Stephen Furst
| Stephen Furst | |
|---|---|
 Stephen Furst in 2013. | |
| Born |
Steven Nelson Feuerstein May 8, 1955 Norfolk, Virginia, United States |
| Spouse(s) |
Lorraine Wright (June 13, 1976–present; 2 children) |
| Website | |
| www.stephenfurst.com | |
Stephen Furst (born Steven Nelson Feuerstein; May 8, 1955) is an American actor and film and television director.[1] Furst was a regular in the science fiction series Babylon 5 playing Centauri diplomatic attaché Vir Cotto and as Dr. Elliot Axelrod on St. Elsewhere, and Kent "Flounder" Dorfman in the film National Lampoon's Animal House.[2]
Biography
Stephen Furst was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University's theater program. In 1972, Furst's father died from diabetes complications. Years later, Furst was diagnosed with type II diabetes. After almost needing to have his left foot amputated due to diabetes complications in 1996, Furst reduced his weight from 260 lbs to 175 lbs.[3] When filming started for the fourth season of Babylon 5, the show's producers found that all of the costumes were now too large for him. He wrote the book Confessions of a Couch Potato about his weight loss and diabetes, and co-wrote and directed a video called Diabetes for Guys, an attempt to educate about diabetes management through humor.[4]
Furst has two sons, both in the entertainment business. His older son, Nathan Furst (b. 1978), is a television and film composer. His younger son, Griff Furst (b. 1981), is an actor, director and musician. His wife, Lorraine, is an entertainment lawyer.
Career
Furst is best known for his roles as Flounder in Animal House, as 'Junior' Keller in The Unseen, as Gonzer in the feature film Up the Creek (1984), as Dr. Elliot Axelrod in the television series St. Elsewhere (1983–1988), and as Vir Cotto in the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1994–1998).
In 1979 he reprised the Flounder character in the ABC sitcom Delta House. He also reprised the character and repeated his famous line "Oh boy, is this great!" in the Twisted Sister music video for "I Wanna Rock"..
In 1980, he played the character of Harold in the cult classic movie, Midnight Madness, he also played the character of "Junior" Keller (the unseen) in the horror movie The Unseen. In 1983, he also appeared in a supporting role as Aldo in the provocative ABC TV movie The Day After. In 1989, he played the character of Albert Ianuzzi in the film, The Dream Team.
Furst has also appeared in an episode of "CHiPs" in 1983, "Fun House" alongside Erick Estrada, Tom Reily and Heather O'rourke in which Furst played the part of a college fraternity "DDT" student.
Although not a regular, he also appeared in the short-lived 1992 TV series The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys.
In the 1995 animated TV series Freakazoid, he voiced the character Fanboy. Also in 1995, he took a hiatus from Babylon 5 to star in a short-lived TV series, Misery Loves Company. In 1997, he played Derby Ferris in Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home. He also voiced a young Colonel Hathi in Season 2 of Disney's Jungle Cubs. He had a starring voice role as Booster in the 2000 series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, and also played a hulky walrus named Dash in the 2000 Disney movie The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea.
In 2002, he guest starred in an episode of Scrubs.
Furst has directed many independent and/or low-budget movies, including the low-budget movie Title to Murder starring Christopher Atkins and Maureen McCormick in 2001 and the direct to video children's movie Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure.
Furst directed three low-budget movies for the Sci Fi Channel, Dragon Storm in 2004; and Path of Destruction and Basilisk in 2005. He also co-starred in Path of Destruction and Basilisk.
Since June 2006 Furst has co-hosted the Renal Support Network's webcast KidneyTalk with Lori Hartwell.[5]
References
- ↑ "The New York Times". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Animal House Gallery". The New York Daily News. June 25, 2011.
- ↑ Jennifer Wulff (June 4, 2001). "Fratboy Slim". People.
- ↑ Furst, Stephen. (2002). Confessions of a Couch Potato (Or, If I'm So Skinny, Why Do I Still Feel Like Flounder?) McGraw-Hill. ISBN 1-58040-144-9
- ↑ "Renal Support Network". Rsnhope.org.
External links
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