Dakin Matthews Net Worth

What Is Dakin Matthews' Net Worth?

Dakin Matthews is an American actor, playwright, director, dramaturg, professor, and theatrical scholar who has a net worth of $2 million.

Dakin Matthews has combined an extensive screen career with decades of work in classical theater and education. Television audiences know him for playing Headmaster Hanlin Charleston on "Gilmore Girls," Joe Heffernan on "The King of Queens," Reverend Sikes on "Desperate Housewives," and Herb Kelcher on "My Two Dads."

Matthews has appeared in films including "The Fabulous Baker Boys," "Thirteen Days," "True Grit," "Lincoln," and "Bridge of Spies." His stage career is even more extensive, encompassing approximately 250 professional productions and Broadway appearances in "Henry IV," "A Man for All Seasons," "The Best Man," "Rocky," "The Audience," "Waitress," "The Iceman Cometh," "To Kill a Mockingbird," and "Camelot."

Beyond acting, Matthews has served as an artistic director, Shakespeare scholar, translator, and professor. He taught at Juilliard, the American Conservatory Theater, and California State University, East Bay. He has also adapted classical works, translated Spanish Golden Age plays, and worked as a dramaturg on major theatrical productions.

Early Life

Melvin Richard "Dakin" Matthews was born on November 7, 1940, in Oakland, California. He initially planned to become a Roman Catholic priest and studied at seminaries in California before continuing his theological education at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

During the changes surrounding the Second Vatican Council, Matthews reconsidered the priesthood and became increasingly interested in drama, literature, and performance. He ultimately returned to California and earned a master's degree in English from what is now California State University, East Bay, in 1966.

Matthews pursued additional graduate study and became involved in acting, directing, and teaching. His command of classical texts eventually made him both a sought-after performer and a respected theatrical scholar.

Teaching and Theater Career

Matthews began his professional stage career in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 1960s. He performed with the Marin Shakespeare Festival, California Shakespeare Festival, and American Conservatory Theater.

He also taught at Juilliard, where his students included Kevin Kline and Patti LuPone. At the American Conservatory Theater, he taught future film star Annette Bening.

Matthews joined the faculty of California State University, East Bay, teaching there for more than two decades and eventually becoming a full professor of English. He was named professor emeritus in 1990.

As an actor, Matthews became particularly associated with Shakespeare. His roles have included King Lear, Falstaff, Bottom, Cardinal Wolsey, Warwick, and Leonato. He has also directed classical productions and conducted Shakespeare master classes internationally.

Matthews was a founding member of John Houseman's Acting Company, the Antaeus Theatre Company, and Sam Mendes' Bridge Project. He served as artistic director of several theater organizations, including the Berkeley Shakespeare Festival and Antaeus.

Playwriting and Dramaturgy

Matthews has written plays, adaptations, and translations throughout his career. He is particularly respected for translating Spanish Golden Age drama and adapting classical works for modern performance.

He worked as a dramaturg on the Broadway revival of "Julius Caesar" starring Denzel Washington. Matthews also adapted Shakespeare's two "Henry IV" plays into a single theatrical event for Lincoln Center Theater.

That production earned him a special Drama Desk Award in 2004. His other writing projects include the play "The Prince of L.A." and the musical "Liberty Inn," which he co-wrote with B.T. Ryback.

Television Career

Matthews began appearing regularly on television during the 1980s. His early credits included "Remington Steele," "Dallas," "Murder, She Wrote," "Matlock," "L.A. Law," and "Who's the Boss?"

He played Herb Kelcher on "My Two Dads" and later held regular or recurring roles on "Down Home," "The Jeff Foxworthy Show," and "Soul Man." On "Gilmore Girls," Matthews portrayed the stern but fair Headmaster Charleston of Chilton Preparatory School.

He appeared as Joe Heffernan, Doug's father, on "The King of Queens" and played Reverend Sikes across multiple seasons of "Desperate Housewives." His other credits include "The West Wing," "The Practice," "Star Trek: Voyager," "House," "The Big Bang Theory," "The Good Wife," "General Hospital," "Blue Bloods," "The Gilded Age," and "Étoile."

Film Career

Matthews made his feature-film debut during the 1980s and appeared in "Like Father Like Son," "Nuts," "Funny Farm," "Clean and Sober," and "The Fabulous Baker Boys."

His later credits included "Child's Play 3," "Flubber," "Thirteen Days," and the Coen brothers' adaptation of "True Grit," in which he played Colonel Stonehill. Matthews portrayed Secretary of State John Usher in Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and Judge Byers in Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies."

Although he has rarely played leading film roles, his authoritative voice and classical training have made him a natural choice for judges, educators, clergy members, politicians, and institutional figures.

Broadway

Matthews made his Broadway debut as both a performer and adaptor in Lincoln Center Theater's production of "Henry IV." He later appeared in "A Man for All Seasons," "The Best Man," "Rocky," and "The Audience."

He originated the role of Joe in the Broadway musical "Waitress" and returned for the show's 2021 revival. Matthews subsequently played Judge Taylor in "To Kill a Mockingbird" and appeared in "The Iceman Cometh."

In 2023, he played the dual roles of Merlyn and Pellinore in the Broadway revival of "Camelot." He continued performing into his mid-80s, starring as Matthew Harrison Brady in Arena Stage's 2026 production of "Inherit the Wind."

Personal Life

Dakin married actress and director Anne Marie McNaughton in 1969. They have four children. In 2026, California State University, East Bay honored Matthews with a Distinguished Alumni Award recognizing his contributions to acting, scholarship, education, and classical theater.

Who's Richer?

Dakin
Matthews

Compare!

Annette
Bening