‘Doogie Howser, M.D.’ Star Dead at 73

73-year-old actor Rif Hutton has passed away after a yearlong battle with brain cancer, according to Deadline. In March 2025, he learned about his brain tumor and wrote, “Every person facing Glioblastoma, or any brain disorder, deserves this kind of support—to be  surrounded by encouragement, by prayer, and by stalwart champions of hope and light. There continues to be meaningful advancements in the fight against [Glioblastoma], and that fight needs all  of us. Please support it in whatever way you can.” He passed in his home in Pasadena on April 18.

Hutton was born in San Antonio Texas in 1952 and was raised in New Jersey. In the mid ‘70s, he moved out to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. Hutton is best known for his role as Dr. Ron Welch on Doogie Howser, M.D., the popular medical sitcom that starred Neil Patrick Harris. Hutton appeared in 17 episodes of the series, which ran from 1989 until 1993.

Hutton has appeared in dozens of other television shows and movies throughout his career. He played Lieutenant Commander Alan Mattoni on JAG, and appeared on multiple soap operas like General Hospital and The Bold and The Beautiful. He also has credits on hit shows like The Jeffersons, Night Court, L.A. Law, Married… with Children, Hunter, Wings, Murphy Brown, and The Larry Sanders Show.

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When it comes to movies, Hutton was a prominent voice actor who played roles in major films like Ice Age: Collision Course, The Princess and the Frog, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. He also starred in a series of KFC commercials as the fictional owner of a franchise restaurant.  

Hutton had a son and was married to his wife, Bridget Hoffman, since 2001. Hoffman is also an actress who has appeared in Perfect Blue, Total Recall, and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

Steve Apostolina, a fellow voice actor, took to Facebook to honor Hutton. “People knew when they hired him for a voice job that he was going to be the most prepared—he always was,” Apostolina wrote. “He was also always first to show up on a gig—I had the great pleasure of beating him a few times and scooping a treasured chair, but those were few and far between.”