Jeffrey Combs

Jeffrey Combs
Combs in 2013
Born Jeffrey Alan Combs
(1954-09-09) September 9, 1954
Oxnard, California, United States
Education Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts
Alma mater University of Washington
Occupation Actor
Years active 1971–present
Home town Lompoc, California
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)

Jeffrey Alan Combs (born September 9, 1954) is an American actor known for his horror film roles such as Re-Animator and appearances playing a number of characters in the Star Trek and the DC Animated Universe television franchises.[1]

Early life

Combs was born in Oxnard, California, to Jean (née Sullins) Owens (1921–1986) and Eugene "Gene" Combs (1922–1999), and raised in Lompoc. A graduate of Lompoc High School, as a senior Combs played the lead role of Captain Fisby in a stage production of The Teahouse of the August Moon. Combs then attended Santa Maria's Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and later developed his acting skills in the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington.

In 1980, after spending several years performing in playhouses on the West Coast, Combs moved to Los Angeles. He landed his first role in the film Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), in which he played an unnamed drive-in teller. His first horror film role came two years later, in the Frightmare (1983).

Career

Combs's best known horror role was as Herbert West, the main character in the movie Re-Animator,[2] which he has reprised in the film's two sequels.[1] He also portrayed the part of author H. P. Lovecraft (creator of the Herbert West character) in the film Necronomicon: Book of the Dead (1993). Combs has starred in eight H.P. Lovecraft adaptations. Other film credits include FeardotCom (2002), House on Haunted Hill (1999), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), and The Frighteners (1996).[3]

Combs has had roles in many science fiction television series. He starred as the telepath Harriman Gray, in "Eyes" (1994), a first-season episode of Babylon 5. In August 2005, he appeared for the first time on the science fiction series The 4400 as Dr. Kevin Burkhoff, which, by 2006, had become a recurring role. In early 2007, he played a highly fictionalized Edgar Allan Poe in "The Black Cat", an episode of Masters of Horror.[4]

Combs has done extensive voice work, including The Scarecrow in 1997's The New Batman Adventures. Combs continued his work in the DCAU several years later, with a recurring role as The Question in Justice League Unlimited. Combs provided the voice of Ratchet on the animated series Transformers: Prime. He also narrated the 25th Anniversary of Re-Animator on the 2010 FanTasia.[5]

In July 2009, Combs returned to his stage roots and reprised his role as Edgar Allan Poe in a one-man theatrical show entitled Nevermore...an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe at The Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, CA.[6] Although only supposed to run for a month, the show enjoyed much success and sold-out crowds, and was extended four times. Nevermore as it is now simply known, closed its run in Los Angeles on December 19, 2009. The show had its East Coast debut on 23 and 24 January 2010 at Westminster Hall in Baltimore, MD, Poe's final resting place.[7] A tour of the Saturn Award nominated[8] Nevermore is now in the works, with stops possibly including Chicago, New York, and Seattle, and a confirmed two-date run in San Diego in February.[9] He worked besides his acting career, as voice actor for the films The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated.[3]

Combs stars with Andrew Divoff in the 2012 Screen Media Films release Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation, a prequel to the 2006 cult hit Night of the Living Dead 3D directed by Jeff Broadstreet.[3]

Star Trek

On television, Combs enjoyed popular success playing a number of alien characters on the various modern Star Trek incarnations, beginning in 1994 with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in 2000 with Star Trek: Voyager, and in 2001 with Star Trek: Enterprise. Combs has played nine different onscreen roles in the Star Trek universe. His largest science-fiction role to date has been his regular guest role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Vorta clone Weyoun. Combs has said that Weyoun was his favorite Star Trek role, and he had a great deal of input in developing the character.[10]

On the same series, Combs had a recurring role as the Ferengi character Brunt. During the DS9 episode "The Dogs of War", Combs appeared as both Weyoun and Brunt, making Trek history as the first actor to play two unrelated recurring roles on screen in the same episode; however, the two characters never appeared in the same scene together.

