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Curtis Armstrong

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Curtis Armstrong
Armstrong at Phoenix Comicon in 2017
Born (1953-11-27) November 27, 1953 (age 70)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1977–present
Spouse
Elaine Aronson
(m. 1994)
Children1

Curtis Armstrong (born November 27, 1953)[citation needed] is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Booger in the Revenge of the Nerds films, Herbert Viola on the TV series Moonlighting, Miles Dalby in the film Risky Business, and record producer Ahmet Ertegun in the film Ray as well as for playing the role of Metatron on the TV series Supernatural.

He is also known for providing his voice for such characters as Schmuley "Snot" Lonstein on the animated TV series American Dad! and Maru in the animated film Planes: Fire & Rescue in addition to portraying the title character on the animated TV series Dan Vs., Mr. Moleguaco in The Emperor's New School, Ezekiel the Cockroach on Doom Patrol, and Robot Default on Robot and Monster.

From 2013 to 2015, he served as the co-host of the TBS reality television competition series King of the Nerds.

Early and personal life

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Armstrong was born on November 27, 1953, in Detroit, Michigan. During his childhood, he lived in Switzerland for a few years while his father worked there.[1] His family returned to Michigan, and he graduated from Berkley High School in Berkley, Michigan.[1]

Armstrong attended Western Michigan University and later transferred to the Academy of Dramatic Art at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, graduating in 1975.[1][2]

Armstrong had a Catholic upbringing; he later converted to Judaism when he married Elaine Aronson.[3][4] His daughter Lily Armstrong was born in 1996. Armstrong announced via social media that his father died on May 25, 2020.[5][6]

Career

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His first role came in the 1983 film Risky Business. However, he is best known for his role of Booger in Revenge of the Nerds, reprising the role in the sequels Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation, and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love. Armstrong's typecasting in the role was mocked in The Simpsons episode "E-I-E-I-(Annoyed Grunt)". His other films include Better Off Dead, Big Bully, One Crazy Summer, Bad Medicine, National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Smokin' Aces, DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story, Jingle All the Way, Southland Tales, and Beer for My Horses. He also had a recurring role as Herbert Viola on the television series Moonlighting, and he played the part of Ahmet Ertegun in the biographical film Ray (2004).

Armstrong provided the voices for Mr. Moleguaco and Mr. Bugspit on the Disney Channel original series The Emperor's New School and The Buzz on Maggie. Armstrong was also in Akeelah and the Bee. He played "Farley", a fictional composite character based on members of Elvis Presley's real entourage in the 1997 cult-comedy film Elvis Meets Nixon. He also had a bit part as "Russ" on the short-lived TV show Reaper.

Armstrong in 2014

Armstrong was cast in the 2000 film Shanghai Noon as Wild West hawker Bulldog Drummond, but all three scenes in which his character appears were cut from the film during the editing phase.[7] He voices "Snot" on the animated sitcom American Dad!, parodying his role from Revenge of the Nerds. He also had a role as Double Wide in the cartoon series Stroker and Hoop on Adult Swim. He appeared in the 2006 production of Akeelah and the Bee as Mr. Welch. He was on VH1's 100 Greatest Teen Stars despite being thirty when he played his first role. He played "Mecklen" in the 2007 film, Smokin' Aces.

In the feature film Ray, for preparation for his role as music executive Ahmet Ertegun, he had the top part of his head shaved to simulate male pattern baldness. In 1999, he played a seedy reporter in The Baby Menace, the first episode of season five of 3rd Rock From The Sun. He guest starred in episode 10 — "Much Too Much" — and had a much smaller part in episode 11 — "Owner of a Lonely Heart" — in season two of Grey's Anatomy. Armstrong played a deejay named Jerry Thunder on That '70s Show, episode 315, "Radio Daze." In 2006 Armstrong was in an episode of Boston Legal. In 2008, he guest starred on the iCarly episode "iStakeout" as a convenience store clerk who was suspected of making unauthorized copies of films. In 2009 he appeared in Ratko: The Dictator's Son, and Locker 13. He played fictional astronaut Chaz Dalton on an episode of the TV series My Name is Earl. From 2008–2013 he portrayed Dr Parker/Dr Dawson on The Game.

2009 found Armstrong playing a paranoid character in a mental institution on the House season six premiere, "Broken". Also in 2009 Armstrong appeared in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love, as a teacher obsessed with the principal of the school, and he also appeared as a bumbling bandit in the film Gold Retrievers.

In 2010, Armstrong made a guest appearance on the television show Glory Daze and began voicing the main character on the animated series Dan Vs. He also voices Robot in Robot and Monster. He also appeared on Spike TV's Blue Mountain State (S01E11). In 2011, he appeared on an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and has a recurring role as attorney Peter Goldman on season seven of The Closer. He reprises this role in season four of Major Crimes.

