Fisher Stevens

Last updated

Fisher Stevens
Fisher Stevens (cropped).jpg
Stevens in November 2016
Born
Stephen Fisher

(1963-11-27) November 27, 1963 (age 61)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Education New York University
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer, writer
Years active1981–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2017)​
Children2

Stephen Fisher (born November 27, 1963), known professionally as Fisher Stevens, is an American actor, director, producer and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Ben in Short Circuit (1986) and Short Circuit 2 (1988). He is also a documentary filmmaker, having won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for The Cove (2009). He also directed the documentaries Crazy Love (2007) and Before the Flood (2016).

Contents

Stevens is known for his roles in films such as Reversal of Fortune (1990), Bob Roberts (1992), Hackers (1995), Anything Else (2003), and Hail, Caesar! (2016). He has acted in the Wes Anderson films The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Isle of Dogs (2018), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).

In television he portrayed Chuck Fishman in CBS series Early Edition (1996–2000), Marvin Gerard on NBC's The Blacklist (2015–2022), Gabriel Kovac in CBS's The Good Fight (2017–2020), and Hugo Baker in the HBO drama series Succession (2019–2023).

Early life

Stevens was born Stephen Fisher in 1963 in Chicago, the son of Sally and Norman Fisher. [1] Stevens grew up in the Chicago, Illinois, area, living in Hyde Park, Highland Park, and Evanston [2] and describes himself as a "white Jewish kid from Chicago." [3]

His parents divorced when he was 13, after which he moved to New York with his mother. At age 16, Stevens landed his first film role, acting in the horror film The Burning . He completed one year at New York University before deciding to pursue acting full time. [2] He adopted the stage name "Fisher Stevens" upon joining the Screen Actors Guild because the Guild had several existing actors named "Steven Fisher". [4]

Career

Stevens in 2006 Fisher Stevens 002.jpg
Stevens in 2006

He co-founded the Naked Angels Theater Company with longtime friends Rob Morrow, Nicole Burdette, Pippin Parker, Charles Landry, Nancy Travis and Ned Eisenberg in 1986. He co-founded Greene Street Films, a film production company located in Tribeca, New York City, in 1996. Stevens performed as Edgar Allan Poe on Lou Reed's album The Raven in 2003. He is a harmonica player.[ citation needed ]

As an actor, he is known for his roles as Chuck Fishman on Early Edition , Seamus O'Neill on Key West , Eugene "The Plague" Belford in Hackers , Iggy in Super Mario Bros. , Hawk Ganz in The Flamingo Kid , and his role as Indian character Ben Jabituya/Jahveri in Short Circuit and Short Circuit 2 , respectively. [3] His television credits include Columbo , Frasier , Friends , Law & Order , Key West , Damages , The Mentalist and Lost . He appeared on two episodes of the television series Numbers . [5] [ better source needed ]

Fisher has a Broadway and off-Broadway career spanning nearly three decades. In 1988, he and John Leguizamo appeared in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream where he played Demetrius [6] He played Jigger Craigin in the 1994 Lincoln Center revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel . He had an early success in the 1982 Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy playing David, the adopted son of the gay protagonist played by the show's writer Harvey Fierstein, and the original Broadway production of Brighton Beach Memoirs , where he succeeded Matthew Broderick in the starring role of Eugene. Throughout his career, he has acted in and directed more than 50 stage productions. [7]

Stevens in 2007 FisherStevens07TIFF.jpg
Stevens in 2007

In 2010, Fisher co-founded a new media and documentary film company, Insurgent Media, with Andrew Karsch and Erik H. Gordon.[ citation needed ]

In June 2010, Stevens made his major theatrical directing debut with John Leguizamo's one-man show, Ghetto Klown (originally called Klass Klown), which eventually ran on Broadway from March to July 2011. [8] [9] The two had appeared together in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Public Theater about 20 years earlier. On July 13, 2012, PBS debuted Tales From a Ghetto Klown, a documentary about the development of the show which prominently features Stevens. [10]

In 2010, Stevens won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for co-producing The Cove. [11]

He directed the 2012 crime story Stand Up Guys , starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken. He teamed up with his longtime partner Alexis Bloom to direct the film Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds , which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. The film was a tribute to both mother and daughter as they passed in the same year. Both were close friends with Stevens.[ citation needed ]

In 2018, Stevens had a recurring role as Hugo Baker in the second season of HBO's satirical-comedy-drama series Succession . He was promoted to series regular in season 3.[ citation needed ]

