Matt Frewer
{{Short description|Canadian-American actor (born 1958)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Matt Frewer
| image = Matt Frewer (8734820201).jpg
| caption = Frewer at the 2013 FedCon
| birth_name = Matthew George Frewer
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|01|04}}
| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
| alma_mater = Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (1980)
| citizenship = {{hlist|Canada|United States}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian}}
| years_active = 1983–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Amanda Hillwood|1984}}
| children = 1
}}
Matthew George Frewer (born January 4, 1958) is an American-born Canadian actor and comedian.{{cite book|last=Nemecek|first=Larry|title=The Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion: Revised Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ah1k_EsaOHsC&pg=PA186|year=2003|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0-7434-5798-9|pages=186–}} He portrayed the 1980s icon Max Headroom{{cite book|last=Lanigan|first=Richard L.|title=The human science of communicology: a phenomenology of discourse in Foucault and Merleau-Ponty|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Or9hAAAAMAAJ|access-date=9 June 2011|date=April 1992|publisher=Duquesne University Press|isbn=978-0-8207-0242-1|page=44}} in the 1985 TV film and 1987 television series of the same names.
He became prominent when playing roles in films, like Russell Thompson, Sr. in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), Jobe Smith in Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace (1996), Sherlock Holmes in the film adaption of The Sign of Four, Frank in Dawn of the Dead (2004), Moloch in Watchmen (2009), Mitch in 50/50 (2011), and Archibald Stanley in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014).
His television credits include Dr. Mike Stratford in Doctor Doctor (1989–1991), Bob in Shaky Ground (1992–1993), Trashcan Man in The Stand (1994), Matt Prager in Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1997–1999), Dr. Jim Taggart in Eureka (2006–2012) and Doctor Leekie in the Canadian science fiction drama Orphan Black (2013–2017).
Frewer's more recent performances include a portrayal of "General #2" in the Steven Spielberg picture The BFG (2016), the character Carnage in the Netflix series Altered Carbon in 2018 and Logan in Fear the Walking Dead (2019). Also, he portrayed The Binder in three episodes of The Magicians and Peter Morton in eight episodes of The Order (2019−2020).
His voice roles include Panic in Hercules and its 1998 television series, Inspector 47 in The Magic School Bus, the Pink Panther in the 1993 television series of the same name, Lloyd Christmas in the Dumb and Dumber animated series, Jackal in Gargoyles and Dedgar Deadman in Toonsylvania.
Early life
Frewer was born in Washington, D.C. to Canadian parents, one of five children born to Gillian Anne (née German)[https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/gillian-frewer-1066218579 Obituary: Gillian Frewer], ottawacitizen.remembering.ca. Accessed December 29, 2022. and Captain Frederick Charlesley Frewer, a Royal Canadian Navy officer.[https://ottawacitizen.remembering.ca/obituary/frederick-frewer-1066218553 Obituary: Frederick Frewer], ottawacitizen.remembering.ca. Accessed December 29, 2022.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/73/Matt-Frewer.html|title=Matt Frewer Biography (1958–)|work=filmreference.com}} He was raised in Peterborough, Ontario, where he graduated from Lakefield College School.{{cite web|title=Well Known Figures Who Are Boarding School Alumni of Lakefield College School {{!}} LCS Blog|url=http://blog.lcs.on.ca/2016/07/21/well-known-figures-boarding-school-alumni-lakefield-college-school/|website=Blog.lcs.on.ca|access-date=26 March 2017|date=21 July 2016}} He went on to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School,{{cite web|title=Matt Frewer on Olympus, Max Headroom, Orphan Black, and working with giant ants|url=http://www.blastr.com/2015-4-2/matt-frewer-olympus-max-headroom-orphan-black-and-working-giant-ants|website=SyfyWire|access-date=26 March 2017|language=en|date=2 April 2015}} graduating from its three-year acting course in 1980.
Career
Frewer portrayed the artificial intelligence character Max Headroom in the 1980s, starring in the 1985 eponymous science fiction television film; Frewer also played award-winning Network 23 journalist Edison Carter in the film. This led to a series on the UK Channel 4 network with the Max Headroom character as a video jockey and interviewer. This ran for two seasons, the second of which featured a studio audience with whom Max interacted. In 1987, an American series based upon the 1985 film aired, titled Max Headroom (1987–1988). From 1993 to 1995, Frewer voiced the Pink Panther for the television series. Frewer guest-starred in the fifth-season Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "A Matter of Time". He also portrayed Max Headroom in other media, including a series of television commercials for "New Coke" and "Radio Rentals", as well as the single and music video for "Paranoimia" by Art of Noise. He reprised this role in the science fiction comedy film Pixels (2015).{{cite web|title=Matt Frewer on The Knick, Max Headroom, and his Australian accent on Eureka|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/matt-frewer-knick-max-headroom-and-his-australian--209736|website=avclub.com|access-date=26 March 2017|date=3 October 2014}}
Frewer starred as Mike Stratford in Doctor Doctor (1989–1991). He also appeared as Trashcan Man in the television miniseries The Stand. Frewer has also appeared in such films as The Fourth Protocol (1987), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), National Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995), and the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead.
