Tim Matheson
American actor Tim Matheson used his natural charm to help craft an acting career that spanned decades. Born in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, he began his professional acting career in his early teens. He was soon making regular appearances on television, including on the hit sitcoms "Leave It to Beaver" (CBS/ABC, 1957-63) and "My Three Sons" (ABC/CBS, 1960-72). He also worked as a voice actor, providing the original voice of the namesake character in "Johnny Quest" (ABC, 1964-65). He began finding traction as well on the big screen with supporting roles in "Divorce, American Style" (1967) and "Yours, Mine and Ours" (1968). Back on television, he had recurring roles on the Westerns "The Virginian" (NBC, 1962-71) and "Bonanza" (NBC, 1959-73). He worked steadily throughout the 1970s, including starring in the short-lived series "The Quest" (1976) with fellow former child star Kurt Russell. What would become his signature role, though, would officially graduate the actor to adult roles. Director John Landis cast Matheson alongside John Belushi, Tom Hulce, and Karen Allen in the raunchy college comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978). His smooth-talking fraternity president, Eric "Otter" Stratton, would prove to be an indelible image that would follow the actor for the rest of his career. He teamed again with Belushi for the Steven Spielberg comedy "1941" (1979). He also starred with Tim Conway and Don Knotts in the Disney movie "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again" (1979). Throughout the 1980s, Matheson would work at a steady clip. He starred in "A Little Sex" (1982) with Kate Capshaw and with Chevy Chase in "Fletch" (1985). He also began appearing regularly in television movies, a career move that would provide a steady stream of acting work for decades. Matheson would star in dozens of TV films over his career, including "Buried Alive" (1990) and "Sleeping with the Devil" (1997). He joined Aaron Sorkin's "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006) in the recurring role of Vice President John Hoynes. The actor attempted to find lasting series success repeatedly, starring in a series of short-lived projects like "Charlie Hoover" (Fox, 1991) and "Breaking News" (Bravo, 2002). He would find some level of stability with a supporting role in "Harts of Dixie" (The CW, 2011-15) with Rachel Bilson. The actor worked periodically in features with roles in "A Very Brady Sequel" (1997), "The Story of Us" (1999), and "No Strings Attached" (2011). He also played upon his earlier "Animal House" success by playing the father of Ryan Reynolds's party animal in "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" (2002). He remained a regular presence on television, making guest appearances on numerous shows such as "Madam Secretary" (CBS, 2014- ), "The Good Fight" (CBS All Access, 2017-), and "This is Us" (NBC, 2016- ). On the big screen, the actor starred in the updating of the horror classic "Child's Play" (2019). Matheson starred with Alexandra Breckenridge and Annette O'Toole in "Virgin River" (Netflix, 2019- ), based on the romance novels by Robyn Carr.
Photos
Tim Matheson
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Chasing Whiskey: The Untold Story of Jack Daniel's | Self | - | 2021 |
64% |
|
Child's Play | Henry Kaslan (Character) | $29.2M | 2019 |
70% |
|
The Etruscan Smile | Weiss (Character) | - | 2018 |
No Score Yet |
|
Magical Christmas Ornaments | J.P. Presley (Character) | - | 2017 |
63% |
|
Killing Reagan | Ronald Reagan (Character) | - | 2016 |
No Score Yet |
|
Last Chance for Christmas | Reginald Buckley (Character) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest | The President (Voice) | - | 2015 |
No Score Yet |
|
Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia |
Carl Dobbs (Character), Director |
- | 2009 |
No Score Yet |
|
True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet | Director | - | 2008 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | To Love & Die | James White (Character) | - | 2008 |
0% |
|
Redline | Jerry Brecken (Character) | $6.9M | 2007 |
No Score Yet |
|
Augusta, Gone |
Ben Dudman (Character), Director, Executive Producer |
- | 2006 |
41% |
|
Don't Come Knocking | Producer 1 (Character) | $438.7K | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
|
Judas | Pontius Pilate (Character) | - | 2004 |
No Score Yet |
|
Martha Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart | Andy Stewart (Character) | - | 2003 |
No Score Yet |
|
The King and Queen of Moonlight Bay | Al Dodge (Character) | - | 2003 |
18% |
|
National Lampoon's Van Wilder | Vance Wilder, Sr. (Character) | $21.0M | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Moms on Strike | Alan Harris (Character) | - | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Second Honeymoon | George Weston (Character) | - | 2001 |
No Score Yet |
|