In 2021, he directed the Apple TV drama film Palmer , starring Justin Timberlake.[ citation needed ]

Personal life

Stevens dated actress Michelle Pfeiffer from 1989 until 1992. [12] Stevens later dated longtime filmmaking partner and producer Alexis Bloom. The couple married in 2017 in a private ceremony. They have two children. [13]

Stevens is a survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma. [1]

Filmography

Actor

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 The Burning Woodstock
1983 Baby It's You Stage Manager
1984 The Brother from Another Planet Card Trickster
The Flamingo Kid 'Hawk' Ganz
1985 My Science Project Vince Latello
1986 Short Circuit Ben Jahveri
The Boss' Wife Carlos Delgado
1988 Short Circuit 2 Ben Jahveri
1989 Bloodhounds of Broadway Harry 'Hotfoot Harry'
1990Point of ViewPerformer
Reversal of Fortune David Marriott
1991 The Marrying Man Sammy
Mystery Date Dwight
1992LiftJoeShort
Bob Roberts 'Rock' Bork
Hero Director of Channel 4 Crash FeatureCameo
1993 When the Party's Over Alexander
Super Mario Bros. Iggy
1994 Nina Takes a Lover Paulie
Only You Larry
1995 Cold Fever Jack
Hackers 'The Plague'
1996 The Pompatus of Love Sitcom Star
1997 Four Days in September Mowinkel
1999 Taxman Kenneth Green
The Tic Code Morris
2000 Sam the Man Sam Manning
Lisa Picard Is Famous Himself
2001 3 A.M. Haplin
Prison Song Prosecutor
Piñero Public Theatre Cashier
2002 Undisputed James 'Ratbag' Kroycek
2003 Kill the Poor Stuffed Shirt
Uptown Girls Himself
Anything Else Manager
Easy SixOfficer Donny
ReplyBlu (voice)
2004On the CouchGaryShort
2005 Factotum Manny
Undiscovered Garret Schweck
Slow Burn Alan Turlock
2006 Kettle of Fish Bruce
2007Red AngelDavidShort
Awake Dr. Puttnam
2010FakeTom Kozinski
Rio Sex Comedy Fish / Tourist Guide
Rising Stars Mo
The Experiment Archaleta
Henry's Crime Eddie's Vibes
2012 One for the Money Morty Beyers
LOL Roman
2013 Movie 43 Vrankovich / MinotaurAlternate version
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel M. Robin
Mission Blue HimselfDocumentary
United Passions Carl Hirschmann
2016 Hail, Caesar! Communist Writer
2018 Isle of Dogs Scrap (voice)
2019 Motherless Brooklyn Lou
2021 Palmer Additional voices
The French Dispatch Story Editor
Sing 2 Additional voice
2023 Asteroid City Detective 1
Coup! Upton Sinclair
2025 In the Grey Post-production
TBA Song Sung Blue TBAFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980 One Life to Live Unknown
1983 Ryan's Hope Henry Popkin
1984 CBS Schoolbreak Special Gary GordonSeason 1, episode 4
1986 Tall Tales & Legends Indian ChiefEpisode: "Ponce de Leon"
1989 Columbo Alex BradyEpisode: "Murder, Smoke and Shadows"
1990 The Young Riders "Bulldog"Episode: "Bull Dog"
1991 General Motors Theatre Wally ZuckermanEpisode: "It's Called the Sugar Plum"
1993 Key West Seamus O'Neill13 episodes
1995 Friends RogerEpisode: "The One with the Boobies"
Homicide: Life on the Street Jonathan HeineEpisode: "Autofocus"
Law & Order Ross FinemanEpisode: "Angel"
1996 The Right to Remain Silent Dale MeyersonTelevision movie
1996–2000 Early Edition Chuck Fishman48 episodes
2000 The Hunger Max ArmstrongEpisode: "The Suction Method"
2001 Frasier Dr. Sheldon MoreyEpisode: "The Wizard and Roz"
100 Centre Street Ben BerkowitzEpisode: "Queenie's Running"
JeniferDr. Aaron SandersTelevision movie
2002 Is It College Yet? (voice)Television movie
Hack Donnie FrancoEpisode: "Favors"
2003The Lives They LivedNarratorTelevision movie
2004 Hope & Faith Nick SpinelliEpisode: "The Diner Show"
Dr. Vegas CharlieEpisode: "Dead Man, Live Bet"
2004–2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Performer2 episodes
2008 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Lyle KormanEpisode: "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia"
2008–2010 Lost George Minkowski6 episodes
2009 Medium Neal GreybridgeEpisode: "Medium is the Message"
Numb3rs John Buckley2 episodes
The Grean TeemJack FisherTelevision movie
2010 Ugly Betty Mr. ZEpisode: "Back in her Place"
The Mentalist Tolman BuntingEpisode: "Season 2 Episode 21"
2011 Californication 'Zig' SemetauerEpisode: "Monkey Business"
Damages Therapist4 episodes
2012–2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Alvin Gilbert / Ted Scott2 episodes
2015 Elementary Marty WardEpisode: "Under My Skin"
2015–2022 The Blacklist Marvin Gerard15 episodes
2016 The Night Of Saul, The Pharmacist3 episodes
2017 Red Oaks JerryEpisode: "Summer in the City"
Vice Principals Brian Biehn4 episodes
2017–2020 The Good Fight Gabriel Kovac3 episodes
2019–2023 Succession Hugo Baker19 episodes
2022 Would I Lie to You? (US) HimselfEpisode: "Banana Bread"
2024 Ripley Edward T. Cavanagh
2024 Sing: Thriller Additional voiceHalloween special

