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Mark Metcalf

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For other people named Mark Metcalf, see Mark Metcalf (disambiguation).
Mark Metcalf
Metcalf in 2005
Born (1946-03-11) March 11, 1946 (age 78)
Findlay, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Years active1971–present
SpouseElizabeth Wick (divorced)
Children1

Mark Metcalf (born March 11, 1946)[1][2] is an American television and film actor often playing the role of an antagonistic and aggrieved authority figure.[3][4][5][6][7]

He is best known for his role as sadistic ROTC officer Douglas C. Neidermeyer in the 1978 American comedy film Animal House,[8][9][10][11] a character he later emulated in the 1984 music videos for the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" by the heavy metal band Twisted Sister.[6][9][11][12]

He is also known for playing the role of The Maestro on two episodes of the sitcom Seinfeld as well as for his recurring role as The Master on the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series Angel.[6][8][13][14]

Early life

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Metcalf was born in Findlay, Ohio.[11][14] His father was a civil engineer.[9][11] Metcalf was raised in Webster Groves,[11] a suburb of St. Louis. In 1959, he moved with his family to New Jersey[14] where he attended Westfield High School, graduating in 1964.[15]

Metcalf enrolled in the engineering program at the University of Michigan.[11][14] It was at university that he performed in his first stage play, which was a production of Shakespeare's Henry VI.[9][14] His first professional acting job was with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater in 1971.[11] In the early 1970s, he moved to New York City performing in both classical and modern theater, eventually moving westward to work in film.[11][14]

Career

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Metcalf's first major Hollywood film role was that of ROTC cadet officer Douglas Neidermeyer in the 1978 comedy Animal House.[3] In 1984, Metcalf played characters similar to Neidermeyer in the Twisted Sister music videos for the songs "We're Not Gonna Take It", where he played an authoritarian father, and "I Wanna Rock", where he played an authoritarian high school teacher.[12][13]

In the 1980s and 1990s, Metcalf landed guest roles on multiple television shows including Miami Vice, Walker, Texas Ranger and Party of Five.[11][16] He also played recurring roles on shows such as Hill Street Blues, Teen Angel, Star Trek: Voyager, Ally McBeal and JAG.[11][17] In 1993 he moved to Hollywood.[3]

One of Metcalf's more memorable television characters was his role in an episode during the seventh season of Seinfeld titled "The Maestro".[8][13][14] In the episode he played a self-absorbed conductor who was dating character Elaine Benes (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and who insisted on being referred to as "Maestro".[5][6][9] Metcalf reprised the role in an episode later that same season titled "The Doll".[6][18]

From 1997 to 2002, Metcalf played the vampire known as The Master on several episodes of the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series Angel.[6][8][18]

In 2000, Metcalf left Los Angeles and moved to Bayside, Wisconsin with his then wife, Elizabeth "Libby" Wick and their son, Julius.[11][19] Metcalf had moved to Wisconsin to start a restaurant with his wife and with no intent on continuing with acting, due to raising a child with special needs.[9][11] However, Metcalf was approached by the director of First Stage Children's Theater in Milwaukee to act in one of their plays and Metcalf went on to act in several of their productions.[8][9][11]

In conjunction with the Milwaukee Film Festival, Metcalf produced a short film each year based on a screenplay written by a high school student enrolled in the Student Screenwriting Competition, a program developed by Metcalf to teach the craft of screenwriting to young people.[8] Metcalf also contributed articles about film as a correspondent for the online magazine OnMilwaukee.[8]

In 2009, Metcalf played the role of Mayor Johnson on an episode of the third season of Mad Men titled "Souvenir".[11][13]

After moving to Missoula, Montana in 2013, Metcalf once again became involved in local theatre, playing the role of Scrooge in a production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol presented by the University of Montana School of Theatre and Dance.[5][9]

In 2019, Metcalf played the role of Sheriff Roy in Tate Bunker's film The Field alongside Barry Bostwick and Veronica Cartwright.[20] Metcalf was the subject of Vera Brunner-Sung's documentary short Character that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020.[21] Metcalf met Brunner-Sung through a mutual friend after moving to Columbus, Ohio.[21]

Personal life

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Metcalf has one son with Elizabeth "Libby" Wick. The couple moved from Los Angeles, California to Bayside, Wisconsin in 2000.[22] They owned and operated a restaurant in nearby Mequon, Wisconsin called Libby Montana.[9][11][19] Metcalf filed for divorce in 2003 and since 2006 Wick has been the sole owner of the restaurant.[10][19] However, in late 2024, the restaurant closed permanently.

In 2013, Metcalf moved to Missoula, Montana, to be closer to Julius, who was a student at the University of Montana.[5][9]

