David Naughton

David Walsh Naughton (born February 13, 1951)[1] is an American actor and singer known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980), as well as for a long-running "Be a Pepper" ad campaign for beverage maker Dr Pepper. He also starred in the short-lived sitcom Makin' It and sang its hit theme song "Makin' It", giving him a Top 5 hit on the Billboard charts.[2]

David Naughton
Naughton at Nightmare Weekend Richmond in 2023
Born
David Walsh Naughton

(1951-02-13) February 13, 1951
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1974–present
Spouses
  • Denise Stephens
    (m. 1976; div. 1983)
  • Deborah Dutton
    (m. 1985; div. 2005)
  • Seann Sara Sella
    (m. 2007; div. 2009)
  • Cheryl L Naughton
    (m. 2019)
Children2
RelativesJames Naughton (brother)

Early life

Naughton was born in West Hartford, Connecticut, United States,[1] the son of Rosemary (née Walsh) and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers. He is the younger of two boys; his older brother is theater and film actor James Naughton. His family is Irish-American.[3] Naughton attended the University of Pennsylvania[4] and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[5] Naughton was an Assistant Stage Manager and Understudy for the Broadway production of Hugh Leonard's Da.[6]

Career

Naughton first became widely known as a result of his four-year stint (1977–1981) singing and dancing in television commercials and personal appearances to promote Dr Pepper.[7] He starred in the sitcom Makin' It, and hit the Billboard Top Ten in 1979 with the sitcom's theme song, also titled "Makin' It."[1] A US million selling disc, the track also peaked at No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart.[8]

He starred in the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980) followed by his lead role in the Academy Award-winning horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) directed by John Landis. He also appeared in the television series My Sister Sam and also in episodes of MacGyver, Melrose Place, Murder, She Wrote, JAG and Seinfeld.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Midnight MadnessAdam Larson
1981Separate WaysJerry Lansing
An American Werewolf in LondonDavid Kessler
1984Hot Dog…The MovieDan
Not for PublicationBarry Denver
Terror in the AislesDavid KesslerArchival footage
1986The Boy in BlueBill
Separate VacationsRichard Moore
1987KidnappedVince McCarthy
1988Private AffairsMauro
1990The Sleeping CarJason McCree
OverexposedPhillip
1991Steel and LaceDunn
1993Wild CactusPhilip Marcus
Amityville: A New GenerationDick CutlerDirect-to-video
1994Desert SteelZach
BeanstalkMr. Ladd
Caribbean KillN/A
1995Ice Cream ManMartin Cassera
The Adventures of Black FeatherProfesseur Byrd
Mirror, Mirror III: The VoyeurDetective Kobeck
1996Urban SafariJoe
2000Little InsectBuzzVoice
2001A Crack in the FloorEMT Driver
Flying VirusDr. Stephen North
2003Sky BlueCommander Locke
Dr. Noah
Voice, English dub[9]
2006Big Bad WolfSheriff Ruben
2007Brutal Massacre: A ComedyHarry Penderecki
Hallows PointShopkeeper
2009Little Hercules in 3-DDwayne Harr
2012A Thousand CutsAlan
2013Cool as HellClark
2017Do It or DieHerb Clough
The HatredWalter

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1974Planet of the ApesDr. StoleEpisode: "The Surgeon"
1976MuggsyDanny AtwaterEpisode: "Hit and Run"
The Other Side of VictoryN/ATelevision film
1979Makin' ItBilly Manucci9 episodes
1982I, DesireDavid BalsigerTelevision film
1983The Love BoatEdwin WinnakerEpisode: "Fountain of Youth/Bad Luck Cabin/Uncle Daddy"
At EasePfc. Tony Baker14 episodes
1984Getting PhysicalMickey RitterTelevision film
1986–1988My Sister SamJack Kincaid44 episodes
1988Goddess of LoveTed BeckmanTelevision film
Murder, She WroteKen ParrishEpisode: "Wearing of the Green"
1989The Twilight ZoneJohn SelligEpisode: "Special Service"
1991The Belles of Bleeker StreetChrisEpisode: "Pilot"
MacGyverLaMannaEpisode: "Honest Abe"
SeinfeldDickEpisode: "The Red Dot"
1993Body BagsPeteTelevision film ("The Gas Station" segment)
Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90'sBradTelevision film
1994Diagnosis: MurderHarry GelsonEpisode: "My Four Husbands"
1994–1995Turbocharged ThunderbirdsScott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, additional voicesVoice
1996Melrose PlaceLou ChandlerEpisode: "Run, Billy, Run"
Touched by an AngelMichael RussellEpisode: "Birthmarks"
Bailey Kipper's P.O.V.Norm Kipper2 episodes
1997CybillAndy2 episodes
1998Chance of a LifetimeArt HaberTelevision film
Silk StalkingsMax BehringEpisode: "Ramone, P.I."
1999V.I.P.RoyEpisode: "K-Val"
Chicken Soup for the SoulPaul DinsmanEpisode: "It's Never Too Late"
2000, 2001JAGDet. Grady2 episodes
2001ERBen StevensEpisode: "Thy Will Be Done"
Kate BrasherAmesEpisode: "Tracy"
Out of the WildernessProfessor ByrdTelevision film
The Nightmare RoomMr. RyanEpisode: "Tangled Web"
2002Justice LeagueThe StreakVoice, episode: "Legends"
2005Higglytown HeroesOrchestra Conductor HeroVoice, episode: "Higgly Harmonies"[9]
Mystery Woman: Sing Me a MurderStevenTelevision film
2009PsychDr. Ken TuckerEpisode: "Let's Get Hairy"
2010Big LoveMr. UsherEpisode: "Next Ticket Out"
2011The MentalistNeurologistEpisode: "Fugue in Red"
2012Major CrimesState Senator McAustinEpisode: "The Shame Game"
2013Grey's AnatomyNick ParkerEpisode: "Transplant Wasteland"
2013–2015Granite FlatsDr. Millard Whittison23 episodes
2013HollistonMark WardEpisode: "Joe's Soda"
2015American Horror StoryMr. SamuelsEpisode: "Mommy"
2017Sharknado 5: Global SwarmingAmbassador KesslerTelevision film
2018SuperMansionHimselfVoice, episode: "Comicarnage"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under PressureManfred[9]
2006Marvel Ultimate AllianceMr. Fantastic[9]
2016Fallout 4: WRVRTraveler
2017Saga of the Nine WorldsGuard CaptainThe Four Stags Collector's Edition
2018Project Pro SkaterGod

Theatre

YearTitleRoleLocationOther work/notes
1975–1976HamletFrancisco
Player Queen
Ensemble
Vivian Beaumont TheaterUnderstudy for Osric
1978–1980DaMorosco TheatreAssistant Stage Manager
Understudy for Young Charlie

References

  1. Larkin, Colin, ed. (December 1995). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 2993. ISBN 978-1-5615-9176-3.
  2. "Billboard Top 40 Hits (1979)". cyList.
  3. "Actor's angels heaven-sent James Naughton has waited a lifetime for this 'breakout' role". Miami Herald. 3 June 1990. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  4. "David Naughton Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010.
  5. Reilly, Sue (28 September 1981). "David Naughton Trades Dr Pepper for London Moonshine". People. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  6. "Da – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  7. Auden, Sandy (2006). "Getting Naked: An American Werewolf in London Revealed -- An Interview with David Naughton". The SF Site.
  8. Roberts, David (2004). British Hit Singles & Albums (17th Revised ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 389. ISBN 978-0-8511-2199-4. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  9. "David Naughton (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
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