He was considered for the part of Sonny Crockett on "Miami Vice" (1984).
His "Stargate SG-1" (1997) character Colonel/Brigadier General Jack O'Neill was ranked #10 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Greatest Sci-Fi Legends" (1 August 2004 issue).
His father, Stuart Anderson, who died in 2003, taught English, drama and humanities at a high school in his hometown, Roseville, Minnesota, USA.
His favourite TV show is "The Simpsons" (1989).
In 1985 was voted Sexiest Survivalist by People Magazine.
Is good friends with John de Lancie (who is best known for playing the character of Q in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987), "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) and "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995)). They have appeared in three different series together: "MacGyver" (1985), "Legend" (1995) and "Stargate SG-1" (1997).
Is on the board of directors of "Handgun Control, Inc". In the TV show "MacGyver" (1985), his character always refused to use guns.
Like his two most famous characters, Angus MacGyver of "MacGyver" (1985) and Colonel/Brigadier General Jack O'Neill of "Stargate SG-1" (1997), he was raised in the Upper Midwest--Minnesota. MacGyver was born in Minnesota, Jack in Chicago, IL.
Lives in Malibu, California.
Performed as a mime before acting in television.
Played a firefighter in two different productions: Firehouse (1997) (TV) and the "Stargate SG-1" (1997) episode "The Changeling".
Played his most famous character, Angus MacGyver, a total of 142 times: in all 139 episodes of "MacGyver" (1985) and in two TV-movies, MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis (1994) (TV) and MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (1994) (TV). The only characters he has played more times are Dr. Jeff Webber in "General Hospital" (1963) and Colonel/Brigadier General Jack O'Neill in "Stargate SG-1" (1997). He briefly reprised the role in a 2006 Superbowl TV ad for Mastercard.
Reprised his role of "MacGyver" on "The Simpsons" (1989) in April 2006. He played himself, Richard Dean Anderson, who is desperately fanned by Patty and Selma (who have been obsessive MacGyver fans throughout The Simpsons series). Anderson disappoints the women by saying that he only did "MacGyver" (1985) for money and is more interested in "Stargate SG-1" (1997), after which Patty and Selma kidnap him and force him to play "MacGyver" again and to escape from traps. After a while, Anderson gets so keen about actually trying to be MacGyver that he starts to harass Patty and Selma. Finally, Patty and Selma get sick of "that nut-case" and get rid of him by boring him with their holiday slide shows.
Reprised his role of MacGyver for a Mastercard commercial. The commercial debuted during Superbowl XL (2006), nearly 14 years after the series ended.
Shares his birthday with Charles Correll, who directed him in 19 episodes of "MacGyver" (1985), MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (1994) (TV), four episodes of "Legend" (1995) and two episodes of "Stargate SG-1" (1997).
Was considered for the role of Commander Benjamin Sisko on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993).
Was presented with an award and made an honorary brigadier general at the Air Force Association's 57th Annual Air Force Anniversary Dinner in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, 14 September 2004, because of his role as star and executive producer of "Stargate SG-1" (1997), a series which has portrayed the Air Force in a positive light since it first premiered. It was presented by the Air Force Chief of Staff, John P. Jumper. The last recipient of the award was James Stewart in 1987.
Went to Alexander Ramsey High School in Roseville, Minnesota.
When he was 16, Richard Dean Anderson broke both of his arms in separate accidents on the ice. He broke his left arm first, and while skating 3 weeks later he broke his right arm so badly he was in the hospital for 3 months. His elbow snapped backwards and he's still got pins in there.
When he was 17, he rode his bike 5,641 miles from Minnesota to Alaska. He started out with some friends but travelled the last 33 days alone.