Terry Kiser

Excellent, prolific and dependable character actor 'Terry Kiser' (qv) was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Terry attended the University of Kansas on both football and dramatic scholarships. He graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering and worked for three years in this profession in his hometown of Omaha. Kiser also acted in some 50 plays around this same time. Terry then moved to New York and studied his craft at the Actors Studio, where he was mentored by legendary Method acting teacher 'Lee Strasberg' (qv). Following several gigs in television commercials, he made his film debut as a preacher in the film _Rachel, Rachel (1968)_ (qv). Although often cast as sleazy and unlikable scoundrels, Terry has shown on occasion that he can portray more sympathetic parts with equal skill and conviction.Kiser gave an especially strong and engaging performance in a rare substantial starring role in the little seen drama _Lapin 360 (1972)_ (qv). Best known as the deceased, but still active Bernie Lomax in the hilarious "Weekend at Bernie's" films, Terry's other memorable roles include Chuck Norris' ill-fated cop partner Dave Pierce in the exciting _An Eye for an Eye (1981)_ (qv), shady businessman Freddy Barrett in the entertaining science fiction disaster film _Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983)_ (qv), petty worthless hoodlum Jesse Hardwick in the superior horror anthology opus _From a Whisper to a Scream (1987)_ (qv), sneaky psychiatrist Dr. Crews in _Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)_ (qv), and the evil Count Gunther Spretzle in _Mannequin: On the Move (1991)_ (qv). Kiser had a recurring part on the daytime soap opera _The Doctors (1963)_ (qv).Among the many television series Terry has done guest spots on are _Will & Grace (1998)_ (qv), _Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)_ (qv), _Baywatch Nights (1995)_ (qv), _Dream On (1990)_ (qv), _The Golden Girls (1985)_ (qv), _L.A. Law (1986)_ (qv), _Hunter (1984)_ (qv), _Murder, She Wrote (1984)_ (qv), _Riptide (1984)_ (qv), _Knight Rider (1982)_ (qv), _The Fall Guy (1981)_ (qv), _Magnum, P.I. (1980)_ (qv), _Hill Street Blues (1981)_ (qv), _CHiPs (1977)_ (qv), _Diff'rent Strokes (1978)_ (qv), _All in the Family (1971)_ (qv), _Maude (1972)_ (qv), _Hawaii Five-O (1968)_ (qv), _Die sieben Millionen Dollar Frau (1976)_ (qv), _The Six Million Dollar Man (1974)_ (qv), and _Baretta (1975)_ (qv). In addition to his film and television work, Kiser has acted on stage in the Broadway plays "God's Favorite" (Terry received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in this 'Neil Simon' (qv) comedy), "Shelter", "The Castro Complex", and "Paris Is Out!". Terry won both an Obie and a Theater World Award for his exemplary acting in the dramatic play "Fortune and Men's Eyes".Terry currently resides in Colorado and co-founded the premiere acting school The Actors Arena in Austin Texas with Joy Leigh.::woodyanders