Matt Frewer

Matthew George Frewer (born January 4, 1958) is an American-Canadian actor and comedian. He portrayed the 1980s icon Max Headroom in the 1985 TV film and 1987 television series of the same name.

He became prominent when playing roles in films, like Russell Thompson, Sr. in ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (1989), Jobe Smith in '' Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace'' (1996), Sherlock Holmes in a 2001 film adaption of '' The Sign of Four'', Frank in '' Dawn of the Dead'' (2004), Moloch in ''Watchmen'' (2009), Mitch in '' 50/50'' (2011), and Archibald Stanley in '' Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb'' (2014).

His television credits include Dr. Mike Stratford in '' Doctor Doctor'' (1989–1991), Bob in '' Shaky Ground'' (1992–1993), Trashcan Man in '' The Stand'' (1994), Matt Prager in '' Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal'' (1997–1999), Dr. Jim Taggart in '' Eureka'' (2006–2012) and Doctor Leekie in the Canadian science fiction drama ''Orphan Black'' (2013–2017).

Frewer's more recent performances include a portrayal of "General #2" in the Steven Spielberg picture '' The BFG'' (2016), the character Carnage in the Netflix series '' Altered Carbon'' in 2018 and Logan in ''Fear the Walking Dead'' (2019). Also, he portrayed The Binder in three episodes of '' The Magicians'' and Peter Morton in eight episodes of '' The Order'' (2019−2020).

His voice roles include Panic in ''Hercules'' and its 1998 television series, Inspector 47 in '' The Magic School Bus'', the Pink Panther in the 1993 television series of the same name, Lloyd Christmas in the '' Dumb and Dumber'' animated series, Jackal in '' Gargoyles'' and Dedgar Deadman in '' Toonsylvania''.

Early life

Frewer was born in Washington, D.C. to Canadian parents, one of five children born to Gillian Anne (née German) and Captain Frederick Charlesley Frewer, a Royal Canadian Navy officer. He was raised in Peterborough, Ontario, where he graduated from Lakefield College School. He went on to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, graduating from its three-year acting course in 1980.

Career

Frewer portrayed the artificial intelligence character Max Headroom in the 1980s, starring in the 1985 eponymous science fiction television film; Frewer also played award-winning Network 23 journalist Edison Carter in the film. This led to a series on the UK Channel 4 network with the Max Headroom character as a video jockey and interviewer. This ran for two seasons, the second of which featured a studio audience with whom Max interacted. In 1987, an American series based upon the 1985 film aired, titled '' Max Headroom'' (1987–1988). From 1993 to 1995, Frewer voiced the Pink Panther for the television series. Frewer guest-starred in the fifth-season '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' episode " A Matter of Time". He also portrayed Max Headroom in other media, including a series of television commercials for "New Coke" and " Radio Rentals", as well as the single and music video for " Paranoimia" by Art of Noise. He reprised this role in the science fiction comedy film ''Pixels'' (2015).

Frewer starred as Mike Stratford in '' Doctor Doctor'' (1989–1991). He also appeared as Trashcan Man in the television miniseries '' The Stand''. Frewer has also appeared in such films as '' The Fourth Protocol'' (1987), ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (1989), '' National Lampoon's Senior Trip'' (1995), and the 2004 remake of ''Dawn of the Dead''.

Frewer was nominated for two Gemini Awards in 2000, one for a guest appearance on '' Da Vinci's Inquest'' and another for his work on the series ''Mentors''. He was a regular on '' Eureka'' during the series' first two seasons, playing Jim Taggart. He has done voice-over work on several animated projects, including ''Batman: The Animated Series'' (1993) and ''The Incredible Hulk'' (1996–1997). Frewer portrayed Matt Praeger in '' Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal'' from 1997 to 2000.

In 2009, Frewer portrayed the retired villain Moloch the Mystic in ''Watchmen'' and appeared as the White Knight in the December 2009 Syfy two-part miniseries ''Alice'', based upon ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''. He starred as Pestilence in two episodes of Season 5 of ''Supernatural''. He has appeared in several adaptations of Stephen King stories, such as ''The Stand'', '' Quicksilver Highway'', '' Riding the Bullet'', '' Desperation'' and '' Bag of Bones''.

He played Dr. Aldous Leekie in the first two seasons of ''Orphan Black''.

In 2018, Frewer portrayed Carnage in the Netflix series '' Altered Carbon''. In the same year, Frewer was cast in the Netflix horror-drama series '' The Order''.

Personal life

Frewer has been married to Amanda Hillwood since 1984 and the couple have a daughter. In 1989, they bought a house in Marina del Rey, California.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Radio

* ''Tales from the Mausoleum Club'': Episode 2, "Heart of Skegness"

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

Mattblank.com interview

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frewer, Matt
1958 births
Living people
Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
American emigrants to Canada
American male film actors
American male stage actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
Audiobook narrators
CableACE Award winners
Canadian male film actors
Canadian male stage actors
Canadian male television actors
Canadian male voice actors
Canadian Screen Award winning actors
Lakefield College School alumni
Male actors from Ontario
Male actors from Washington, D.C.
People from Peterborough, Ontario
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
20th-century Canadian male actors
21st-century Canadian male actors
Comedians from Ontario
Comedians from Washington, D.C.
American male comedians
Canadian male comedians