Walt Flanagan
| Walter Flanagan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Walter Flanagan October 23, 1967 |
| Occupation | Actor Comic Book Store Proprietor Comic Book Artist |
| Spouse | Debbie |
| Website | |
| http://www.JayAndSilentBob.com | |
Walter Flanagan (born October 23, 1967) is a comic book store proprietor, reality TV star, podcaster, comic book artist, actor, and songwriter. Flanagan is a long-time friend of Kevin Smith, and (according to Smith's book Silent Bob Speaks) it was Flanagan who had turned Smith back onto comic books.
Flanagan is co-host of the "Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!" podcast with longtime friends Bryan Johnson and Brian Quinn. Walter is also the lead star in AMC's "Comic Book Men", starting in February of 2012.
Contents |
[edit] Filmography
- Clerks (1994): In Smith's debut movie, Flanagan was credited with four different roles (which made Kevin Smith, on the Clerks laserdisc commentary, refer to Flanagan as "The Lon Chaney, Sr. of the [19]90's"). Among these were the egg-obsessed guidance counselor, the cigarette protester who bought the cigarettes immediately after the protest, the customer offended by the lewd "jizz mopper" discussion, and the customer to whom Randal said the resident cat's name was "Annoying Customer." He also designed the clown animation that made up the View Askew logo, and appeared in the Soul Asylum video for "Can't Even Tell", directed by Kevin Smith.
- Mallrats (1995): Flanagan played perhaps his most well-known and most recurring role of Walt Grover the Fanboy. Fanboy is known for accompanying his friend Steve-Dave (Bryan Johnson) at all times and stoogishly agreeing with everything he has to say with his trademark phrase "Tell 'em, Steve-Dave!" He also appears in an uncredited role as one of Mr. Svenning's (Michael Rooker) assistants who places a podium in the wrong place on a stage. He was also given a credit for being a set production assistant on Mallrats. Also, when Jay and Silent Bob are running away from the mall-cop LaFours, they meet up with Brodie and T.S. who are in the food court and succeed in evading LaFours by ducking under their table. When Jay gets up, he laments: "Damn, that bastard's faster than Walt Flanagan's dog!" When Brodie and T.S. are at the swap meet and Brodie says, "People know me here. See," "Hey Walt!", "Brodie!".
- Chasing Amy (1997): Flanagan did not appear in the theatrical cut, but was in a deleted scene (again as Walt Grover the Fanboy) alongside Johnson's Steve-Dave. Despite this, his dog is yet again mentioned in one of the "Bluntman and Chronic" pages during the opening. In another deleted scene Banky (Jason Lee), and Holden (Ben Affleck) toss a trash can through the window of Steve-Dave's comic store, the check attached is for 3 times the cost of replacing the window. This was all for Steve-Dave and Walt The Fan Boy bashing Bluntman and Chronic.
- Dogma (1999): Flanagan appeared as Fanboy alongside Steve-Dave protesting the abortion clinic where Bethany works.
- Vulgar (2000): He appeared in Bryan Johnson's film Vulgar as a Caddy.
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001): Fanboy and Steve-Dave appeared as two of the audience members who walk out and bash the Bluntman and Chronic movie.
- Clerks: The Animated Series: Flanagan also made an appearance as Fanboy alongside Steve-Dave (played by Bryan Johnson) in three episodes of the Clerks cartoon, none of which were aired during the series original run.
- Down in the Boondocks (2008): Flanagan appears briefly in this short filmed by Miles Trahan.
[edit] Comic books
He has provided the art for two comic books published by IDW and written by Bryan Johnson, as well as two for DC Comics:
- Karney (2005)[1]
- War of the Undead (2007)[2]
- Batman: Cacophony limited series, written by Kevin Smith.
- Batman: The Widening Gyre First 6 parts of a twelve part series, with writer/friend Kevin Smith.
[edit] Awards & Recognition
- Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! - iTunes Top 25 Podcasts of 2010
- Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! - Winner 2010 Podcast Awards - Category: People's Choice
- Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! - Winner 2010 Podcast Awards - Category: Comedy
[edit] Cultural references
Walt Flanagan has also been the subject of a few inside jokes in the Askewniverse movies. In Clerks and Mallrats, respectively, both Randal and Brodie tell bizarre stories of their cousin Walter. Seeing as Randal and Brodie are supposed to be cousins themselves according to Smith, one would only assume that they are speaking of the same cousin Walter.
Also, in Mallrats, Jay makes the comment "Damn, that bastard's faster than Walt Flanagan's dog." This comment is expanded upon in the comic book prequel to Mallrats starring Jay and Silent Bob, where they get Walt's dog high. When provoked, Krypto (the dog) hops the fence, and chases the stoner duo across Leonardo township (passing the YMCA where Julie Dwyer has just met her untimely demise).
According to the Mallrats commentary, Smith cites Flanagan as being the influence for the Brodie character, down to the Dixie Cup full of soda that the character carries with him everywhere as well as the October birth date. Walt also originated the character of Olaf, seen in Clerks as Silent Bob's cousin from Russia.
He was also referenced by name in issue #3 of the Green Arrow story "Quiver", which Kevin Smith wrote.[3]
[edit] Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash
Flanagan currently manages Kevin Smith's comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, in Red Bank, New Jersey. He and Johnson (who managed Smith's second store West Coast Stash located in L.A. until November 2007) also can be seen manning the "View Askew" booth at various comic conventions around the country.
[edit] Personal life
He is married to Debra Flanagan and has two daughters.[4] Flanagan is also an avid feminist, repeatedly stating that no man should ever be trusted.[5]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Sideshow Freak: Bryan Johnson Explores the World of "Karney"
- ^ http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=9015
- ^ http://newsaskew.com/comics/greenarrow/va3.jpg
- ^ Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! #29: Houston, We're F'd
- ^ Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! #75: Australian Buttocks Soup
