George Hardy | |
---|---|
![]() George Hardy in 2015 | |
Born | Alexander City, Alabama, U.S. | October 16, 1954
Alma mater | Auburn University UAB School of Dentistry |
Occupation(s) | Actor, dentist |
Years active | 1990–present |
George Hardy (born October 16, 1954) is an American dentist and actor who played the leading role in the cult horror film Troll 2 (1990), which is regarded as one of the worst films ever made. In 2021 he was in the horror movie CYST.
Hardy graduated from Auburn University in 1977. He was also an Auburn cheerleader. [1] At that time he was interested in theater. [2] He took acting classes, [3] but gave up the idea of becoming an actor because he feared that it wouldn't be a practical career. [4] Hardy eventually became a dentist. He was practicing in Salt Lake City when he auditioned for Troll 2 at the urging of some of his patients. [5] He ended up winning the role of Michael Waits, head of the family that falls victim to the titular villains. After the film's dismal reception following a direct-to-video release, he returned to practicing dentistry full-time and did not pursue acting any further.
Word of mouth slowly spread about Troll 2 regarding how laughably poor it was, allowing a loyal fanbase to develop. This reached a head with the Upright Citizens Brigade's 2006 "Troll 2 Experience" screening, where Hardy was thrust back into the limelight as a guest of honor (along with several other cast members). [6] He and fellow co-star Michael Stephenson collaborated shortly thereafter on the behind-the-scenes documentary Best Worst Movie (2009). This film has gone on to receive widespread critical and audience acclaim [7] and was the centerpiece of an international tour that both Hardy and Stephenson engaged in between 2009 and 2010. [8]
Following the success of Best Worst Movie, Hardy revived his acting career and has been involved in numerous projects. These include Eric Hordes' film Under ConTroll , in which he reprises his Troll 2 role of Michael Waits. Hardy had his first leading role since Troll 2 when he played Sgt. Travis Delmore in Texas Cotton (2018), which he also executive-produced. [9] [10]
He currently resides in his hometown of Alexander City, Alabama, [11] where he has maintained a dental practice since 1991.
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of the University of Alabama football team from 1958 to 1982. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and 13 conference championships. Upon his retirement in 1982, he held the record for the most wins (323) as a head coach in collegiate football history. The Paul W. Bryant Museum, Paul W. Bryant Hall, Paul W. Bryant Drive, and Bryant–Denny Stadium are all named in his honor at the University of Alabama.
Thomas Haden Church is an American actor. After starring in the 1990s sitcom Wings and playing the lead for two seasons in Ned & Stacey (1995–1997), Church became known for his film work, including his role of Lyle van de Groot in George of the Jungle (1997), his Academy Award–nominated performance in Sideways (2004), his role as the Marvel Comics villain Sandman in the superhero films Spider-Man 3 (2007) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), as well as his starring roles in Over the Hedge (2006), Smart People (2008), Easy A (2010), We Bought a Zoo (2011), Max (2015), and Hellboy (2019). He also made his directorial debut with Rolling Kansas (2003). In 2023, he starred as antagonist Agent Stone in the post-apocalyptic action comedy series Twisted Metal.
The Auburn Tigers are the athletic teams representing Auburn University, a public four-year university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. The Auburn Tigers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Troll is a 1986 American dark fantasy comedy film directed by John Carl Buechler and produced by Charles Band of Empire Pictures, starring Noah Hathaway, Michael Moriarty, Shelley Hack, Jenny Beck, and Sonny Bono. It is the first installment of the Troll film series.
Sharon Warren is an American actress. She played Ray Charles' mother, Aretha Robinson, in the 2004 film Ray.
Troll 2, or Goblins, is a 1990 independent dark fantasy horror film written and directed by Claudio Fragasso under the pseudonym Drake Floyd. It stars Michael Stephenson, George Hardy, Connie McFarland and Jason Wright. The plot follows Joshua Waits as he tries to save his family after the spirit of his deceased grandfather warns him that the town of Nilbog, which the family are spending their vacation, is inhabited by goblins who turn people into plant matter to eat them. It is the second installment of the Troll film series.
Jesse Borrego is an American actor best known for his roles as Cruz Candelaria in Blood In Blood Out, Jesse V. Velasquez in Fame, Gael Ortega in 24, and George King in Dexter.
Michael Stephenson, known professionally as Michael Paul Stephenson, is an American filmmaker and actor. He is known for directing the critically acclaimed documentaries Best Worst Movie and The American Scream. Michael made his narrative feature debut with Girlfriend’s Day, starring Bob Odenkirk. Michael's latest film, Attack of the Murder Hornets, is an original documentary that he directed and produced for Discovery+. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
Michael O'Neill is an American actor.
Best Worst Movie is a 2009 American documentary film about the making of the infamous 1990 horror film Troll 2 and its subsequent resurgence as a cult film. Directed by Michael Stephenson, the child star of Troll 2, the film was distributed by Magic Stone Productions and New Video Group. It was also included in the first 5,000 copies of Scream Factory's Blu-ray double feature of Troll and Troll 2, released on November 17, 2015.
William Jack Poulter is a British actor. He first gained recognition for his role as Eustace Scrubb in the fantasy adventure film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010). He received critical praise for his starring role in the comedy film We're the Millers (2013), for which he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award.
The 2006 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic was held on January 2, 2006, in Dallas, Texas at the Cotton Bowl. The game featured the Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders of the Big 12 Conference.
Justice Adam Leak is an American film, television and stage actor best known for his portrayal of Harland Osbourne in the 2007 film The Great Debaters.
Jason LaRay Keener is an American filmmaker from Alabama. He is best known for his stream-of-conscious, non-linear shorts. He is related to serial killer Nannie Doss. In 2006, he founded the Jacksonville State University Film Society. In 2012, he married frequent collaborator Diane Rose.
Bryan Dale Harsin is an American football coach who was most recently the head coach for the Auburn Tigers. Prior to coaching at Auburn, he coached the Boise State University Broncos from the 2014 season through the 2020 season where he posted a 69–19 overall record. He began his head coaching career at Arkansas State University for the 2013 season. Harsin was the co-offensive coordinator at the University of Texas for two seasons. Before leaving for Texas in 2011, Harsin was an assistant at Boise State for 10 seasons, the last five as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Magic Stone is a film and television production company directed by husband-and-wife team Michael Stephenson and Lindsay Stephenson.
The 2017 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Jordan–Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama and competed in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by fifth-year head coach Gus Malzahn. Auburn finished the season 10–4 overall and 7–1 in SEC play to win a share of the Western Division title with Alabama. Due to their head-to-head win over Alabama, they represented the Western Division in the SEC Championship Game where they lost to Georgia. They were invited to the Peach Bowl, where they lost to American Athletic Conference champion UCF.
The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in American football.
The Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, commonly shortened to Harbert College is the business school of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Founded in 1967, it grants both undergraduate and graduate degrees, and is one of the university's nine constituent schools. Since 2013, the school has been named in honor of Auburn alumnus Raymond J. Harbert. The business school has over 6,000 students, 73 full-time faculty, and over 53,000 graduates. It is one of the largest business schools in the Southeastern United States.
Under ConTroll is a 2019 supernatural horror comedy film. It is the fifth installment of the Troll film series. Featuring George Hardy reprising his role as Michael Waits from Troll 2.