Suzanne Muldowney
Suzanne Muldowney (a.k.a. "Underdog") is a performance artist known for her appearances on The Howard Stern Show to discuss and perform her dance interpretation of the cartoon character Underdog.
History[edit]
A longtime resident of Maple Shade Township, New Jersey, Muldowney studied ballet as a child, and began performing interpretive dances of fictional characters in 1976.[1] By 1980, she was appearing at costume contests at science fiction conventions. It was during this time that Muldowney started performing as the cartoon superhero Underdog.[2] She has explained in an interview, "I try to do certain movements that simulate flight and heroism. I'll make like I'm flying by doing leaps and other things. I also will do some camel spins. Basically I do movements that best portray Underdog. I try to do him more refined and sophisticated than the original character was."[3]
In 1987, Muldowney began appearing in seasonal parades up and down the East Coast. Though her most famous dance interpretation is of Underdog, she has also portrayed Dracula, Catwoman and Supergirl,[4][5] along with self-created characters such as Shelley the South Jersey Shore Mermaid,[6] Irish Cinderella, and Spectrum the Ghost King.[2] She sews all her own costumes,[7] which are known for their exacting detail and elaborate ornamentation. For example, the interior of her Underdog cape is lined with streaks of silver,[3] representing the streaks of light trailing behind the animated Underdog.
Muldowney made several appearances on Howard Stern's radio and television shows throughout the 1990s. A serious performer, she regrets her association with the program because of Stern's lewd jokes, and has called him her "nemesis".[8] In 2006 she appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live![7] to demonstrate a new form of dancing she called "figure jogging".
In 2006 the documentary My Life as an Underdog was released by director Boris Gavrilovic.[7]
Muldowney has been diagnosed with Asperger syndrome.[9]
References[edit]
- ^ Staff. "Underdog gives woman new leash on life", Courier-Post, April 17, 1999. Accessed February 4, 2013. "Muldowney has spent more than a quarter century interpreting the cartoon canine hero in parades and conventions, even onstage at New York University.... A native of Maple Shade, she calls herself an improvisational or interpretive dancer."
- ^ a b William H. Sokolic. "Underdog gives woman new leash on life". Courier Post. April 17, 1999. 2B.
- ^ a b Bob Cooney. "Big fat close-up". Philadelphia Daily News. October 1, 1999. 60.
- ^ Bernard Harris. "30th Loyalty Celebration features 115-unit parade and 4-day carnival". Lancaster New Era. April 24, 1998. d16.
- ^ Rob Laymon. "Performance artist saves day for Underdog". The Press of Atlantic City. May 2, 1994. C1.
- ^ Dave Caldwell. "Is It Summer Yet? Just Ask a Hermit Crab". New York Times. May 13, 2007. 7.
- ^ a b c "'My Life as Underdog' documentary Saturday". The Press of Atlantic City. November 1, 2006. C3.
- ^ Scott Semet. "Area resident gets her time in the limelight in 'My Life'". The Press of Atlantic City. November 2, 2006. 34.
- ^ Super Heroes to Unite at 2006 NJ State Film Festival! New Jersey State Film Festival. Retrieved on April 7, 2009.
External links[edit]
- Suzanne Muldowney at the Internet Movie Database
- My Life as an Underdog at the Internet Movie Database
- Baltimore City Paper article
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