Phill Lewis
| Phill Akon Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Lewis signing autographs during the filming of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody in January 2007. | |
| Born |
Phillip Akon Lewis September 4, 1968 Uganda |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, television director |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Spouse(s) | Megan Benton Lewis (m. ?) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) |
|
Phillip Lewis (born September 4, 1968) is an American actor, director and comedian. He is best known for his role as Mr. Moseby on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. Lewis also played T.C. on The Wayans Bros., "Crazy" Hooch on Scrubs, and had a recurring role as Roy on Yes, Dear and has played small parts in more than a dozen films. He also appeared in episodes of Lizzie McGuire as Principal Tweedy and in Friends as Chandler's boss. Lewis is married to Megan Benton Lewis.
Early life
Lewis was born in Uganda, East Africa[1] on September 4, 1968.[1][2] At the time, his father, former U.S. Ambassador Delano Lewis, was serving as the Peace Corps' associate director and country director for Nigeria and Uganda.[2][3][4][5]
Career
Lewis was cast in the title role of the short-lived 1991 situation comedy, Teech. The show was cancelled after four episodes. He appeared in guest parts on various television series including Pacific Blue, JAG, Ally McBeal, Joan of Arcadia, Brothers & Sisters, 8 Simple Rules, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends and How I Met Your Mother. Lewis has also had recurring roles on A Different World, The Wayans Bros., Lizzie McGuire, Yes, Dear, Scrubs, and Raising Hope.
Lewis co-starred in the Disney Channel original series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Mr. Moseby. In one of the episodes of Zach and Cody Suite Life on Deck (Season 2 Finale) he references the car crash he was in, when he crashes a bike he was riding. In 2008, he had reprised the role on a spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, where he plays the manager of The S.S. Tipton. He has appeared as a guest star on Disney Channel's That's So Raven and Phineas and Ferb and also in one of the channel's original films, Dadnapped. On the children's show Special Agent Oso he has a recurring role as the voice of Agent Wolfie.
As a television director, he directed several episodes of The Suite Life on Deck, first making his directorial debut with the The Suite Life of Zack & Cody episode "I Want My Mummy" (2007). He has since gone on to direct episodes of the Disney Channel sitcoms A.N.T. Farm, Austin & Ally, Good Luck Charlie, Kickin' It and Jessie starring his former Suite Life on Deck co-star Debby Ryan. His other television directing credits include Malibu Country, Mike & Molly, 2 Broke Girls, The Soul Man, Sullivan & Son, Melissa & Joey, Young & Hungry and The Odd Couple. He directed the live episode of Undateable in 2015 that secured a third season for the series. He has acted in various animes. In addition to his television work, Lewis has appeared in several films. He made his film debut as Dennis in the 1989 dark comedy Heathers. He has appeared in smaller roles in more than a dozen films, including City Slickers (1991), Bowfinger (1999), I Spy (2002), Surviving Christmas (2004), Kicking & Screaming (2005), and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011).
Lewis appeared in an episode of Jessie on March 27, 2015, as Mr. Moseby (character that appeared in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Suite Life on Deck). He also appeared as this character on That's So Raven.
1991 car crash
In late December 1991, Lewis was arrested after he killed Isabel Duarte, a resident of Bethesda, Maryland, in a car crash. He was charged with manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.[6][7] His blood alcohol level at the time measured three times the limit for legal intoxication.[8]
The court sentenced Lewis to five years in prison, but suspended four, citing Lewis' work after his arrest with a prison-based theater troupe which performed in jails, schools and churches, to highlight the consequences of drug abuse. Lewis was also ordered to serve two years' probation after his release and to perform 350 hours of community service.[6][7][8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Heathers | Dennis | |
| 1989 | How I Got Into College | Herman | |
| 1991 | City Slickers | Dr. Steven Jessup | |
| 1991 | Brother Future | TJ | |
| 1992 | Aces: Iron Eagle III | Tee Vee | Alternative title: Iron Eagle III |
| 1999 | Bowfinger | Actor at Audition | |
| 2000 | What Planet Are You From? | Other MD | |
| 2002 | I Spy | Jerry | |
| 2004 | Elvis Has Left the Building | Charlie | |