Frewer was nominated for two Gemini Awards in 2000, one for a guest appearance on Da Vinci's Inquest{{cite web|title=DVD Review: Da Vinci's Inquest – Season Two|url=http://blogcritics.org/dvd-review-da-vincis-inquest-season1/|website=Blogcritics|date=25 February 2008 |access-date=26 March 2017}} and another for his work on the series Mentors. He was a regular on Eureka during the series' first two seasons, playing Jim Taggart.{{cite web|title=Matt Frewer Talks About His Return to Eureka|url=http://movieweb.com/matt-frewer-talks-about-his-return-to-eureka/|website=movieweb.com|access-date=26 March 2017|date=11 September 2009}} He has done voice-over work on several animated projects, including Batman: The Animated Series (1993) and The Incredible Hulk (1996–1997). Frewer portrayed Matt Praeger in Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal from 1997 to 2000.
In 2009, Frewer portrayed the retired villain Moloch the Mystic in Watchmen and appeared as the White Knight in the December 2009 Syfy two-part miniseries Alice, based upon Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He starred as Pestilence in two episodes of Season 5 of Supernatural.{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/36296/matt-frewer-cast-pestilence-supernatural-season-5-episode-15-preview|title=Matt Frewer Cast as Pestilence on Supernatural / Season 5 Episode 15 Preview|work=Dread Central|date=10 August 2012 }} He has appeared in several adaptations of Stephen King stories, such as The Stand, Quicksilver Highway, Riding the Bullet, Desperation and Bag of Bones.{{cite news|last1=Stuever|first1=Hank|title='Bag of Bones': Must be recycling day|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/bag-of-bones-must-be-recycling-day/2011/12/02/gIQA9z19hO_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=26 March 2017|date=2 December 2011}}
He played Dr. Aldous Leekie in the first two seasons of Orphan Black.
In 2018, Frewer portrayed Carnage in the Netflix series Altered Carbon.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/altered-carbon-shocking-moments-explained-1081697|title='Altered Carbon': 15 Shocking Moments From Netflix's Violent Sci-Fi Drama|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en}} In the same year, Frewer was cast in the Netflix horror-drama series The Order.{{Cite news|author=Nellie Andreeva |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/the-order-netflix-horror-drama-series-jake-manley-star-sarah-grey-sam-trammell-cast-max-martini-matt-frewer-1202366448/|title=Netflix Picks Up 'The Order' Horror Drama Series Starring Jake Manley & Sarah Grey|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=February 27, 2019}}
Personal life
Frewer has been married to Amanda Hillwood since 1984 and the couple have a daughter."Max heads for the Hills: Matt Frewer brings hearth, home and family to the Gatineau Hills -- and hints he just might be ready to resurrect Max Headroom" by Tony Atherton, The Hamilton Spectator (7 Feb, 1998) [Final Edition] Retrieved from {{ProQuest|269889992}}"Horror to the Max; Creator of legendary mid-'80s cyber-character tackles the awful drama of Darfur" by Michael D Reid, The Times Colonist (4 Feb, 2010) Retrieved from {{ProQuest|348339432}} In 1989, they bought a house in Marina del Rey, California.{{cite web|title=With Max Headroom Behind Him, Matt Frewer Mad-Libs Through Doctor, Doctor and a Smash Film – Vol. 32 No. 3|url=http://people.com/archive/with-max-headroom-behind-him-matt-frewer-mad-libs-through-doctor-doctor-and-a-smash-film-vol-32-no-3/|website=PEOPLE.com|access-date=26 March 2017|date=17 July 1989}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 1983
| data-sort-value="Lords of Discipline, The" | The Lords of Discipline | Senior | |
| data-sort-value="Crimson Permanent Assurance, The" | The Crimson Permanent Assurance
| Very Big Corporation of America Yuppie | Short film |
| 1984
| Eddie the Truck Driver | |
| 1985
| Soldier #2 | |
| rowspan="2" | 1987
| data-sort-value="Fourth Protocol, The" | The Fourth Protocol | Tom McWhirter | |
| Ishtar
| CIA Agent #3 | |
| rowspan="3" | 1989
| Alec Stewart | |
| Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
| Russell 'Russ' Thompson, Sr. | |
| Far from Home
| Charlie Cox | |
| 1990
| Ernie Dills | |
| 1991
| data-sort-value="Taking of Beverly Hills, The" | The Taking of Beverly Hills | Ed Kelvin | |
| 1993
| Receding Bingo Winner | |
| rowspan="4" | 1995
| Cleo, Leo | Uncredited |
| Driving Mr. Pink
