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Tim Matheson

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Tim Matheson BIO

Tim Matheson is an American actor, director and producer perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth talking 'Eric "Otter" Stratton' in the 1978 comedy, National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), but has had a variety of other well-known roles both before and since, including critical accolades for his playing "Vice President John Hoynes" on the television series, The West Wing (1999), which garnered him two Primetime Emmy award nominations for Best Guest Star in a Drama Series.

From 2011 to 2015, Matheson starred as 'Dr. Brick Breeland' in The CW series, Hart of Dixie (2011), opposite Rachel Bilson. He has and continues to direct several episodes each season throughout the series. Not limited to "Hart of Dixie", Matheson has made a career of directing an array of episodic projects on some of television's most prominent shows, including "The Last Ship," "Burn Notice," "Criminal Minds," "Without a Trace," "Cold Case," "Numbers," "Drop Dead Diva," "Suits," "Eureka" and "White Collar," as well as pilots for Fox's "The Good Guys" and the USA Network successful original series "Covert Affairs."

Beginning his career at the age of 13, Matheson appeared in Robert Young's CBS nostalgia comedy series, Window on Main Street (1961), during the 1961-1962 television season. In 1964, he provided the voice of the lead character in the cartoon program Jonny Quest (1964), as well as the voice of "Jace" in the original animated series, Space Ghost (1966). Additionally, he played the role of the oldest son, "Mike Beardsley", in the film Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), which starred Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.

In 1969, Matheson joined the cast of NBC's western series, The Virginian (1962), in its eighth season, as "Jim Horn". During the final season of the television western Bonanza (1959) in 1972-1973, Matheson played "Griff King", a parolee who tries to reform his life as a worker at the Ponderosa Ranch under Ben Cartwright's watch. Following that, he portrayed young motorcycle cop "Phil Sweet", in the 1973 film, Magnum Force (1973).

In the fall of 1976, Matheson was seen opposite Kurt Russell in the NBC series, The Quest (1976), the story of two young men in the American West seeking the whereabouts of their sister, a captive of the Cheyenne. In 1978, he co-starred in the acclaimed National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), opposite John Belushi; the following year, he appeared alongside Belushi again in Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979). Matheson and Catherine Hicks played "Rick Tucker" and "Amanda Tucker", who operate a detective agency in Laurel Canyon in CBS' Tucker's Witch (1982), which aired during the 1982-1983 season. He then appeared in the 1983 To Be or Not to Be (1983), starring Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft and went on to star in the 1984 comedy, Up the Creek (1984) and 1985's Fletch (1985).

Matheson, along with business partner 'Dan Grodnik', bought National Lampoon in 1989, when the magazine was facing financial decline. They were unable to reverse the magazine fortunes, however, and sold it in 1991. In 1996, Matheson took on the role of a con man who claims to be Carol Brady's thought-to-be-dead husband in A Very Brady Sequel (1996). Matheson was seen opposite Ryan Reynolds in the feature comedy Van Wilder: Party Liaison (2002) in 2002, playing the father of the title character, who was inspired by his own character in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), as a nod to the original film.

Tim was born Timothy Lewis Matthieson in Glendale, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, the son of Sally and Clifford Matthieson, a training pilot. He has three wonderful children with former wife Megan Murphy Matheson.

Tim Matheson STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
1982
Austin [Replacement]


Tim Matheson Videos

Tim Matheson News


Review: THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater Of Dublin


What did our critic think of THE PRICE OF POWER at Abbey Theater Of Dublin? As the director of THE PRICE OF POWER, Abbey Theater of Dublin director Joe Bishara is up against an interesting challenge. How does one present a show about John F. Kennedy, one of the most famous faces in the history of American politics?

Netflix Renews VIRGIN RIVER For Two More Seasons


Starring Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, Virgin River tells the love story of Mel Monroe (Breckenridge) who answers an ad to work as a midwife and nurse practitioner in the remote Northern California town of Virgin River, thinking it will be the perfect place to start fresh and leave her painful memories.

Emmy Rossum, Morgan Freeman, Jamie Lee Curtis & More to Take Part in US Holocaust Memorial Museum Virtual Event


At this historic time for reflection and action - members of the Western Region community supporting the efforts of the D.C.-based U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) will come together virtually on March 11 at 7 p.m. PT.

50+ Theatres To Virtually Screen THE ETRUSCAN SMILE


In an effort to support cinema aficionados and theaters during these difficult and unprecedented times, Lightyear Entertainment, in association with Film Movement and Arthouse Convergence, will offer consumers a virtual theatrical experience with its current film The Etruscan Smile, starring Brian Cox.

