Casper Van Dien
Casper Van Dien | |
|---|---|
 Van Dien in May 2012 | |
| Born | Casper Robert Van Dien VI[citation needed] December 18, 1968 Milton, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, producer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Carrie Mitchum
(m. 1993; div. 1997)Jennifer Wenger
(m. 2018) |
| Children | 4 |
Casper Robert Van Dien VI (born December 18, 1968) is an American actor and producer.
Early life
Van Dien was born and raised in Milton, Florida, the son of Diane (née Morrow), a nursery school teacher, and Casper Robert Van Dien V, a U.S. Navy Commander and fighter pilot.[1]
There is a long military tradition in Van Dien's family. Aside from his father, his grandfather was a Marine during World War II. Van Dien is descended from an old Dutch family long settled in the New York area; his other heritage includes Swedish, French, English, and Native American.[2]
The street on which Van Dien grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Van Dien Avenue, was named after his great-great-great-grandfather.[3] When Van Dien was older, his family moved to Florida, where he enrolled at the St. Petersburg campus of the Admiral Farragut Academy, graduating 3rd in command. While in the Florida prep school, Van Dien was often referred to as "Ken doll" due to his good looks, and got into many fights for that reason.[4] Even some writers later described him as a "perfect life-sized Ken doll."[5] After high school, Van Dien attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[citation needed]
Career
After moving to Los Angeles, Van Dien landed a number of small parts in various television series and movies. Two early breaks were recurring roles as Ty Moody on the daytime soap opera One Life to Live and the prime time drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Keen to expand his acting talents, Van Dien took a bit part in the video game, Wing Commander IV.
In 1996, Van Dien played King Tal in Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus, the second sequel to the 1982 cult classic, The Beastmaster. Van Dien also starred in the 1997 James Dean biopic James Dean: Race with Destiny. Soon after, he got the breakthrough role of Johnny Rico in Paul Verhoeven's 1997 science fiction action film Starship Troopers. His success in Starship Troopers subsequently resulted in his casting as Tarzan in Tarzan and the Lost City (1998).[6] Van Dien next played Brom von Brunt in Tim Burton's 1999 film Sleepy Hollow, a reworking of the classic Washington Irving tale.
In 2000 Van Dien appeared in Cutaway as well as Aaron Spelling's short-lived NBC prime time soap Titans with Yasmine Bleeth, John Barrowman, Perry King and Victoria Principal. He filmed several scenes as Patrick Bateman, the character that Christian Bale had played in 2000's American Psycho, in 2002's The Rules of Attraction. However, the scenes were unused in the final film.
In 2008 Van Dien returned to the role of Rico in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, a direct-to-video sequel to Starship Troopers.
Van Dien replaced Matt Mullins as Johnny Cage for the second season of the YouTube webseries Mortal Kombat: Legacy.[7]
In 2013 Van Dien played the part in Assumed Killer in which he was a husband to woman who had retrograde amnesia, who believed him to be a serial killer.[citation needed]
Personal life
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
From 1993 to 1997 Van Dien was married to Carrie Mitchum (granddaughter of Robert Mitchum). They have two children, Casper Robert Van Dien VII and actress Caroline Grace Van Dien. Van Dien had co-starred with Robert Mitchum in James Dean: Race with Destiny. Grace Van Dien is known for starring in the Netflix series Greenhouse Academy.
In 1999 Van Dien met actress Catherine Oxenberg during the filming of the TV movie The Collectors, and they soon worked together again in the 1999 thriller The Omega Code. On May 8, 1999, they married at Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2005, the couple appeared in their own reality series, I Married a Princess, which aired on the Lifetime Television channel[8] in the United States, LIVINGtv in the United Kingdom and Lifestyle You in Australia; Oxenberg's mother is Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. During the 2006-2007 TV season, Van Dien and Oxenberg co-starred in the American drama series Watch Over Me on MyNetworkTV. Van Dien and Oxenberg have two daughters, born in 2001 and 2003.
