Jeffrey Combs
 |
Jeffrey Combs | |
|---|---|
 Jeffrey Combs (2010) | |
| Born | Jeffrey Alan Combs September 9, 1954 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971-1993; 2005; 2009-2010 (theater) 1981—present (film/TV) |
Jeffrey Alan Combs (born September 9, 1954) is an American actor known for his horror film roles and his appearances playing a number of characters in the Star Trek franchise and a few in the DC Animated Universe Franchise.
Early life
Combs was born in Oxnard, California and raised in Lompoc, California. He attended Santa Maria's Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and later developed his acting skills in the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington.
After spending several years performing in playhouses all along the West Coast, Combs moved to Los Angeles in 1980 and landed his first role in the 1981 feature film, Honky Tonk Freeway, in which he played an unnamed drive-in teller. His first horror film role came two years later in the 1983 film Frightmare.
Career
Combs' best known horror role was as Dr. Herbert West, the main character in the movie Re-Animator, which he has reprised in the film's two sequels. He also portrayed the part of author H. P. Lovecraft (creator of the Herbert West character) in 1993's film Necronomicon: Book of the Dead. Combs has starred in eight H.P. Lovecraft adaptations. Other film credits include FeardotCom (2002), House on Haunted Hill (1999), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) Dark House.[1], and The Frighteners. (1996)
On television, Combs enjoyed critical and popular success playing alien characters on the various modern Star Trek incarnations, beginning in 1994 with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in 2000 with Star Trek: Voyager, and in 2001 with Star Trek: Enterprise. Even Trek fans unfamiliar with Combs' human face immediately recognized him due to his distinctive voice. Ironically, this distinctive voice Combs uses in all his screen roles is not his natural speaking voice but rather an affected one, as evidenced by interviews and commentaries on various DVDs of his film and television appearances. Combs originally auditioned for the role of Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but lost out to Jonathan Frakes, though producers kept him in mind for casting in the later series.
Combs has played nine onscreen roles in the Star Trek universe. His largest science-fiction role to date has been his multi-episode, multi-season appearances on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Vorta clone Weyoun. Combs has said that Weyoun was his favorite Star Trek role, and he had a great deal of input in developing the character.[2]
On the same series, Combs had a recurring role as the Ferengi character Brunt. During the DS9 episode "The Dogs of War", Combs appeared as both Weyoun and Brunt, making Trek history as the first actor to play two unrelated recurring roles on screen in the same episode.
On Star Trek: Enterprise, Combs had a very popular recurring role as Shran, an Andorian military officer. Enterprise producer Manny Coto once mentioned in an interview that he hoped to make Combs a regular on the show, had the series been renewed for a fifth season. [citation needed]
In addition to his recurring Star Trek roles, Combs had non-recurring roles as a Wormhole Alien/Prophet, as human police officer Kevin Mulkahey[3], and as the alien Tiron on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; as the alien Penk on Star Trek: Voyager; and as the Ferengi pirate Krem on Star Trek: Enterprise. Along with many other actors, writers, and creators of the show, Combs also had a cameo appearance as a holographic patron in Vic's Lounge in the final episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Combs also voices the character of Romulan Commander Suldok for the "Star Trek: Elite Force II" video game.
Beyond the Star Trek franchise, Combs has had roles in many other science fiction series. He starred as the telepath Harriman Gray, in "Eyes" (1994), a first season episode of Babylon 5. In August 2005, he appeared for the first time on the science fiction series The 4400 as Dr. Kevin Burkhoff; by 2006, this became a recurring role. In early 2007, he played a highly-fictionalized Edgar Allan Poe in "The Black Cat", an episode of Masters of Horror.[4] With his feet in both the horror and science-fiction worlds, as well as outside the two popular genres, Combs enjoys a diverse and varied fanbase.
