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Eddie Deezen

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Eddie Deezen
Deezen at Chiller Theatre Expo in Parsippany, New Jersey, in 2012
Born
Edward Deezen

(1957-03-06) March 6, 1957 (age 67)[1]
Cumberland, Maryland, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1977–present
Spouse
Linda George
​
​
(m. 1984, divorced)​
Websiteeddiedeezen.com

Edward Deezen (born March 6, 1957) [2] is an American actor and comedian, best known for his roles as "nerd" characters in films including Grease, Grease 2, Midnight Madness, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, 1941, and WarGames. He has had larger starring roles in independent films such as Surf II, Mob Boss, Beverly Hills Vamp, and Teenage Exorcist.

Deezen is also a prolific voice actor, whose more notable characters include Mandark in the Cartoon Network series Dexter's Laboratory, Snipes the Magpie in Rock-a-Doodle, Ned in Kim Possible, and the Know-It-All Kid in The Polar Express.

Early life

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Deezen was born to Jewish parents Irma (née Calet) and Robert Dezen in Cumberland, Maryland. His parents owned a jewelery store.[3][4][5] A class clown in his youth, Deezen aspired to become a stand-up comedian; he moved to Hollywood within days of graduating high school in order to pursue a comedy career.[6]

As a stand-up comedian, Deezen performed at The Comedy Store and appeared on an episode of The Gong Show in the mid-1970s, only to be gonged by singer-songwriter Paul Williams.[7] After a poorly-received act and having difficulty memorizing his routine, Deezen eventually decided to abandon stand-up and focus on acting.[7]

Career

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Mainstream film

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In 1977, Deezen landed his first role in the film Grease, playing nerdy student Eugene Felsnic.

Following the commercial success of Grease, Deezen was cast in a series of comedy films, including Robert Zemeckis' I Wanna Hold Your Hand and Steven Spielberg's epic comedy 1941. By 1979, Deezen was in such demand that he was frequently obliged to decline some roles as he was already working: two such notable instances included the characters of Eaglebauer in Rock 'n' Roll High School and Spaz in Meatballs, both of which he turned down to appear in 1941.[8][9] Throughout the early 1980s, Deezen appeared in several high-profile studio releases, including Midnight Madness (1980), Zapped! (1982) and WarGames (1983), as well as reprising the role of Eugene Felsnic in Grease 2 (1982), one of only seven actors from the original Grease to return for the sequel.

In 1984, Deezen was cast in a major television role, playing the role of superintendent Eddie on the first season of the NBC sitcom Punky Brewster. After filming eight episodes, however, Deezen quit due to his discomfort while performing for a live audience and continuing difficulty in remembering his lines.[9]

Independent film

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After WarGames wrapped, Deezen worked exclusively in independent film for the remainder of the 1980s, starting with his first starring role in the 1984 cult comedy Surf II: The End of the Trilogy, where he played the antagonist, mad scientist Menlo Schwartzer.

Deezen worked steadily throughout the remainder of the 1980s and early 1990s, continuing to play stereotypical "nerds" in both bit parts and major roles, including The Whoopee Boys (1986), the ensemble comedy Million Dollar Mystery (1987), Critters 2: The Main Course (1988), and The Silence of the Hams (1994). He worked several times alongside comedian Tim Conway, most notably appearing in two of his Dorf videos, and struck up a partnership with low-budget filmmaker and producer Fred Olen Ray, who gave Deezen leading roles with the films Beverly Hills Vamp (1988), Mob Boss (1990), and Teenage Exorcist (1991).

Following his cameo appearance as a security guard in the 1996 Leslie Nielsen spoof Spy Hard, Deezen wouldn't appear in a live-action film for another 17 years. In a July 2009 interview, Deezen talked about his struggle maintaining an acting career, saying "The truth is, it is extremely tough to sustain a career in Hollywood. It is tough enough ever getting work, just the sheer odds. I loved John [Badham] and Matthew [Broderick] and it would definitely be my pleasure to work with them again. Believe me, if the right role was there and available, I'd be there in a second".[10]

Throughout the 2010s, Deezen appeared in several short films, including as himself in 2012's I Love You, Eddie Deezen, a nervous airline passenger in 2015's Flight Fright and opposite Larry Thomas and Caryn Richman in the short comedy The Love Suckers, which screened at the 2017 New York City International Film Festival.[11] Deezen returned to live-action films in Fred Olen Ray's 2013 television film All I Want for Christmas in a cameo as a supposed A-list action film star being interviewed on a daytime talk show.