| The Pink Panther (voice) | Short film |
| National Lampoon's Senior Trip
| Principal Todd Moss | |
| BugHunt
| Edward Schulze (voice) | |
| 1996
| Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace | Jobe Smith | |
| 1997
| Hercules | Panic (voice) |
| 1998
| Heartwood | Frank Burris (voice) | Uncredited |
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| 6ix | Satan, Nathan, Lucy, Mother, Father | Short film |
| Hercules: Zero to Hero
| Panic (voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2000
| Frazzled (voice) | Short film |
| rowspan="6" | 2004
| Frank | |
| data-sort-value="Home at the End of the World, A" | A Home at the End of the World
| Ned Glover | |
| Going the Distance
| Farmer Joseph | |
| Intern Academy
| Dr. Anton Keller | |
| Geraldine's Fortune
| Cameron Geary | |
| Riding the Bullet
| Mr. Clarkson | |
| 2007
| Jason Taylor | |
| rowspan="3" | 2009
| Watchmen | Moloch | |
| Rampage
| Mr. Williamson | |
| Darfur
| Ted Duncan | |
| 2010
| Dr. Strassfield | |
| rowspan="3" | 2011
| Wushu Warrior | Lord Edward Lindsey | |
| 50/50
| Mitch | |
| Foreverland
| Mr. Steadman | |
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| Mr. Williamson (voice) | Uncredited |
| Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
| Archibald Stanley | Cameo |
| 2015
| Pixels | Max Headroom (voice) | |
| 2016
| data-sort-value="BFG, The" | The BFG | General #2 | |
| 2017
| Residue | Mr. Fairweather | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1984
| data-sort-value="First Olympics: Athens 1896, The" | The First Olympics: Athens 1896 | Television miniseries |
| 1985
| Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into The Future | Television film |
| 1986
| Roger de Carnac | Episode "The Betrayal" |
| 1987
| Pee-Wee, Walter Sandler | Episode: "No Chemo, Sabe?" |
| 1987–1988
| Max Headroom, Edison Carter | 14 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1988
| Cliff King | Episodes: "Hostile Takeover" and "Redemption in Blood" |
| Sesame Street
| Max Headroom | 2 episodes |
| 1989–1991
| Dr. Mike Stratford | Lead role, 40 episodes |
| 1991
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | Berlinghoff Rasmussen | Episode: "A Matter of Time" |
| 1992
| Mac Duff (voice) |
| 1992–1993
| Bob Moody | 17 episodes |
| 1992
| Howard Paymer | Episode: "Tornado Days" |
| rowspan="2" | 1993
| Sid the Squid / Sidney Debris (voice) |
| Bonkers
| Peter Blaine (voice) | Episode: "Trains, Toons, and Toon Trains" |
| 1993–1996
| data-sort-value="Pink Panther, The" | The Pink Panther | The Pink Panther (voice) |
| 1993
| data-sort-value="Day My Parents Ran Away, The" | The Day My Parents Ran Away | Bob Miller | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| rowspan="2" | 1994 |
| American Playhouse
| Ambassador Edwin Reischauer | Episode: "Long Shadows" |
| rowspan="2" | 1994–1996
| Jackal (voice) |
| Itsy Bitsy Spider
| The Exterminator (voice) | 26 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| data-sort-value="Stand, The" | The Stand | Trashcan Man | Miniseries, 4 episodes |
| Aladdin
| Chaos (voice) | Episode: "When Chaos Comes Calling" |
| 1995
| Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Adolf Hitler (voice) | Episode: "A Good Bomb Is Hard To Find"{{cite news|url=https://www.cracked.com/article_28410_remember-that-time-captain-planet-fought-hitler.html|title=Remember That Time Captain Planet Fought Hitler?|last=Duddy|first=Dan|date=19 August 2020|work=Cracked.com|accessdate=13 May 2025}} |
| 1995–1996
| Lloyd Christmas (voice) |
| 1996
| Russel Tresh | Television film |
| 1996–1997
| data-sort-value="Incredible Hulk, The" | The Incredible Hulk | rowspan="2" | The Leader (voice) | 10 episodes |
| rowspan="8" | 1996
| Iron Man | Episode: "Hulk Buster" |
| Bruno the Kid
| Bobby Vicious (voice) | Episode: "Searching for Bobby Vicious" |
| Quack Pack
| Additional voices | Episode: "Tasty Paste" |
| Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series
| Dr. Wally Pretorius (voice) | Episode: "The Human Factor" |
| data-sort-value="Outer Limits, The" | The Outer Limits
| Norman Glass | Episode: "First Anniversary" |
| Apollo 11
| Television film |
| data-sort-value="Magic School Bus, The" | The Magic School Bus
| Inspector 47 (voice) |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien
| Himself | 1 Episode |
| rowspan="4" | 1997
| Dr. Charles "Charlie" George | Television film |
| Dead Man's Gun
| Norbert Datry | Episode: "Fool's Gold - Pilot #2" |
| Tracey Takes On...
