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Harry Shearer Biography (1943-)

  1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Full name, Harry Julius Shearer; born December 23, 1943, in Los Angeles, CA;son of Mack Shearer and Dora (maiden name, Kohn) Warren; married Penelope Joyce Nichols, October 1974 (divorced, 1977); married Judith Owen (a singer andsongwriter), March 28, 1993. Addresses: Agent: -Metropolitan Talent, 4526 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010; William Morris Agency Inc., 151 S.El Camino Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90212-2775; Paradigm, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., 258th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067.; Manager: Personal Management Company, 425 N. Robertson Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Writer, actor, director, comedian, producer
Birth Details
December 23, 1943
Los Angeles, California, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Fernwood 2Night, 1977
  • Saturday Night Live (also known as NBC's Saturday Night, Saturday Night, and SNL), NBC, 1979-1980, 1984-1985
  • Likely Stories Vol. 1, 1981
  • Not Necessarily the News, HBO, 1983
  • Voices of Principal Skinner, Mr. Burns, Moe, and others, The Simpsons(animated), Fox, 1989-
  • Sketch characters, Sunday Best, 1991
  • The News Hole with Harry Shearer, Comedy Central, 1995
  • Newt Gingrich, State of the Union Undressed, 1996
  • Festival Pass with Chris Gore, Starz!, 2002
  • Specials
  • David Letterman's Late Night Film Festival, NBC, 1985
  • "It's Just TV!," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1985
  • Rabbi, The History of White People in America (also known as The History of White People in America: Volume I), 1985
  • Rabbi, The History of White People in America: Volume II, 1986
  • Voice, Spitting Image: Down and Out in the White House, NBC, 1986
  • Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary Celebration, 1986
  • Voice, Down and Out with Donald Duck (animated), NBC, 1987
  • Voice, Spitting Image: The 1987 Movie Awards, NBC, 1987
  • Voice, Spitting Image: The Ronnie and Nancy Show, NBC, 1987
  • Not Necessarily the News: Inside Entertainment, HBO, 1987
  • "This Week Indoors," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • "Paul Shaffer: Viva Shaf Vegas," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • An All-Star Celebration: The '88 Vote, ABC, 1988
  • "Merrill Markoe's Guide to Glamorous Living," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1988
  • Al Silvers, Martin Mull in Portrait of a White Marriage (also known as Martin Mull's Scenes from a White Marriage), Cinemax, 1988
  • "Harry Shearer ... The Magic of Live," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1988
  • The 9th Annual ACE Awards, 1988
  • Voices of Principal Skinner, Mr. Largo, Mr. Burns, and Moe, Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (animated; also known as The Simpsons Christmas Special), Fox, 1989
  • ALF Takes Over the Network, NBC, 1989
  • Hometown Boy Makes Good, HBO, 1990
  • Reverend Tilton, AFI Presents "TV or Not TV?," 1990
  • News to Us, HBO, 1990
  • Spy Magazine Presents How to Be Famous, NBC, 1990
  • A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (also known as The Return of Spinal Tap), NBC, 1992
  • The Spy Magazine's Hit List: The 100 Most Annoying and Alarming Peopleand Events of 1992, NBC, 1992
  • Baseball Relief: An All-Star Comedy Salute, Fox, 1993
  • Guest, Lifetime Applauds: The Fight against Breast Cancer, Lifetime, 1995
  • The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show, NBC, 1995
  • Himself, Indecision '96: The Republican National Convention, Comedy Central, 1996
  • Himself, State of the Union: Undressed '96, Comedy Central, 1996
  • Derek Smalls, Just for Laughs: Montreal Comedy Festival, 1999
  • Narrator, Norman Jewison on Comedy in the 20th Century: Funny Is Money, Showtime, 1999
  • Presenter, The British Comedy Awards 2001, ITV, 2001
  • Narrator, Planet Plastic: The Synthetic Century (documentary), TheLearning Channel, 2001
  • Narrator/host, It's Burlesque (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 2001
  • Narrator, Inventions We Love to Hate (documentary), The Learning Channel, 2001
  • Springboard: Exploring the Digital Age, PBS, 2001
  • There's Only One Paul McCartney (documentary), BBC, 2002
  • Pilots
