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IMDbPro

Tim Matheson(I)

  • Actor
  • Director
  • Producer
IMDbProStarmeter
Top 5,00016
Tim Matheson
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:36
Chasing Whiskey (2021)
44 Videos
99+ Photos
Tim Matheson is an American actor, director and producer perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth talking 'Eric "Otter" Stratton' in the 1978 comedy, National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), but has had a variety of other well-known roles both before and since, including critical accolades for his playing "Vice President John Hoynes" on the television series, The West Wing (1999), which garnered him two Primetime Emmy award nominations for Best Guest Star in a Drama Series.

From 2011 to 2015, Matheson starred as 'Dr. Brick Breeland' in The CW series, Hart of Dixie (2011), opposite Rachel Bilson. He has and continues to direct several episodes each season throughout the series. Not limited to "Hart of Dixie", Matheson has made a career of directing an array of episodic projects on some of television's most prominent shows, including "The Last Ship," "Burn Notice," "Criminal Minds," "Without a Trace," "Cold Case," "Numbers," "Drop Dead Diva," "Suits," "Eureka" and "White Collar," as well as pilots for Fox's "The Good Guys" and the USA Network successful original series "Covert Affairs."

Beginning his career at the age of 13, Matheson appeared in Robert Young's CBS nostalgia comedy series, Window on Main Street (1961), during the 1961-1962 television season. In 1964, he provided the voice of the lead character in the cartoon program Jonny Quest (1964), as well as the voice of "Jace" in the original animated series, Space Ghost (1966). Additionally, he played the role of the oldest son, "Mike Beardsley", in the film Yours, Mine and Ours (1968), which starred Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda.

In 1969, Matheson joined the cast of NBC's western series, The Virginian (1962), in its eighth season, as "Jim Horn". During the final season of the television western Bonanza (1959) in 1972-1973, Matheson played "Griff King", a parolee who tries to reform his life as a worker at the Ponderosa Ranch under Ben Cartwright's watch. Following that, he portrayed young motorcycle cop "Phil Sweet", in the 1973 film, Magnum Force (1973).

In the fall of 1976, Matheson was seen opposite Kurt Russell in the NBC series, The Quest (1976), the story of two young men in the American West seeking the whereabouts of their sister, a captive of the Cheyenne. In 1978, he co-starred in the acclaimed National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), opposite John Belushi; the following year, he appeared alongside Belushi again in Steven Spielberg's 1941 (1979). Matheson and Catherine Hicks played "Rick Tucker" and "Amanda Tucker", who operate a detective agency in Laurel Canyon in CBS' Tucker's Witch (1982), which aired during the 1982-1983 season. He then appeared in the 1983 To Be or Not to Be (1983), starring Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft and went on to star in the 1984 comedy, Up the Creek (1984) and 1985's Fletch (1985).

Matheson, along with business partner 'Dan Grodnik', bought National Lampoon in 1989, when the magazine was facing financial decline. They took the stock from two dollars to over six dollars, and sold it in 1991. In 1996, Matheson took on the role of a con man who claims to be Carol Brady's thought-to-be-dead husband in A Very Brady Sequel (1996). Matheson was seen opposite Ryan Reynolds in the feature comedy National Lampoon's Van Wilder (2002) in 2002, playing the father of the title character, who was inspired by his own character in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), as a nod to the original film.

Tim was born Timothy Lewis Matthieson in Glendale, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, the son of Sally and Clifford Matthieson, a training pilot. He has three wonderful children with former wife Megan Murphy Matheson.
BornDecember 31, 1947
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BornDecember 31, 1947
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  • Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys

Photos123

Clancy Brown and Tim Matheson in Breaking News (2002)
Tim Matheson in Breaking News (2002)
Tim Matheson in Chump Change (2000)
Tim Matheson in Chump Change (2000)
Tim Matheson in Chump Change (2000)
Tim Matheson in The West Wing (1999)
Tim Matheson in The West Wing (1999)
Tim Matheson in The Virginian (1962)
Tim Matheson in Joshua's Heart (1990)
Tim Matheson and Matthew Lawrence in Joshua's Heart (1990)
Melissa Gilbert and Tim Matheson in Joshua's Heart (1990)
Bob Hope, Tim Matheson, JoAnna Cameron, and Jane Wyman in How to Commit Marriage (1969)

Known for

National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)
National Lampoon's Animal House
7.4
  • Eric Stratton
  • 1978
Rob Lowe, Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, Dulé Hill, Moira Kelly, Janel Moloney, Richard Schiff, John Spencer, and Bradley Whitford in The West Wing (1999)
The West Wing
8.9
TV Series
  • Vice President John Hoynes
  • John Hoynes
  • Senator John Hoynes
Rachel Bilson in Hart of Dixie (2011)
Hart of Dixie
7.7
TV Series
  • Dr. Brick Breeland
Virgin River (2019)
Virgin River
7.4
TV Series
  • Dr. Vernon Mullins
  • Doc Mullins
  • Doc

