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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jun 19, 2017 10:54:33 GMT -6
deadline.com/2017/06/stephen-furst-dies-animal-house-obituary-1202115443/Stephen Furst Dies: ‘Animal House’, ‘St. Elsewhere’ Actor Was 63 Actor Stephen Furst, best known for his performances as the hapless Flounder in Animal House and put-upon rookie doc Eliott Axelrod on St. Elsewhere, died yesterday at his home in Moorpark, California, near Los Angeles, due to complications from diabetes. His death was announced by his sons Nathan and Griffith Furst, who asked that fans “celebrate his life by watching one of his movies or use one of his bits to make someone else laugh – really, really hard.” See their entire statement below. Furst had a couple of small credits before landing the part of Kent “Flounder” Dorfman in 1978’s Animal House. He went on to reprise the role in TV’s short-lived Delta House in 1979. Guest credits on series like The Jeffersons, Chips and Newhart preceded his second most-memorable role, as Dr. Axelrod on the groundbreaking St. Elsewhere, a performance by turns comic and dramatic as he was forever subjected to the ire of William Daniels’ tyrannical Dr. Mark Craig. He later played Vir Cotto in the 1994-98 Babylon 5, and was the voice of Booster in TV’s Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, among numerous other roles. He was also a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association. Furst is survived by his wife Lorraine, his sons and two grandchildren.
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Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jun 19, 2017 19:26:08 GMT -6
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tim-matheson-remembers-animal-house-star-stephen-furst-he-was-brilliant-1014810Tim Matheson Remembers 'Animal House' Co-Star Stephen Furst: "He Was Brilliant" 3:23 PM PDT 6/19/2017 by Tim Matheson, as told to Ryan Parker "The thing that made his character and made that aspect of the movie work was that you loved him." Tim Matheson, who played Eric "Otter" Stratton in 1978's Animal House, really didn't care for Stephen Furst when the two men first met just prior to shooting the comedy classic. The problem: The Kent "Flounder" Dorfman actor was just too you know what nice. However, the pair would go on to become good friends and work together on a couple of films, including 1984's Up the Creek. Furst died Saturday at the age of 63. Here, Matheson remembers his beloved Delta Tau Chi brother whom Otter fought for. It always cracked me up that for two days before we began shooting in the fall of 1977, I really, really didn't like Stephen. He was irritatingly friendly. It was his first big movie, and he was so excited. He was just like Flounder. And what I came to realize was that he was a method actor. He was playing that character on stage and off. And he was brilliant, very funny and very sweet. The thing that made his character and made that aspect of the movie work was that you loved him. John Landis always stressed the audience had to like the characters. And the fact that Tommy [Hulce, who played Lawrence "Pinto" Kroger] and Stephen were so you know what lovable and sweet gave us a lot of leeway to kill a horse, have sex with the dean's wife and all the things we did. It was the purity of those parts. I got to spend more time with him on Up the Creek, where I saw a whole other side of him and have a greater appreciation and friendship with him. He was a proud family man. I honestly don't remember him ever having a harsh word about anyone. Otter fought for Flounder to be in the frat because they didn't discriminate, Anyone could get in. We didn't want to be like those other guys who wouldn't have people like us in their club. I think that was the core of the movie. I will always fondly remember the times we spent together. He will be sorely missed.
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