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Tim Matheson

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Not to be confused with Tim Mathieson.

Tim Matheson
Matheson in a Bonanza publicity photo, 1972
Born
Timothy Lewis Matthieson

(1947-12-31) December 31, 1947 (age 76)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Other namesTim Matthieson (early credits)
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1961–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1968; div. 1971)​
Megan Murphy Matheson
​
​
(m. 1985; div. 2010)​
Elizabeth Marighetto
​
​
(m. 2018)​
Children3

Tim Matheson (born Timothy Lewis Matthieson; December 31, 1947) is an American actor and director.[1] Some of his best-known acting roles include the title character of the 1960s animated Jonny Quest TV series, Eric "Otter" Stratton in the 1978 comedy film National Lampoon's Animal House, and the recurring role of Vice President John Hoynes in the 2000s NBC drama The West Wing, which earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

Early life

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Matheson was born in Glendale, California, the son of Clifford Matthieson, a training pilot, and Sally Matthieson.[2] Matheson served a tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps Reserve.[3]

Career

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At age 13, Matheson appeared as Roddy Miller in Robert Young's CBS nostalgia comedy series Window on Main Street during the 1961–1962 television season. In the 1962–1963 season he appeared in two episodes of Leave It to Beaver, cast as Mike Harmon, a friend of Beaver’s.[4][5] In 1964, he provided the voice of the lead character in the animated series Jonny Quest. He also supplied the voices of Sinbad Jr. the Sailor in the 1960s Hanna-Barbera animated series Sinbad Jr. and his Magic Belt [6] and Jace in Space Ghost. He co-starred as Joe Hardy, opposite Richard Gates as Frank Hardy, in a 1967 pilot episode for what would have been a TV series called The Hardy Boys, based on the novel series of the same name, but the series was not picked up.[7]

He played the role of the oldest son, Mike Beardsley, in the film Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), which starred Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.

Matheson as Jim Horn

In 1969, Matheson joined the cast of NBC's television Western The Virginian in the eighth season as Jim Horn. He had a guest role in the 14th episode of the second season of Night Gallery, in the story "Logoda's Heads". In the final season of the television Western Bonanza in 1972–1973, Matheson played Griff King, a parolee who tries to reform his life as a worker at the Ponderosa Ranch under Ben Cartwright's tutelage. He portrayed a corrupt motorcycle cop, Phil Sweet, who was part of a death squad with some other young cops in the film Magnum Force (1973). Matheson also appeared earlier in the CBS situation comedy My Three Sons. In 1975, he guest starred in CBS's short-lived family drama Three for the Road.

In 1976, Matheson appeared with Kurt Russell in the 15-episode NBC series The Quest. In 1978, he was part of the ensemble cast of National Lampoon's Animal House. The following year, he appeared with John Belushi again in Steven Spielberg's 1941. In 1980 he auditioned for the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, for which Harrison Ford won the part.

Matheson appeared in the film To Be or Not to Be (1983) starring Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. He and Catherine Hicks played Rick and Amanda Tucker, who operate a detective agency in Laurel Canyon in CBS' Tucker's Witch, which aired during the 1982–1983 season. Then Matheson starred in the comedy films Up the Creek (1984) and Fletch (1985). In 1989, he starred in the short-lived sitcom "Just in Time" produced by Warner Bros.[8]

Matheson with Bruce Campbell at San Diego Comic-Con, July 22, 2010

Along with business partner Daniel Grodnik, he bought National Lampoon in 1989,[9][10][11] selling it in 1991.[12][13]

He had a recurring role as Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing. His work on The West Wing earned him two Primetime Emmy award nominations.[14][15]

He has directed episodes of Third Watch, Ed, The Twilight Zone, Cold Case, Without a Trace, The West Wing, Psych, The Good Guys, Shark, White Collar, Criminal Minds, Suits and Burn Notice (on which he also performed in a recurring role).

In 1996, Matheson took on the role of a con man who claims to be Carol Brady's thought-to-be-dead husband in A Very Brady Sequel. He appeared in the film Van Wilder (2002), playing the father of the title character, who was inspired by his own character in Animal House; Matheson's character even makes a veiled reference to the fun times he had had at Dartmouth, where the fraternity upon which Animal House is rumored to have "had a strong tradition of existence". He appeared in the auto-racing film Redline. He also appeared in a Volkswagen commercial in 2008.

