What is Ted Lange's Net Worth?
Ted Lange is an actor, director, and screenwriter who has a net worth of $2 million. Ted Lange best known for playing bartender Isaac Washington in the ABC television series "The Love Boat." He also appeared in such films as "Friday Foster," "The Naked Truth," and "Carts," and co-wrote the Larry Clark film "Passing Through." As a director, Lange directed many episodes of the television sitcoms "Mr. Box Office" and "The First Family."
Early Life and Education
Theodore Lange III was born on January 5, 1948 in Oakland, California to Theodore Jr. and Geraldine, both of whom worked in television and theater. As an adolescent, he went to Oakland Technical High School, where he was class and student body president. Lange went on to attend Merritt Junior College, from which he earned an associate's degree. He then went to City College of San Francisco, where he was very active in theater.
Theater Career
Following his time in college, Lange appeared in various local theater productions in Oakland. He also became a guest artist in residence at the University of Santa Clara. Lange later acted in plays at the University of California, Berkeley as a member of the New Shakespearean Company. In 1968, he made his Broadway debut in the musical "Hair"; he subsequently appeared in the first national touring production of the show. Among his other theater credits, Lange performed in the biographical one-man show "Behind the Mask: An Evening with Paul Laurence Dunbar." He has also written numerous plays, including "George Washington's Boy" and "Lemon Meringue Facade."
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Television Career
Lange landed his first role on television in 1974, as mailman Junior on the ABC sitcom "That's My Mama." He starred alongside Clifton Davis, Theresa Merritt, and Theodore Wilson, among others. "That's My Mama" failed to find traction with audiences, and ended after its second season in late 1975. Lange's next role was as Harvard the handyman on the ABC sitcom "Mr. T and Tina," a spinoff of "Welcome Back, Kotter" starring Pat Morita and Susan Blanchard. The show was short-lived, airing just five episodes before its cancellation in 1976. Much more successful was Lange's next show, "The Love Boat," which premiered in 1977. In the romantic dramedy series, Lange starred as Isaac Washington, the bartender of the cruise ship MS Pacific Princess. Other members of the main cast included Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, and Lauren Tewes. A major hit, "The Love Boat" ran for nine seasons through 1986, and spawned a revival series in the late 1990s. In addition to his acting role, Lange wrote and directed some episodes of the show.
During his time on "The Love Boat," Lange made guest appearances on such shows as "Fantasy Island," "Charlie's Angels," and "The Fall Guy." He also directed episodes of "Fantasy Island" and "Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer." In the late 1980s, Lange appeared in episodes of "227" and "In the Heat of the Night," and played the Ghost of Christmas Present in the television film "Christmas." He continued appearing in guest roles in the 1990s, including on the sitcoms "Evening Shade," "Platypus Man," "Weird Science," and "Family Matters." Behind the camera, Lange directed episodes of "Moesha," "The Wayans Bros.," and "Love Boat: The Next Wave." In the early 2000s, he directed two episodes of "Dharma & Greg" and made guest appearances on the sitcom "The Hughleys," "Scrubs," and "Half & Half." Lange went on to appear in episodes of such shows as "Drake & Josh," "General Hospital," "Psych," and "Maron." He was also part of the main cast of the comedy series "Betty White's Off Their Rockers." As a director, Lange directed numerous episodes of the sitcoms "Mr. Box Office" and "The First Family," both of which premiered in 2012.
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Film Career
Lange first appeared on the big screen in the 1972 blaxploitation film "Trick Baby," playing the pimp Melvin. Early the following year, he showed up in the concert documentary film "Wattstax," a recording of the benefit concert commemorating the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts riots. Lange was also in the 1973 mystery thriller "Blade." His next major role was as Fancy Dexter in the 1975 blaxploitation film "Friday Foster," starring Pam Grier. Two years after that, Lange co-wrote the film "Passing Through" with director Larry Clark. He returned in front of the camera with a role in the 1978 comedy "Record City." Lange didn't appear much on the big screen in the years after that; his next significant role wasn't until the 1987 comedy "Terminal Exposure." Following that, he appeared in the comedy "Glitch!," and directed and starred in an adaptation of "Othello."
In the 1990s, Lange had roles in "Penny Ante: The Motion Picture," "Perfume," "The Naked Truth," and "Sandman." The next decade, his credits included "The Redemption," "Banana Moon," "Gang of Roses," "National Lampoon's Dorm Daze 2," "Carts," and "Who Shot Mamba?" Lange also directed the drama "For Love of Amy." In 2010, he had a supporting role in the romantic comedy "Bed & Breakfast," starring Dean Cain and Juliana Paes. The year after that, Lange appeared in "Phil Cobb's Dinner for Four."
Other Media Appearances
Among his other appearances in the media, Lange previously co-wrote a sex and advice column for FHM magazine with adult film star Jenna Jameson. Elsewhere, he appeared in the fourth season of the VH1 reality television series "Celebrity Fit Club," losing 28 pounds in total.
Personal Life
Lange married his first wife, Sheryl Thompson, in 1978. They had two children named Theodore IV and Turner, and divorced in 1989. Later, in 2001, Lange wed Mary Ley.
