Daniel Stern (actor)

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Daniel Stern
DanielStern09TIFF.jpg
Stern at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
Born Daniel Jacob Stern
(1957-08-28) August 28, 1957 (age 55)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Other names Dan Stern
Occupation Actor, Director, Producer and screenwriter
Years active 1979–present
Spouse(s) Laure Mattos (1980-present)
Children Sophie Stern (b. 1986), Ella Marie Stern (b. 1989), Henry Stern
Family David M. Stern (brother)

Daniel Jacob Stern (born August 28, 1957) is an American film and television actor. He is known for his roles in the Hollywood films C.H.U.D., Diner, City Slickers, the first two Home Alone films where he played bandit Marv Merchants, and as the narrator for the television series The Wonder Years.

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Early life [edit]

Stern was born in Bethesda, Maryland, to a social worker father and a mother who managed a day care center.[1] His brother is television writer David M. Stern. Daniel Stern is 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) tall[2] and of Jewish descent.[3] During his years at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Stern starred in several theater productions, including playing C.C. Baxter in The Apartment and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. Stern applied for a job as a lighting engineer for a Shakespeare Festival in Washington, D.C., but was hired as a walk-on in their production of As You Like It.[2] After taking acting lessons, Stern began his acting career in Off Broadway and Broadway productions, including a performance at Second Stage Theatre with actor Bob Gunton.

Career [edit]

Daniel Stern with Kristen Wiig and Drew Barrymore at 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

In 1979, Stern made his movie debut as Cyril in Breaking Away. The following year he played a student who raised objections during Jill Clayburgh's proof[4] of the snake lemma in the film It's My Turn. His breakthrough role[citation needed] as an actor came in Barry Levinson's Diner. He had another early film role in the 1984 horror film C.H.U.D., as the soup kitchen C.H.U.D. hunter. Stern was a candidate for the role of Biff Tannen in the 1985 film Back to the Future, but Stern turned the role down and was replaced by Thomas F. Wilson.

Stern has played characters in a number of comedic roles, such as Phil Berquist in the City Slickers movies; Marv Merchants the burglar in the first two Home Alone movies (Home Alone in 1990 and Home Alone 2 in 1992). However, he declined to play the character once again in the fourth installment of the franchise, he also starred as Max in Bushwhacked. He provided the voice of the narrator on the TV series The Wonder Years, which starred Fred Savage. Stern and Savage were also featured together in Little Monsters, in which Stern played the father of Savage's character. Stern provided the voice for the main character of the Dilbert animated TV series, based on the comic strip by Scott Adams. Stern directed several episodes of The Wonder Years and the feature film Rookie of the Year.

Stern was originally offered the role of Dale Gribble in King Of The Hill but the role was offered to Johnny Hardwick when a salary agreement could not be reached.

Outside of acting and directing, Stern works as an artist, specializing in bronze sculpture.

Personal life [edit]

Stern has been married to Laure Mattos since 1980. Together they have three children, two daughters: Sophie and Ella, and a son, Henry.

In 2003, Stern went on a USO tour to Iraq and Kuwait.

Daniel is a former member of the advisory board of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).[5]

Filmography [edit]

Awards and nominations [edit]

Year Result Award Category Film or series
1992 Nominated American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actor City Slickers

References [edit]

  1. ^ "New Face: Daniel Stern Off the Sofa and Onto the Movie Screen in 'Breaking Away'; 'But It Was Cheap Rent'". The New York Times. August 31, 1979. Retrieved April 30, 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Biographical page at the Internet Movie Database
  3. ^ Daniel Stern On SCHINDLER'S LIST on YouTube
  4. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080936/quotes
  5. ^ http://www.kevinpollakschatshow.com/archive/?cat=120

External links [edit]

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