Oxenberg and Van Dien are celebrity ambassadors for the non-profit organization Childhelp.[9]
In 2015, Van Dien filed for divorce from Oxenberg.[10] Van Dien married Jennifer Wenger in June 2018.[11]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus | King Tal | |
| 1997 | Casper: A Spirited Beginning | Bystander | Video |
| 1997 | Starship Troopers | Johnny Rico | |
| 1998 | Tarzan and the Lost City | Tarzan | |
| 1998 | Casper Meets Wendy | Crewcut Hunk | Video |
| 1999 | The Omega Code | Gillen Lane | |
| 1999 | Sleepy Hollow | Brom Van Brunt | |
| 2000 | Sanctimony | Tom Gerrick | |
| 2000[12] | Road Rage | Jim Travis | |
| 2002 | The Vector File | Gerry Anderson | |
| 2002 | The Rules of Attraction | Patrick Bateman | Scenes deleted |
| 2004 | Dracula 3000 | Captain Abraham Van Helsing | |
| 2006 | The Curse of King Tut's Tomb | Danny Freemont | |
| 2008 | Starship Troopers 3: Marauder | Colonel Johnny Rico | Direct to video |
| 2009 | Through the Air to Calais or the Wonderful Cruise of Blanchard's Balloon | Dr. John Jeffries | Short film |
| 2011 | Shiver | Det. Sebastian Delgado | |
| 2011 | Born to Ride | Mike Callahan | |
| 2012 | Malibu Days | Short film | |
| 2012 | The Pact | Bill Creek | |
| 2012 | Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Sequels | James K. Polk | Short film |
| 2012 | noobz | Casper Van Dien | Completed |
| 2012 | Christmas Twister | Ethan | |
| 2013 | 500 MPH Storm | Nathan Sims | |
| 2013 | Assumed Killer | Sam Morrow | |
| 2013 | 11 Seconds | Benjamin Stills | |
| 2013 | Mucho Dinero | Kurt | |
| 2013 | Higher Mission | John Perryman | |
| 2014 | Sleeping Beauty | Director | Direct-to-video by The Asylum |
| 2015 | Avengers Grimm | Rumpelstiltskin | |
| 2015 | June | Dave Anderson | |
| 2016 | Army Dog | Tom Holloway | |
| 2016 | Showdown in Manila | Charlie Benz | |
| 2016 | Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine | Saber Raine | |
| 2016 | Isra 88 (or Mission 88 or Beyond the Edge) | Lt. Col. Harold Richards | |
| 2017 | Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars | Colonel Johnny Rico (voice) | Also executive producer, direct to video |
| 2017 | All About the Money | Kurt | |
| 2018 | Alita: Battle Angel | Amok |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Menu for Murder | Life Guard | TV movie |
| 1991 | Saved by the Bell | Student (uncredited) | Episode: "Pipe Dreams" |
| 1991 | Dangerous Women | Brad Morris | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Freshman Dorm | Zack Taylor | 5 episodes |
| 1992 | Life Goes On | Episode: "Udder Madness" | |
| 1993–1994 | One Life to Live | Tyler "Ty" Moody | TV series |
| 1994 | Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Jesse | Episode: "Cattle Drive: Part 1" Episode: "Cattle Drive: Part 2" |
| 1994 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Griffin Stone | 7 episodes |
| 1995 | P.C.H. | Randy | TV movie |
| 1995 | Silk Stalkings | Roger Barrows | Episode: "I Know What Scares You" |
| 1995 | Married... with Children | Eric Waters | Episode: "Blonde and Blonder" |
| 1996 | Backroads to Vegas | Adam | TV movie |
| 1996 | Lethal Orbit | Tom Corbett | TV movie |
| 1996 | Night Eyes Four: Fatal Passion | Roy | TV movie |
| 1996 | Beastmaster: The Eye of Braxus | King Tal | TV movie |
| 1996 | The Colony | TV movie | |
| 1997 | The Outer Limits | Jake Miller | Episode: "Heart's Desire" |
| 1997 | NightScream | Teddy Johnson / Ray Ordwell Jr | TV movie |
| 1997 | James Dean: Race with Destiny | James Dean | TV movie |
| 1998 | Modern Vampires | Dallas | TV movie |
| 1998 | On the Border | Jake Barnes | TV movie |
| 1999 | Shark Attack | Steven McKray | TV movie |
| 1999 | The Collectors | A.K. | TV movie |
| 1999 | Thrill Seekers | Tom Merrick | TV movie |
| 2000 | Partners | Axel | TV movie |
| 2000 | Python | Bart Parker | TV movie |
| 2000 | Road Rage | Jim Travis | TV movie |
| 2000 | Cutaway | Delmira | TV movie |
| 2001 | Chasing Destiny | Bobby Moritz | TV movie |
| 2000–2001 | Titans | Chandler Williams | 14 episodes |
| 2001 | Going Back (Under Heavy Fire) | Capt. Ramsey | TV movie |
| 2001 | The Tracker | Connor Spears | TV movie |
| 2001 | Danger Beneath the Sea | Commander Miles Sheffield | TV movie |
| 2002 | The Vector File | Gerry | TV movie |
| 2003 | Big Spender | Eddie Burton | TV movie |
| 2003 | Windfall | Ace Logan | TV movie |
| 2004 | Skeleton Man | Staff Sgt. Oberron | TV movie |
