David Leisure
David Leisure | |
|---|---|
| Born | David Russell Leisure November 16, 1950 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–2013 |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Bunch (1997–?)(divorced) Kelly Hutchinson (1989–1994) (divorced) 1 child Flora Kleinfeld (1975–1983) (divorced) 1 child |
David Russell Leisure (born November 16, 1950)[1] is an American actor. He played Charley Dietz in the sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995 and fictional automotive "pitch man" Joe Isuzu in a series of North American television commercials for Isuzu from 1986 to 1990, and again from 1999 to 2001.[citation needed]
Early life
Leisure was born in San Diego[2] and attended San Diego State University.[3]
Career
Leisure moved to Los Angeles after graduating.[3] His first acting job was a minor role in Airplane! (1980) as a Hare Krishna. He had been roommates with the star, Robert Hays, in college but attributed his casting to his willingness to shave his head.[4] After a period of hardship, in which he lived in his car, he found work as a commercial pitchman, including a series of commercials for Bell Atlantic.[3] Della Femina Travisano & Partners cast him as Joe Isuzu because they believe he could "lie like a pro". The character made over-the-top claims and obvious lies about Isuzu cars in a series of commercials throughout the 1980s.[3] The character's popularity led to a costarring role as Charley Dietz on the television series Empty Nest.[2] His Joe Isuzu character was brought back in 1999, and continued through 2001.[5] Other roles include Roger Wilkes on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless[5] and, as of July 2010, a recurring role as Salem District Attorney Charles Woods on Days of Our Lives.[6]
Roles
Additional television credits include Sabrina the Teenage Witch, One on One, V.I.P., Diagnosis: Murder, The Parent 'Hood, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show, For Your Love, Caroline in the City, The Wayans Bros., Touched by an Angel, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Renegade, The Golden Girls, Married... with Children, ALF, 227, T. J. Hooker, The Equalizer, Falcon Crest, Sledge Hammer!, Nurses, and The Brady Bunch Movie.[citation needed]
Film roles
- Airplane! (1980) - First Krishna
- Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) - Religious Zealot
- Say Yes (1986) - Police Sergeant
- You Can't Hurry Love (1988) - Peter Newcomb
- Burke's Law (1994) - Stan "Stormy" Gilliss (1 episode)
- The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) - Jason
- Nowhere (1997) - Egg and Ducky's Dad
- Hollywood Safari (1997) - Troy
- Fallout (1999) - Colegrove
- 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) - Mr. Chapin
- 3 Strikes (2000) - District Attorney
- Behind the Seams (2000) - Milos Breneschov
- Downward Angel (2001) - Charles
- Elvis Has Left the Building (2004) - Hole-in-the-Head Elvis
- Welcome to September (2005) - Elliott Faydo
- Bionicle: The Legend Reborn (2009) - Metus
- Dancing on a Dry Salt Lake (2013) - Benny
References
- ^ "David Leisure". AllMovie. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ a b Elias, Thomas D. (1994-08-13). "WITH `EMPTY NEST,' DAVID LEISURE STARTS TO LEAVE JOE ISUZU BEHIND". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ a b c d Wolmuth, Roger (1986-11-10). "David Leisure—a.k.a. Joe Isuzu—Finds That the Road to Success Is Paved with Lies, Lies, Lies!". People. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ Harris, Will (2015-04-07). "Surely you can't be serious: An oral history of Airplane!". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ a b "David Leisure". USA Today. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2020-02-03 – via PressReader.
- ^ Abraham, Zennie (2010-03-11). "Days of Our Lives David Leisure talks about fame – after The Oscars". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
External links
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