| 2004 | Surviving Christmas | Levine the Lawyer | |
| 2005 | Kicking & Screaming | John Ryan | |
| 2009 | Dadnapped | Maurice | |
| 2011 | The Suite Life Movie | Marion Moseby | Television movie |
| 2011 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 | Mr. McKibble | Video |
| 2014 | Wish I Was Here | Nerd |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Hill Street Blues | Parker | Episode: "Amazing Grace" |
| 1986 | 227 | Ken | Episode: "Come Into Parlor" |
| 1987–1988 | The Bronx Zoo | Schuyler Tate | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Starman | J.B. | Episode: "The Test" |
| 1987 | Amen | Marvin | Episode: "Deacon on the Line" |
| 1987 | Frank's Place | Homer | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Sonny Spoon | Aaron Fortune | Episode: "Crimes Below the Waist" |
| 1988–1989 | A Different World | Sam Lee | 4 episodes |
| 1989 | TV 101 | Noah Hawkins | Episode: "Kangaroo Gate" |
| 1990 | Charles in Charge | Bernie | Episode: "Buddy Flips a Disc" |
| 1991 | Teech | Teech Gibson | 12 episodes |
| 1994 | Hardball | Arnold Nixon | 9 episodes |
| 1994 | Living Single | J.T. | Episode: "U.N.I.T.Y." |
| 1995 | Sister, Sister | Mr. Berry | Episode: "Field Trip" |
| 1995–1998 | The Wayans Bros. | T.C. | 20 episodes |
| 1996 | Married... with Children | George | Episode: "Enemies" |
| 1997–1998 | Sparks | Detective Floyd Pitts | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | The Drew Carey Show | Mike | Episode: "Drew vs. Mimi: Part 2" |
| 1998 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Mr. Platt | Episode: "Beauty and the Beasts" |
| 1998 | Boy Meets World | Clifton McNair | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Party of Five | Detective Danner | Episode: "Witness for the Persecution" |
| 1999 | Chicago Hope | Detective Davis | 2 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | Family Law | Lawyer | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | JAG | Petty Officer Scalline | Episode: "Drop Zone" |
| 2000 | Ally McBeal | D.A. Kessler | Episode: "I Will Survive" |
| 2001–2002 | Lizzie McGuire | Principal Tweedy | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Mr. Walden | Episode: "With a Little Help from My Friend" |
| 2001–2006 | Yes, Dear | Roy | 10 episodes |
| 2003 | Friends | Steve | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Joan of Arcadia | Naval Officer God | Episode: "The Boat" |
| 2004 | 8 Simple Rules | Cop | Episode: "Consequences" |
| 2005–2009 | Scrubs | Hooch | 5 episodes |
| 2005–2008 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Marion Moseby | 87 episodes |
| 2005 | American Dad! | Duper | 4 episodes |
| 2006 | That's So Raven | Marion Moseby | Episode: "Checkin' Out" |
| 2007 | Kim Possible | Coco Banana | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Dr. Peter Edwards | Episode: "An American Family" |
| 2007 | How I Met Your Mother | Loan Officer | Episode: "Dowisetrepla" |
| 2008–2011 | The Suite Life on Deck | Marion Moseby | 58 episodes |
| 2009–2012 | Special Agent Oso | Special Agent Wolfie | 22 episodes |
| 2009 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Marion Moseby | Episode: "Cast Away (To Another Show)" |
| 2009 | Hannah Montana | Marion Moseby | Episode: "Super(sticious) Girl" |
| 2010 | The Big C | Pool man | 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Phineas and Ferb | Hawaiian hotel manager | Episode: "Phineas and Ferb Hawaiian Vacation" |
| 2011 | Raising Hope | Donovan | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Good Luck Charlie | Johnny's dad | Episode: "Bye Bye Video Diary" |
| 2015 | Jessie | Marion Moseby | Episode: "Karate Kid-tastrophe" |
| 2015 | Your Family or Mine | Award Presenter | Episode: "The Speech" |
| 2015 | Undateable | Judge Lewis | Episode: "An Angry Judge Walks Into A Bar" |
References
- 1 2 Phill Lewis Biography (1968—). Accessed 2012-12-12.
- 1 2 Photos, Bio and News for Phill Lewis. TVGuide.com. Accessed 2012-12-12.
- ↑ Peace Corps Online Delano E. Lewis, country director for the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda from 1966 to 1969. Accessed 2012-12-12.
- ↑ Phill Lewis; D.C. Actor Has the Lead In CBS's Teech The Washington Post HighBeam Research. Accessed 2012-12-12.
- ↑ Berg, Jeff (February 2007). "Ambassador at Large". Desert Exposure. Silver City, New Mexico: Continental Divide Publishing. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
- 1 2 Phill Lewis Sentenced in Fatal Crash, Jet Magazine, February 8, 1993, p. 37. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
- 1 2 Teech' star convicted of vehicular manslaughter, Entertainment News, TV News, Media Variety. Accessed 2012-12-12.
- 1 2 Phill Lewis Gets Year In Jail For Drunken Driving Death Orlando Sentinel, 23 January 1993. Retrieved 29 January 2014.