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

  • Virgin River (2019)
    Virgin River
  • Katja Herbers and Mike Colter in Evil (2019)
    Evil
  • This Is Us (2016)
    This Is Us
  • Fast & Furious Spy Racers (2019)
    Fast & Furious Spy Racers
    • (voice)
  • Téa Leoni in Madam Secretary (2014)
    Madam Secretary
  • Jeff Garlin, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Troy Gentile, Hayley Orrantia, and Sean Giambrone in The Goldbergs (2013)
    The Goldbergs
  • Child's Play (2019)
    Child's Play
  • Ryan Hansen and Samira Wiley in Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television (2017)
    Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television
  • Maura Tierney and Dominic West in The Affair (2014)
    The Affair
  • John Larroquette, Bobby Moynihan, and Jack Dylan Grazer in Me, Myself and I (2017)
    Me, Myself and I
  • Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald in The Good Fight (2017)
    The Good Fight
  • Rosanna Arquette, Thora Birch, Brian Cox, and JJ Feild in The Etruscan Smile (2018)
    The Etruscan Smile
  • 6 Balloons (2018)
    6 Balloons
  • Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Mark Knapton, and Karen Gillan in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
    Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
    • (uncredited)
  • Brendan Penny and Jessica Lowndes in Magical Christmas Ornaments (2017)
    Magical Christmas Ornaments

Director

  • Virgin River (2019)
    Virgin River
  • Clive Standen in Taken (2017)
    Taken
  • Jim Caviezel and Michael Emerson in Person of Interest (2011)
    Person of Interest
  • Rachael Harris, Tom Ellis, Aimee Garcia, Lauren German, D.B. Woodside, Kevin Alejandro, and Lesley-Ann Brandt in Lucifer (2016)
    Lucifer
  • Eric Dane in The Last Ship (2014)
    The Last Ship
  • Rachel Bilson in Hart of Dixie (2011)
    Hart of Dixie
  • Wild Card (2011)
    Wild Card
  • Brooke Elliott in Drop Dead Diva (2009)
    Drop Dead Diva
  • Criminal Behavior
  • Suits (2011)
    Suits
  • Janeane Garofalo, Forest Whitaker, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, and Matt Ryan in Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior (2011)
    Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior
  • Persons Unknown (2010)
    Persons Unknown
  • Piper Perabo in Covert Affairs (2010)
    Covert Affairs
  • Matt Bomer in White Collar (2009)
    White Collar
  • Gabrielle Anwar, Bruce Campbell, and Jeffrey Donovan in Burn Notice (2007)
    Burn Notice

Producer

  • Augusta, Gone (2006)
    Augusta, Gone
  • Cold Case (2003)
    Cold Case
  • Breach of Conduct (1994)
    Breach of Conduct
  • Rutger Hauer in Blind Fury (1989)
    Blind Fury
  • Tim Matheson and Patricia Kalember in Just in Time (1988)
    Just in Time

Videos44

Directing Commercials
Demo Reel 6:19
Directing Commercials
Directing Pilots
Demo Reel 1:32
Directing Pilots
Directing Comedy Reel
Demo Reel 6:12
Directing Comedy Reel
Overall Directing Reel
Demo Reel 1:33
Overall Directing Reel
Action - Drama
Demo Reel 6:35
Action - Drama
Season 4 Official Trailer
Trailer 1:37
Season 4 Official Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:43
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:06
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 1:22
Trailer
Teaser Trailer
Trailer 0:31
Teaser Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:31
Official Trailer
DVD Trailer - Season 1
Trailer 1:12
DVD Trailer - Season 1

Personal details

Edit
    • Facebook
    • Official Site
    • December 31, 1947
    • Glendale, California, USA
    • Megan Murphy MathesonJune 29, 1985 - 2012 (divorced, 3 children)
    • (Sibling)
  • Other works
    Music video: Appeared in the "Forever Love" video by Reba McEntire.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Portrayal
    • 1 Interview
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    When he originally auditioned for National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), the producers wanted him to play one of the no-nonsense. straight-laced Omegas. However, he adamantly refused, saying, "I'm tired of playing it straight," and sought a role as one of the hard-partying, fun-loving Deltas. He succeeded and got the role of Otter, one of the most fun-loving Deltas of the whole film.
  • Quotes
    I've stolen something from every director I've worked with. As an actor and a director, you steal from the best. And there's no reason why any shame should be attached to it.

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