Curtis Armstrong

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

Curtis Armstrong
Curtis Armstrong at Phoenix Comicon in 2017
Born (1953-11-27) November 27, 1953
OccupationActor, voice actor, singer
Years active1983–present
Spouse(s)
Elaine Aronson (m. 1994)
ChildrenLily

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.

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

Personal life

Armstrong was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Norma E. (née D'Amico), a teacher of Italian (Abruzzese) descent, and Robert Leroy Armstrong. He graduated from Berkley High School in Berkley, Michigan, and later graduated from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.[1] Armstrong had a Catholic upbringing, but converted to Judaism when he married Elaine Aronson.[2][3] His daughter Lily Armstrong was born in 1996. Armstrong announced via social media that his father died on May 25, 2020 of COVID-19.[4][5]

Career

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 and its sequel Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise. He later reprised his role as Booger in the 1992 television movie Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation and the 1994 television movie 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 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.[6] 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. 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 movies. 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 movie "Gold Retrievers".

In 2010, he 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 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 an avid fan of Washington Irving, Laurel and Hardy, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.

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 May 2013, Armstrong appeared as Dr. Foster in an episode of New Girl.

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

Also, he is currently playing the pizza delivery guy in Domino's homage to Tom Cruise's role in Risky Business.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role
1983Risky BusinessMiles Dalby
1984Revenge of the NerdsDudley "Booger" Dawson
1985Better Off DeadCharles De Mar
Bad MedicineDennis Gladstone
1986The Clan of the Cave BearGoov
One Crazy SummerAck Ack Raymond
1987Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in ParadiseDudley "Booger" Dawson
1989How I Got Into CollegeArcadia Bible Academy Recruiter
1991Hi Honey - I'm DeadArnold Pischkin
1992Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next GenerationDudley "Booger" Dawson
1994Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love
1996Big BullyClark
Jingle All the WayChain Smoking Booster
1998Safety PatrolBert Miller/Tim Bartlett
2002Van WilderCampus Cop
Project ViperKeach
2003QuigleyDexter Persley
My Dinner with JimiHerb Cohen
Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and BurtJerry the Butler
2004DodgeBall: A True Underdog StoryMr. Ralph
The Seat FillerLaJean
Vendetta: No Conscience, No MercyBrodrick Dooley
RayAhmet Ertegun
2006National Lampoon's PuckedJanitor
Akeelah and the BeeMr. Welch
Southland TalesDr. Soberin Exx
Smokin' AcesMecklen
2007Route 30Ned
2008Beer for My HorsesD.A.
2009Legally BlondesMr. Gary Golden
American Pie Presents: The Book of LoveMr. O'Donnell
2011FlypaperMitchell Wolf
The Dog Who Saved Halloween (TV movie)Max
2012SparkleLarry
2014Planes: Fire & Rescue[7]Maru (voice)
2019 Malibu Rescue Custodian
2020Barbie

Television

Year Series Role Notes
19861989MoonlightingHerbert Quentin Viola
1991Hi Honey – I'm DeadArnold PischkinTV movie
19931997The He ThunderlizardsScooterVoice; Main role
1995M.A.N.T.I.SB.B. RantzerEpisode: "Fast Forward" Season 1 Episode 21[8]
Lois & ClarkAlbie SwensonEpisode: "Resurrection" Season 2 Episode 17 [9]
1997The HungerBart BrookmanEpisode: "Room 117"
1998BrimstoneJimmy G.Episode: "Repentance"
1998The Secret Diary of Desmond PfeifferConfederate soldierEpisode: "Up, Up and Away"
1998Love Boat: The Next WaveMitch BeeberEpisode: "Remember?"
1999FelicityDanny3 episodes
19993rd Rock from the SunKen FrettsEpisode: "The Baby Menace"
2001The Amanda ShowVideo Store Clerk"Moody's Point Segment"
2001That '70s ShowJerry ThunderEpisode: "Radio Daze"
2001-2002The ChronicleSal the Pig-Boy14 episodes
2004Joan of ArcadiaSecurity Guard / GodEpisode: "State of Grace"
2005–presentAmerican Dad!SnotVoice; Recurring role
2005-2006The Buzz on MaggieMr. BugspitVoice; Recuirring role
2005Grey's AnatomyRobert Martin2 episodes
2006–2008The Emperor's New SchoolMr. MoleguacoVoice; Recurring role
2007Shredderman RulesMayor IzzoTV movie
Wizards of Waverly PlaceZitEpisode: "Pop Me And We Both Go Down"
Ghost WhispererHaroldEpisode: "The Walk-In"
2008iCarlyStore ClerkEpisode: "iStakeout"
PsychJervisEpisode: "The Old and the Restless"
2008–13The GameDr. Parker/Dr. Dawson
2009My Name Is EarlChaz DaltonEpisode: "Chaz Dalton Space Academy"
HouseRichterEpisode: "Broken"
2010Blue Mountain StateRonnie HayesEpisode: "Ransom"
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationClint PudderEpisode: "The Panty Sniffer"
2011Curb Your EnthusiasmComputer GuyEpisode: "The Safe House"
Rules of EngagementHimselfEpisode: "Bros Before Nodes"
That's Our JoeSnotEpisode: "You Can't Do the 'Lunchables All Star Show', Joe"
2011–2012The CloserPeter GoldmanRecurring role
2011–2013Dan Vs.DanVoice, Main role
2012ScandalAttorney ColeEpisode: "Hell Hath No Fury"
2012–2015Robot and MonsterRobot, Marf, Robot-botVoice, Main role
2013BonesOscar SchultzEpisode: "The Blood from the Stones"
Hot in ClevelandClarkEpisode: "Lost Loves and Tangled Web"
New GirlDr. FosterRecurring role
2013–2015King of the NerdsHimself, in reference to Dudley "Booger" DawsonMain role
2013–2016SupernaturalMetatronRecurring role
2015WorkaholicsRichard OttmarEpisode "Triva Pursuit"
2015HighstonUncle BillyAmazon Originals Pilot episode
2016Major CrimesPeter GoldmanEpisodes "Hindsight" Parts 1 through 4
2016FrequencyKarlEpisode: "Deviation"
2017Penn Zero: Part-Time HeroSuper Amazing Bouncy Ball (voice)2 episodes
2017MacGyverThe PawnEpisode: "Packing Peanuts + Fire"
2018Champaign ILLBurtRecurring role
2019Doom PatrolEzekiel the Cockroach (voice)2 episodes
2019Happy!Dayglo Doug3 episodes
2019The Loud HouseMr. Gurdle (voice)Episode: "Stall Monitor"

Video games

Year Game Role
2000 Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption Pink
2010 Mafia II Civilians
2017 Style Savvy: Styling Star Voice

Music video

Year Music Video Artist
2018 Supernatural Parody 2 The Hillywood Show

References

  1. Sandoval, Emiliana. "Five Things: about Curtis Armstrong", 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."
  2. "Curtis Armstrong - My Life Of Dad". Lifeofdad.com, March 21, 2016.
  3. "PGP 797: Robot And Booger". Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. "Curtis Armstrong". www.facebook.com. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  6. Klein, James (July 28, 2013). "Shanghai Noon / Shanghai Knights (2000 / 2003)". Unrated Film. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  7. "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.
  8. "M.A.N.T.I.S.: Fast Forward". TV.com. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  9. "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Resurrection". TV.com. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
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