On Star Trek: Enterprise, Combs had a recurring role as Shran, an Andorian military officer. Enterprise producer Manny Coto once mentioned in an interview that he hoped to make Combs a regular on the show, had the series been renewed for a fifth season.[11][12]

In addition to his recurring Star Trek roles, Combs had non-recurring roles as a human police officer Kevin Mulkahey,[13] as the alien Tiron on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; as the alien Penk on Star Trek: Voyager; and as the Ferengi pirate Krem on Star Trek: Enterprise. Along with many other actors, writers, and creators of the show, Combs also had a cameo appearance as a holographic patron in Vic's Lounge in the final episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Combs also voices the character of Romulan Commander Suldok for the Star Trek: Elite Force II video game.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Drive-in teller
1981 Whose Life Is It Anyway? 1st-year intern
1983 Frightmare Stu
1983 The Skin of Our Teeth Henry Antrobus
1983 The Man with Two Brains Dr. Jones
1985 Re-Animator Herbert West
1986 From Beyond Crawford Tillinghast
1987 Cyclone Rick Davenport
1988 Dead Man Walking Chaz
1988 Cellar Dweller Colin Childress
1988 Pulse Pounders The Evil Clergyman
1989 Bride of Re-Animator Dr. Herbert West
1990 The Pit and the Pendulum Francisco the Inquisitor
1990 Robot Jox Spectator/Prole
1991 The Guyver Doctor East
1991 Death Falls Lonnie Hawks
1991 Trancers II Dr. Pyle
1992 Doctor Mordrid - Master of the Unknown Dr. Mordrid
1993 Fortress D-Day
1993 Necronomicon H. P. Lovecraft
1994 Love and a .45 Dinosaur Bob
1994 The Lurking Fear Dr. Haggis
1995 Castle Freak John Reilly
1995 Felony Bill Knight
1995 Cyberstalker aka The Digital Prophet Andy Coberman
1995 Dillinger and Capone Gilroy
1996 The Frighteners Special Agent Milton Dammers
1996 Norma Jean & Marilyn Montgomery Clift
1997 Time Tracers Dr. Carrington
1997 Snide and Prejudice Therapist Meissner
1998 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Mr. Brooks
1998 Caught Up Security Guard
1998 Spoiler Captain
1999 House on Haunted Hill Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt
1999 Poseidon's Fury: Escape From the Lost City Lord Darkennon Short film
2001 Faust: Love of the Damned Lt. Dan Margolies
2001 The Attic Expeditions Dr. Ek
2001 Contagion Brown
2002 FeardotCom Detective Sykes
2003 Beyond Re-Animator Dr. Herbert West
2005 Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy Dr. Preston King
2005 All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos Thomas White
2005 Edmond Desk Clerk
2006 Satanic Detective Joyner
2006 Voodoo Moon Frank Taggert
2006 Abominable Buddy, the Clerk
2006 Blackwater Valley Exorcism Sheriff Jimmy Fleck
2007 Return to House on Haunted Hill Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt
2007 The Wizard of Gore The Geek
2007 Brutal Sheriff Jimmy Fleck
2007 The Attackmen Mr. Simms
2007 Stuck 911 Operator
2008 Parasomnia Detective Garrett
2009 The Dunwich Horror Wilbur Whateley
2009 Dark House Walston Rey
2012 Elf-Man Mickey
2012 Would You Rather Shepard Lambrick
2012 Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation Harold Tovar
2013 Motivational Growth The Mold Voice
2013 Favor Tad Harrison
2014 Suburban Gothic Dr. Carpenter
2014 Beethoven's Treasure Tail Fritz Bruchschnauser / Howard Belch
2018 Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold The Question Voice
TBA Ginosaji TBA [14]