In 2009, Matheson directed the pilot episode of Covert Affairs, premiered on USA Network in 2010. Matheson also directed the pilot episodes of The Good Guys (2010) for the Fox Network, Criminal Behavior (2011) for Lifetime, and Wild Card (2011) for USA Network. He played Dr. Brick Breeland on Hart of Dixie from 2011 to 2015. Since 2019, Matheson has starred as Doc Mullins in the Netflix series Virgin River.

Personal life

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Matheson has been married three times. He was first married to actress Jennifer Leak from 1968 to 1971, whom he met on the set of Yours, Mine, and Ours. In 1985 he married Megan Murphy, with whom he had three children; they divorced in 2010.[16] He married Elizabeth Marighetto in March 2018; the two live together in Hollywood, California.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1967 Divorce American Style Mark Harmon
The Mystery of the Chinese Junk Joe Hardy
1968 Yours, Mine and Ours Mike Beardsley
1969 How to Commit Marriage David Poe
1973 Magnum Force Officer Phil Sweet
1978 National Lampoon's Animal House Eric "Otter" Stratton
Almost Summer Kevin Hawkins
1979 Dreamer Harold "Dreamer" Nuttingham
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again Private Jeff Reed/Captain Jeff Phillips
1941 Captain Loomis Birkhead
1982 A Little Sex Michael Donovan
1983 To Be or Not to Be Lieutenant Andre Sobinski
1984 The House of God Roy Basch
Up the Creek Bob McGraw
Impulse Stuart
1985 Fletch Alan Stanwyck
1989 Speed Zone Jack O'Neill
1990 Solar Crisis Steve Kelso
1991 Drop Dead Fred Charles
1995 Midnight Heat Tyler Grey
1996 Black Sheep Al Donnelly
A Very Brady Sequel Roy Martin/Trevor Thomas
1998 A Very Unlucky Leprechaun Howard Wilson
1999 She's All That Harlan Siler
The Story of Us Marty
2000 Chump Change Simon "Sez" Simone
2002 Van Wilder Vance Wilder Sr.
2003 Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update Dr. Eric "Otter" Stratton, OB/GYN Short
2005 Don't Come Knocking Producer 1
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D Houston Capcom Voice
2007 Redline Jerry Brecken
2009 Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia Carl Dobbs Video
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love Alumnus Guy No. 4 Video
2011 No Strings Attached Eli's Dad #2
2015 Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest The President Voice[17]
2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Old Man Vreeke Uncredited
2018 6 Balloons Gary
2019 Child's Play Henry Kaslan

