-story.html |title=Actor Rif Hutton Has Fun Growing With 'Doogie Howser, M.D.' - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=1993-01-23 |access-date=2012-07-30}}</ref> His second was to actress Bridget Hoffman in 2001.<ref name="Film Reference">[http://www.filmreference.com/film/45/Rif-Hutton.html Rif Hutton Biography], Film Reference</ref>
It is also reported in 2000 that he was engaged to actress Telma Hopkins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20131627,00.html |title=Family Matters: 1989-1998 - Family Matters, Where Are They Now?, Darius McCrary, Jaleel White, Jomarie Payton, Reginald VelJohnson, Telma Hopkins |work = People | volume=53 | number = 25 | date=2000-06-26 |accessdate=2014-06-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.superiorpics.com/telma_hopkins/ |title=The Telma Hopkins Picture Pages |publisher=Superiorpics.com |accessdate=2012-07-30 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In 1993–94, Hutton had played Hopkins' love interest in a few episodes of her sitcom ''Getting By''.
Hutton died from brain cancer at his home in Pasadena, California, on April 18, 2026, at the age of 73.<ref>{{cite news |title='Doogie Howser, M.D.' Star Rif Hutton Dead at 70 |url=https://www.tmz.com/2026/04/20/rif-hutton-dead/ |access-date=20 April 2026 |publisher=TMZ |date=20 April 2026}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Film=== * ''Wavelength'' (1983) – Air Force officer * ''Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1987) – Agent * ''You Talkin' to Me?'' (1987) – Black Man * ''Moving'' (1988) – Reporter * ''Stand and Deliver'' (1988) – Pearson * ''L.A. Heat'' (1989) – Det. Royster * ''The Borrower'' (1991) – Newscaster * ''Going Under'' (1991) – Dr. Friendly * ''Star Trek Generations'' (1994) – Klingon Guard * ''Bigfoot: The Unforgettable Encounter'' (1995) – Jess * ''Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest'' (1995) – Arnold * ''Restraining Order'' (1999) – Sidney Evans * ''The Thirteenth Floor'' (1999) – Joe * ''Shrek'' (2001) – Lord Farquaad's Guards (voice) * ''Osmosis Jones'' (2001) – Charlie (voice) * ''Gas'' (2004) – Brad * ''Shark Tale'' (2004) – Fish (voice) * ''Tugger: The Jeep 4x4 Who Wanted to Fly'' (2005) – Crewman #1 (voice) * ''Madagascar'' (2005) – Crowd Member (voice) * ''Stick It'' (2006) – Drill Sergeant * ''Curious George'' (2006) – Mailman (voice) * ''The Tale of Despereaux'' (2008) – Man in crowd (voice) * ''My Apocalypse'' (2008) – Housing Inspector * ''Astro Boy'' (2009) – Metro City Sergeant (voice) * ''The Princess and the Frog'' (2009) – DJ (voice) * ''Rio'' (2011) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Hotel Transylvania'' (2012) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''ParaNorman'' (2012) – Blithe Hollow Townperson (voice) * ''Epic'' (2013) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Rio 2'' (2014) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Ice Age: Collision Course'' (2016) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV'' (2016) – High Official #2 (voice) * ''The Star'' (2017) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'' (2018) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation'' (2018) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''The Angry Birds Movie 2'' (2019) – Additional Voices (voice) * ''Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank'' (2022) – Additional Voices (voice)
===Television=== * ''The Jeffersons'' (1985) – Roulette Spinner * ''227'' (1987) – Man #1 * ''Webster'' (1989) – Bob * ''A Different World'' (1989) – Security #2 * ''Doogie Howser, M.D.'' (1989–1993) – Dr. Ron Welch * ''Married, with Children'' (1990) – Bailiff * ''Wings'' (1991) – T.V. Anchorman * ''Sister, Sister'' (1994) – PTA President * ''Fudge'' (1995) – Mr. Green * ''General Hospital'' (1995) – David Ward * ''Home Improvement'' (1995) – Man at Arena * ''The Wayans Bros.'' (1995–1999) – Ted Winters / Agent Doug Steckler * ''Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' (1996) – Agent Rawlings * ''The Jamie Foxx Show'' (1996) – Vray Beaujay * ''Family Matters'' (1997) – Reverend Fuller * ''Seinfeld'' (1998) – Salesman * ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer '' (2003) – Initiative General * ''House'' (2005) – Morris * ''Thats So Raven'' (2005) – Reverend Mattson * ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2007) – Vernon Porter * ''Ghost Whisperer'' (2008) – Bill Eritt * ''The Mentalist'' (2008) – Doctor * ''Criminal Minds'' (2016) – Warden Bryan Nabb * ''General Hospital'' (2021) – Lenny
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}} * {{BTVA person|Rif-Hutton}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hutton, Rif}} Category:1952 births Category:2026 deaths Category:20th-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male film actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male voice actors Category:Male actors from East Orange, New Jersey Category:Male actors from San Antonio Category:20th-century African-American male actors Category:21st-century African-American male actors