| 2004 | What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? | Romantic Moritz (uncredited) | Documentary |
| 2004 | Rock Me, Baby | Michael | Episode: "Love at First Flight" |
| 2005 | Hollywood Flies | Zach | TV movie |
| 2005 | Maiden Voyage | Kyle Considine | TV movie |
| 2005 | Personal Effects | Chris Locke | TV movie |
| 2005 | The Fallen Ones | Matt Fletcher | TV movie |
| 2005 | Officer Down | Officer Philip Hallows | TV movie |
| 2005 | Premonition | Jack Barnes | TV movie |
| 2006 | Meltdown | Tom | TV movie |
| 2006 | The Curse of King Tut's Tomb | Danny Freemont | TV movie |
| 2006 | Slayer | Hawk | TV movie |
| 2006–2007 | Watch Over Me | Andre Forester | 64 episodes |
| 2008 | Aces 'N' Eights | Luke Rivers | TV movie |
| 2008 | Mask of the Ninja | Jack Barrett | TV movie |
| 2008 | Monk | Lt. Steven Albright | Episode: "Mr. Monk Is Underwater" |
| 2009 | Monk | Lt. Steven Albright | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the End: Part 1 & 2" |
| 2009 | One Hot Summer | Luther Simmonds | TV movie |
| 2010 | Turbulent Skies | Tom | TV movie |
| 2010 | Laugh Track Mash-ups | James | Episode: "Coopin' with Mr. Levy" |
| 2010 | The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation | Randy McGovern | TV movie |
| 2012 | Lake Effects | Ash Henson | TV movie |
| 2012 | Fugitive at 17 | Spencer Oliphant | TV movie |
| 2012 | Femme Fatales | Episode: "One Man's Death" | |
| 2012 | Baby's First Christmas | Kyle | TV movie |
| 2015 | Fire Twister | Scott | TV movie |
| 2015 | Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf | Ray | TV movie |
| 2015 | Patient Killer | Jason (also as director) | TV movie |
| 2015-2016 | Con Man | Waiter (cameo) | 6 episodes, web series, aired on TV by Syfi |
| 2017 | Hawaii Five-0 | Roger Niles | Episode "Na La Ilio" (Dog Days) |
Web
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Mortal Kombat: Legacy | Johnny Cage | 5 episodes |
| 2016 | Crunch Time | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Deadpool The Musical 2 - Ultimate Disney Parody! | Cyclops | 1 episode |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom | Confed Redshirt #3 (voice) | |
| 2005 | Starship Troopers | General John Rico (voice) |
References
- ^ "Sarasota studio brings actor Casper Van Dien home". Retrieved November 13, 2010., Sarasota Herald Trubune, November 13, 2010
- ^ "Breaking News, Latest News and Videos". CNN. November 24, 2000. Archived from the original on April 24, 2006. Retrieved April 24, 2006.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Staff. "Tarzan of Tarzana", Daily News of Los Angeles, April 22, 1998. Accessed September 22, 2011. "When I was growing up in Ridgewood, NJ, we lived on Van Dien Avenue, which was named after my great-great-great grandfather."
- ^ "Casper Van Dien is People's Sexiest Soap Star". 27 October 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Casper Van Dien biography and filmography - Casper Van Dien movies". Tribute.ca.
- ^ Tarzan and the Lost City official site Archived 2006-03-27 at the Wayback Machine Michael Lake, producer
- ^ "Web Series 'Mortal Kombat: Legacy 2′ Hitting February 17th". Latino Review. Archived from the original on 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Ramin Setoodeh (July 11, 2012). "What Happened to Big-Screen Hunk Casper Van Dien?". The Daily Beast.
- ^ Celebrity Ambassadors - ChildHelp.org Archived 2008-05-10 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 6, 2008.
- ^ Casper Van Dien – I'm Divorcing Catherine Oxenberg, TMZ, 25 September 2015, retrieved 3 January 2016
- ^ "Casper and Jenny's Wedding, Honeysuckle Hills Farm". www.watson-studios.com. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
- ^ "Road Rage (TV Movie 2000)" – via www.imdb.com.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
- 1968 births
- American people of Scandinavian descent
- Admiral Farragut Academy alumni
- American male film actors
- American male soap opera actors
- American male television actors
- American producers
- American people of Dutch descent
- American people of English descent
- American people of French descent
- American people of Native American descent
- American people of Swedish descent
- Florida State University alumni
- Living people
- Participants in American reality television series
- People from Ridgewood, New Jersey
- People from Milton, Florida