Christopher Lloyd
Christopher Lloyd | |
|---|---|
 Lloyd at the May 2015 Phoenix Comicon | |
| Born | Christopher Allen Lloyd October 22, 1938 Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
| Spouses |
|
| Relatives | Sam Lloyd (nephew) Lewis H. Lapham (first cousin once removed) |
Christopher Allen Lloyd (born October 22, 1938)[1] is an American actor, voice actor and comedian best known for his roles as Emmett "Doc" Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (1991) and its sequel Addams Family Values (1993).
Lloyd has an equally prominent television profile, having won two Primetime Emmy Awards for playing Jim Ignatowski on the comedy series Taxi (1978–1983). He earned a third Emmy for his 1992 guest appearance on Road to Avonlea.[2] He has also done extensive voiceover work for animated programs, most notably voicing The Hacker on the PBS Kids series Cyberchase (2002–2015). The role earned him two Daytime Emmy Award nominations.
Early life
Lloyd was born on October 22, 1938 in Stamford, Connecticut, the son of Samuel R. Lloyd, Jr, a lawyer, and his wife Ruth (née Lapham; 1896–1984), a singer and sister of San Francisco mayor Roger Lapham.[1][3] He is the youngest of four girls and three boys, one of whom, Samuel Lloyd, was an actor in the 1950s and 1960s.[4] Lloyd's maternal grandfather, Lewis Henry Lapham, was one of the founders of the Texaco oil company,[5] and Lloyd is also a descendant of Mayflower passengers, including John Howland.[6] Lloyd was raised in New Canaan, Connecticut.[4]
Career
Lloyd began his career apprenticing at summer theaters in Mount Kisco, New York, and Hyannis, Massachusetts.[7] He took acting classes in New York City at age 19—some at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre with Sanford Meisner[4]—and he recalled making his New York theater debut in Fernando Arrabal's play And They Put Handcuffs on the Flowers, saying, "I was a replacement and it was my first sort of job in New York."[4] He made his Broadway debut in the short-lived Red, White and Maddox (1969), and went on to Off-Broadway roles in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Kaspar (February 1973),[8] The Harlot and the Hunted, The Seagull (January 1974),[9] Total Eclipse (February 1974),[10] Macbeth, In the Boom Boom Room, Cracks, Professional Resident Company, What Every Woman Knows, The Father, King Lear. Power Failure, and in mid-1972 appeared in a Jean Cocteau double bill, Orphee and The Human Voice, at the Jean Cocteau Theater at 43 Bond Street.[11]
Lloyd returned to Broadway for the musical Happy End.[4] He performed in Andrzej Wajda's adaptation of Dostoyevsky's The Possessed at Yale Repertory Theater,[12] and in Jay Broad's premiere of White Pelican at the P.A.F. Playhouse in Huntington Station, New York, on Long Island.[13]
In 1977, he said of his training at the Neighborhood Playhouse under Meisner, "My work up to then had been very uneven. I would be good one night, dull the next. Meisner made me aware of how to be consistent in using the best that I have to offer. But I guess nobody can teach you the knack, or whatever it is, that helps you come to life on stage."[14]
His first movie role was as a psychiatric patient in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).[15] He is best known for his roles as "Reverend" Jim Ignatowski, the ex-hippie cabbie on the sitcom Taxi, for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series;[16] and the eccentric inventor Emmett "Doc" Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy of science fiction films, for which he was nominated for a Saturn Award. In 1985 he was in Street Hawk the pilot episode. In 1986, he played the reviled Professor B.O. Beanes on the television series Amazing Stories. Other roles include Klingon Commander Kruge in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) (on suggestion of fellow actor and friend Leonard Nimoy), Professor Plum in Clue (1985), Professor Dimple in an episode of Road to Avonlea (for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series); the villain Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988); a wacky sound effects man named Zoltan in Radioland Murders (1994); and Uncle Fester in the movie adaptations of The Addams Family (1991).