Voice acting

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In the mid-1980s, Deezen transitioned into voice acting, a change of pace he favored due to better pay and not needing to memorize extensive dialogue.[7] His early voice roles included Donnie Dodo in Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird (1985), and Snipes the Magpie in Don Bluth's 1991 film Rock-a-Doodle. According to a 2011 interview, Deezen unsuccessfully auditioned for the role of the title character in Robert Zemeckis's Who Framed Roger Rabbit, losing out to comedian Charles Fleischer.[12] He was also considered for the role of Judge Doom in the film along with several other actors that were considered but lost the role to Christopher Lloyd.[13]

Deezen eventually found full-time voice work on television in the mid-1990s, playing recurring characters on the animated series Grimmy, Duckman, Kim Possible and What's New, Scooby-Doo?, as well as guest spots on many others, including Johnny Bravo, Recess, and Darkwing Duck. His best-known voice-over character, however, is that of Mandark, the nemesis of the eponymous Dexter on Cartoon Network's Dexter's Laboratory, a role he played for the series' entire run from 1996 to 2003. Deezen also voiced the character on the TV special Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip and the video games Cartoon Network Racing and FusionFall.

In 2004, Deezen supplied voice and motion capture performance for Robert Zemeckis' holiday film The Polar Express, playing the role of the nerdy "Know-It-All". He reprised this role for the subsequent video game.

Deezen regularly voice acted in radio and television commercials. In the late 1990s, he provided the voice of Pop (of Snap, Crackle and Pop) in commercials for Rice Krispies cereal[9] and Nacho, the mascot for Taco Bell's kid's meals commercials, alongside Rob Paulsen as Dog. In 2011, Deezen was under consideration for succeeding Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of the Aflac Duck, but did not win the role.[14]

Personal life

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After having lived in Cumberland, Maryland and Los Angeles, California, Deezen currently lives in Spartanburg, South Carolina.[15][16] He is a fan of The Beatles, and was interviewed as himself for the unreleased 2005 film Me and Graham: The Soundtrack of Our Lives a documentary following two filmmakers searching the US and UK for the ultimate Beatles fan.[6] For over a year his official website featured a difficult Beatles trivia quiz - devised by Deezen himself - with a $100 prize for anyone who could answer all the questions correctly. Deezen revealed in a later interview that nobody had ever claimed the prize.[7]

Deezen also has a strong interest in pop culture trivia, and since 2011 has contributed to several trivia websites including mental_floss, TodayIFoundOut.com and Neatorama.com.[17][18][19] While most of Deezen's articles focus on The Beatles and their members, he also writes about such subjects as baseball, American history and classic comedy acts like The Three Stooges, the Marx Brothers, and Martin and Lewis.

Although he was raised Jewish, he became a Scientologist after being introduced to it by John Travolta. Deezen at one point stopped being a Scientologist, claiming in 2012 that he "hasn't been very active lately."[5] [20]

In June 2021, Deezen was dropped by his public relations manager Steve Joiner after a waitress accused Deezen of stalking her while at work and writing abusive Facebook posts about her.[21] However, the two have since reconciled.[22]

Health

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On January 6, 2020, Deezen underwent open heart surgery at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia.[23] On January 16, 2020, he developed an infection of pneumonia while recovering at the hospital.[24] He was then transferred to a rehab facility in Cumberland, Maryland, on February 6, 2020, to begin recovery.[25]

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On September 16, 2021, Deezen was arrested for allegedly assaulting a police officer after refusing to leave a restaurant in LaVale, Maryland. According to the Allegany County Sheriff's Department, he had been asked by the restaurant's staff to leave after causing a disturbance and refused to do so, prompting a response from law enforcement. Upon the deputy's arrival, Deezen hid behind a woman in a booth, refused multiple orders to exit, and reportedly threw plates, bowls, and food that struck one of the deputies. Deezen was eventually removed and detained in the Allegany County Jail to await a court appearance on charges of second degree assault, disorderly conduct and trespassing.[26][27]

