Michael Ray Bower
| Michael Ray Bower | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anthony Michael Ray Bower February 12, 1975 Tarzana, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 1, 2012 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Michael Bower (born February 12, 1975 - March 1, 2012) is an American actor best known for his role as Eddie "Donkeylips" Gelfen on the television program Salute Your Shorts,[1] which was aired from 1991 to 1992 on Nickelodeon and for which he won a Young Artist Award.[2]
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[edit] Career
Bower made his film debut at age 11, in Michael Jackson's 1988 anthology film Moonwalker,[3] and in 2001 joined the cast of Ivan Reitman's film Evolution.[4][5][6] He had appearances in episodic television series such as Webster, Tales from the Crypt, Empty Nest, Superior Court, Hull High, The Wonder Years, and Doogie Howser, M.D., before being brought into Salute Your Shorts for 20 episodes as the major character of Eddie 'Donkeylips' Gelfen. After that series, he continued with guest roles on well-known television series, including that of Monica Geller's (Courteney Cox Arquette) prom date on an episode of Friends.[1][7] He has also appeared in movies such as Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School[8] and Evolution.[9][10] Bower starred in small time role as "Brain" in an episode of the one-time hit FOX series Dark Angel, prominently in the indie hit Social Misfits, and the short-film Dinner with Raphael (directed by Joey Boukadakis).[11]
Bower appeared as a contestant on the game show Fun House in the late 1980s as well as Nick Arcade in the early 1990s. He also appears in the music video for "Download This Song" by MC Lars. He has also appeared as a contestant on Singled Out and had a guest role on The Wonder Years as Peter Armbruster in 3 episodes in the early 1990s. Bower also appeared in the Season 7 finale episode of CSI as the next door neighbor of one of the "Miniature Killer's" victims. He also provides the voice of "Eugene Reaper" in Grand Theft Auto IV.[12]
Bower can also be seen on commercials for Mountain Dew's AMP Energy Drinks as a high-voltage, dancing mechanic.[1][13]
[edit] Personal life
Bower was born as Anthony Michael Ray Bower in Tarzana, California. He was a former practicing member of Scientology but has recently converted to Taoism.
He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and later achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Bower died on March 1, 2012 after spontaneously combusting. He is only known celebrity to ever die of this cause.
[edit] Awards
- 1992 - Young Artist Award winner - Best Young Actor in a Cable Series - Salute Your Shorts
[edit] Selected filmography
[edit] Television
- Webster (1 episode, 1988) as Mayor
- Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All (1989) as Velda's Nephew
- Tales from the Crypt (1 episode, 1989) as Junior
- Empty Nest (2 episodes, 1989-1990) as Josh
- Superior Court (1 episode, 1990) as Joey
- Hull High (1 episode, 1990) as Big Boy
- The Wonder Years, (3 episodes, 1990-1991) as 3 episodes as Peter Armbruster, Kid, Joe
- Doogie Howser, M.D., (2 episodes, 1990-1991) as Boy Nerd, Josh
- Salute Your Shorts, (20 episodes, 1991-1992) as Eddie 'Donkeylips' Gelfen
- Running the Halls (1 episode, 1993) as Super George
- The Day My Parents Ran Away (1993) as Richie
- Weird Science (1 episode, 1994) as Kyle
- California Dreams, TV (2 episodes, 1992-1994) as Tommy
- Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills" (1 episode, 1995) as Alex
- Friends (1 episode, 1996) as Roy Gublik
- Rescue 77 (1 episode, 1999) as Party Guy
- Chicken Soup for the Soul (1 episode, 2000) as Henry
- X-Files (1 episode, 2000) as Lo Fat
- Dark Angel (1 Brainiac, 2002) as Brain
- Monk (1 Mr. Monk and the Captain's Marriage|episode]], 2006) as Peter
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (1 Living Doll|episode, 2007) as Fat Schlub
- Bones (1 The Finder|episode, 2011)
- The Finder (1 episode, 2012) as as Sam Nozik
[edit] Film
- Moonwalker (1988)
- She's Out of Control (1989) as Kid at Beach
- Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (1990) as Glen Tanksley
- The Willies (1990) as Gordy Belcher
- Captain Nuke and the Bomber Boys (1995) as Frank Pescoe
- High School High (1996) as Heckler
- Dude, Where's My Car? (2000) as Big Cult Guard
- Social Misfits (2001) as Edgar
- Evolution (2001) as Danny Donald
- Wishcraft (2002) as Tony
- Sex and the Teenage Mind (2002) as Dwayne
- Dinner with Raphael (2009) as Raphael, Jimmy
- Perfect Combination(2010) as Tony
- Dumbbells (2012) as Erwin
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Stephanie Webber (October 19, 2011). "Interview: 'Salute Your Shorts Michael Bower Talks Past Roles And What He's Been Up To". http://ology.com/tv/interview-michael-bower-talks-past-roles-and-what-hes-been. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ "Fourteenth Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Awards. http://www.youngartistawards.org/pastnoms14.htm. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Staff (April 5, 2010). "Special appearances by...". Black Men Magazine (archived page). http://www.heybower.com/files/Black_Men_Mag_4_2010.png. Retrieved Decembe 7, 2011.
- ^ Staff (January 12, 2002). "Film Shorts". Hollywood Reporter (archived page). http://www.heybower.com/files/Hollywood_Reporter_Evolution_Hire.jpg. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ Staff (November 18, 2001). "Films in Production". Hollywood Reporter (archived page). http://www.heybower.com/files/Evolution_Cast_List_Arrow.jpg. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ Higgens, Bill (July 20, 2002). "Film Shorts". Variety (archived page). http://www.heybower.com/files/Evolution_Premiere.jpg. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
- ^ Stephanie Webber (November 15, 2011). "Exclusive: Actor Michael Bower Reveals Secrets From The 'Friends' Prom Video Episode". Ology. http://ology.com/tv/exclusive-actor-michael-bower-reveals-secrets-friends-prom-video-episode. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Kristin MacDonald (April 17, 2006). "'Charm' sweet, easy". Michigan Daily. http://www.michigandaily.com/content/charm-sweet-easy. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ "`Evolution' limits its amusements". The Washington Times. June 8, 2001. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WT&p_theme=wt&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EC84913F1483937&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Barbara Vancheri (June 8, 2001). "What's summer without aliens?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GlAxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=d3ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3333,5014317&dq=michael-ray-bower&hl=en. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Dinner with Raphael video "Dinner with Raphael". Funny or Die. http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/60b4162083/dinner-with-raphael-from-ghostlight Dinner with Raphael video. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ "Grand Theft Auto IV". MetaCritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/grand-theft-auto-iv/details. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
- ^ Gil Kaufman (February 4, 2008). "Best-Worst Super Bowl Music". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580877/best-worst-super-bowl-music.jhtml. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
