Charles Fleischer
![]() |
Charles Fleischer | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. | August 27, 1950
Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
Nationality | American |
Years active | 1972–present |
Genres | Observational comedy, clean comedy, surreal humor |
Spouse |
Sheryl Strassman (m. 1977) |
Children | 2 |
Charles Fleischer (born August 27, 1950) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer and musician, best known for appearing in films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Polar Express, Rango, and We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story.[1] He also reprised the role of Roger Rabbit in the Roger Rabbit theatrical shorts. After beginning his career on the comedy club circuit, Charles Fleischer's first big break in comedy television came when he made an appearance on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.[2]
Early life
Fleischer was born and raised in Washington, D.C. on August 27, 1950. He studied medicine at Southampton College, than part of Long Island University, before transferring to study acting at Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University).[3] Fleischer has written a science paper regarding the nature of gamma ray bursts that appears on the Cornell University Library website.[4] Fleischer is Jewish.[5]
Career
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2014) |
Fleischer is best known as the voices of Roger Rabbit,[6] Benny the Cab, Greasy, and Psycho in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. After the film's success, he continued to perform the voice of Roger in several Disney television and theme park appearances at several of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, and in three follow-up short subjects to the original film. Other voice roles for Fleischer include The Polar Express and We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story. Notable on-screen roles include Back to the Future Part II and Gridlock'd.
Fleischer had a recurring role on the 1970s TV series Welcome Back, Kotter as Carvelli, as Chuck on the ABC series Laverne & Shirley, and on the Disney cartoon series House of Mouse as the voice of Benny the Cab. Fleischer appeared for the first time on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson Show on the evening of May 15, 1974. He was also a regular on Keep on Truckin'. He guest starred in The Weird Al Show as a guy in a band. He also appeared on the short-lived Saturday morning show, Wacko.
He is also a musician and songwriter. He performed as a guest on harmonica with the group Blues Traveler at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on November 22, 1995 [citation needed] and from December 10 to 15, 2002 at the Improvisational theatre of Connecticut Avenue.[7]
From December 2010 to September 2011, he hosted his own weekly web show Fleischer's Universe on Ustream.tv, produced by Brad Wyman.
Charles Fleischer was inside Tropicana Las Vegas, giving an improvised comedy along with Bob Golub and Nick Aragon at the Laugh Factory from January 17 to 20 of 2019.[8]
Fleischer is now the part-owner of a multi-media company in Southern California and a writer for television and movies.[citation needed] He still does stand-up gigs occasionally.
Personal life
Fleischer has been married to Sheryl Stressman since 1977.[9] Together they have two daughters, Rachel and Jessica.[10]
Filmography
- The Death Of Richie (1977) as Brick (credited)
- One on One (1977) as High School Student (uncredited)
- Crisis in Sun Valley (1978) as Shuyler
- Sugar Time! (1978) as Lightning Jack Rappaport
- Die Laughing (1980) as Charlie
- Hill Street Blues (1981) as Malibu
- The Hand (1981) as David Maddow
- Night Shift (1982) as Prisoner
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) as Dr. King
- The House of God (1984) as Hyper Hooper
- Deadly Friend (1986) as BB (voice)
- The Great Mouse Detective (1986) (voice, uncredited)
- Bad Dreams (1988) as Ron the Pharmacist
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) as Roger Rabbit / Benny the Cab / Greasy / Psycho (voice)
- Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988) (live-action & voice) as Stagehand Charlie / Roger Rabbit (voice)
- Tummy Trouble (1989) as Roger Rabbit (voice)
- Gross Anatomy (1989)
- Back to the Future Part II (1989) as Terry
- Dick Tracy (1990) as Reporter
- Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990) as Roger Rabbit (voice)
- Straight Talk (1992) as Tony
- Carry On Columbus (1992) as Pontiac
- Trail Mix-Up (1993) as Roger Rabbit (voice)
- We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993) as Dweeb (voice)
- My Girl 2 (1994) as Cab Driver
- Demon Knight (1995) as Wally Enfield
- Bone Chillers (1996) as Arnie
- Gridlock'd (1997) as Mr. Woodson
- Ground Control (1998) as Randy
- Permanent Midnight (1998) as Allen from Mr. Chompers
- Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998) as Bart Bimini
- Genius (1999) as Dr. Krickstein
- Big Monster on Campus (2000) as Mr. Stockton
- Bel Air (2000) as Gus
- G-Men from Hell (2000) as Martin / Pete
- Balto II: Wolf Quest (2002) as Boris (voice)
- The Backlot Murders (2002) as Henry
- The 4th Tenor (2002) as Alphonse
- Pauly Shore Is Dead (2003) as Himself (uncredited)
- Balto III: Wings of Change (2004) as Boris / White Mountain Postmaster (voice)
- The Polar Express (2004) as Elf General
- Big Kiss (2004) as Berezovich
- Zodiac (2007) as Bob Vaughn
- Funny People (2009) as Himself
- Chain Letter (2009) as Frank Wiggins
- Rango (2011) as Elbows (voice)
- Negative Space (2011) as Harry
- Reality Queen! (2016) as Talk Show Host
References
- ^ Dave Kehr (February 17, 2008). "In a Corrupt World Where the Violent Bear It Away". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ Janusonis, Michael (July 7, 1989). "It's Charles Fleischer, Alias Roger Rabbit". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ It's Charles Fleischer, Alias Roger Rabbit – Chicago Tribune
- ^ Fleischer, Charles (May 2, 2012). "Can Sequentially Linked Gamma-Ray Bursts Nullify Randomness?". arXiv:1205.0518 [physics.gen-ph].
- ^ Getting to know the homeless - Jewish Journal jewishjournal.com › culture › arts Her mother, an interior designer, was raised Orthodox, and her father is actor/comedian Charles Fleischer, best-known as the voice of Roger Rabbit in the ...
- ^ Janet Maslin (June 22, 1988). "New Laws of Gravity Twist Humor, Too, in 'Roger Rabbit'". The New York Times.
- ^ Dave Nuttycombe (December 6, 2002). "Charles Fleischer". Washington City Paper. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ "Charles Fleischer at the Laugh Factory Plus This & That". The Norm. January 13, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
- ^ https://www.people.com/archive/as-the-voice-of-roger-rabbit-stand-up-comic-charlie-fleischer-is-finally-whistling-a-happy-toon-vol-30-no-4/amp/
- ^ https://www.people.com/archive/as-the-voice-of-roger-rabbit-stand-up-comic-charlie-fleischer-is-finally-whistling-a-happy-toon-vol-30-no-4/amp/
External links
- Charles Fleischer at IMDb
- Charles Fleischer at TED
- "All things are Moleeds" (TED2005) (18 minutes)
- Charles Fleischer's Webshow Fleischer's Universe
Charles Fleischer's science paper. https://arxiv.org/abs/1205.0518
- 1950 births
- Living people
- American stand-up comedians
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- American male songwriters
- Male actors from Washington, D.C.
- Songwriters from Washington, D.C.
- 20th-century American comedians
- 21st-century American comedians
- Southampton College alumni
- Audiobook narrators