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Christian Clemenson

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Christian Clemenson
Born (1958-03-17) March 17, 1958 (age 66)[1][2][3]
Humboldt, Iowa, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1985–present

Christian Clemenson (born March 17, 1958)[1][2][3] is an American film and television actor. He is well known for his portrayal of Jerry "Hands" Espenson in the television series Boston Legal, for which he won the 2006 Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[4] He appeared in a tense scene with Holly Hunter in the 1987 film, Broadcast News as a newsroom editor, "Bobby, Bobby, Bobby..."

Early life

Clemenson was born and raised in Humboldt, Iowa, the son of drug store owners Ernest and Ruth Clemenson. In his early teens he delivered the Des Moines Register, which had a long tradition of awarding scholarships to top east-coast preparatory schools to a select few "paper boys".[5] Clemenson, a straight-A junior high school student, won a Register scholarship to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.[6] In 1973, while Chris was enrolled at Phillips Academy, his father died at age 58.[7] He participated in many theatrical productions at Phillips Academy.

Upon graduation from Phillips in 1976, he entered Harvard College. From his freshman year onward he received important roles in campus stage productions, often receiving more praise from critics than the productions received. When Clemenson starred in a Harvard Lampoon sketch comedy show, a Harvard Crimson theatre critic panned the show but described Clemenson as "hugely talented actor who can trigger hysteria with any of a dozen subtle expressions or inflections."[8] Other Crimson critics described his performances in Shakespeare plays as "a tour de force of sheer talent and intelligence" (in The Winter's Tale)[9] and "a very fine and subtle performance" (in Measure for Measure).[10] He displayed early on his remarkable range when he undertook with inimitable flair and hilarious effect the hugely solemn role of Erde "the green-faced torso", goddess of the Earth, in Peter Sellers's Loeb Drama Center production of "Wagner's Ring" (1979).[citation needed]

During many summers he would return to Humboldt to star in, and later direct, local community theatre plays at Humboldt's Castle Theatre.[1]

After graduating from Harvard College in 1980 and the Yale School of Drama in 1984, he moved to Los Angeles.[1]

Clemenson and fellow Boston Legal star James Spader are old friends from Phillips Academy days.[citation needed]

Career

Many of Clemenson's early roles in television and film matched his personality as a bright, soft-spoken professional. He was a law student in the television version of The Paper Chase, Alex Keaton's English teacher in the television show Family Ties, the bailiff in the Ivan Reitman movie Legal Eagles, the flight surgeon in the movie Apollo 13, a cop in The Big Lebowski, a killer in The Fisher King and Dr. Dale Lawrence in the movie And the Band Played On. While he has been a familiar face for over a decade, until recently his name was not so well known.

In 1999, Clemenson appeared in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Bad Girls" as a morbidly obese demon named Balthazar. He wore a large padded suit and extensive make-up for the role, and the character's repulsive, villainous nature contradicted many of his earlier roles.

Recently, Clemenson has become known for his role as Jerry "Hands" Espenson on the television series Boston Legal. For playing Espenson, he won an Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2006 and was nominated for the same award in 2007.[4] He remained with the series through to its finale in 2008.

In film, he starred as real-life 9/11 victim Tom Burnett in United 93. On television, he was a regular on The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. playing the part of Socrates Poole. He also had a recurring role on Veronica Mars. Clemenson also has appeared in a season 6 episode of NCIS, "Dead Reckoning". He also appeared in two season 2 episodes of The Mentalist. He also played Jimmy Masterson on the 3rd episode of Memphis Beat, "Love Me Tender."

In 2009, Clemenson joined CSI: Miami as the new medical examiner, Dr. Tom Loman. He appeared throughout the show's eighth, ninth and tenth seasons as a recurring character. 2013, also he appeared as guest star in Harry's Law.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Christian Clemenson Biography". ABC Medianet. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Christian Clemenson: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  3. ^ a b Truitt, Brian (April 14, 2010). "TV's CSI secrets uncovered". USA Weekend. Clemenson, 52
  4. ^ a b "59th Primetime Emmy Awards". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. September 16, 2007.
  5. ^ Editor (August 7, 1933). "Letters to the Editor". Time Magazine. Retrieved April 8, 2008. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ "Prep School Scholarship Winners." Des Moines Register, May 14, 1972, at 11-F.
  7. ^ Obituary of Ernest Clemenson, Des Moines Register, September 25, 1973, at 3-S.
  8. ^ Paul A. Attanasio, "Dissertation on Roast Pig," The Harvard Crimson, October 15, 1979.
  9. ^ Esme Murphy, "The Sad Tale's Best," The Harvard Crimson, December 10, 1979.
  10. ^ Thomas Hines, "A Good Measure," The Harvard Crimson, July 7, 1981.

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