David Naughton

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

(1951-02-13) February 13, 1951 (age 73)
West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
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)

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]

Early life[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Midnight Madness Adam Larson
1981 Separate Ways Jerry Lansing
An American Werewolf in London David Kessler
1984 Hot Dog…The Movie Dan
Not for Publication Barry Denver
Terror in the Aisles David Kessler Archival footage
1986 The Boy in Blue Bill
Separate Vacations Richard Moore
1987 Kidnapped Vince McCarthy Director Howard Avedis
1988 Private Affairs Mauro
1990 The Sleeping Car Jason McCree
Overexposed Phillip
1991 Steel and Lace Dunn
1993 Wild Cactus Philip Marcus
Amityville: A New Generation Dick Cutler Direct-to-video
1994 Desert Steel Zach
Beanstalk Mr. Ladd
Caribbean Kill N/A
1995 Ice Cream Man Martin Cassera
The Adventures of Black Feather Professeur Byrd
Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur Detective Kobeck
1996 Urban Safari Joe
2000 Little Insect Buzz Voice
2001 A Crack in the Floor EMT Driver
Flying Virus Dr. Stephen North
2003 Sky Blue Commander Locke
Dr. Noah		 Voice, English dub[9]
2006 Big Bad Wolf Sheriff Ruben
2007 Brutal Massacre: A Comedy Harry Penderecki
Hallows Point Shopkeeper
2009 Little Hercules in 3-D Dwayne Harr
2012 A Thousand Cuts Alan
2013 Cool as Hell Clark
2017 Do It or Die Herb Clough
The Hatred Walter
2023 Waking Nightmare Dr. Doolin

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Planet of the Apes Dr. Stole Episode: "The Surgeon"
1976 Muggsy Danny Atwater Episode: "Hit and Run"
The Other Side of Victory N/A Television film
1979 Makin' It Billy Manucci 9 episodes
1982 I, Desire David Balsiger Television film
1983 The Love Boat Edwin Winnaker Episode: "Fountain of Youth/Bad Luck Cabin/Uncle Daddy"
At Ease Pfc. Tony Baker 14 episodes
1984 Getting Physical Mickey Ritter Television film
1986–1988 My Sister Sam Jack Kincaid 44 episodes
1988 Goddess of Love Ted Beckman Television film
Murder, She Wrote Ken Parrish Episode: "Wearing of the Green"
1989 The Twilight Zone John Sellig Episode: "Special Service"
1991 The Belles of Bleeker Street Chris Episode: "Pilot"
MacGyver LaManna Episode: "Honest Abe"
Seinfeld Dick Episode: "The Red Dot"
1993 Body Bags Pete Television film ("The Gas Station" segment)
Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's Brad Television film
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Harry Gelson Episode: "My Four Husbands"
1994–1995 Turbocharged Thunderbirds Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, additional voices Voice
1996 Melrose Place Lou Chandler Episode: "Run, Billy, Run"
Touched by an Angel Michael Russell Episode: "Birthmarks"
Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. Norm Kipper 2 episodes
1997 Cybill Andy 2 episodes
1998 Chance of a Lifetime Art Haber Television film
Silk Stalkings Max Behring Episode: "Ramone, P.I."
1999 V.I.P. Roy Episode: "K-Val"
Chicken Soup for the Soul Paul Dinsman Episode: "It's Never Too Late"
2000, 2001 JAG Det. Grady 2 episodes
2001 ER Ben Stevens Episode: "Thy Will Be Done"
Kate Brasher Ames Episode: "Tracy"
Out of the Wilderness Professor Byrd Television film
The Nightmare Room Mr. Ryan Episode: "Tangled Web"
2002 Justice League The Streak Voice, episode: "Legends"
2005 Higglytown Heroes Orchestra Conductor Hero Voice, episode: "Higgly Harmonies"[9]
Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder Steven Television film
2009 Psych Dr. Ken Tucker Episode: "Let's Get Hairy"
2010 Big Love Mr. Usher Episode: "Next Ticket Out"
2011 The Mentalist Neurologist Episode: "Fugue in Red"
2012 Major Crimes State Senator McAustin Episode: "The Shame Game"
2013 Grey's Anatomy Nick Parker Episode: "Transplant Wasteland"
2013–2015 Granite Flats Dr. Millard Whittison 23 episodes
2013 Holliston Mark Ward Episode: "Joe's Soda"
2015 American Horror Story Mr. Samuels Episode: "Mommy"
2017 Sharknado 5: Global Swarming Ambassador Kessler Television film
2018 SuperMansion Himself Voice, episode: "Comicarnage"

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure Manfred [9]
2006 Marvel Ultimate Alliance Mr. Fantastic [9]
2016 Fallout 4: WRVR Traveler
2017 Saga of the Nine Worlds Guard Captain The Four Stags Collector's Edition
2018 Project Pro Skater God

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Location Other work/notes
1975–1976 Hamlet Francisco
Player Queen
Ensemble		 Vivian Beaumont Theater Understudy for Osric
1978–1980 Da Morosco Theatre Assistant Stage Manager
Understudy for Young Charlie

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d "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.

External links[edit]

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