Navigating the Heart | John Daly (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis | John F. Kennedy (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Chump Change | Simon 'Sez' Simone (Character) | - | 2000 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hell Swarm |
Kirk Bluhdorn (Character), Director |
- | 2000 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sharing the Secret | John Moss (Character) | - | 2000 |
41% |
|
She's All That | Harlan Siler (Character) | $63.3M | 1999 |
26% |
|
The Story of Us | Marty (Character) | $27.1M | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
At the Mercy of a Stranger | John Davis (Character) | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
In the Company of Spies | Director | - | 1999 |
No Score Yet |
|
Catch Me if You Can | Norm (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Very Unlucky Leprechaun | Howard Wilson (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Forever Love | Unknown (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rescuers: Stories of Courage -- Two Families | Adolf Althoff (Character) | - | 1998 |
No Score Yet |
|
Buried Alive II |
Clint Goodman (Character), Director |
- | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
Sleeping With the Devil | Dick Strang (Character) | - | 1997 |
No Score Yet |
|
An Unfinished Affair | Alex Connor (Character) | - | 1996 |
30% |
|
Black Sheep | Al Donnelly (Character) | $30.6M | 1996 |
57% |
|
A Very Brady Sequel |
Roy Martin/ |
$21.4M | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Christmas in My Hometown | Jacob Peterson (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Buried Secrets | Clay Roff (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Twilight Man | Jordan P. Cooper (Character) | - | 1996 |
No Score Yet |
|
Jonny Quest vs. the Cyber Insects | 4-DAC (Voice) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fast Company | Det. Jack Matthews (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Tails You Live, Heads You're Dead |
Phil Wiseman (Character), Director |
- | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Midnight Heat | Tyler Grey (Character) | - | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Target of Suspicion | Nick (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | While Justice Sleeps | Winfield "Win" Cooke (Character) | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Breach of Conduct | Director | - | 1994 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shameful Secrets | Daniel (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Those Bedroom Eyes | William Tauber (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Relentless: Mind of a Killer | Dr. Peter Hellman (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dying to Love You | Roger Paulson (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Harmful Intent | Dr. Rhodes (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Trial & Error | Peter Hudson (Character) | - | 1993 |
No Score Yet |
|
Quicksand: No Escape | Scott Reinhardt (Character) | - | 1992 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Woman Who Sinned | Michael Robeson (Character) | - | 1991 |
11% |
|
Drop Dead Fred | Charles (Character) | $13.9M | 1991 |
67% |
|
Sometimes They Come Back | Jim Norman (Character) | - | 1991 |
No Score Yet |
|
Buried Alive | Clint Goodman (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Joshua's Heart | Tom (Character) | - | 1990 |
No Score Yet |
|
Solar Crisis | Steve Kelso (Character) | - | 1990 |
53% |
|
Blind Fury | Producer | $2.1M | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Little White Lies | Dr Harry MacRae (Character) | - | 1989 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Littlest Victims | Doctor James Oleske (Character) | - | 1989 |
0% |
|
Speed Zone! | Jack O'Neill (Character) | $2.4M | 1989 |
No Score Yet |
|
Bay Coven | Jerry Lebon (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Warm Hearts, Cold Feet | Mike Byrd (Character) | - | 1987 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Blind Justice | Jim Anderson (Character) | - | 1986 |
79% |
|
Fletch | Alan Stanwyk (Character) | - | 1985 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Obsessed With a Married Woman | Tony Hammond (Character) | - | 1985 |
50% |
|
Impulse | Stuart (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
Up the Creek | Bob McGraw (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The House of God | Unknown (Character) | - | 1984 |
No Score Yet |
|
Listen to Your Heart | Josh Stern (Character) | - | 1983 |
55% |
|
To Be or Not to Be | Lt. Andre Sobinski (Character) | - | 1983 |
No Score Yet |
|
A Little Sex | Michael Donovan (Character) | - | 1981 |
39% |
|
1941 | Captain Loomis Birkhead (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again | Pvt. Jeff Reed aka Capt. Phillips (Character) | - | 1979 |
No Score Yet |
|
Dreamer | Dreamer (Character) | - | 1979 |
91% |
|
National Lampoon's Animal House | Eric "Otter" Stratton (Character) | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Almost Summer | Kevin Hawkins (Character) | - | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Mary White | William L. White (Character) | - | 1977 |