On April 8, 2022, Deezen was arrested after he unlawfully entered a nursing facility. Two hours before his arrest, he had been told to stay away from the property. According to the Maryland State Police, Deezen was charged with fourth-degree burglary, two counts of trespassing, and one count of disturbing the peace. He was then taken to Allegany County Detention Center.[28][29] According to Deezen's friend and former social media manager Bob Barnett, it was revealed that Deezen had been struggling with a mental disorder at the time of the incident.[28] In August 2022, he was ruled unfit to stand trial as a result of his mental health struggles and underwent treatment at the Maryland Department of Health.[30]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1978 Laserblast Froggy
Grease Eugene Felsnic
I Wanna Hold Your Hand Richard "Ringo" Klaus
1979 1941 Herbie Kazlminsky
1980 Midnight Madness Wesley
1981 Steigler and Steigler Red
1982 Grease 2 Eugene Felsnic
Zapped! Sheldon
1983 WarGames Eddie Malvin
1984 Surf II: The End of the Trilogy Menlo Schwartzer
The Rosebud Beach Hotel Sydney
1985 A Polish Vampire in Burbank Sphincter
Mugsy's Girls Lane
Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird Donnie Dodo Voice
1986 The Longshot Parking Attendant Cameo
The Whoopee Boys Eddie Lipschitz
1987 Happy Hour Hancock
Million Dollar Mystery Rollie
1988 Critters 2: The Main Course Hungry Heifer Manager
Assault of the Killer Bimbos Dopey Deputy
Dorf's Golf Bible Waldo Short film
Beverly Hills Vamp Kyle Carpenter
1989 Hollywood Boulevard II Walter
1990 Wedding Band Slappy the Clown Cameo
Dorf Goes Auto Racing Dipstick Short film
The Raven Red Kiss-Off Himalayan Operator Cameo
Mob Boss Tony Anthony
1991 Rock-a-Doodle Snipes Voice
Teenage Exorcist Eddie
1994 The Silence of the Hams Video Cameraman Cameo
1995 Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie Phil the Guard Short film
1996 Spy Hard Rancor Guard Who Gets Spit On Cameo
1997 The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue Charlie Voice
1998 News Traveler Eddie
2004 The Polar Express Know-It-All Kid Voice and motion-capture
2012 I Love You, Eddie Deezen Himself Short film
2015 Flight Fright Nervous Airline Passenger Short film
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Seagull Voice
2016 The Love Suckers Sammy Schwartz Short film
2023 Critters: All You Can Eat Big Ed Short film[31]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Champions: A Love Story Eric Philpot Television film
1981 Homeroom Ron Carp Pilot
1982 The Facts of Life Grusky Episode: "The Big Fight"
1983 Magnum, P.I. Mickey Dalrumple Episode: "Squeeze Play"
1984 Punky Brewster Eddie Malvin 12 episodes
1986 The Fall Guy Merle Monroe Episode: "Lady in Green"
1989 Monsters Demon #2 Episode: "The Demons"
1991 Darkwing Duck Mouth Voice, episode: "Darkly Dawns the Duck"
1991–1992 Mother Goose and Grimm Ham Voice, 7 episodes
1992 Goof Troop Road Hogs Biker Voice, episode: "Queasy Rider"
Eek! The Cat Ringo Voice, episode: "Bearz 'N the Hood"
1994 Scooby-Doo! in Arabian Nights Caliph Voice, television special
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Bulletin Board Monster Voice, episode: "Cold Hard Toenails/Attack of the Blobs"
The Pink Panther Robot Voice, episode: "A Hard Day's Pink/You Only Pink Twice"
1994–1996 Duckman Iggy Catalpa Voice, 3 episodes
1995 The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes Agent Tucker Television film
1996–2003 Dexter's Laboratory Mandark Voice, 22 episodes
1996–1997 Life with Louie Melvin Voice, 4 episodes
1996 Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series Alvin Yasbek Voice, episode: "Mondo-Man"
Timon & Pumbaa Bahuka Voice, episode: "Alcatraz Mataz/Oahu Wahoo"
1997 The Weird Al Show The Guy Boarded Up in the Wall Voice, 4 episodes
1998 Cow and Chicken Glasses Boy Voice, episode: "Can Cow Come Out and Play/Horn Envy"
What a Cartoon! Ice Cream Guy Voice, episode: ""Kenny and the Chimp: Diseasy Does It!"
The Lionhearts Tex Hardbottom Voice, episode: "Brown Dog Day"
The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs D'Cell Voice, episode: "D'Cell/Halfday"
1999 Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip Mandark Voice, television special
Johnny Bravo Oswald Voice, episode: "A League of His Own/Johnny Goes to Camp/Buffoon Lagoon"
1999–2000 Disney's Recess Frank 'Tiny' Sedgwick Voice, 3 episodes
2000 Pigs Next Door Ben Crenshaw Voice, 13 episodes
2001–2004 Lloyd in Space Larry Voice, 7 episodes
2001–2003 Oswald Andy Pumpkin Voice, 7 episodes
2002–2007 Kim Possible Ned Voice, 4 episodes
2003–2005 What's New, Scooby-Doo? Gibby Norton Voice, 3 episodes
2005 Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama Ned Voice, television special
Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island Slurpy the Bat Voice, episode: "5 Nuts and a Baby"
2009 Chowder Todd Voice, episode: "Sheboodles"
SpongeBob SquarePants Himself Episode: "SpongeBob's Truth or Square"
2010 Pound Puppies Carlton J. Stankmeyer Voice, episode: "The Yipper Caper"
2012 Handy Manny Zip Voice, 2 episodes
2013 All I Want for Christmas Larry Eastwood Cameo
Television film
2015 Star vs. the Forces of Evil Squares Voice; episode: "Party With a Pony"
Transformers: Robots in Disguise Ped Voice, episode: "Can You Dig It?"
2016 Wander Over Yonder Cartoon Peepers Voice, episode: "The Cartoon"

