Gregory Itzin – A Portrait of Depth, Precision, and Legacy

Between 2014 and 2020, I had the privilege of photographing some of the most gifted actors in Los Angeles—artists whose performances shaped my imagination growing up in the 1980s and 90s. Among them was the remarkable Gregory Itzin (1948–2022), an actor of immense range, discipline, and emotional precision. Best known to millions as the calculating President Charles Logan in 24, Itzin was far more than a single role—he was one of the great American character actors of his generation.

Gregory Itzin – A Portrait of Depth, Precision, and Legacy (Rory Lewis Photographer )

Greg joined me at the Los Angeles Studio for a portrait sitting that remains one of the most memorable of this period. Thoughtful, razor-sharp, and endlessly professional, he brought the full force of his craft to the session. Every adjustment, every shift of gaze, every subtle turn of the head carried intention. Photographing him was, quite simply, like watching a master class in character.

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Wisconsin, Gregory Itzin originally set out to pursue theatre, training at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. His career blossomed across countless American stages, earning him Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for his work in The Kentucky Cycle and multiple Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for his performances at the Matrix Theatre.

On television and film, his presence was unmistakable. His credits spanned MacGyver, Friends, Murder One, NCIS, The Mentalist, Boston Legal, Firefly, Hannah Montana, Covert Affairs, and an astonishing legacy of roles across the Star Trek universe—including appearances in Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise.

But it was 24 that brought him international acclaim. As Charles Logan, Itzin created one of the most memorable antagonists in modern television—a performance that earned him Emmy nominations and left an indelible mark on the series.

During our session, Greg shared stories of stagecraft, character building, and the joy he found in slipping between the worlds of theatre and television. What struck me most was his humility—despite a career that touched virtually every corner of American popular culture, he remained grounded, articulate, and extraordinarily generous with his time.

These Los Angeles portrait sittings—spanning actors from Star Trek to Shawshank Redemption, Broadway titans, and Disney legends—ultimately inspired my decision to move to Los Angeles, a city alive with diversity, storytelling, and artistic energy. Greg Itzin was a part of that influence. Photographing him, and so many others from that era, was a privilege I will never forget.

Gregory Itzin passed away in 2022, leaving behind a vast legacy of work and a profound impact on the many artists, colleagues, and audiences who admired him. I am grateful to have captured his portrait during a meaningful chapter of both our lives.

This series stands as a tribute—not only to the roles he embodied, but to the man behind them.