Eugene Harrison Roche (September 22, 1928 – July 28, 2004) was an American actor and the original " Ajax Man" in 1970s television commercials.

Personal life

Roche was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Mary M. (née Finnegan) and Robert F. Roche, who was at the time serving in the U.S. Navy. He served in the U.S. Army after graduating from high school. He married Marjory Perkins in 1953. The couple had nine children, including actor Eamonn Roche and

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

-winning writer/producer Sean Roche. They divorced in 1981. Eugene Roche remarried in 1982 and remained married to his second wife, Anntoni C. Roche (née Bratman), until his death in 2004.

Career

After playing theater on various stages since 1953, Roche made his Broadway debut in 1961 as a bit player in the play ''Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole'' with Darren McGavin and went on to appear in ''

Mother Courage Mother Courage (German ''Mutter Courage'') is a character from a Grimmelshausen novel ''Lebensbeschreibung der Ertzbetrügerin und Landstörtzerin Courasche'' (''The Runagate Courage'') dating from around 1670. The character had played a cameo r ...

'' with

Anne Bancroft Anne Bancroft (born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano; September 17, 1931 – June 6, 2005) was an American actress. Respected for her acting prowess and versatility, Bancroft received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two ...

in 1963, and in ''The White House'' with Helen Hayes in 1964.Vallance, Tom (August 8, 2004)
Eugene Rocke obituary
''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

''; London. Television comedy became his forte with recurring roles on ''

Soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are use ...

'', as Christine Sullivan's father on ''

Night Court ''Night Court'' is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from January 4, 1984 to May 31, 1992. The setting was the night shift of a Manhattan municipal court presided over by a young, unorthodox judge, Harold "Harry" T. Stone (portray ...

'', '' Webster'', and Larry Appleton's abusive boss on '' Perfect Strangers''. Roche appeared as Pinky Peterson, one of

Archie Bunker Archie is a masculine given name, a diminutive of Archibald. It may refer to: People Given name or nickname *Archie Alexander (1888–1958), African-American mathematician, engineer and governor of the US Virgin Islands * Archie Blake (mathematici ...

's buddies, on several episodes of ''

All in the Family ''All in the Family'' is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS for nine seasons, from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. Afterwards, it was continued with the spin-off series ''Archie Bunker's Place'', which picked up where ''All in ...

'', in mostly comedic episodes. After a memorable performance as a prisoner of war who meets a shocking and sudden end in the film ''

Slaughterhouse Five ''Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death'' is a 1969 semi-autobiographic science fiction-infused anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut. It follows the life and experiences of Billy Pilgrim, from his early years, to h ...

'' (1972), he had supporting parts in such feature films as ''

The Late Show The Late Show may refer to: Books * ''The Late Show'' (book), a 2017 book by Michael Connelly Film * ''The Late Show'' (film), a 1977 film * ''Late Show'', a 1999 German film by director Helmut Dietl Music * ''The Late Show'' (Eddie "Loc ...

'' (1977), '' Foul Play'' (1978), and ''

Corvette Summer ''Corvette Summer'' is a 1978 American adventure comedy film directed by Matthew Robbins. It was Mark Hamill's first screen appearance after the unexpected success of '' Star Wars'' the previous year. Hamill stars as a California teenager who he ...

'' (1978). Roche played dramatic supporting roles as well, often playing deceptively ordinary men who are shown to be capable of ruthlessness, menacing violence or disturbing perversity. In '' Murder, She Wrote'', he played a bad cop who attempts to kill Jessica Fletcher, and as a criminal mastermind posing as a Catholic bishop in the film '' Foul Play''. He appeared in two episodes of ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theodopolis "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular ''Cannon'' series, ...

''. In 1977, he appeared in "Never Con a Killer" (the pilot episode for ''

The Feather and Father Gang ''The Feather and Father Gang'' is a 1976–1977 American crime-drama television series starring Stefanie Powers and Harold Gould, which centers on an attorney who enlists her con-man father and his team of bunco artists to help her solve crime ...

''). He played alien Jor Brel in an episode of '' Star Trek: Voyager'' titled "Remember". He made two appearances on ''

Airwolf ''Airwolf'' is an American action military drama television series that centers on a high-technology military helicopter, code-named ''Airwolf'', and its crew. The show follows them as they undertake various exotic missions, many involving e ...

'' (once as United States Senator William Dietz in the pilot episode "Shadow of the Hawke", and again as Eddie in the episode "Firestorm" in season 2). Roche appeared in five episodes of ''

Magnum, P.I. ''Magnum, P.I.'' is an American crime drama television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from December 11, 1980 to May 8, 1988 during its first-run broadcast on ...

