Regis Cordic
Acting • Born 1926-05-15 – Died 1999-04-16
Biography
Cordic was born in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh and attended Central Catholic High School. He started in radio as a staff announcer and substitute sportscaster at WWSW-AM.[1] When morning host Davey Tyson left the station in 1948, Cordic was one of a number of staffers given the opportunity to replace him. At first a straightforward announcer, Cordic began introducing comedy to his program—first in subtle ways, such as reading a sports score for "East Overshoe University" along with the real scores, and later by adding a repertory company of supporting comic characters. The morning show, renamed Cordic & Company, became the most popular in Pittsburgh. In 1954, Cordic & Company moved to KDKA (AM) on Labor Day, one of the first times that an American radio station had hired a major personality directly from a local competitor. Popular Bette Smiley had decided to retire from her full-time KDKA wake-up show Radio Gift Shoppe of the Air and move to a Sunday-only condensed version on WCAE in August 1954 in order to raise her young son Robbie. Cordic's immediate predecessor in the morning slot was the Ed and Rainbow show, featuring Ed Schaughency with Elmer Waltman cast in the role of Rainbow, the janitor. Waltman was dropped, and Schaughency was moved to the afternoon with a show called Schaughency's Record Cabinet. Schaughency lasted less than two years in that role before he was replaced by Art Pallan, who also came over from WWSW. Schaughency took on a new role as a news reader and moved back to mornings, delivering the newscasts during Cordic & Company. The show's ratings continued to grow until, at some points, it had an 85 share—meaning that 85% of all radios in Pittsburgh were tuned to Cordic & Company while it was on. By the end of his tenure in Pittsburgh, Cordic was reportedly earning $100,000 a year, a huge sum for a radio host at the time.
Filmography
73 credits
The Immigrants
Movie • 1978
Somers
The Mouse and His Child
Movie • 1977
The Clock (voice)
Detroit 9000
Movie • 1973
Dr. Horace Cooley
Indict and Convict
Movie • 1974
Yacht Club Bartender
The Secret Identity of Jack the Ripper
Movie • 1988
Self - Announcer
Puff, the Magic Dragon
Movie • 1978
Bald Doctor (voice)
Gulliver's Travels
Movie • 1979
(voice)
The Meanest Men in the West
Movie • 1978
John Hus
Movie • 1977
Cardinal Anthony
Woman of the Year
Movie • 1976
Editor Clayton
Target Risk
Movie • 1975
Mr. Ryan
Ritual of Evil
Movie • 1970
The Sheriff
Standing Tall
Movie • 1978
Hodges
Newman's Law
Movie • 1974
Clement
The Golden Gate Murders
Movie • 1979
Father John Thomas
Panic in Echo Park
Movie • 1977
Dr. Gavin O'Connor
The Face of Fear
Movie • 1971
Dr. Landsteiner
Intimate Strangers
Movie • 1977
Simpson, Rest Home Director
Death Takes a Holiday
Movie • 1971
TV Announcer
The Wild Party
Movie • 1975
Mr. Murchison
Obsession
Movie • 1976
Newscaster
The Man with the Power
Movie • 1977
Personage
Travis Logan, D.A.
Movie • 1971
The Milky Way
Movie
Americathon
Movie • 1979
Herb
The Priest Killer
Movie • 1971
Archbishop
Columbo
TV • 1971
Lewis
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Stoddard
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Daniel Austin
The Bionic Woman
TV • 1976
The Scooby-Doo/Dynomutt Hour
TV • 1976
(voice)
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Mannix
TV • 1967
The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries
TV • 1977
Medical Center
TV • 1969
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Reverend
The Transformers
TV • 1984
Menasor
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
Doctor (as Regis J. Cordic)
Wonder Woman
TV • 1975
Professor Eidleman
Emergency!
TV • 1972
Cannon
TV • 1971
Ironside
TV • 1967
The Waltons
TV • 1972
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV • 1974
Dr. Peel
Switch
TV • 1975
Dr. Dane Cranston
The All-New Super Friends Hour
TV • 1977
McCloud
TV • 1970
The Sixth Sense
TV • 1972
Toma
TV • 1973
The Manhunter
TV • 1974
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
TV • 1970
Marc Williams (as Regis J. Cordic)
Famous Classic Tales
TV • 1970
Logan's Run
TV • 1977
Darrel
Nichols
TV • 1971
Tyler
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Sheriff Crane
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Marshal Halstead
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Sheriff Grimes
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Host
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
TV • 1976
Dr. Lassiter
The Name of the Game
TV • 1968
Chairman Walt
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Space Explorer
The Rockford Files
TV • 1974
Dr. Evan Stuart (as Regis J. Cordic)
Monty Nash
TV • 1971
Ambassador Reynolds
Space Ghost and Dino Boy
TV • 1966
Moltar (voice)
The Critical List
TV • 1978
Chairman
Quincy, M.E.
TV • 1976
Judge
The Incredible Hulk
TV • 1977
Columbo
TV • 1971
Deputy Commissioner
The Outsider
TV • 1968
Stambler
Get Smart
TV • 1965
Colonel Quinton
The Monkees
TV • 1966
Doctor
The Monkees
TV • 1966
Narrator / Town Cryer