  • Frankie Bennett, "It's a Small World," Leave It to Beaver, 1957
  • Hippy, Serpico: The Deadly Game, NBC, 1976
  • The TV Show, ABC, 1979
  • Voice, The Jackie Bison Show, NBC, 1990
  • Edge, PBS, 1990
  • (Uncredited) DJ, "Soviet America: Parts 1 & 2," Sliders, 1995
  • Episodic
  • Jack as a child, "Jack As a Child," The Jack Benny Program, 1953
  • Timmy, "The Cab Driver," General Electric Theater, 1957
  • Street kid, "The Night the World Ended," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 1957
  • Announcer, "The Bachelor Party," Laverne & Shirley, 1976
  • Harold, "Guinea Pigs," Laverne & Shirley, 1977
  • Voice of Max Shotz, "The Second Almost Annual Shotz Talent Show," Laverne & Shirley, 1978
  • Interviewer, "Bus Stop," Laverne & Shirley, 1978
  • Saturday Night Live, 1978
  • "Star Peepers," Laverne & Shirley, 1982
  • Late Night with David Letterman, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990
  • "Pennsylvania 6-5000," ALF, 1986
  • Timothy Anderson, "The Cows of October," Miami Vice, NBC, 1988
  • Chris Bishop, "The 390th Broadcast," Murphy Brown, CBS, 1990
  • Voice of George Bush, "The President's Coming! The President's Coming!,"The Golden Girls, 1990
  • Steve the producer, "Home Sweet Homeboy," Dream On, HBO, 1993
  • Voice of Ned Flat, "Fair Game," Animaniacs (animated), 1993
  • Gordon Huyck, "Safe Sex," L.A. Law, 1993
  • Ted, "The Trainer," Ellen, ABC, 1994
  • Larry Hodges, "Changing the Face of Current Affairs," Frontline, 1995
  • Dr. Baldharar, "The One with the Fake Monica," Friends, NBC, 1995
  • Nowhere man, "A Time to Kill," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1996
  • Guest, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, Comedy Central, 1996, ABC, 1997
  • John Smythe, "Calling Dr. Hathaway," ER, NBC, 1997
  • Louis Faraday, "Fear of Flying," The Visitor, Fox, 1997
  • Ronald Littleman, "Race Relations," Tracey Takes On ... , 1997
  • Dr. Jenkins, "The Poker Game," George and Leo, CBS, 1998
  • Himself, "Feng Shui," Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist, 1998
  • Himself, "Chelsea Gets an Opinion," Style and Substance, CBS, 1998
  • The Panel, Ten Network, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003
  • Larry Fenwick, "A Divorce to Remember," Just Shoot Me!, NBC, 1999
  • Interviewee, The Martin Short Show, syndicated, 1999
  • Dr. Madison, "Fear and Loathing in Gotham," Jack & Jill, The WB, 1999
  • Dr. Madison, "A Key Exchange," Jack & Jill, The WB, 2000
  • Principal Peskin, "The Unusual Suspects," Dawson's Creek, The WB,2000
  • Dr. Madison, "Chivas & Lies," Jack & Jill, The WB, 2001
  • Dr. Madison, "The Time/Sex Continuum," Jack & Jill, The WB, 2001
  • Principal Peskin, "The Graduate," Dawson's Creek, The WB, 2001
  • Dean, "Oh, Baby!," That's Life, ABC, 2001
  • The president, "The Gauntlet," The Agency, CBS, 2002
  • Panelist, TNN's Conspiracy Zone with Kevin Nealon, TNN, 2002
  • Commentator, NOW with Bill Moyers, PBS, 2002
  • Inside the Actors Studio, Bravo, 2003
  • Mark Shubb, "The Foldsmen," Mad TV, Fox, 2003
  • Mark Shubb, "Commercial Parody Countdown Party," Mad TV, Fox, 2003
  • In Entertainment, Ten Network, 2003
  • Richard and Judy, Channel 4, 2003
  • The View, 2003
  • Also appeared as Dr. Tepnick, "Clown Bob," Bob Patterson; radio personality Landis, Seven Days, UPN; panelist (as Derek Smalls), TheList, VH1; in these animated episodes: voice of Derek Smalls, "Money Can't Buy Everything," Mega Man; Mr. Krabs' singing voice, "Welcome to theChum Bucket," SpongeBob Squarepants; voices of Dr. Hilbert and Lenny,"Simpsons," Toon Jam; voice of Edd's dad, Ed, Edd, `n Eddy; voice of father, Sex Gang Children; voice of genie, Aladdin; voice of Kang, Flamecube's Campain; voice, The Midnight Hour; voiceof Pinch O'Malley, "Born Again Krabs," SpongeBob Squarepants; voice of shadowman, ABHCP 1; voice of pimply faced teen "Skeletor's Incredible Odyssey," Cartoon World; voice of Ron Coward, Pool World; also voice of Mr. Burns and Mr. Smithers in Toon Jam, Stranded in a Mine, Mickey's Toontown USA, Mickey & Bugs' House of Villains, House of Toon, Cartoon Madness, Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue, The Home for Cartoon Villains, The Fairly OddParents, The Cartoon Characters Villains, "Powerpuff Girls," Hysterical Caring; and voice of Punch-It in Cartoon All Stars to the Rescue: STOP DIGIMON!, House of Toon, and Small Soldiers.