Combs has done extensive voice work; among others, Combs voiced The Scarecrow in the 1997 "revamp" of Batman: The Animated Series. Combs continued his work in the DCAU several years later, with a recurring role as The Question in Justice League Unlimited. His version of the Question was well regarded by both fans and the JLU writing staff and is credited for reviving interest in the character. Combs provides the voice of Ratchet on the new animated series, Transformers: Prime. Combs also narrated the 25th Anniversary of Re-Animator on the 2010 FanTasia.[5]
In July 2009, Combs returned to his stage roots and reprised his role as Edgar Allan Poe in a one-man theatrical show entitled Nevermore...an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe at The Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, CA.[6] Although only supposed to run for a month, the show enjoyed much success and sold-out crowds, and was extended four times. Nevermore as it is now simply known, closed its run in Los Angeles on December 19, 2009. The show had its East Coast debut on January 23 and 24 2010 at Westminster Hall in Baltimore, MD, Poe's final resting place.[7] A tour of the Saturn Award nominated[8] Nevermore is now in the works, with stops possibly including Chicago, New York, and Seattle, and a confirmed two-date run in San Diego in February.[9]
Combs stars with Andrew Divoff in the 2012 Screen Media Films release "Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation", a prequel to the 2006 cult hit "Night of the Living Dead 3D" directed by Jeff Broadstreet. In a 2011 interview with the horror website Dread Central, Broadstreet praised Combs' work in the film, saying "I think it's his best work in years." [citation needed] Although the 2012 prequel film is entitled "Re-Animation", it has no connection to Combs' most well-known film, "Re-Animator," nor does the film play on the imagery from "Re-Animator" in any way.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Drive In Teller | |
| Whose Life Is It Anyway? | 1st year intern | ||
| 1983 | Frightmare | Stu | |
| The Skin of Our Teeth | Henry Antrobus | ||
| The Man with Two Brains | Dr. Jones | ||
| 1985 | Re-Animator | Herbert West | |
| 1986 | From Beyond | Crawford Tillinghast | |
| 1987 | Cyclone | Rick Davenport | |
| 1988 | Dead Man Walking | Chaz | |
| Cellar Dweller | Colin Childress | ||
| 1989 | Bride of Re-Animator | Dr. Herbert West | Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1990 | The Pit and the Pendulum | Francisco the Inquisitor | |
| Robot Jox | Spectator/Prole | ||
| 1991 | The Guyver | Doctor East | |
| Death Falls | Lonnie Hawks | ||
| Trancers II | Dr. Pyle | ||
| 1992 | Doctor Mordrid - Master of the Unknown | Doctor Mordrid | |
| 1993 | Fortress | D-Day | |
| Necronomicon | H. P. Lovecraft | ||
| 1994 | Love and a .45 | Dinosaur Bob | |
| The Lurking Fear | Dr. Haggis | ||
| 1995 | Castle Freak | John Reilly | |
| Felony | Bill Knight | ||
| Cyberstalker aka The Digital Prophet | Andy Coberman | ||
| Dillinger and Capone | Gilroy | ||
| 1996 | The Frighteners | Special Agent Milton Dammers | Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| Norma Jean & Marilyn | Montgomery Clift | ||
| 1997 | Time Tracers | Dr. Carrington | |
| Snide and Prejudice | Therapist Meissner | ||
| 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Mr. Brooks | |
| Caught Up | Security Guard | ||
| Spoiler | Captain | ||
| 1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | |
| Poseidon's Fury: Escape From the Lost City | Lord Darkennon | Short film part of theme park ride at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL | |
| 2001 | Faust: Love of the Damned | Lt. Dan Margolies | |
| The Attic Expeditions | Dr. Ek | ||
| Contagion | Brown | ||
| 2002 | Pulse Pounders Vol. 1 | The Evil Clergyman | Film never released |
| FeardotCom | Detective Sykes | ||
| 2003 | Beyond Re-Animator | Dr. Herbert West | |
| 2005 | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy | Dr. Preston King | |
| All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos | Thomas White | ||
| Edmond | Desk Clerk | ||
| Voodoo Moon | Frank Taggert | ||
| 2006 | Satanic | Detective Joyner | |
| Abominable | Buddy, the Clerk | ||
| Blackwater Valley Exorcism | Sheriff Jimmy Fleck | ||
| 2007 | Return to House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | |
| The Wizard of Gore | The Geek | ||
| Brutal | Sheriff Jimmy Fleck | ||
| The Attackmen | Mr. Simms | ||
| Stuck | 911 Operator | ||
| 2008 | Parasomnia | Detective Garrett | |
| Western Big Sky | Kevin Meselet | In pre-production | |
| 2009 | The Dunwich Horror | Wilbur Whateley | |
| Dark House | Walston Rey | In post-production | |
| Urgency | Sumner Cavic | Completed, awaiting release | |
| Steeltown | In pre-production |
Television works
(Star Trek and The 4400 credits separate)
| Year | Title | Role | Episode(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Mississippi | Military cadet | We Remember, We Revere |
| Houston Nights | Frank Stark | Lady Smoke | |
| 1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Python | No Way Down |
| 1988 | Jake and the Fatman | Alan Shuba | What is This Thing Called Love |
| Incredibly Strange Film Show | Himself | Tsui Hark and Stuart Gordon | |
| 1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Ralph | Love Stinks |
| Life Goes On | Burk Clifton | Invasion of the Thatcher Snatchers | |