Lloyd portrayed the star character in the adventure game Toonstruck, released in November 1996. In 1999, he was reunited onscreen with Michael J. Fox in an episode of Spin City entitled "Back to the Future IV — Judgment Day", in which Lloyd plays Owen Kingston, the former mentor of Fox's character, Mike Flaherty's who stopped by City Hall to see him, only to proclaim himself God. That same year, Lloyd starred in the movie remake of the 1960s series My Favorite Martian. He starred on the television series Deadly Games in the mid-1990s and was a regular on the sitcom Stacked in the mid-2000s. In 2003, he guest-starred in three of the 13 produced episodes of Tremors: The Series as the character Cletus Poffenburger. In November 2007, Lloyd was reunited onscreen with his former Taxi co-star Judd Hirsch in the season-four episode "Graphic" of the television series Numb3rs. He played Ebenezer Scrooge in a 2008 production of A Christmas Carol at the Kodak Theatre with John Goodman and Jane Leeves.[citation needed] In 2009, he appeared in a comedic trailer for a faux horror film entitled Gobstopper, in which he played Willy Wonka as a horror-movie-style villain.[17] In October 2009, he did a two-man show with comic performer Joe Gallois in several Midwest cities.[citation needed]
In the summer of 2010, he starred as Willy Loman in a Weston Playhouse production of Death of a Salesman.[18] That September, he reprised his role as Doctor Emmett Brown in Back to the Future: The Game, an episodic adventure game series developed by Telltale Games.[19] On January 21, 2011, he appeared "The Firefly" episode of the J. J. Abrams television series Fringe.[20] That August, he reprised the role of Dr. Emmett Brown (from Back to the Future) as part of an advertising campaign for Garbarino,[21] an Argentine appliance company, and also as part of the Nike Company's "Back For the Future" campaign for the benefit of The Michael J. Fox Foundation. In 2012 and 2013, Lloyd reprised the role of Brown in two episodes of the stop-motion series Robot Chicken. He was a guest star on the 100th episode of the USA Network sitcom Psych as Martin Khan in 2013.
In May 2013, Lloyd appeared as the narrator and the character Azdak in the Bertold Brecht play The Caucasian Chalk Circle, produced by the Classic Stage Company in New York.[22]
Personal life
Lloyd has been married four times but has never had any children.[23] He was first married to Catharine Dallas Dixon Boyd on June 6, 1959.[7] The couple divorced in 1971 after 12 years of marriage.[24] He next was married to actress Kay Tornborg, from 1974 to 1987.[25] Lloyd's third marriage, to Carol Ann Vanek, lasted from 1988 to 1991.[26] His fourth marriage, to screenwriter Jane Walker Wood, lasted from 1992 to 2005.[24][27]
After his divorce from Wood, in Montecito, California, Lloyd bought a smaller house on March 23, 2007, and that May listed his 8.07-acre old estate for over $11 million; although the price was later dropped to $6.5 million. Wood and he had bought the house in 1997 for $1.6 million. This home, which was on the market at the time, was destroyed in the Tea Fire of November 2008 in Montecito, California.[28]
Lloyd's philanthropist mother, Ruth Lapham Lloyd, died in 1984 at age 88. Her surviving children at the time aside from Christopher were Donald L. Mygatt, Antoinette L. Mygatt Lucas, Samuel Lloyd III, Ruth Lloyd Scott Ax and Adele L. Kinney.[29] Lloyd's nephew, Sam Lloyd, is best known for playing Ted Buckland, the lawyer on Scrubs.
