Mark Metcalf

For the English footballer, see Mark Metcalf (footballer).
Mark Metcalf

Mark Metcalf in 2005
Born Mark Howes Metcalf
March 11, 1946
Findlay, Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater University of Michigan
Years active 1978–present
Spouse(s) Elizabeth Wick (1989-2005) (divorced) (1 child)

Mark Howes Metcalf (born March 11, 1946 in Findlay, Ohio) is an American actor in both television and film.

Early life

Metcalf attended Westfield High School in Westfield, New Jersey. Metcalf is a graduate of the University of Michigan (BA 1968).

Career

Film and television work

Metcalf is likely most known to two different generations for two notable roles. In the 1978 college comedy National Lampoon's Animal House, he played the sadistic ROTC leader Douglas C. Niedermeyer, who was described in the conclusion of the film (through on-screen captions) as belonging to Faber College's class of 1963 and as having been "killed in Vietnam by his own troops." He played a very similar character in the Twisted Sister music videos "We're Not Gonna Take It," as the father, and "I Wanna Rock," as a high-school teacher.[1] In each video, he used his Animal House catchphrases, "A Twisted Sister pin?!? On your uniform?!?" and "You're all worthless and weak!" respectively. He pretends he despises the band.[2]

He portrayed a very similar character in the movie The Stupids and the sitcom Teen Angel.[3] He also starred in the 1986 comedy One Crazy Summer, as the sinister, greedy lobster-loving Aquilla Beckerstead.

In the police drama Hill Street Blues, Metcalf had an early key role in the first season as brash Officer Harris, often clashing with gentle partner Officer Santini. However, the role was cut short when Metcalf's character was murdered in the episode "Up in Arms."[4]

In the 1997–2003 television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff, Angel, Metcalf played the ancient vampire supervillain, identified in the "BuffyVerse" as "The Master." Coincidentally, he also played a character called "the Maestro," whose real name was Robert "Bob" Cobb, on two episodes of Seinfeld.[5]

Theater work

Metcalf works at First Stage Children's Theater. One of the plays he performed in was called The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, based on the novel by Avi. Another play he appeared in at First Stage was Holes (novel) in the early 2000s. He is a frequent guest on the Bob and Brian show on WHQG-FM and writes for Third Coast Digest.[6] He is also a volunteer champion for the Alzheimer's Association to raise awareness about the disease [7] and has written about the Alzheimer's documentary I Remember Better When I Paint.[8]

Personal life

Metcalf previously dated Glenn Close and Carrie Fisher.[9] He moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2000.[10] Metcalf and his ex-wife, Libby, have one child, Julius. Metcalf lived in Bayside, Wisconsin until mid-2013 when he moved to Montana.

Contrary to popular belief, Mark is not the brother of actress Laurie Metcalf.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Stephen Furst acted out the principal of the unnamed high school in the video for "I Wanna Rock," and sprayed Metcalf with a seltzer bottle in the very last scene of that video. In National Lampoon's "Animal House," Furst's character of Kent "Flounder" Dorfman was, in the homecoming-parade climactic sequence of the film, just about to do the same when Metcalf's character of Niedermeyer shot out the bottle. The scene where Furst sprayed Metcalf with the seltzer bottle was thus viewable as a long-overdue revenge.
  2. ↑ Belcher, Walt (Aug 22, 2003). Toga! Toga! Toga! Tampa Tribune
  3. ↑ Ikenberg, Tamara (June 27, 1998). 'Animals': Where are they now? Baltimore Sun
  4. ↑ Gianakos, Larry James (1983). Television drama series programming: a comprehensive chronicle, 1980-1982. (Vol. 4) Scarecrow Press, ISBN 978-0-8108-1116-4
  5. ↑ King, Susan (May 10, 1998). The Recurring Irregulars; 10 'Seinfeld' Visitors Not All There All the Time. Los Angeles Times
  6. ↑ "Third Coast Digest".
  7. ↑ "Filmsnobbery interview with Mark Metcalf".
  8. ↑ "Moving Pictures: I Remember Better When I Paint".
  9. ↑ Sweeney, Nicole (February 2, 2006). When I Was 30: Mark Metcalf. Riding high on and off the stage. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  10. ↑ Olson, Drew and Andy Tarnoff (February 22, 2008). Milwaukee Talks: Actor / restaurateur Mark Metcalf. OnMilwaukee.com
  11. ↑ Pararocktv Let's Talk interview with Michael Johnson 9/16/2013

External links