'' as Luther Gillis, an old style private eye. He is remembered for his recurring role as the Ajax Dishwasher in a series of television commercials and print advertisements.

Death

Roche died in an Encino, California hospital from a heart attack on July 28, 2004, aged 75.Eugene Roche, 75, Actor in TV and Film, Dies

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newspa ...

, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', July 31, 2004; accessed August 27, 2015.

Selected filmography

* ''

Splendor in the Grass ''Splendor in the Grass'' is a 1961 American period drama film produced and directed by Elia Kazan, from a screenplay written by William Inge. It stars Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty (in his film debut) as two high school sweethearts, naviga ...

'' (1961) .... Private Detective (uncredited) * '' The Happening'' (1967) .... First Motorcycle Officer * ''

Cotton Comes to Harlem ''Cotton Comes to Harlem'' is a 1970 American neo-noir action comedy thriller film co-written and directed by Ossie Davis and starring Godfrey Cambridge, Raymond St. Jacques, and Redd Foxx. The film, later cited as an early example of the ...

'' (1970) .... Lt. Anderson * ''

They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as a duo, often accompanied by a ...

'' (1971) .... Policeman * ''

Crawlspace A crawl space is an unoccupied, unfinished, narrow space within a building, between the ground and the first (or ground) floor. The crawl space is so named because there is typically only enough room to crawl rather than stand; anything larger t ...

'' (1972, TV Movie) .... Sheriff Emil Birge * '' Ironside'' (1972, TV Series) .... Marty, law school janitor * ''

Slaughterhouse-Five ''Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death'' is a 1969 semi-autobiographic science fiction-infused anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut. It follows the life and experiences of Billy Pilgrim, from his early years, to h ...

'' (1972) .... Edgar Derby * ''Egan'' (1973) ... Detective Eddie Egan * ''

Newman's Law ''Newman's Law'' is a 1974 American crime film directed by Richard T. Heffron and starring George Peppard. Plot Vince Newman, a no-nonsense cop, decides to investigate on his own when tipped off that colleagues in the police department are inv ...

'' (1974) .... Reardon * '' W'' (1974) .... Charles Jasper * ''

Mr. Ricco ''Mr. Ricco'' is a 1975 crime drama film directed by Paul Bogart and starring Dean Martin in his last leading film role, along with Eugene Roche, Denise Nicholas and Cindy Williams. Plot A murder charge is dropped against San Francisco black mi ...

'' (1975) .... Detective George Cronyn * ''

'' (1975, TV series) .... Patrolman Lyle 'Sandy' Beach / Seymore Haywood * ''

The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is a television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin Productions, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ...

'' (1976, TV Series) .... Charlie Springer * ''

'' (1976–1978, TV Series) .... Pinky Petersen * ''

'' (1977) .... Ronnie Birdwell * ''

Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected ''Quinn Martins Tales of the Unexpected'' is an American horror and science fiction anthology television series produced by Quinn Martin, and hosted and narrated by William Conrad. It aired from February 2 to August 24, 1977.McNeil, Alex, ''Tot ...

'' (1977, TV Series) .... Major Jim Langston * ''

'' (1977–1981, TV Series) .... E. Ronald Mallu, Esq. * ''

The Ghost of Flight 401 Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from New York JFK to Miami. Shortly before midnight on December 29, 1972, the Lockheed L-1011-1 TriStar crashed into the Florida Everglades, causing 101 total fatalities. Three of the 4 cockpit ...

'' (1978, TV Movie) .... Andrews * ''

'' (1978) .... Ed McGrath * '' Foul Play'' (1978) .... Archbishop Thorncrest * ''

The New Maverick ''The New Maverick'' is a 1978 American Western television film based on the 1957–1962 series '' Maverick'' starring James Garner as Bret Maverick. ''The New Maverick'' stars Garner as Bret Maverick, Charles Frank as newcomer cousin Ben Mav ...

'' (1978, TV Movie) .... Judge Austin Crupper, President 1st National Bank of Deming Texas * ''

Good Time Harry ''Good Time Harry'' is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from July 19, 1980, to September 13, 1980. Premise The series centered on Harry Jenkins, a sportswriter for the ''San Francisco Sentinel'' whose playboy escapades often got in the way of ...

'' (1980, TV Series) .... Jimmy Hughes * '' Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case'' (1980, TV Movie) .... Gary Gortmaker * '' Miracle on Ice'' (1981, TV Movie) .... Don Craig * ''

Taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...