Television works

Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Mississippi Military cadet Episode: "We Remember, We Revere"
1983 Houston Nights Frank Stark Episode: "Lady Smoke"
1987 Beauty and the Beast Python Episode: "No Way Down"
1988 Jake and the Fatman Alan Shuba Episode: "What is This Thing Called Love"
1988 Incredibly Strange Film Show Himself Episode: "Tsui Hark and Stuart Gordon"
1989 Freddy's Nightmares Ralph Episode: "Love Stinks"
1989 Life Goes On Burk Clifton Episode: "Invasion of the Thatcher Snatchers"
1989 Hunter James Wilkins Episode: "Fatal Obsession, Part 2"
1991 The Flash Jimmy Swain Episode: "Captain Cold"
1991 Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero Roger "Sheck" Shector Episode: "A Quartet Of Creatures"
1991 Sisters Derek Cotts Episode: "Protective Measures"
1994 Babylon 5 Harriman Gray Episode: "Eyes"
1994–1999 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Brunt/Weyoun/Tiron 33 episodes
1995 The Single Guy Klein Episode: "The Virgin"
1996 Perversions of Science Prisoner #50557 Episode: "The Exile"
1997 The New Batman Adventures Scarecrow / Dr. Jonathan Crane (voice) Episode: "Never Fear"
1998 The Net Max Copernicus Episode: "Lunatic Fringe"
1999 FreakyLinks Coroner Episode: "Subject: Live Fast, Die Young"
2000 Martial Law Antoine Trembel Episode: "In the Dark"
2000 Star Trek: Voyager Penk Episode: "Tsunkatse"
2001–2005 Star Trek: Enterprise Shran / Krem 11 episodes
2002 The Twilight Zone Harry Radditch Episode: "The Placebo Effect"
2002 She Spies Indigo Episode: "The Replacement"
2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Dr. Zellner / Professor (voice) 2 episodes
2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Dale Sterling Episode: "Jackpot"
2004–2006 Justice League Unlimited The Question / Charles Szasz (voice) 5 episodes
2004–2006 Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! Gyrus Krinkle (voice) 2 episodes
2005 Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy Dr. Preston King
2005–2007 The 4400 Dr. Kevin Burkoff 15 episodes
2006 Masters of Horror Edgar Allan Poe Episode: "The Black Cat"
2008 Cold Case Sly Borden Episode: "Spiders"
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Kite Man (voice) Episode: "Long Arm of the Law"
2010–2011 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Professor Hatecraft (voice) 2 episodes
2010–2012 The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes The Leader (voice) 5 episodes
2010–2013 Transformers: Prime Ratchet (voice) 56 episodes
2012 Thundercats Soul Sever (voice) Episode: "The Soul Sever"
2012–2016 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Rat King / Dr. Victor Falco (voice) 4 episodes
2013 DC Nation - Doom Patrol Chief / Mr. Morden (voice) 3 episodes; chapters 1, 6 & 10
2014 Criminal Minds John Nichols Episode: "The Black Queen"
2014 Ben 10: Omniverse Kuphulu (voice) 2 episodes
2015 Gotham Office Manager 2 episodes
2015 Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Mainframe / Referee (voice) Episode: "Wheels of Fury"[15]
2016 Transformers: Robots in Disguise Ratchet (voice) 2 episodes[16]

Video games

Year Title Role
2001 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars Weyoun
2003 Star Trek: Elite Force II Commander Suldok
2003 Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu Scarecrow / Dr. Jonathan Crane
2012 The Secret World Hayden Montag, Charles Zurn
2012 Transformers: Prime – The Game Ratchet
2013 Imperium Galactic War Novus Ordo, Narrator
2013 Lego Marvel Super Heroes Leader
2017 Injustice 2 Brainiac
2018 Star Trek Online: Victory Is Life Weyoun, Brunt

References

  1. 1 2 "Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times.
  2. ↑ Maslin, Janet (October 18, 1985). "Re Animator (1985) SCREEN: STUART GORDON DIRECTS 'RE-ANIMATOR'". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 Brice Mcivar (August 9, 2011). "Q&A: Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  4. ↑ Jeffrey Combs, Star of "The Black Cat" Archived 2008-06-22 at the Wayback Machine., UGO
  5. ↑ "Fantasia 2010: Days 5 Through 9".
  6. ↑ Stebe Allen Theater - Nevermore
  7. ↑ Baltimore Poe Bicentennial Celebration Archived 2009-12-28 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ "Fantasia 2010: Days 10 and 11".
  9. ↑ "Nevermore Heading to San Diego for Two Performances".
  10. ↑ Jeffrey Combs (2004). StarTrek.com First Person. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
  11. ↑ Chapman, Brian (November 24, 2013). "Star Trek Enterprise: What Would Have Happened In Season 5". Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England: WhatCulture. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  12. ↑ Pascale, Anthony (August 10, 2009). "VegasCon09: Braga & Coto Talk Enterprise Season 5 + Star Trek 2009 & more". Las Vegas, Nevada: TrekMovie.com. Retrieved 2017-06-13.
  13. ↑ Startrek.com Deep Space Nine - Far Beyond the Stars
  14. ↑ "GINOSAJI - The Horribly Slow Murderer... Feature Film | Official Site". GINOSAJI - The Horribly Slow Murderer... Feature Film | Official Site. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
  15. ↑ "Wheels of Fury". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 2. Episode 18. March 29, 2015. Disney XD.
  16. ↑ "Decepticon Island (Part 1)". Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Season 2. Episode 12. April 16, 2016. Cartoon Network UK.

Bibliography

  • Voisin, Scott, Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
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