Metcalf is a longtime advocate for Alzheimer’s research and awareness raising.[23][24]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Julia Pratt
1978 Animal House Doug Neidermeyer
1979 Chilly Scenes of Winter Ox
1980 Where the Buffalo Roam Dooley
1983 The Final Terror Mike
1984 Almost You Andrews
1985 The Heavenly Kid Joe Barnes
1986 One Crazy Summer Aguilla Beckersted
1988 Mr. North Mr. Skeel
1989 The Oasis Eric
1991 Oscar Milhous
1995 A Reason to Believe Dean Kirby
1995 Rage Lt. Gov. Dalquist
1996 The Stupids Colonel Neidermeyer
1997 Hijacking Hollywood Michael Lawrence
1997 Loose Women Director Marsh
1999 Drive Me Crazy Mr. Rope
2000 The Million Dollar Kid Officer Bob
2002 Britney, Baby, One More Time Barfly
2002 Sorority Boys John Kloss
2002 Lone Hero Marshall Harris
2006 The Legend Trip Charles Knotting
2007 The Sleeper Richmond
2009 Modus Operandi Copper Gore
2011 Fort McCoy Mr. Gerkey
2011 We Will Rock You Major Emile Hickory
2012 Playback Chris Safford
2012 Little Red Lou
2012 The Smart Ones Professor Faron
2013 Billy Club The Umpire
2014 Hamlet A.D.D. Speedy McSpitty
2017 Manlife Alfred Lawson Voice
2018 A Futile and Stupid Gesture Second Publisher
2019 The Field Sheriff Roy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Karen Jess Walker Episode: "I Gave at the Office"
1978 Julie Farr, M.D. Buddy Episode: "Careers"
1979 Barnaby Jones Ted Parker 2 episodes
1981 Breaking Away The Racer Episode: "La Strada"
1981 Hill Street Blues Officer Harris 4 episodes
1982 Teachers Only David Episode: "Diana, Substitute Mother"
1983 For Love and Honor Major Camden Episode: "Rite of Passage"
1983 Hotel Chuck Episode: "Confrontations"
1986 One Life to Live Stick 3 episodes
1988 Miami Vice Agent Brody Episode: "Baseballs of Death"
1989 A Man Called Hawk Mr. Kirkpatrick Episode: "The Divided Child"
1991 L.A. Law Greg Morrison Episode: "As God Is My Co-Defendant"
1991 Dream On The Creature Episode: "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told"
1991 Guilty Until Proven Innocent Ron D'Angelo Television film
1991 A Woman Named Jackie George Smathers 2 episodes
1992 Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster Dennis Kelso Television film
1993 Renegade Russell Episode: "The Champ"
1994 Silk Stalkings Scott Finn Episode: "The Last Campaign"
1994 Walker, Texas Ranger Norval Hayes Episode: "Deadly Vision"
1994 Dead at 21 Sheriff Sullivan Episode: "Love Minus Zero"
1994 Touched by an Angel Nick Morrow Episode: "The Southbound Bus"
1995 Melrose Place Det. Bob Wilkens 2 episodes
1995, 1996 Seinfeld Bob Cobb
1996 Party of Five Mr. Reeves Episode: "Unfair Advantage"
1997–1998 Teen Angel Roderick Nitzke 7 episodes
1997, 1998 Ally McBeal Attorney Walden 2 episodes
1997–2002 Buffy the Vampire Slayer The Master 8 episodes
1998 Star Trek: Voyager Hirogen Medic 2 episodes
1999 JAG Captain Pike 3 episodes
2000 Angel The Master Episode: "Darla"
2001 Warden of Red Rock Carl McVale Television film
2006 Video on Trial Abusive Father Episode #2.6
2009 Mad Men Mayor Johnson Episode: "Souvenir"

References

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  1. ^ "Terrence Howard, Lisa Loeb: Today's celebrity birthdays list (March 11, 2017)". cleveland.com. Advance Ohio. March 11, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "Celebrity birthdays, March 5–11". San Angelo Standard-Times. San Angelo, Texas. March 2, 2017. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c "Mr. Mean Guy". Variety. Los Angeles, California: Variety. September 18, 1995. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  4. ^ Spears, Steve (June 11, 2010). "Bullies we love to watch". St. Petersburg Times. Tampa Bay Florida. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2017. In 1978's Animal House, Mark Metcalf played one of the most despicable bullies in film history, Doug Neidermeyer.
  5. ^ a b c d Walsh, Cory (November 20, 2014). "Veteran character actor Mark Metcalf plays Scrooge in UM production". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Mark Metcalf". Hollywood.com. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  7. ^ Oztaskin, Murat (November 11, 2020). "The Price of Performance, in 'Character'". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Olson, Drew; Tarnoff, Andy (February 22, 2008). "Milwaukee Talks: Actor/restaurateur Mark Metcalf". OnMilwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fredrickson, Erika (November 20, 2014). "What do you want to do with your life?". Missoula Independent. Missoula, Montana. Archived from the original on 2015-03-28. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Horne, Michael (April 5, 2004). "The Roundup: Maestro Orchestrates Divorce". Urban Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Andrews, Tom (October 28, 2011). "'Animal House' Fan Favorite Metcalf Still Crafting Film and Stage Memories". Patch Media. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  12. ^ a b Titus, Christa (October 1, 2016). "7 Significant Moments in Twisted Sister's History". Billboard. Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d Barrett, Annie (October 5, 2009). "From Maestro to Mayor: Mark Metcalf on 'Mad Men'". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Willow, Jon Anne (December 1, 2004). "Mark Metcalf is the Accidental Actor". Urban Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  15. ^ Weather Vane 1964, p. 62. Accessed August 23, 2018.
  16. ^ Sanders, Steven (2010). Miami Vice. Contemporary approaches to film and television series: TV milestones. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 75. ISBN 9780814335413. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  17. ^ Schuyler, David (December 10, 2000). "Actor buys Kelley's". Milwaukee Business Journal. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Mark Metcalf - Credits". TV Guide. CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  19. ^ a b c "Business Spotlight: Libby Montana Bar & Grill". Mequon-Thiensville Today. Mequon and Thiensville, Wisconsin: The City of Mequon, the Village of Thiensville and the Mequon-Thiensville School District. August 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  20. ^ Luhrssen, David (October 16, 2019). "Director Tate Bunker Talks About 'The Field'". Shepherd Express. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Brunner-Sung's film "Character" premieres at Sundance". College of Arts and Sciences. Ohio State University. January 23, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  22. ^ https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/metcalftalks
  23. ^ https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2011/03/09/fat-tuesday-with-mam-and-the-alzheimers-association-of-wi/
  24. ^ https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2010/05/25/moving-pictures-i-remember-better-when-i-paint/
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