'' (1982, TV Series) .... Jack * ''

'' (1983-1988, TV Series) .... Luther Gillis * ''

Off Sides (Pigs vs. Freaks) ''Off Sides (Pigs vs. Freaks)'' (originally titled ''Pigs vs. Freaks'') is a 1984 American made-for-television sports comedy film. Based on a short film by Jack Epps Jr., the feature-length film was scheduled for release in 1980 but was not act ...

'' (1984, TV Movie) .... Chief Frank Brockmeyer * '' Webster'' (1984–1986, TV Series) .... Bill Parker * ''

'' (1984, TV Series) .... Eddie Donahough / Senator William Dietz * ''

Oh, God! You Devil ''Oh, God! You Devil'' is a 1984 American comedy film starring George Burns, Ted Wass, Ron Silver and Roxanne Hart. Directed by Paul Bogart and produced by Robert M. Sherman, the screenplay is by Andrew Bergman. ''Oh, God! You Devil'' is the third ...

'' (1984) .... Charlie Gray * ''

'' (1984–1988, TV Series) .... Jack Sullivan * ''

Hardcastle and McCormick ''Hardcastle and McCormick'' is an American action crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 18, 1983, through May 5, 1986. The series stars Brian Keith as Judge Milton C. Hardcastle and Daniel Hugh Kelly as ex-con and rac ...

'' (1985, TV Series) .... Joseph Allen Murphy * ''Stranded'' (1986, TV Movie) .... Sullivan * ''

Highway To Heaven ''Highway to Heaven'' is an American fantasy drama television series that ran on NBC from September 19, 1984, to August 4, 1989. The series starred Michael Landon as Jonathan Smith, an angel sent to Earth in order to help people in need. Victo ...

'' (1986, TV Series) .... Clancy * ''

Take Five "Take Five" is a jazz standard composed by saxophonist Paul Desmond and originally recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet for their album ''Time Out'' at Columbia Records' 30th Street Studios in New York City on July 1, 1959. Two years later it b ...

'' (1987, TV Series) .... Max Davis * '' Perfect Strangers'' (1987–1988, TV Series) .... Harry Burns * ''

Eternity Eternity, in common parlance, means infinite time that never ends or the quality, condition, or fact of being everlasting or eternal. Classical philosophy, however, defines eternity as what is timeless or exists outside time, whereas sempit ...

'' (1990) .... Ridley / Governor * '' Lenny'' (1990, TV Series) .... Pat * ''

The Last Halloween ''The Last Halloween'' is an American Halloween television special produced by Hanna-Barbera. It premiered and first aired on CBS on October 28, 1991. The visual effects and animation were provided by Industrial Light & Magic and Pacific Data I ...

'' (1991, TV Short) .... Grandpa * ''

Julie Julie may refer to: * Julie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name Film and television * ''Julie'' (1956 film), an American film noir starring Doris Day * ''Julie'' (1975 film), a Hindi film by K. S. Sethumadhava ...

'' (1992, TV Series) .... I.F. 'Wooley' Woolstein * '' Batman: The Animated Series'' (1992-1993, TV Series) .... Arnold Stromwell * '' When a Man Loves a Woman'' (1994) .... Walter * '' Roswell'' (1994, TV Movie) ....

James Forrestal James Vincent Forrestal (February 15, 1892 – May 22, 1949) was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense. Forrestal came from a very strict middle-class Irish Catholic fami ...

* ''

A Friend to Die For ''A Friend to Die For'' (also known as ''Death of a Cheerleader'' in the UK and during subsequent Lifetime television airings) is a 1994 American psychological thriller television film directed by William A. Graham. Written by Dan Bronson, th ...

'' (1994, TV Movie) .... Priest * ''

Executive Decision ''Executive Decision'' is a 1996 American action film directed by Stuart Baird in his directorial debut. The film stars Kurt Russell, Steven Seagal, Halle Berry, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt, Joe Morton, David Suchet, and B.D. Wong. It depicts t ...

'' (1996) .... Admiral Lewis * ''

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' is a 1989 American comic science fiction film. It is the first installment of a film franchise and served as the directorial debut of Joe Johnston. The film stars Rick Moranis, Matt Frewer, Marcia Strassman, and Kri ...

'' (1997, TV Series) .... Grandpa Matthew Murdock * '' The Woman Chaser'' (1999) .... Used Car Dealer * ''

Dancing at the Harvest Moon ''Dancing at the Harvest Moon'' is a 2002 American made-for-television romantic drama film starring Jacqueline Bisset, Valerie Harper and Eric Mabius. Directed by Bobby Roth, it is based on K.C. McKinnon's novel of the same name. Plot Maggie, a ...

'' (2002, TV Movie) .... Gil Finnigan

References

External links