On October 27, 2011, he appeared as himself on the television show Rules of Engagement.

In May 2013, Armstrong had a recurring role as Dr. Foster in several episodes of New Girl.

He continued to play the angel Metatron in several episodes in the 9th, 10th and 11th seasons of Supernatural.

Armstrong and former Revenge of the Nerds co-star Robert Carradine host the TBS reality TV competition series King of the Nerds. The series, which pits contestants with expertise in a variety of geek interests to see who will be crowned with the eponymous title, premiered in January 2013.

In addition to his acting career, Armstrong's affinity for the music of Harry Nilsson has prompted him to become an enthusiast of Nilsson's work. He has written liner notes for CD reissues of Nilsson albums and has been instrumental in archival and bonus track preparation for these reissues. Additionally, Armstrong is a fan of Washington Irving, Laurel and Hardy, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. In 2006, he was inducted into the Baker Street Irregulars as "An Actor and a Rare One."

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Note
1983 Risky Business Miles Dalby
1984 Revenge of the Nerds Dudley "Booger" Dawson
1985 Better Off Dead Charles De Mar
Bad Medicine Dennis Gladstone
1986 The Clan of the Cave Bear Goov
One Crazy Summer Ack Ack Raymond
1987 Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise Dudley "Booger" Dawson
1989 How I Got into College Arcadia Bible Academy Recruiter
1991 Hi Honey - I'm Dead Arnold Pischkin
1996 Big Bully Clark
Jingle All the Way Chain Smoking Booster
2002 Van Wilder Campus Cop
2003 Quigley Dexter Persley
My Dinner with Jimi Herb Cohen
2004 DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story Mr. Ralph
The Seat Filler LaJean
Vendetta: No Conscience, No Mercy Brodrick Dooley
Ray Ahmet Ertegun
2005 Man of the House Morgan Ball
2006 National Lampoon's Pucked Janitor
Akeelah and the Bee Mr. Welch
Southland Tales Dr. Soberin Exx
Smokin' Aces Mecklen
2007 Route 30 Ned
2008 Beer for My Horses D.A.
2009 Legally Blondes Mr. Gary Golden
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love Mr. O'Donnell
2011 Flypaper Mitchell Wolf
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star Clint
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure Kenny
2012 Sparkle Larry
2014 Planes: Fire & Rescue Maru Voice[8][9]

