Jeffrey Combs
| Jeffrey Combs | |
|---|---|
 Combs in 2013 | |
| Born |
Jeffrey Alan Combs September 9, 1954 Oxnard, California, U.S. |
| Education | Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Home town | Lompoc, California |
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. He 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.
After spending several years performing in playhouses on the West Coast, Combs moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and landed his first role in the 1981 film Honky Tonk Freeway, 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 1993's film Necronomicon: Book of the Dead. 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; by 2006, this became 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 provides the voice of Ratchet on the new 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 January 23 and 24 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 critical and popular success playing 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.
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.
In addition to his recurring Star Trek roles, Combs had non-recurring roles as a human police officer Kevin Mulkahey,[11] 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 | |
| Whose Life Is It Anyway? | 1st-year intern | ||
| 1983 | Frightmare | Stu | |
| The Skin of Our Teeth | Henry Antrobus | ||
| 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 | |
| Cellar Dweller | Colin Childress | ||
| Pulse Pounders | The Evil Clergyman | ||
| 1989 | Bride of Re-Animator | Dr. Herbert West | |
| 1990 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Francisco the Inquisitor | |
| Robot Jox | Spectator/Prole | ||
| 1991 | The Guyver | Doctor East | |
| Death Falls | Lonnie Hawks | ||
| Trancers II | Dr. Pyle | ||
| 1992 | Doctor Mordrid - Master of the Unknown | Dr. Mordrid | |
| 1993 | Fortress | D-Day | |
| Necronomicon | H. P. Lovecraft | ||
| 1994 | Love and a .45 | Dinosaur Bob | |
| The Lurking Fear | Dr. Haggis | ||
| 1995 | Castle Freak | John Reilly | |
| Felony | Bill Knight | ||
| Cyberstalker aka The Digital Prophet | Andy Coberman | ||
| Dillinger and Capone | Gilroy | ||
| 1996 | The Frighteners | Special Agent Milton Dammers | |
| Norma Jean & Marilyn | Montgomery Clift | ||
| 1997 | Time Tracers | Dr. Carrington | |
| Snide and Prejudice | Therapist Meissner | ||
| 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Mr. Brooks | |
| Caught Up | Security Guard | ||
| Spoiler | Captain | ||
| 1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | |
| Poseidon's Fury: Escape From the Lost City | Lord Darkennon | Short film | |
| 2001 | Faust: Love of the Damned | Lt. Dan Margolies | |
| The Attic Expeditions | Dr. Ek | ||
| Contagion | Brown | ||
| 2002 | FeardotCom | Detective Sykes | |
| 2003 | Beyond Re-Animator | Dr. Herbert West | |
| 2005 | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy | Dr. Preston King | |
| All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos | Thomas White | ||
| Edmond | Desk Clerk | ||
| Voodoo Moon | Frank Taggert | ||
| 2006 | Satanic | Detective Joyner | |
| Abominable | Buddy, the Clerk | ||
| Blackwater Valley Exorcism | Sheriff Jimmy Fleck | ||
| 2007 | Return to House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | |
| The Wizard of Gore | The Geek | ||
| Brutal | Sheriff Jimmy Fleck | ||
| The Attackmen | Mr. Simms | ||
| Stuck | 911 Operator | ||
| 2008 | Parasomnia | Detective Garrett | |
| 2009 | The Dunwich Horror | Wilbur Whateley | |
| Dark House | Walston Rey | ||
| 2012 | Elf-Man | Mickey | |
| Would You Rather | Shepard Lambrick | ||
| 2013 | Motivational Growth | The Mold | Voice |
| Favor | Tad Harrison | ||
| 2014 | Suburban Gothic | Dr. Carpenter | |
| 2014 | Beethoven's Treasure Tail | Fritz Bruchschnauser / Howard Belch |
Television works
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Mississippi | Military cadet | Episode: "We Remember, We Revere" |
| 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" |
| Incredibly Strange Film Show | Himself | Episode: "Tsui Hark and Stuart Gordon" | |
| 1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Ralph | Episode: "Love Stinks" |
| Life Goes On | Burk Clifton | Episode: "Invasion of the Thatcher Snatchers" | |
| Hunter | James Wilkins | Episode: "Fatal Obsession, Part 2" | |
| 1991 | The Flash | Jimmy Swain | Episode: "Captain Cold" |
| Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Roger "Sheck" Shector | Episode: "A Quartet Of Creatures" | |
| 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 | 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" |
| 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" |
| She Spies | Indigo | Episode: "The Replacement" | |
| 2003 | Spider-Man | Dr. Zellner / Professor | 2 episodes |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Dale Sterling | Episode: "Jackpot" | |
| 2004-2006 | Justice League Unlimited | The Question / Vic Sage | 5 episodes |
| 2004-2006 | Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Gyrus Krinkle | 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 | Episode: "Long Arm of the Law" |
| 2010-2011 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Professor Hatecraft | 2 episodes |
| 2010-2012 | The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes | The Leader | 5 episodes |
| 2010-2013 | Transformers: Prime | Ratchet | 56 episodes |
| 2012 | Thundercats | Soul Sever | Episode: "The Soul Sever" |
| 2012-2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | The Rat King / Dr. Falco | 4 episodes |
| 2013 | DC Nation - Doom Patrol | Chief / Mr. Morden | 3 episodes; chapters 1, 6 & 10 |
| 2014 | Criminal Minds | John Nichols | Episode: "The Black Queen" |
| Ben 10: Omniverse | Kuphulu (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2015 | Gotham | Office Manager | 2 episodes |
| Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. | Mainframe / Referee | Episode: "Wheels of Fury"[12] | |
| 2016 | Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Ratchet (voice) | 2 episodes[13] |
Video game work
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars | Weyoun |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Elite Force II | Commander Suldok |
| Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu | The Scarecrow / Dr. Jonathan Crane | |
| 2012 | The Secret World | Hayden Montag, Charles Zurn |
| Transformers: Prime – The Game | Ratchet | |
| 2013 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes | Leader |
References
- 1 2 "Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times.
- ↑ Maslin, Janet (October 18, 1985). "Re Animator (1985) SCREEN: STUART GORDON DIRECTS 'RE-ANIMATOR'". The New York Times.
- 1 2 3 Brice Mcivar (August 9, 2011). "Q&A: Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Jeffrey Combs, Star of "The Black Cat", UGO
- ↑ "Fantasia 2010: Days 5 Through 9".
- ↑ Stebe Allen Theater - Nevermore
- ↑ Baltimore Poe Bicentennial Celebration
- ↑ "Fantasia 2010: Days 10 and 11".
- ↑ "Nevermore Heading to San Diego for Two Performances".
- ↑ Jeffrey Combs (2004). StarTrek.com First Person. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ↑ Startrek.com Deep Space Nine - Far Beyond the Stars
- ↑ "Wheels of Fury". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 2. Episode 18. March 29, 2015. Disney XD.
- ↑ "Decepticon Island (Part 1)". Transformers: Robots in Disguise. Season 2. Episode 12. April 16, 2016. Cartoon Network UK.
Further reading
- Voisin, Scott, "Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting." BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
External links
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