Stephen Mendel (born in Montreal, Canada) is an actor
Upon graduating from Bishop's University with a degree in theater he began his acting career appearing at the two English language professional theaters in Montreal, Canada. He appeared in a number of Canadian television shows and movies as well as theater in other parts of Canada and then moved to Los Angeles. He appeared on several shows and soap operas and was then cast in the CBS CTV series Night Heat which ran from 1985 to 1990, playing the role of Detective Fred Carson. Since then he has guest-starred on numerous television episodics and appeared in many movies both made for television and theatrical releases. Among his many voice roles, is the role of Splinter in the Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation series as well as a great number of television and radio commercials as well as industrial and educational narration.
He won a best supporting actor award for his work in After Crystal Night at the Odyssey Theater in Los Angeles and kudos for the role of Froggy in The Foreigner at the Pasadena Playhouse.
He has made appearances in television series such as: Criminal Minds, Las Vegas, JAG, 24, The Practice, and The X-Files and many others.
He has played lead roles in films such as: CEO (directed by Wu Tian Ming) Midnight Heat, Provocateur and Jack Frost.
He appeared with Tom Hanks in the feature film, The Terminal.
In 1999 he went back to school and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Performance from California State University, Long Beach in 2001.
Stephen went through the Los Angeles County Underwater Instructor's Certification Course in 2003 and followed that program with certifications from several other scuba diving agencies. He is now an Instructor Trainer with L.A. County and NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors, a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Master Scuba Diver Trainer, an instructor with the Handicapped Scuba Association of America and CMAS.
He co-founded the Zen Diver Youth Program, a non-profit organization that teaches practical applications of math and science to high school and at risk youth through an extended scuba diving certification course.
He played Celtic music in pubs for several years after graduating college and still plays and still sings and plays regularly making appearances at local coffee houses (Los Angeles area) and plays several benefit concerts each year.
www.stephenmendel.com