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1961–1962 Window on Main Street Roddy Miller First acting role
The Alvin Show Additional voices 1 episode
1962–1963 Leave It to Beaver Michael "Mike" Harmon 2 episodes
1962 My Three Sons Alan Edgerton Episode: "Tramp's First Bite" (uncredited)
1963 Ripcord David Episode: "The Final Jump"
1964–1965 Jonny Quest Jonny Quest Voice
1965 Sinbad Jr. and his Magic Belt Sinbad Jr. Voice
O.K. Crackerby! Huntington Hawthorne
1966 Space Ghost Jace Voice
Thompson's Ghost Eddie Thompson Television film
1967 Samson & Goliath Samson Voice
NBC Children's Theatre Randy
1969 Adam-12 Leroy
1969–1970 The Virginian Jim Horn
1970 San Francisco International Airport SFX
Bracken's World Teek Howell
1971 Matt Lincoln Stan Lowell Episode: "Karen"
Room 222 Jerry Cates
Hitched Clarence Bridgeman Television film
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Jim McGuire
Lock, Stock and Barrel Clarence Bridgeman Television film
The D.A. Howard Goodman
The Bold Ones: The Lawyers Miles Parker
Night Gallery Henley
1972 Here's Lucy Peter Sullivan
Ironside Darryl Podell
The Smith Family Mark
1972–1973 Bonanza Griff King 9 episodes
1972–1978 Insight Various 6 episodes
1973 The Wide World of Mystery Tommy
Medical Center Sam Miller
Kung Fu Lieutenant Bill Wyland Episode: "The Soldier"
1974 The Magician Jerry Purcell
Police Story Allen Rich
Remember When Warren Thompson Television film
1975 The Last Day Emmet Dalton Television film
The Runaway Barge Danny Worth Television film
Three for the Road Tom Aberling
1976 Rhoda Michael Stearns
Jigsaw John Nick Pappas
Petrocelli Mike Fisher
The Hemingway Play Wemidge – Young Hemingway Television film
The Quest Quentin Beaudine
The War Widow Amy's Husband Voice
Visions Leonard Voice
1977 Hawaii Five-O Brent Saunders
Mary White William L. White Television film
What Really Happened to the Class of '65? Jay Miller
1978 Baa Baa Black Sheep Major Bud Warren
How the West Was Won Curt Grayson
1982 Bus Stop Beauregard "Beau" Decker Television film
1982–1983 Tucker's Witch Rick Tucker
1983 Listen to Your Heart Josh Stern
1984 The Best Legs in the Eighth Grade Mark Fisher Television film
1985 Obsessed with a Married Woman Tony Hammond Television film
George Burns Comedy Week "The Girl With Something Extra"
1986 Blind Justice Jim Anderson Television film
1987 Warm Hearts, Cold Feet Mike Byrd Television film
Bay Cove Jerry Lebon Television film
Trying Times Mitch
1988 Just in Time Harry Stadlin
1989 Nikki and Alexander Alexander[8] Television film
The Littlest Victims Doctor James Oleske Television film
Little White Lies Dr. Harry McCrae Television film
1990 Buried Alive Clint Goodman Television film
Joshua's Heart Tom Television film
1991 Sometimes They Come Back Jim Norman Television film
The Woman Who Sinned Michael Robeson Television film
Charlie Hoover Charlie Hoover
1992 Quicksand: No Escape Scott Reinhardt Television film
1993 Relentless: Mind of a Killer Dr. Peter Hellman Television film
Dying to Love You Roger Paulson Television film
Batman: The Animated Series Deputy Commissioner Gil Mason Voice, episode: "Shadow of the Bat"[17]
Fallen Angels Howard Hughes
Shameful Secrets Daniel Television film
A Kiss to Die For William Tauber Television film
Trial & Error Peter Hudson Television film
Harmful Intent Dr. Rhodes Television film
1994 Target of Suspicion Nick Television film
While Justice Sleeps Winfield 'Win' Cooke Television film
1995 Cybill Teddy
Fast Company Detective Jack Matthews Television film
Tails You Live, Heads You're Dead Detective McKinley Television film
Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber Insects 4-Dac Voice, television film[17]
1996 An Unfinished Affair Alex Connor Television film
Twilight Man Jordan P. Cooper Television film
Buried Secrets Clay Roff Television film
Christmas in My Hometown Jacob (Jake) Peterson Television film; also known as A Holiday for Love
1997 The Legend of Calamity Jane Captain John O'Rourke Voice[17]
Sleeping with the Devil Dick Strang Television film
Buried Alive II Clint Goodman Television film
1998 Dead Man's Gun Reverent Jeremiah Early
Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Families Adolf Althoff Television film
Forever Love Alex Brooks Television film
The New Batman Adventures Michael Vreeland Voice, episode: "Chemistry"[17]
Catch Me If You Can Norm Television film
1999 At the Mercy of a Stranger John Davis Television film
1999–2006 The West Wing Vice President John Hoynes 20 episodes
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (2002–2003)
2000 Navigating the Heart John Daly Television film
Hell Swarm Kirk Bluhdorn Television film
Sharing the Secret John Moss Television film
Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis John F. Kennedy Television film
2001 Second Honeymoon George Television film
2001–2002 Wolf Lake Sheriff Matthew Donner
2002 Mom's on Strike Alan Harris Television film
The King of Queens Dr. Farber Episode: "Two-Thirty"
Breaking News Bill Dunne
2003 Martha, Inc.: The Story of Martha Stewart Andy Stewart Television film
The King and Queen of Moonlight Bay Al Dodge Television film
Ed Peter Evashavik
Without a Trace Dr. Aaron Morrison
2004 Judas Pontius Pilate Television film
Justice League Unlimited Maxwell Lord Voice, episode: "Ultimatum"[17]
2006 Augusta, Gone Ben Dudman Television film
2007 The World According to Barnes Television film
Shark Judge Andrew Bennett
2007–2013 Burn Notice Larry Sizemore Recurring role
2008 Entourage Steve Parles
To Love and Die James White Television film
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Jarvis Kord Voice, episode: "Fall of the Blue Beetle!"
Body Politic Senator Webster Television film
2010 White Collar Edward Walker Episode: "Withdrawal"
2011–2015 Hart of Dixie Dr. Bertram "Brick" Breeland Recurring role episodes 1–14; regular role episodes 15-76
2012–2013 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Brad Chiles Voice, 13 episodes
2013 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Oliver Tate 2 episodes
2015 The Prince Soloman Television film
Last Chance of Christmas Reginald Buckley Television film
2016 Motive Brent Rodman Episode: "Chronology of Pain"
Killing Reagan Ronald Reagan[18] Television film
Nominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries (2016)
2017 Snowfall George Miller Unaired pilot
2017 Magical Christmas Ornaments J. P. Presley Television film
2017–2019 Madam Secretary Fred Moran 2 episodes
2017–2018 Me, Myself & I Richard 2 episodes
2018 The Good Fight Tully Nelson 4 episodes
The Affair James 2 episodes
2019 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Steve 3 episodes
The Goldbergs Eric Episode: "Animal House"
2019–present Virgin River Doc Mullins Main role
2019–2021 This Is Us Dave Malone 3 episodes
2019–2020 Fast & Furious Spy Racers General Dudley Voice; 4 episodes[17]
2021 Evil Edward Tragoren 2 episodes
2023 Quantum Leap Neal Russell 1 episode