BWW Interview: Ari Pelto of San Diego's HANSEL AND GRETEL at the Civic Center


Pelto will make his much-anticipated San Diego Opera debut on Feb. 8, 2020, in their highly imaginative production

BWW Review: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Splashes into the Massey Theatre with its Toe Tapping Tunes


Extravagant tap dancing numbers, incredible singing, and breathtaking set pieces were a few things that I got to witness at the Massey Theatre on Saturday night. The Royal City Musical Theatre's production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN performed another round of shows this weekend at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster, B.C. Playing from April 4-20, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN tells the story of film stars Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont with the rise of 'talking pictures' in Hollywood. Filled with romance, drama, and comedy, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN takes us back in time to experience what the the movie industry was like in the late 1920s.

VIDEO: On This Day, April 9- Happy Birthday, Cynthia Nixon!


On this day we're celebrating the birthday of multiple Tony Award-winner, television star, and former gubernatorial candidate, the great Cynthia Nixon!

Season 2 Of RYAN HANSEN SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION* Premieres Today


RYAN HANSEN SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION*,  a meta comedy skewering Hollywood and police procedurals, returns for Season 2 on January 30, 2019 on YouTube Premium.  The show stars Hansen, as a ridiculous version of himself, who joins an LAPD task force partnering actors with homicide detectives so they can use their “actor skills” to help solve murders. In Season 2, Ryan's back, but after Detective Mathers, Ryan's partner from the first season (Samira Wiley), gets sidelined, rogue cop Vince Vincente (Avon Barksdale Wood Harris) steps in as Ryan's new partner. Together the two will have to buddy up to solve an array of puzzling crimes.

Photo Flash: CTYP Stages the Canadian Premiere of ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE'S 'WE ARE IN A PLAY!'


Elephant and Piggie's "We Are in a Play!" is a delightful new musical about two best friends and their many adventures; this charming story based on the best-selling book series by award-winning author Mo Willems. Together the friends discover: What happens when two friends want to play with ONE toy? What DO you wear to a fancy party? And will ANYONE say "Banana?"

Oh, Brother! Look Back on Some Famous Brotherly Pairings in TRUE WEST


True West is currently being revived by the Roundabout Theatre Company, starring Ethan Hawke and Paul Dano. The pair have joined a list of many famous duos who have taken on the roles of Lee and Austin in Sam Shepard's play.

Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson Lead Cast of Netflix's VIRGIN RIVER


Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson  are set to lead the cast of Netflix'sVirgin River, a contemporary romance based on the beloved Harlequin book series that took author Robyn Carr to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. There are now twenty books in the Virgin River series, and together they have sold more than 13 million copies. Virgin River was named to The HarperCollins 200 list, which celebrates 200 iconic books of the past 200 years.

VIDEO: YouTube Shares Trailer for Season 2 of RYAN HANSEN SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION


RYAN HANSEN SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION*,  a meta comedy skewering Hollywood and police procedurals, returns for Season 2 on January 30, 2019 on YouTube Premium.  The show stars Hansen, as a ridiculous version of himself, who joins an LAPD task force partnering actors with homicide detectives so they can use their “actor skills” to help solve murders. In Season 2, Ryan's back, but after Detective Mathers, Ryan's partner from the first season (Samira Wiley), gets sidelined, rogue cop Vince Vincente (Avon Barksdale Wood Harris) steps in as Ryan's new partner. Together the two will have to buddy up to solve an array of puzzling crimes.

Season 2 of RYAN HANSEN SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION* Features Joel McHale, Ben Schwartz, and More


YouTube announces star-studded Hollywood guest stars for Season 2 of RYAN HANSENS SOLVES CRIMES ON TELEVISION*.

BWW Review: Resurrecting Teflon Ron: A LATE MORNING (IN AMERICA) at Contemporary American Theater Festival


A show about Reagan that does not explore how his personality gave rise to so much destructiveness is not going to satisfy any well-informed theatergoer. Yet such a show is unfortunately what playwright Michael Weller has given us in A Late Morning (in America) With Ronald Reagan.

The Paley Center Announces Summer And Fall Paleylive Seasons Including A Reunion With Original Cast Members From WEST SIDE STORY


The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills announced two selections for its PaleyLive Summer 2018 season and one selection for its Fall 2018 season. The summer programs include: CNN's The 2000s: A Look Back at the Dawn of TV's New Golden Age which will feature a look at the most groundbreaking television shows of the decade, and A Special Evening with Dionne Warwick: Then Came You, celebrating the career of the legendary entertainer. The fall selection, Words on Dance: Jerome Robbins and West Side Story, is part of a worldwide celebration of the legendary director-choreographer's centennial which will include an exclusive conversation with original cast members.

Casting Update Announced For The Contemporary American Theater Festival's A LATE MORNING (IN AMERICA) WITH RONALD REAGAN


The Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University will produce the world premiere of Michael Weller's A Late Morning (in America) with Ronald Reagan as part of its 2018 season. This play is a result of a collaboration between Weller, director Sam Weisman, and actor Tim Matheson. Initially, Matheson was to originate the role of Ronald Reagan. However, due to an unexpected scheduling conflict, Matheson is no longer able to be a part of the project and the role will be recast.

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