Geoff Pierson

Geoffrey "Geoff" Pierson (born June 16, 1949) is an American actor known for his role on The WB series Unhappily Ever After as Jack Malloy, the father of a dysfunctional family whose best friend is a stuffed animal rabbit named Mr. Floppy. He is also known for his roles on Ryan's Hope and Dexter.

Pierson was born in Chicago, Illinois, one of seven children born to Roy, a businessman (who founded Feralloy Corporation and, later, Pierson Steel), and Helen (née Maginess) Pierson, who wed on October 29, 1946 at St. Philip Neri Church in Chicago's South Shore. The family was devoutly Roman Catholic, and the siblings attended Catholic schools in Winnetka's Sacred Heart parish.

Unhappily Ever After was created by one of the original creators of FOX's Married... with Children. Pierson appeared on the season two episode "Just Married...With Children" as a loving husband who refused to abuse his wife on the game show How Do I Love Thee. Other TV roles include a regular role as R.T. Howard on That 80's Show, and recurring roles on Grace Under Fire as Grace's ex-husband Jimmy Kelly, and on 24 as President John Keeler, appearing in 19 episodes in Seasons 3 and 4. He appeared in the 2003 Comedy Central TV film Windy City Heat as "The President of Show Business".

In 2005 and 2006 he appeared in two episodes of Veronica Mars as Stewart Manning, the father of Meg Manning. In 2006, he guest-starred in Criminal Minds, playing Max Ryan, a former FBI agent-turned-author and also Jason Gideon's mentor who comes out of his retirement to capture a serial killer known as the Keystone Killer in the episode, Unfinished Business. He appeared in the 2008 film Changeling as the flamboyant defense attorney Sammy "S.S." Hahn. He also appeared in Touched by an Angel, Season 9, Episode 16.

Beginning in 2010, he had a recurring role in Boardwalk Empire as Senator Walter Edge. In 2011, Pierson played Midas Mulligan in Atlas Shrugged, based on Ayn Rand's novel of the same name. He played Russell Dunbar's wealthy father in Rules of Engagement. He had a minor recurring character on the show Young Justice as Jay Garrick. He appeared during season four of Castle, and in 2014 appeared in an episode of Suburgatory.