Theme parks

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Year Title Role Notes
1989 Body Wars Captain Braddock Disney attraction

As director

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Year Title Notes
1984 St. Elsewhere
1994 Breach of Conduct Television film
1995 Tails You Live, Heads You're Dead Television film
1997 Buried Alive II Television film
1999 In the Company of Spies Television film
2000 Hell Swarm Television film
2003 The Twilight Zone
Threat Matrix
Ed
2003–2004 Third Watch
Without a Trace
2004–2005 Cold Case
2005 Numbers
Las Vegas
Threshold
E-Ring
2006 Killer Instinct
Augusta, Gone Television film
The West Wing
Just Legal
2006–2009 Criminal Minds
2007 Traveler
Eureka
Bionic Woman
2007–2009 Psych
2007–2010 Burn Notice
2008 True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet Television film
2009 Behind Enemy Lines: Colombia Video
Dirty Sexy Money
Greek
2010 The Good Guys
White Collar
Covert Affairs
Persons Unknown
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
Suits
Criminal Behavior Television film
2011–2012 Drop Dead Diva
2012–2015 Hart of Dixie
2014 Wild Card Pilot
2015 The Last Ship
2016 Lucifer
Person of Interest
2017 Taken
2019–2020 Virgin River

References

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  1. ^ Erickson, Hal (October 31, 2013). "Tim Matheson". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013.
  2. ^ Horsburgh, Susan (May 20, 2002). "Frat and Happy". People. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019.
  3. ^ Williams, Kari (July 25, 2022). "'Animal House' Star Tim Matheson Talks Marine Corps Service". Military.com. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Green, Paul (January 10, 2014). A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5799-1.
  5. ^ Leiby, Bruce R.; Leiby, Linda F. (September 15, 2015). A Reference Guide to Television's Bonanza: Episodes, Personnel and Broadcast History. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0075-8.
  6. ^ "Sinbad Jr. Intro, YouTube". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2018). Encyclopedia of Unaired Television Pilots, 1945-2018. McFarland & Company. p. 310. ISBN 978-1-4766-7206-9.
  8. ^ a b Bobbin, Jay (April 21, 1989). "Matheson in serious role". Rome News-Tribune. Tribune Media Services. p. TV9. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  9. ^ Farhi, Paul (December 30, 1988). "A Funny Twist for National Lampoon Inc". Archived from the original on February 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Staff writer (March 17, 1989). "An Actor Acquires Control of National Lampoon Inc". The New York Times. sec.D, p.5.
  11. ^ Delugach, Al (March 17, 1989). "Film Producers Matheson and Grodnik Buy Control of National Lampoon Inc". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Staff writer (March 10, 1990). "National Lampoon Acquisition Set". New York Times. sec.1, p.33.
  13. ^ McNary, Dave (October 26, 1990). "New owner takes over National Lampoon". United Press International. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022.
  14. ^ Weekly, Entertainment (September 11, 2020). Entertainment Weekly The West Wing. Time Home Entertainment. ISBN 978-1-5478-5478-3.
  15. ^ Aaker, Everett (May 16, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-2856-1.
  16. ^ "About". TimMatheson.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "Tim Matheson (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 22, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  18. ^ "Tim Matheson and Cynthia Nixon join Killing Reagan as Ronald and Nancy". Entertainment Weekly. May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.

Further reading

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  • Kevin Scott Collier. Jonny, Sinbad Jr. & Me. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017. ISBN 1978414838
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