Terry Kiser

Terry Kiser
Born August 1, 1939
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Years active 1963–present
Spouse(s) Sylvie Marmet (m. 1987–2004) (divorced) 1 child

Terry Kiser (born August 1, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the dead title-character in the comedy Weekend at Bernie's, and its sequel, Weekend at Bernie's II.

Terry Kiser is an American actor with over 140 acting credits to his name with a career spanning more than 50 years. He is filming projects and teaching at an acting school in Austin, TX as of 2015.

Birth

Terry K. Kiser was born in Omaha, NE on August 1, 1939. He attended college and played football and majored in Engineering, never intending on becoming an actor. Upon the advice of a drama teacher, he pursued this interest more fully after participating in several theatrical productions and moving to New York.

Education

Terry studied under Lee Strasberg directly at The Actors Studio along with contemporaries such as Charles Durning and Al Pacino, and won an Obie Award and Theater World Award for his portrayal in "Fortune and Men's Eye's" in 1967.

Career

A life member of The Actors Studio,[1] Terry was a regular on the soap operas, The Secret Storm and The Doctors. In 1978, he starred on the short-lived sitcoms The Roller Girls, and Sugar Time!. It was during the 1970s and early 1980s that Kiser became a familiar face on episodic television, most notably Three's Company, The Love Boat, Night Court, 227, Maude and The Golden Girls. One of his more memorable roles was on the TV drama Hill Street Blues, where he played comedian Vic Hitler (aka, Vic the Narcoleptic Comic). He was also a cast member on the syndicated sketch comedy show Off the Wall, as well as part of the ensemble on Carol Burnett's Carol and Company which aired in 1990. In the 1990s, he appeared on Walker, Texas Ranger, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and Will & Grace.

His many film appearances include Six Pack (1982), Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988), Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991), Weekend at Bernie's (1989) and Into the Sun (1992). He also appeared in the less successful sequel to the biggest hit of his career so far in Weekend at Bernie's II, (1993), The Pledge" (2011, and "A Christmas Tree Miracle" in 2013 while still doing episodic television. It was during the early 2010s that Kiser met Joe Thomas for work on "Johnny Dynamo", which led to his insertion into the entire second season of the show, as well as Kiser's recurring role in "The Accidental President". But the bigger payoff is Kiser's lead role in the feature "The Body Sculptor" as Dr. Jason Stone. The film is being completed in 2015.

In 2013, Kiser moved to Austin, TX and with partner actress Joy Leigh founded the acting school The Actors Arena passing along the craft of acting to students of all ages and experience levels. He practices the craft of acting is "learning how NOT to act".

References

  1. ↑ Garfield, David (1980). "Appendix: Life Members of The Actors Studio as of January 1980". A Player's Place: The Story of The Actors Studio. New York: MacMillan Publishing Co., Inc. p. 278. ISBN 0-02-542650-8.

External links