No Score Yet |
|
The Quest | Quinton Beaudine (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Captive | Quentin Beaudine (Character) | - | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Last Day | Emmet Dalton (Character) | - | 1975 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Runaway Barge | Danny Worth (Character) | - | 1975 |
69% |
|
Magnum Force | Officer Phil Sweet (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hitched | Clare Bridgeman (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Remember When | Warren Thompson (Character) | - | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lock, Stock and Barrel | Clarence Bridgeman (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | A Pattern of Morality | Unknown (Character) | - | 1971 |
No Score Yet |
|
How to Commit Marriage | David Poe (Character) | - | 1969 |
57% |
|
Yours, Mine and Ours | Mike Beardsley (Character) | - | 1968 |
100% |
|
Divorce American Style | Mark Harmon (Character) | - | 1967 |
TV
Credit | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
81% | 67% | Virgin River | Doc Mullins (Character) | 2019-2023 |
57% | 74% | Quantum Leap | Neal Russell (Guest Star) | 2023 |
94% | 81% | This Is Us | Dave Malone (Guest Star) | 2021-2022 |
No Score Yet | 79% | Madam Secretary | Fred Moran (Guest Star) | 2017 2019 |
No Score Yet | 75% | The Goldbergs | Eric (Guest Star) | 2019 |
63% | 89% | Me, Myself & I | Richard (Guest Star) | 2017-2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 20/20 | Guest | 2018 |
95% | 65% | The Good Fight | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Home & Family | Guest | 2016 |
92% | 78% | Person of Interest | Director | 2016 |
81% | 88% | Hart of Dixie |
Dr. Brick Breeland (Character), Unknown (Guest Star), Director |
2011-2015 |
No Score Yet | 80% | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2013 |
88% | 95% | Burn Notice | Larry Sizemore (Guest Star) | 2008 2010-2011 2013 |
No Score Yet | 99% | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Brad Chiles (Guest Voice) | 2012-2013 |
42% | 27% | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behaviour | Director | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Good Guys | Director | 2010 |
75% | 65% | Greek | Director | 2009 |
No Score Yet | 83% | Criminal Minds | Director | 2006 2009 |
65% | 82% | Entourage | Steve Parls (Guest Star) | 2008 |
44% | No Score Yet | Traveler | Director | 2007 |
52% | 50% | Shark | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2007 |
77% | No Score Yet | Just Legal | Director | 2006 |
81% | 95% | The West Wing |
John Hoynes (Character), Vice President John Hoynes (Guest Star) |
1999-2006 |
44% | No Score Yet | Threshold | Director | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 95% | Cold Case | Director | 2004-2005 |
No Score Yet | 93% | Numb3ers | Director | 2005 |
No Score Yet | 75% | Without a Trace |
Unknown (Guest Star), Director |
2003-2004 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Ed | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2003 |
50% | 77% | The Twilight Zone | Director | 2003 |
62% | No Score Yet | Breaking News | Unknown (Character) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | 80% | The King of Queens | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
20% | 88% | Wolf Lake | Unknown (Character) | 2001-2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Dead Man's Gun | Reverend Jeremiah Early (Guest Star) | 1998 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cybill | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1995 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Fallen Angels | Howard Hughes (Character) | 1993 |
0% | No Score Yet | Charlie Hoover | Charlie Hoover (Character) | 1991 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | How the West Was Won | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1978 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Quest | Quentin Beaudine (Character) | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Rhoda | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1976 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Police Story | Unknown (Character) | 1974 |
No Score Yet | 100% | Kung Fu | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Bonanza | Griff King (Character) | 1963 1965-1966 1971-1973 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Here's Lucy | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1972 |
No Score Yet | 100% | Night Gallery | Unknown (Character) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Room 222 | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1971 |
No Score Yet | 71% | Jonny Quest | Unknown (Voice) | 1964-1965 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | My Three Sons | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1962-1963 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Leave It to Beaver | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1962-1963 |