  • Movies
  • Jack Savage, Million Dollar Infield, CBS, 1982
  • Television Work
  • Specials
  • Director, "It's Just TV!," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1985
  • Director, The History of White People in America (also known as The History of White People in America: Volume I), Cinemax, 1985
  • Director, The History of White People in America: Volume II, 1986
  • Director and (with Paul Shaffer and Tom Leopold) executive producer, "Paul Shaffer: Viva Shaf Vegas," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • Executive producer and (with Merrill Markoe) director, "This Week Indoors," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • Director, Martin Mull in Portrait of a White Marriage (also knownas Martin Mull's Scenes from a White Marriage), Cinemax, 1988
  • (With Kevin S. Bright) Executive producer, "Harry Shearer ... The Magic of Live," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1988
  • Coproducer, A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out (also known as The Return of Spinal Tap), 1992
  • Series
  • Creator and executive producer, The News Hole with Harry Shearer,Comedy Central, 1994
  • Pilots
  • Coroducer, The TV Show, ABC, 1979
  • Film Appearances
  • (Film debut; uncredited) Boy, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (alsoknown as On to Mars and Rocket and Roll), Universal, 1953
  • (Uncredited) David, The Robe, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1953
  • Cracking Up, American International Pictures, 1977
  • Trucker's friend, American Raspberry (also known as Prime Time), 1977
  • Pete, Real Life, Paramount, 1979
  • Television news reporter, The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, United Artists, 1979
  • Voice of Keen Hacksaw, Animalympics (animated), Barber Rose International, 1979
  • Bernie Wepner, One-Trick Pony, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Narrator, Loose Shoes (also known as Coming Attractions andQuackers), Atlantic, 1980
  • Serial, Paramount, 1980
  • Recruiter, The Right Stuff, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Derek Smalls, This Is Spinal Tap, Embassy, 1984
  • Narrator, Flicks (also known as Hollyweird and Loose Joints), United Film Distribution, 1987
  • (Uncredited) News broadcaster, Spaceballs, 1987
  • Simon Feck, Plain Clothes, Paramount, 1988
  • Voice of Carl Sagan, My Stepmother Is an Alien, Columbia, 1988
  • Sammy Rhodes, Blood and Concrete--A Love Story (also known as Blood and Concrete), IRS Releasing, 1991
  • Ben Starr, The Fisher King, TriStar, 1991
  • Guido Finucci, Oscar, Buena Vista, 1991
  • Monosoff, Pure Luck, Universal, 1991
  • Newsreel announcer, A League of Their Own, Columbia, 1992
  • (As Derek Smalls) Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap: Break Like the Wind--The Videos, 1992
  • Handsome Dan, Wayne's World 2, Paramount, 1993
  • Audience research captain, I'll Do Anything, Columbia, 1994
  • Chuck, Speechless, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1994
  • Announcer, Little Giants, 1994
  • Narrator, Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun, Sony Pictures Classics,1997
  • Jonathan P. E. Ritt, poetry reader, My Best Friend's Wedding, Columbia/TriStar, 1997
  • Narrator, Almost Heroes, Warner Bros., 1998
  • Mike Michaelson, The Truman Show, Paramount, 1998
  • Voice of Punch-It, Small Soldiers, DreamWorks, 1998
  • Charles Caiman, WIDF anchor, Godzilla: On Assignment with Charles Caiman, Columbia TriStar, 1998
  • Narrator, Encounter in the Third Dimension, Iwerks Entertainment,1999
  • G. Gordon Liddy, Dick, Columbia/TriStar, 1999
  • Harry the talk show host, Edtv, Universal, 1999
  • Voice of Scratchy, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (also known as Ghost Dog--Der Weg des Samurai and Ghost Dog, la voie du samourai), Artisan, 1999
  • (In archive footage) Voices of Nedward `Ned' Flanders, Dr. Julius Hibbertand others, CyberWorld (animated), IMAX, 2000
  • Edwurd Fudwupper Fibbed Big (animated), Nickelodeon, 2000
  • Derek Smalls, Catching Up with Marty DiBergi, MGM/United Artists,2000
  • Orientation leader, Haiku Tunnel, Sony Pictures Classics, 2001
  • Voice of Mr. D/Mephisto, Haunted Castle (animated), nWave, 2001
  • Dr. Gerard, Out There, Webicide, 2002
  • Joey Lavin, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Monarch Home Video, 2002
  • Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns), Plexifilm, 2002
  • T-20 Years and Counting, Warner Bros., 2003
  • Realizing "The Right Stuff," Warner Bros., 2003
  • Mark Shubb, A Mighty Wind, Warner Bros., 2003
  • Pay Up, Cheaters!, 2003
  • Film Work
  • Director and executive producer, Teddy Bears' Picnic, Monarch HomeVideo, 2002
  • Stage Appearances
  • Beyond Therapy, Los Angeles Public Theatre, Los Angeles, 1983
  • Accomplice, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA, 1989
  • Speakerphone voice of Mr. Braithwait, Mizlansky/Zilinsky (or "schmucks"), Manhattan Theatre Club Stage I, New York City, 1998
  • Radio Appearances
  • Series
  • Host, Le Show, 1983-
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • (With Credibility Gap) A Great Gift Idea, 1974
  • The Simpsons Sing the Blues, 1990
  • Recorded (with Credibility Gap) The Bronze Age of Radio; recordedO. J. on Trial: (The Early Years and That Endless Summer), a CD compilation with excerpts from Le Show.