Video games

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Year Title Voice role
2004 The Polar Express Know-It-All Kid
2006 Cartoon Network Racing Mandark
2009 FusionFall

References

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  1. ^ 'Grease' actor Eddie Deezen arrested, charged with trespassing, burglary, retrieved April 14, 2022
  2. ^ https://www.ocregister.com/2013/03/06/march-6-celebrity-birthdays/amp/
  3. ^ https://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/cover-boy-gets-painting-as-gift/article_dbc5a5e4-d086-11e4-a585-3f26e470516c.html
  4. ^ https://www.adamsfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Irma-Gloria-Dezen?obId=25325625
  5. ^ a b Juniper, Jennifer (February 21, 2012). "Off Hollywood - Eddie Deezen". Vice.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Admin (October 18, 2008). "Podcast for 10/17 Show Featuring Eddie Deezen Interview Is Up". Revenge of the '80s Radio. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Leibling, Adam. "Eddie Deezen: Before Geek was Chic". READ Magazine. Archived from the original on July 31, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  8. ^ "Back to School: A Retrospective". Rock 'n' Roll High School DVD.
  9. ^ a b c Neibauer, James L. (August 1, 2006). "An Interview with Eddie Deezen". RogueCinema.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
  10. ^ "IHC's 10 Questions Interview with Hollywood geek legend Eddie Deezen [I Heart Movies]". iHeartChaos.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009.
  11. ^ "I Love You, Eddie Deezen". ILoveYouEddieDeezen.Blogspot.nl. November 19, 2012. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "PMC 35: Eddie Deezen". Pop My Culture podcast. March 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 20, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  13. ^ Arbeiter, M. (June 21, 2018). "15 Things You Might Not Know About Who Framed Roger Rabbit". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on June 4, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. ^ Deezen, Eddie (April 20, 2011). "My Aflac Duck Audition". EddieDeezen.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  15. ^ https://www.foxcarolina.com/video/2023/10/20/one-on-one-with-grease-actor-eddie-deezen/
  16. ^ Deezen, Eddie (March 6, 2012). "Thoughts on My 55th Birthday". EddieDeezen.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  17. ^ "mental_floss Blog >> Eddie Deezen". Mental Floss. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011.
  18. ^ "Eddie Deezen on Neatorama". Neatorama.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  19. ^ Hiskey, Daven (July 30, 2012). "Welcome a New Writer to Today I Found Out, Eddie Deezen". TodayIFoundOut.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
  20. ^ "One-on-one with "Grease" actor Eddie Deezen". October 20, 2023.
  21. ^ Napoli, Jessica (June 25, 2021). "Eddie Deezen's manager drops 'Grease' actor after harassment complaints". Fox News. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Film enthusiast interviews Grease and Polar Express star Eddie Deezen". November 23, 2023.
  23. ^ ARCNEWSANDSPORTS (January 22, 2020). "Actor Eddie Deezen Recovering from Surgery". Magic 100.5. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  24. ^ "Thursday Evening Update". EddieDeezen.com. January 16, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  25. ^ "Thursday Afternoon". EddieDeezen.com. February 6, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "'Grease' Actor Eddie Deezen Arrested for Restaurant Disturbance...Allegedly Chucked Plates at Cops!!!". TMZ. September 16, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  27. ^ Fitzsimons, Tim; Dasrath, Diana (September 17, 2021). "'Grease' actor Eddie Deezen arrested after Maryland restaurant fracas". NBC News. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  28. ^ a b Wang, Jessica (April 14, 2022). "Grease Actor Eddie Deezen Arrested for Trespassing and Burglary". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  29. ^ "Display Inmate - Display". InMateSearch.AllCon.org. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  30. ^ Juneau, Jen (August 8, 2022). "'Grease' Actor Eddie Deezen Found Not Competent to Stand Trial in Nursing Home Burglary Case: Report". People. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  31. ^ "Critters: All You Can Eat - Movie".
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Interviews

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