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Adams Chronicles | Tsar Alexandre | Episode: "Chapter VIII: John Quincy Adams, Secretary of State" |
| 1978 | Lacy and the Mississippi Queen | Jennings | Television film |
| The Word | Hans Bogardus | Television miniseries | |
| 1978–1979 | Barney Miller | Arnold Scully / Vincent Carew | 2 episodes |
| 1978–1983 | Taxi | Reverend Jim Ignatowski | 84 episodes |
| 1979 | Stunt 7 | Skip Hartman | Television film |
| 1982 | Best of the West | The Calico Kid | 3 episodes |
| American Playhouse | Paul | Episode: "Pilgrim, Farewell" | |
| Money on the Side | Sergeant Stampone | Television film | |
| 1983 | September Gun | Jack Brian | Television film |
| 1984 | Cheers | Philip Semenko | 2 episodes |
| Old Friends | Jerry Forbes | Television film | |
| The Cowboy and the Ballerina | Woody | Television film | |
| 1985 | Street Hawk | Anthony Corrido | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Professor B.O. Beanes | Episode: "Go to the Head of the Class" |
| 1987 | Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Pat Hobby Teamed with Genius | Pat Hobby | Television film |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Dr. Emmett Brown[30] | Television special |
| 1991–1992 | Back to the Future: The Animated Series | Dr. Emmett Brown (Live action) | 26 episodes |
| 1992 | T Bone 'N' Weasel | William "Weasel" Weasler | Television film |
| Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster | Frank Iarossi | Television film | |
| Road to Avonlea | Alistair Dimple | Episode: "Another Point of View" | |
| 1994 | In Search of Dr. Seuss | Mr. Hunch | Television film |
| 1995 | Fallen Angels | The Continental Op | Episode: "Fly Paper" |
| Rent-a-Kid | Lawrence 'Larry' Kayvey | Television film | |
| 1995–1997 | Deadly Games | Jordan Kenneth Lloyd/Sebastian Jackal | 13 episodes |
| 1996 | The Right to Remain Silent | Johnny Benjamin | Television film |
| 1997 | Quicksilver Highway | Aaron Quicksilver | Television film |
| Angels in the Endzone | Al "The Boss" Angel | Television film | |
| 1998 | The Ransom of Red Chief | Sam Howard | Television film |
| 1999 | Spin City | Owen Kingston | Episode: "Back to the Future IV" |
| Alice in Wonderland | The White Knight | Television film | |
| It Came from the Sky | Jarvis Moody | Television film | |
| 2001 | The Tick | Mr. Fishladder | Uncredited Episode: "Pilot" |
| Wit | Dr. Harvey Kelekian | Television film | |
| Chasing Destiny | Jet James | Television film | |
| When Good Ghouls Go Bad | Uncle Fred Walker | Television film | |
| 2002–present | Cyberchase | Hacker (voice) | |
| 2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Walter | Episode: "Family Reunion" |
| The Big Time | Doc Powers | Television film | |
| 2003 | Ed | Burt Kiffle | Episode: "The Move" |
| Tremors | Dr. Cletus Poffenberger | 3 episodes | |
| 2004 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Snail (voice) | Episode: "Dumb Luck" |
| I Dream | Professor Toone | 4 episodes | |
| 2004–2005 | Clubhouse | Lou Russo | 11 episodes |
| 2005 | The West Wing | Professor Lawrence Lessig | Episode: "The Wake Up Call" |
| King of the Hill | Smitty (voice) | Episode: "Care-Takin' Care of Business" | |
| Detectives | Anderson in Launderette | Television film | |
| 2005–2006 | Stacked | Harold March | 19 episodes |
| 2006 | Masters of Horror | Everett Neely | Episode: "Valerie on the Stairs" |
| A Perfect Day | Michael | Television film | |
| 2007 | Numbers | Ross Moore | Episode: "Graphic" |
| 2008 | Live from Lincoln Center | King Pellinore | Episode: "Camelot" |
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Carmine | Episode: "Vanishing Act" | |
| 2009 | Meteor | Professor Daniel Lehman | 2 episodes |
| Knights of Bloodsteel | Tesselink | 2 episodes | |
| 2010 | Chuck | Dr. Leo Dreyfus | Episode: "Chuck versus the Tooth" |
| 2011 | Fringe | Roscoe Joyce | Episode: "The Firefly" |
| Family Practice | Robert Passion Foote | Television film | |
| 2011–2013 | Robot Chicken | Dr. Emmett Brown/Early Hacker/Schlomo (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Dorothy and the Witches of Oz | Wizard of Oz | Television film |
| R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | Grandpa | Episode: "Grampires: Part 1" | |
| Anything But Christmas | Harry | Television film | |
