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How did Charles Siebert die? Fans recall 'Trapper John, MD' star, 84, as 'an enormous talent'

In 1976, Siebert made his first feature film appearance in the horror cult classic 'Blue Sunshine'

Charles Siebert, the stage-trained actor, died at the age of 84. Siebert, who portrayed the snooty Dr Stanley Riverside II on all seven seasons of the CBS drama 'Trapper John, MD,' died on May 1, 2022, at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center.

While it has been a month since his death, the sad news was broken only recently by Siebert's daughter Gillian Bozanic to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor died due to Covid-related pneumonia. Charles Alan Siebert was born on March 9, 1938, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and studied acting at Marquette University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In 1976, he moved to Los Angeles and made his first feature film appearance in the horror cult classic 'Blue Sunshine' and later began appearing as a guest artist on numerous television programs.

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Siebert's acting career

Siebert appeared on all 151 episodes of the MASH spinoff 'Trapper John', which aired from 1979-86. His character, the head of emergency services at San Francisco Memorial Hospital, often clashed with surgeon 'Trapper' John McIntyre, played by Pernell Roberts. Apart from 'Trapper John', Siebert also appeared on the big screen like 'The Other Side of Midnight' (1977), 'Blue Sunshine' (1977), 'Coma' (1978), 'Norman Jewison’s … And Justice for All' (1979), 'All Night Long' (1981), 'White Water Summer' (1987) and 'Eight Men Out' (1988).

In 1982, Siebert became a TV director on the Fox Television series and went on to lead episodes of other shows like 'Knots Landing', 'Pacific Blue', 'Silk Stalkings', 'Pensacola: Wings of Gold', 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys' and 'Xena: Warrior Princess' through 2001. Siebert appeared on Broadway in Bertolt Brecht’s 'Galileo' in 1967, and in Neil Simon‘s 'The Gingerbread Lady' alongside Maureen Stapleton in 1970-71, then worked for Joseph Papp in a Public Theater production of David Rabe’s 'Sticks and Bones' in 1971.

Siebert's personal life

Siebert married his first wife, Catherine Kilzer, on September 8, 1962, who died of breast cancer at the age 44 in 1981. Siebert has three children, Christopher John, Charles Andrew, and Gillian Masie with his first wife. In 1986, Siebert married his second wife Kristine Leroux. His son Charlie Jr, died in 2020.

Siebert leaves behind his second wife, Kristine; children Gillian and Christopher, a musician with the band 'Lavay Smith' and 'Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers'; step-children Kristina, Max, and Jeremy; and brothers Ronald, Leonard, and Jack.

'RIP Siebert'

Craig A Miller, former artistic director of the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, wrote a tribute to the actor. “He was serious about his craft; he worked hard, and he expected everyone around him to do the same. He lifted us all to a new level of theatricality and magic. As an actor, he didn’t want the praise — he wanted the damn notes," he wrote.

"Charlie was my friend. He was an enormous talent who I was so lucky to collaborate with, but even more valuable to me, he was a mentor", he added.

Seibert's fans too paid him tribute on social media. A user wrote, "My beautiful Dr. Riverside. 💔💔💔 Absolutely one of the most delightful, wonderful faces I'd see on my TV. I'm so sad."

Another user wrote, "Charles Siebert who directed several #Xena & Hercules episodes has passed away. He also did the voice of Poseidon in Xena and played Sisyphus in 'Ten Little Warlords'. RIP". 

One user wrote, "Very nice person. A delight as an actor and director". 

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