  • Video Games
  • Voices of Mr. Burns and Smithers, The Simpsons, 1991
  • Blazing Dragons, 1996
  • Voices, The Simpsons: Virtual Springfield, 1997
  • The Simpsons Road Rage, Nintendo, 2001
  • The Simpsons: Hit & Run, Vivendi Universal Games, 2003
  • WRITINGS
  • Screenplays
  • (With others) Cracking Up, American International Pictures, 1977
  • (With Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson) Real Life, Paramount, 1979
  • (With Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Rob Reiner; also composer, with Guest, McKean, and Reiner, and lyricist) This Is Spinal Tap, Embassy, 1984
  • (As Derek Smalls) Spinal Tap: Break Like the Wind--The Videos, 1992
  • Teddy Bears' Picnic, 2002
  • Film Scores
  • (With Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Rob Reiner; also lyricist) This Is Spinal Tap, Embassy, 1984
  • (As Derek Smalls) Spinal Tap: Break Like the Wind--The Videos, 1992
  • Film Songs
  • "Stool Boom" and "Nothing Ever Happens on Mars," Waiting for Guffman, Castle Rock, 1996
  • "Old Joe's Place," "The Good Book Song," "Never Did no Wanderin'," and "Loco Man," A Mighty Wind, Warner Bros., 2003
  • Television Series
  • America 2-Night, 1978
  • Saturday Night Live, NBC, 1979-1980, 1984-1985
  • Likely Stories, Vol. 1, 1981
  • Sunday Best, 1991
  • Television Episodes
  • (With David L. Lander and Michael McKean) "Hi, Neighbor," Laverne & Shirley, 1976
  • Television Specials
  • "It's Just TV!," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1985
  • (With Merrill Markoe; also composer and lyricist) "This Week Indoors," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • (With Paul Shaffer and Tom Leopold) "Paul Shaffer: Viva Shaf Vegas," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • "Harry Shearer ... The Magic of Live," HBO Comedy Hour, HBO, 1988
  • A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out(also known as The Return of Spinal Tap), 1992
  • Norman Jewison on Comedy in the 20th Century: Funny Is Money (documentary), Showtime, 1999
  • Television Movies
  • Disco Beaver from Outer Space (also known as National Lampoon Presents Disco Beaver from Outer Space and National Lampoon's Disco Beaver from Outer Space), 1978
  • Television Pilots
  • The TV Show, ABC, 1979
  • Television Music
  • Specials
  • (And lyricist) "This Week Indoors," Cinemax Comedy Experiment, Cinemax, 1987
  • A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out(also known as The Return of Spinal Tap), 1992
  • Series
  • Theme, The News Hole with Harry Shearer, 1994
  • Pilots
  • The TV Show, ABC, 1979
  • Plays
  • (With Tom Leopold and Peter Matz) Wrote J. Edgar!, a musical comedy.
  • Other Writings
  • Man Bites Town: Notes of a Man Who Doesn't Take Notes (nonfiction), St. Martin's, 1993
  • It's the Stupidity, Stupid: Why (Some) People Hate Clinton and Why theRest of Us Have to Watch (nonfiction), Random House, 1999
  • Author of "Man Bites Town" (weekly column in the Sunday magazine), LosAngeles Times, 1990--. Contributor of articles to magazines, including Film Comment, Los Angeles, and New West.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals

    • Los Angeles Magazine, December, 2002, p. 98
    • People Weekly, July 13, 1998, p. 31

    Electronic

    • Harry Shearer Official Site, http://www.harryshearer.com, February1, 2004