Matthew Laurance

{{similar names|Matt Lawrence (disambiguation){{!}}Matt Lawrence}}

{{Infobox comedian

| name = Matthew Laurance

| image =

| caption = Laurance in 1981

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Queens, New York City, New York, US

| medium = Actor, comedian

| active = 1980–present

| notable_work = Saturday Night Live, Beverly Hills, 90210

}}

Matthew Laurance is an American actor and comedian{{cite web| title=Matthew Laurance| url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/220144/Matthew-Laurance/filmography| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150618194905/https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/220144/Matthew-Laurance/filmography| archive-date= 2015-06-18|department=Movies & TV Dept.| work=The New York Times| date=2015| access-date= 2017-07-12}} best known for starring as Ben Coleman in the Fox sitcom Duet and for his recurring role as Mel Silver on Beverly Hills, 90210.

Early life, family and education

Matthew Dickoff was born in Queens, New York City and raised in suburban Hewlett, Long Island.{{IMDb name|0491005}}{{cite news |last1=Helou |first1=Paul |title=The Episodic Life of a TV Actor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/28/nyregion/the-episodic-life-of-a-tv-actor.html |access-date=26 December 2022 |work=The New York Times| date=March 28, 1993}} He has an identical twin brother, Mitchell (born four minutes earlier), who is also a professional actor. Both brothers are graduates of Tufts University.

Career

Laurance appeared on Saturday Night Live during its sixth season.{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Mark |url= http://www.vulture.com/2009/09/snl_1/slideshow/8/ |title=The Michaela Watkins Club: 21 Other SNL Cast Members Who Only Lasted a Season (or Less) |work=New York |date=2009-09-10 }} He left SNL after one season (albeit a short season, only 13 episodes).{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072562/episodes?season=6| title=Saturday Night Live (TV Series) Episode List: Season 6| website=IMDb| access-date=July 13, 2017}}

Laurance portrayed bass player Sal Amato in the 1983 cult hit Eddie and the Cruisers, and he was the only cast member besides Michael Paré and Michael Antunes to appear in the 1989 sequel, Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! He also had a role in Streets of Fire, as one of the two Ardmore police officers who enter the bus Tom Cody (Michael Paré) was on, making this the third film he appeared in with Paré.{{cite web| url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title?roles=nm0001595,nm0491005&title_type=feature,tv_episode,video,tv_movie,tv_special,mini_series,documentary,game,short| title=Most Popular Documentaries/Feature Films/TV Episodes/Videos/TV Movies/TV Specials/TV Mini-Series/Video Games/Short Films With Michael Paré And Matthew Laurance| website=IMDb| access-date= July 12, 2017}}

He starred as detective novelist Ben Coleman in the sitcom Duet on Fox, which ran from 1987 to 1989 for three seasons, at the time, one of few original programs during the Fox network's debut.{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/1987-05-31/living/26163605_1_matthew-laurance-jodi-thelen-easterner |title=His Dual Passions For Life And Role How Matthew Laurance Has A Lot In Common With His Character On Fox's 'Duet' |last=Collins |first=William B. |date=May 31, 1987 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=7 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041518/http://articles.philly.com/1987-05-31/living/26163605_1_matthew-laurance-jodi-thelen-easterner |archive-date=4 March 2016}} He also appeared on television in thirtysomething.{{cite magazine|first=Lisa| last=Schwarzbaum| title=Identical twins on TV| url=https://ew.com/article/1992/05/01/identical-twins-tv/| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| access-date= July 12, 2017|date=May 1, 1992}}

From 1991 through 2000, he performed the recurring role of Mel Silver, father of David Silver and Erin Silver on Beverly Hills, 90210.

He is currently the host of The Matthew and Jimmy Show on local Lexington, Kentucky’s ESPN Radio 1300am.

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news |first=Gus |last=Wezerek |title=The 'S.N.L.' Stars Who Lasted, and the Ones Who Flamed Out |work=The New York Times |date=2019-12-14 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/14/arts/television/SNL-history.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2019-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214233933/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/12/14/arts/television/SNL-history.html |archive-date=2019-12-14 |url-status=live

|quote=Some of the names here will be familiar only to die-hard fans; others, like Murphy, defined what was funny for generations of viewers.}}

}}