| Hunter | James Wilkins | Fatal Obsession, Part 2 | |
| 1991 | The Flash | Jimmy Swain | Captain Cold |
| Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Roger "Sheck" Shector | A Quartet Of Creatures | |
| Sisters | Derek Cotts | Protective Measures | |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 | Harriman Gray | Eyes |
| 1995 | The Single Guy | Klein | The Virgin |
| 1996 | Perversions of Science | Prisoner #50557 | The Exile |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures | Scarecrow | Never Fear |
| 1998 | The Net | Max Copernicus | Lunatic Fringe |
| 1999 | FreakyLinks | Coroner | Subject: Live Fast, Die Young |
| 2000 | Martial Law | Antoine Trembel | In the Dark |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone | Harry Radditch | The Placebo Effect |
| She Spies | Indigo | The Replacement | |
| Spider-Man | Professor | Head Over Heels | |
| Spider-Man | Dr. Zellner | Flash Memory | |
| 2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Dale Sterling | Jackpot |
| 2004 | Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Gyrus Krinkle | A Man Called Krinkle |
| Justice League Unlimited | The Question | Fearful Symmetry | |
| 2005 | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy | Dr. Preston King | |
| Justice League Unlimited | The Question | Double Date | |
| Justice League Unlimited | The Question | Question Authority | |
| Justice League Unlimited | The Question | Flashpoint | |
| 2006 | Justice League Unlimited | The Question | Grudge Match |
| Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Gyrus Krinkle | Incident on Ranger 7 | |
| Masters of Horror | Edgar Allan Poe | The Black Cat | |
| 2008 | Cold Case | Sly Borden | Spiders |
| 2009 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Kite Man | Long Arm of the Law |
| 2010 | Transformers: Prime | Ratchet[10] | |
| The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes | The Leader | Breakout, Part 1, Thor the Mighty | |
| Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Professor Hatecraft |
| Series | Episode | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | #454: Meridian | Tiron |
| #469: Family Business | Brunt | |
| #488: Bar Association | Brunt | |
| #496: To The Death | Weyoun | |
| #497: Body Parts | Brunt | |
| #517: Ties of Blood and Water | Weyoun | |
| #518: Ferengi Love Songs | Brunt | |
| #523: In The Cards | Weyoun | |
| #524: A Call To Arms | Weyoun | |
| #525: A Time To Stand | Weyoun | |
| #528: Behind The Lines | Weyoun | |
| #529: Favor The Bold | Weyoun | |
| #530: The Sacrifice Of Angels | Weyoun | |
| #533: Statistical Probabilities | Weyoun | |
| #534: The Magnificent Ferengi | Brunt | |
| #535: Waltz | Weyoun | |
| #538: Far Beyond The Stars | Detective Kevin Mulkahey | |
| #542: Inquisition | Weyoun | |
| #543: In The Pale Moonlight | Weyoun | |
| #547: Profit And Lace | Brunt | |
| #550: Tears of the Prophets | Weyoun | |
| #551: Image In The Sand | Weyoun | |
| #552: Shadows and Symbols | Weyoun | |
| #556: Treachery, Faith and the Great River | Weyoun | |
| #562: The Emperor's New Cloak | Mirror Brunt | |
| #567: Penumbra | Weyoun | |
| #568: Til Death Do Us Part | Weyoun | |
| #569: Strange Bedfellows | Weyoun | |
| #570: The Changing Face Of Evil | Weyoun | |
| #572: Tacking Into The Wind | Weyoun | |
| #574: The Dogs Of War | Weyoun and Brunt | |
| #575 & 576: What You Leave Behind | Weyoun & Holosuite Guest | |
| Star Trek: Voyager | #232: Tsunkatse | Penk |
| Star Trek: Enterprise | #007: The Andorian Incident | Shran |
| #014: Shadows of P'Jem | Shran | |
| #019: Acquisition | Krem | |
| #041: Cease Fire | Shran | |
| #065: Proving Ground | Shran | |
| #076: Zero Hour | Shran | |
| #085: Kir'Shara | Shran | |
| #088: Babel One | Shran | |
| #089: United | Shran | |
| #090: The Aenar | Shran | |
| #098: These Are The Voyages... | Shran Hologram | |
| The 4400 | Wake Up Call | Dr. Kevin Burkoff |
| Lockdown | ||
| The Fifth Page | ||
| Mommy's Bosses | ||
| The New World | ||
| Being Tom Baldwin | ||
| The Ballad Of Kevin And Tess | ||
| Terrible Swift Sword | ||
| Fifty-Fifty | ||
| The Wrath Of Graham | ||
| Daddy's Little Girl | ||
| One Of Us | ||
| Ghost in The Machine | ||
| Tiny Machines | ||
| The Great Leap Forward |
Trivia
On September 11, 2001, a man named Jeffrey Coombs (note the extra 'o' in the last name) was aboard hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which was later crashed into the World Trade Center. Having been confused with the passenger on the jet, Combs the actor was pronounced dead by news media outlets and had to announce publicly that he was still alive. [citation needed]
References
- ^ "Visit a Dark House Online".
- ^ Jeffrey Combs (2004). StarTrek.com First Person. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved May 12 2012.
{{cite AV media}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Startrek.com Deep Space Nine - Far Beyond the Stars
- ^ Jeffrey Combs, Star of "The Black Cat", UGO
- ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 5 Through 9".
- ^ Stebe Allen Theater - Nevermore
- ^ Baltimore Poe Bicentennial Celebration
- ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 10 and 11".
- ^ "Nevermore Heading to San Diego for Two Performances".
- ^ The Official Web Site of Actor Jeffrey Combs
Further reading
Voisin, Scott, "Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting." BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
External links