| Bob | Episode: "Supernatural" |
| Desert's Edge
| Greg | Television film |
| 1997–1999
| Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal | Matt Praeger | 49 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1997
| Dead Fire | Max Durbin | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| Breast Men
| Gerald Krzemien |
| 1998
| Dedgar Deadman (voice) | 14 episodes |
| 1998–1999
| Hercules | Panic (voice) | 24 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 1999
| Mentors | Frederick Banting | Episode: "A Transient, Shining Trouble" |
| Mickey Mouse Works
| Toymaker (voice) | Episode: "#1.4" |
| rowspan="3" | 2000
| Larry Williams | 2 episodes |
| Jailbait
| Al Fisher | rowspan="2" | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Hound of the Baskervilles, The" | The Hound of the Baskervilles |
| 2001–2002
| Panic, Toymaker (voice) | 6 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2001
| data-sort-value="Sign of Four, The" | The Sign of Four | rowspan="3" | Sherlock Holmes | rowspan="3" | Television film |
| data-sort-value="Royal Scandal, The" | The Royal Scandal |
| rowspan="2" | 2002
| data-sort-value="Case of the Whitechapel Vampire, The" | The Case of the Whitechapel Vampire |
| Taken
| Dr. Chet Wakeman | 6 episodes |
| 2004
| data-sort-value="Eleventh Hour, The" | The Eleventh Hour | Dr. Lansing | Episode: "Wonderland" |
| 2005
| Wally | Episode: "Chocolate" |
| 2006
| Ralph Carver | Television film |
| 2006–2007
| Ted Altman | 26 episodes |
| 2006–2012
| Eureka | Dr. Jim Taggart | 18 episodes |
| 2009
| Alice | Television miniseries |
| rowspan="3" | 2010
| Battle of the Bulbs | Stu Jones | Television film |
| How I Met Your Mother
| Carriage Driver | Uncredited |
| Supernatural
| Pestilence, Dr. Green | 2 episodes |
| 2011
| Sid Noonan | Television miniseries |
| 2012–2013
| General Bressler | 7 episodes |
| 2012
| Delete | Arthur Bowden | Television miniseries |
| 2013–2017
| Dr. Aldous Leekie | 11 episodes |
| 2013
| Vidar | 2 episodes |
| 2014
| data-sort-value="Knick, The" | The Knick | Dr. J.M. Christiansen | rowspan="2" | 5 episodes |
| 2014–2015
| data-sort-value="Librarians, The" | The Librarians | Dulaque, Lancelot |
| 2015
| Olympus | 12 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
| data-sort-value="Art of More, The" | The Art of More | Paul Rice | 6 episodes |
| 12 Monkeys
| Dr. Kirschner | Episode: "Fatherland" |
| 2016–2017
| Timeless | Anthony Bruhl | 5 episodes |
| 2016
| Love in Paradise | Dr. Frank | Television film |
| 2017–2018
| The Bishop (voice) | 4 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
| Carnage | 3 episodes |
| data-sort-value="Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, The" | The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair
| Reverend Kellergan | Miniseries, 10 episodes |
| 2019
| data-sort-value="Order, The" | The Order | Peter Morton | 7 episodes |
| 2019–2020
| data-sort-value="Magicians, The" | The Magicians | The Binder | 3 episodes |
| 2019
| Logan | 6 episodes |
| 2020
| Judge Fred Wright | 3 episodes |
| 2025
| Dr. Henry Dulles | 4 episodes |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |1997
| rowspan="4" |Panic |
| Disney's Animated Storybook: Hercules |
| 1998
| Disney's Hades Challenge | |
| 2012
| Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom | |
Radio
- Tales from the Mausoleum Club: Episode 2, "Heart of Skegness"
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|0001242}}
- {{discogs artist|Matt Frewer}}
- [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/matthew-frewer Article at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca]
- [http://www.mattblank.com/interviews/matt-frewer/ Mattblank.com interview]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frewer, Matt}}
Category:Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Category:American emigrants to Canada
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:CableACE Award winners
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male stage actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Canadian male voice actors
Category:Canadian Screen Award winning actors
Category:Lakefield College School alumni
Category:Male actors from Ontario
Category:Male actors from Washington, D.C.
Category:People from Peterborough, Ontario
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:20th-century Canadian male actors
Category:21st-century Canadian male actors
Category:Comedians from Ontario
Category:Comedians from Washington, D.C.