Television

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Year Series Role Notes
1986–1989 Moonlighting Herbert Quentin Viola Main role
1991 Hi Honey – I'm Dead Arnold Pischkin Television film
1992 Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation Dudley "Booger" Dawson Television film
1993–1997 The Terrible Thunderlizards Scooter Voice, main role
1994 Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Dudley "Booger" Dawson Television film
1995 M.A.N.T.I.S B.B. Rantzer Episode: "Fast Forward"[10]
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Albie Swenson Episode: "Resurrection"[11]
1997 The Hunger Bart Brookman Episode: "Room 117"
1998 Safety Patrol Bert Miller / Tim Bartlett Television film
Brimstone Jimmy G. Episode: "Repentance"
The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer Confederate soldier Episode: "Up, Up and Away"
Love Boat: The Next Wave Mitch Beeber Episode: "Remember?"
1999 Felicity Danny 3 episodes
3rd Rock from the Sun Ken Fretts Episode: "The Baby Menace"
2000 The Amanda Show Video Store Clerk "Moody's Point Segment"
2000 Batman Beyond Warren Voice, episode: "Payback"[9]
2001 That '70s Show Jerry Thunder Episode: "Radio Daze"
2001–2002 The Chronicle Sal the Pig-Boy 14 episodes
2001–2003 Ed Mr. Cheswick 3 episodes
2002 Project Viper Keach Television film
2003 Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt Jerry the Butler Television film
2004 Joan of Arcadia Security Guard / God Episode: "State of Grace"
One on One Matt 4 episodes
Johnny Bravo Himself Voice, episode: "Some Walk by Night"[9]
2004–2005 Stroker & Hoop Double-Wide, Deputy, Grobbit 2, Pool Cleaner, Old Woman, Zombie Ken, Bear Collector, Pepe Peepee Voice, recurring role[9]
2005–present American Dad! Snot Lonstein / Eli Weisel Voice, recurring role
2005–2006 The Buzz on Maggie Mr. Bugspit Voice, recurring role
2005 Grey's Anatomy Robert Martin 2 episodes
2006–2008 The Emperor's New School Mr. Moleguaco Voice, recurring role
2007 Shredderman Rules Mayor Izzo Television film
Wizards of Waverly Place Zit Episode: "Pop Me And We Both Go Down"
Ghost Whisperer Harold Episode: "The Walk-In"
2008 iCarly Store Clerk Episode: "iStakeout"
Psych Jervis Episode: "The Old and the Restless"
2008–13 The Game Dr. Parker/Dr. Dawson Recurring role
2009 My Name Is Earl Chaz Dalton Episode: "Chaz Dalton Space Academy"
House Richter Episode: "Broken"
2010 Blue Mountain State Ronnie Hayes Episode: "Ransom"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Clint Pudder Episode: "The Panty Sniffer"
2011 Curb Your Enthusiasm Computer Guy Episode: "The Safe House"
Rules of Engagement Himself Episode: "Bros Before Nodes"
That's Our Joe Snot Episode: "You Can't Do the 'Lunchables All Star Show', Joe"
The Dog Who Saved Halloween Max Television film
2011–2012 The Closer Peter Goldman Recurring role
2011–2013 Dan Vs. Dan Voice, main role[9]
2012 Scandal Attorney Cole Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury"
2012–2015 Robot and Monster Robot, Marf Voice, main role[9]
2013 Bones Oscar Schultz Episode: "The Blood from the Stones"
Hot in Cleveland Clark Episode: "Lost Loves and Tangled Web"
New Girl Dr. Foster Recurring role
2013–2015 King of the Nerds Himself, in reference to Dudley "Booger" Dawson Main role
2013–2016 Supernatural Metatron Recurring role
2014 TripTank Candy Van Man Voice, episode: "Candy Van Finger Bang"
2015 Workaholics Richard Ottmar Episode "Trivia Pursuits"
Highston Uncle Billy Amazon Originals Pilot episode
2016 Major Crimes Peter Goldman Episode: "Hindsight"
Frequency Karl Episode: "Deviation"
2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Super Amazing Bouncy Ball Voice, 2 episodes[9]
MacGyver The Pawn Episode: "Packing Peanuts + Fire"
2018 Champaign ILL Burt Recurring role
2019 Malibu Rescue Mr. Rathbone Television film
Tangled: The Series Constable Lumph Voice, episode: "The Eye of Pincosta"[9]
Doom Patrol Ezekiel the Cockroach Voice, 3 episodes
Happy! Dayglo Doug 3 episodes
2019–present The Loud House Mr. Gurdle Voice, 3 episodes[9]
2020 Malibu Rescue: The Next Wave Mr. Rathbone Television film
It's Pony Basil Voice, episode: "The Giving Chair"
2021–present Monsters at Work Mr. Crummyham Voice, recurring role[9]

Video games

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Year Game Role Note
2000 Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption Pink
2010 Mafia II Civilians

Audio roles

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List of voice performances in audio plays
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Moriarty: The Devil's Game Inspector Gregson Audible Original[12]

Music videos

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Year Music Video Artist Note
2018 "Supernatural Parody 2" The Hillywood Show

References

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  1. ^ a b c Monaghan, John (May 18, 2017). "Star to Celebrate His Nerd Status at Redford". Detroit Free Press. p. D7.
  2. ^ Sandoval, Emiliana. "Five Things: about Curtis Armstrong"[permanent dead link], Detroit Free Press, May 1, 2006. Accessed May 31, 2007. "Local guy Curtis Armstrong has carved out a steady film career. His most recent movie, "Akeelah and the Bee," came out Friday. STARTING OUT Armstrong was born in 1953 in Detroit and graduated from Berkley High School."[dead link]
  3. ^ "Curtis Armstrong - My Life Of Dad". Lifeofdad.com, March 21, 2016.
  4. ^ "PGP 797: Robot And Booger". Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  5. ^ Armstrong, Curtis (May 26, 2020). "My dad Robert & me in London in 1973. I loved him. He loved his wife, my sister, Elaine and me. He adored my daughter Lily. He died yesterday of Covid-19, aged 92. He introduced me to Sherlock Holmes. Years later, I introduced him to Patrick O'Brian. So we're even.RIPpic.twitter.com/sUWIE3YOY0". @curtisisbooger. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "Curtis Armstrong". www.facebook.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Klein, James (July 28, 2013). "Shanghai Noon / Shanghai Knights (2000 / 2003)". Unrated Film. Archived from the original on March 4, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "WATCH: 'Planes 2: Fire & Rescue' Full Length Trailer". Stitch Kingdom. February 5, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Curtis Armstrong (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 27, 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.
  10. ^ "M.A.N.T.I.S.: Fast Forward". TV.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  11. ^ "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Resurrection". TV.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Moriarty". Audible. 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
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