Daniel Stern (actor)

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Daniel Stern

Born Daniel Jacob Stern
August 28, 1957 (1957-08-28) (age 50)
Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.

Daniel Jacob Stern (born August 28, 1957) is an American television and film actor. He is known for his roles in the 1990s Hollywood films City Slickers and Home Alone.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Stern was born in Bethesda, Maryland to a social worker father and a mother who managed a day care center.[1] His brother is television writer David M. Stern. Stern applied for a job as a lighting engineer for a Shakespeare Festival in Washington, D.C., but was hired as a walk-on. After taking acting lessons, Stern began his acting career in Off Broadway and Broadway productions, including a performance at Second Stage Theatre with actor Bob Gunton.

[edit] Career

In 1979, Stern made his movie debut as Cyril in Breaking Away. The following year he played a student who raised objections during Jill Clayburgh's proof of the snake lemma in the film It's My Turn. His breakthrough role as an actor came in Barry Levinson's Diner. Another film role he is remembered for is the 1983 action film Blue Thunder as J.A.F.O., also known as Officer Richard Lymangood. He was the original choice to play Biff Tannen in the 1985 film Back to the Future, but he turned the role down.

Stern is often remembered for playing bumbling but lovable idiots, such as Phil from the City Slickers movies, Marv from the first two Home Alone movies, and Max from Bushwacked. Many consider his role as Marv to be a breakthrough for his career. He is also noted for providing the voice of the narrator on the TV series The Wonder Years, which starred Fred Savage. Stern and Savage were also featured together in Little Monsters, interestingly Stern played the part as Savage's father. Stern provided the voice for the main character of the Dilbert animated series, based on the comic strip by Scott Adams. He also tried his hand at directing through several episodes of The Wonder Years and the movie Rookie of the Year.

Stern was featured breaking the fourth wall in an issue of MAD Magazine which spoofed Home Alone. In this lampoon, as he is breaking into the house, he tells Joe Pesci he is humiliated.
Stern: "We ought to be ashamed of ourselves!"
Pesci: "Why, because we are criminals stealing from somebody's house?"
Stern: "No, because we are fine actors taking such embarrassing roles!"
Pesci: "I see your point of view! People expected we knew better after seeing my performance in Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Casino, and yours in Diner, Breaking Away, and the voice of the adult Kevin on The Wonder Years!"

His best friends include Billy Crystal and Joe Pesci, his co-stars from City Slickers and Home Alone, respectively.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] References

  1. ^ New Face: Daniel Stern Off the Sofa and Onto the Movie Screen in 'Brea... - Free Preview - The New York Times

[edit] External links