Ronald Alan Masak (July 1, 1936 – October 20, 2022) was an American actor best known for playing the recurring role of Sheriff Mort Metzger of Cabot Cove in the CBS mystery series Murder, She Wrote starring Angela Lansbury, who predeceased him by only 9 days.

[3][4][5][6] He began working as a stage performer, and mostly was involved in theater until transitioning to film and television becoming a familiar character actor.

The Army provided Masak with a platform to display his all-around talents for performing, writing, and directing.

[citation needed] Masak's early television appearances includes roles on The Twilight Zone, Get Smart, The Monkees, I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

He then earned roles in the NBC crime series Police Story (1975-1978), and in the ABC sitcom Webster (1983-1989).

Masak's first screen role was as the Harmonica Man in "The Purple Testament", an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1960.

During this time, he also guest starred on various shows such as The Rockford Files, Quincy, M.E., Magnum, P.I., and Diff'rent Strokes.

He also had a role in the film Harper Valley PTA reuniting with his I Dream of Jeannie co-star Barbara Eden.