Director

YearTitleNotes
1995Call of the Wylie
1996Phinehas
1998–1999 Early Edition 2 episodes
2002 Just a Kiss
2007 Crazy Love Co-directed with Dan Klores
2010–2011 John Leguizamo - Ghetto KlownOpened on Broadway March 2011
2012 Stand Up Guys
2016 Before the Flood [14]
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
2019And We Go Green
2021 Palmer
2023 Beckham

Producer

YearTitleNotes
2000 Sam the Man
2001The Château
Piñero
2002 Swimfan
2003 Uptown Girls
2004 Yes
2005 Slow Burn
2006 A Prairie Home Companion
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
Wedding Daze
2007 Crazy Love
Meet Bill
Feast of Love
Awake
2008 The Midnight Meat Train
2009The Grean Teem
Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach
Tenderness
The Cove Academy Award for Best Documentary
2011Blank City
Hollywood Renegade
Bad Trip
Mission Blue
2012 Beware of Mr. Baker
2015 Racing Extinction
2016 Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang
Before the Flood
2020 Tiger King
2023Beckham

Writer

Narrator

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
Academy Award Best Documentary Feature The Cove Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Documentary Series American Masters Nominated
Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking Racing Extinction Nominated
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary Program Nominated
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Tiger King Nominated
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series Beckham Won
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary Program Beckham: What Makes David Run Nominated
2016
 Cannes Film Festival Golden Eye Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds Nominated
2016
 Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award Before the Flood Nominated
Saturn Award Best Guest-Starring Performance in a Network or Cable Television Series The Blacklist Nominated
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Succession Won [15]
2024 Won [16]

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References

  1. 1 2 Lipton, Michael A. (July 13, 1992). "The Two Lives of Catwoman – Couples, Batman Returns, Fisher Stevens, Michelle Pfeiffer". People . Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Johnson, Steven (June 26, 1986). "Fisher Stevens Scoots Into The Limelight 'Short Circuit' Role Puts Chicago Native On Fast Track". Chicago Tribune . p. 11.
  3. 1 2 Steve Weinstein (August 2, 1988). "Shooting Stars: 'Short Circuit's' Stevens No Foreigner to Ethnic Roles". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ Leonardo DiCaprio Helped Fisher Stevens Land His Director Role for Beckham , retrieved October 27, 2023
  5. ↑ Fisher Stevens at IMDb
  6. ↑ "Director Fisher Stevens on Being the Ringmaster of John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown".
  7. ↑ "Biography for Fisher Stevens". Internet Movie Database.
  8. ↑ Hurwitt, Robert (June 3, 2010). "John Leguizamo goes deeper, darker in 'Klown'". San Francisco Chronicle . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  9. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (March 22, 2011). "A Queens Guy Toughs It Out in Hollywood". The New York Times . Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  10. ↑ Aucoin, Don (July 12, 2012). "In 'Tales From a Ghetto Klown,' Broadway minus the glitz". The Boston Globe .
  11. ↑ "Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences". Oscars.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ Jones, Isabel (January 28, 2021). "TBT: Michelle Pfeiffer and Fisher Stevens". InStyle . Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Fisher Stevens is a Married New Dad". Hollywood.com. March 10, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Before the Flood [programme note]". Toronto International Film Festival. 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  15. ↑ Lewis, Hilary; Coates, Tyler (January 12, 2022). "SAG Awards: 'House of Gucci,' 'The Power of the Dog' Lead Film Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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