| 2013 | Raising Hope | Dennis Powers | Episode: " Credit Where Credit Is Due" |
| Psych | Martin Kahn | Episode: "100 Clues" | |
| 2014 | The Michael J. Fox Show | Principal McTavish | Episode: "Health" |
| Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys | Mayor Akerman | Television film | |
| Zodiac: Signs of the Apocalypse | Harry Setag | Television film | |
| Over the Garden Wall | The Woodsman (voice) | 4 episodes | |
| 2014–2015 | Granite Flats | Professor Stanfield Hargraves | 12 episodes |
| 2015 | The Simpsons | Reverend Jim Ignatowski (voice) | Episode: "My Fare Lady" |
| Just in Time for Christmas | Grandpa Bob | Television film | |
| 2016 | The Big Bang Theory[31] | Theodore | Episode: "The Property Division Collision" |
| 2017 | 12 Monkeys | Zalmon Shaw[32] |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Rescue the Scientists | Lieutenant Jack Tempus |
| 1996 | Toonstruck | Drew Blanc |
| 2004 | Back to the Future Video Slots | Dr. Emmett Brown |
| 2010–2011 | Back to the Future: The Game | Dr. Emmett Brown |
| 2015 | Lego Dimensions | Dr. Emmett Brown[33][34] |
| King's Quest | Elderly King Graham |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Production / Role | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–73 | Obie Award | One of 12 recipients for "distinguished performances"[35] | Won | |
| 1973 | Drama Desk Award | Best Performance | Kaspar | |
| 1982 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series[16] | Taxi | |
| 1983 | ||||
| 1986 | Saturn Award | Best Supporting Actor | Back to the Future | Nominated |
| 1990 | Who Framed Roger Rabbit | |||
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series[16] | Road to Avonlea | Won |
| 1994 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Male[36] | Twenty Bucks | |
| 2008 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Cyberchase | Nominated |
| 2013 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Ensemble (shared with the entire cast)[37] | The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure | |
| 2015 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Cyberchase | |
| 2016 | British Independent Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor[38] | I Am Not a Serial Killer |
References
- ^ a b "Christopher Lloyd Biography: Actor (1938–)". Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks). Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Christopher Lloyd at emmys.com
- ^ Croft, Amy, ed. (Spring 2013). "A guide to the Roger D. Lapham photograph collection, 1892-1956". San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park via Online Archive of California. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help); Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d e Lovece, Frank (December 2, 1991). "Christopher Lloyd Is as Mysterious as Character". United Media via The Daily News (Bowling Green, Kentucky).
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Lewis H. Lapham, Financier, 76, Dies; Retired Leather Merchant Was a Founder of Texas Corporation, an Oil Concern". The New York Times. June 11, 1934. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
The near relatives who survive [include] ... two daughters, Mrs. Elinor Ford of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Samuel Lloyd of Stamford, Conn., and two sons [including] Roger D. Lapham of San Francisco, president of the American Hawaiian Steamship Company....
- ^ "Meet John Howland, a lucky Pilgrim who populated America". The Japan Times. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Catharine Boyd Attended by Six at Her Marriage". The New York Times. June 7, 1959. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract; full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Barnes, Clive (February 16, 1973). "Theater: Handke's 'Kaspar' Is Staged in Brooklyn". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Barnes, Clive (January 24, 1974). "Theater: Good 'Seagull'; Chekhov Play Staged by the Roundabout". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Barnes, Clive (February 25, 1974). "Stage: 'Total Eclipse' by the Chelsea". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Gilbert, Ruth, ed. (August 14, 1972). "In and Around Town: Theater > Off and Off-Off Broadway > Current". New York. p. 13.
- ^ Gussow, Mel (October 12, 1974). "Stage: 'The Possessed,' Clear Vision of Torment". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Delatiner, Barbara (April 25, 1976). "New Lines, Old Trouper". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Berkvist, Rober (June 24, 1977). "New Face: Christopher Lloyd; A Real 'Happy End'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Harris, Will (October 12, 2012). "Christopher Lloyd on playing a vampire, a taxi driver, a toon, and more". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Emmys > Christopher Lloyd: Awards & Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
- ^ "Cast & Crew". GobstopperMovie.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
- ^ Itzkoff, Dave (2010-08-25). "Christopher Lloyd stars in 'Death of a Salesman'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
- ^ Snider, Mike (September 1, 2010). "Telltale Games times 'Back to the Future' project". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (2011-01-21). "The return of 'Fringe' recap: 'The Firefly' glowed with love, loss, and Christopher Lloyd". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
- ^ "Campaña publicitaria del Doc Emmet Brown es un éxito en YouTube" [Advertising campaign with "Doc" Emmett Brown is a hit on YouTube]. La Gaceta. Tucumán, Argentina. September 8, 2011. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
- ^ Isherwood, Charles (May 30, 2013). "A Little Groucho Marx, a Little King Solomon". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ "Actor Christopher Lloyd regrets not starting a family with any of his 4 wives". hubmesh.com. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
- ^ a b "Ex-wife sues actor Lloyd for unpaid alimony". The Post and Courier. September 26, 2002. p. 2-A.
- ^ Hillier, Bevin (March 22, 1987). "Always on Sunday: The Making of a Flea-Market Fanatic". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Podolsky, J. D. (July 8, 1991). "Passages". People (magazine).
- ^ "Actor Christopher Lloyd lists house in Montecito, CA for $11,275,000, buys a smaller one nearby". Berg Properties. May 29, 2007. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Stars' Homes Destroyed & Threatened By Montecito Fire". Access Hollywood. November 14, 2008. Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved 2014-01-31.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Ruth Lapham Lloyd, 88, Dies; Aided Metropolitan Museum". The New York Times. October 12, 1984. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^ A Matter of Time: The Unauthorized Back to the Future Lexicon Page 300
- ^ "The Big Bang Theory: Christopher Lloyd Set to Guest-Star in Mystery Role". TVLine.com. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
- ^ Moore, Trent (October 20, 2016). "12 Monkeys showrunner talks 'going inward' in Season 3, adding Christopher Lloyd". blastr. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
- ^ CoinOpTV (September 16, 2015). "Lego Dimensions Voice Actors Interviews". YouTube.
Lego Dimensions features the voice talents of Chris Pratt, Alison Brie, Michael J. Fox, Gary Oldman, Irrfan Khan, Charlie Day, Ellen McLain, Stephen Merchant, Christopher Lloyd, Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Michelle Gomez, Troy Baker, Tom Kane, Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks, Tara Strong and More!
- ^ Traveller's Tales. Lego Dimensions. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. Scene: Closing credits, 4:45 in, Voiceover Talent.
- ^ "'The Hot I Baltimore' Shares Obie Award With 'River Niger'". The New York Times. May 23, 1973. Retrieved October 22, 2013. Abstract. Full article via subscription or fee.
- ^ Film Independent Spirit Awards - 31 Years of Nominees and Winners
- ^ "RAZZIES Nominations". Razzies.com. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
- ^ 2016 BIFA nominations
Further reading
- Napoleon, Davi (1991). Chelsea on the Edge: The Adventures of an American Theater. Iowa State University Press. ISBN 0-8138-1713-7. Includes discussion of Lloyd's early work Off-Broadway, including the production of Happy End at the Chelsea Theater Center, and on Broadway, Kaspar and Total Eclipse.
External links
- Christopher Lloyd at IMDb
- Christopher Lloyd at the Internet Broadway Database
- Please use a more specific IOBDB template. See the template documentation for available templates.
- Christopher Lloyd at the TCM Movie Database
- Christopher Lloyd at AllMovie
- 1938 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American people of English descent
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Darrow School alumni
- Independent Spirit Award winners
- Living people
- Male actors from Stamford, Connecticut
- Male Western (genre) film actors
- Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre alumni
- Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- People from Montecito, California