Jason Robert Hervey (born April 6, 1972) is an American actor and television producer. He is best known for his role as Wayne Arnold on The Wonder Years.

Jason Hervey
Hervey in October 2008
Born
Jason Robert Hervey

(1972-04-06) April 6, 1972 (age 52)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • writer
Years active1979–present
Known forWayne Arnold on The Wonder Years
Spouses
Kelley Patricia O'Neill
(m. 1994; ann. 1995)
Shannon Hervey
(m. 1998; div. 2020)
Children4

Early life and acting

edit

Hervey was born in Los Angeles, the son of Marsha, a talent agent, and Alan Hervey, a retail sales manager.[1] In his early career, Hervey had small roles in films including Back to the Future, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Meatballs Part II, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, and had a recurring role as Charlie in the final season of Diff'rent Strokes. His big break came as a cast member of the successful family dramedy, The Wonder Years, as the older brother of Fred Savage's character. He ranked at #71 on VH1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars for the role.

Hervey's role on The Wonder Years led to a later guest appearance on the animated show Justice League Unlimited. He appeared alongside Savage in the episode "Hawk and Dove", where Hervey provided the voice of the younger, more passive brother Don Hall/Dove, opposite Savage's role of the older and more aggressive brother, in a role reversal from The Wonder Years. The original idea had been to cast Hervey as Hawk in tribute to his role as Wayne Arnold, until both he and Savage felt the opposite roles were better challenges.

Hervey was the voice of Eddie McDowd on the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd for season two.[2] He made a brief appearance in the 1993 adventure game Return to Zork as the troll king.[citation needed]

While post-Wonder Years acting credits were few and far between for Hervey, he did maintain ties to the entertainment industry as the producer of various sports-themed videos and specials (a substantial number of which were related to the World Championship Wrestling organization), a handful of television films, and a few television series. As the wave of 1980s nostalgia washed over the media in the early 2000s, Hervey became a frequent contributor to VH1's I Love the 80s and I Love the 80s Strikes Back and appeared as himself on reality shows such as Hogan Knows Best and Scott Baio Is 45...and Single.

Public relations

edit

Hervey served as the Senior Vice President of Media and Communications for HealthSouth Corporation, based in Birmingham, Alabama. Hervey relocated to Birmingham to assume the post. He worked for the company from late 2001 until late 2003, during events that would lead to a fraud scandal. He later sued HealthSouth, demanding $300,000 in compensation.[3][4]

Producing and game development

edit

After a guest appearance on World Championship Wrestling television during his tenure on The Wonder Years, Hervey obtained a backstage position as an executive producer for WCW, which he held until the company's closure in 2001. During this time, he became friends with then-WCW Vice President Eric Bischoff, with whom he formed Bischoff Hervey Entertainment. Their company produced several sports and reality television shows, including I Want to Be a Hilton, Scott Baio Is 45...and Single, and Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling, alongside Hogan. When Bischoff joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in January 2010, Hervey also joined the promotion as an executive producer.[5] He co-created the reality show TNA Reaction. Hervey appeared in a backstage segment with Eric Young on the June 16, 2011, edition of Impact Wrestling[6] which was his last appearance.

In 2013, along with partners Eric Bischoff and Ike McFadden, Hervey formed the online gaming company MX Digital.[7] The company specializes in creating celebrity-themed online games, including games featuring David Hasselhoff and Hulk Hogan, among others.[8]

Hervey is credited in The Eddie Guerrero Story: Cheating Death, Stealing Life for coming up with the idea for the Latino World Order (LWO).[citation needed]

Reality shows

edit

Hervey appeared in an episode of Hogan Knows Best alongside Eric Bischoff, talking about energy drinks, and in several episodes of Scott Baio Is 45...and Single. In 2002, he made a brief appearance on the VH1 special I Love the '80s. Along with Baio, he co-hosts VH1's Confessions of a Teen Idol, a reality show in which former teen idols attempt to revitalize their entertainment careers.[9] In February 2015, WGN premiered Bischoff/Hervey's latest production, Outlaw Country, a "reality crime drama" following two sets of brothers, one being on the criminal side of the law and the other being on the law enforcement side.[citation needed]

Filmography

edit
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1980 Eggo Waffles: Little Brothers Dennis Short film
1984 The Buddy System Potato
Meatballs Part II Steve
Frankenweenie Frank Dale Short
1985 Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment Brat
Back to the Future Milton Baines
Pee-wee's Big Adventure Kevin Morton
1986 Back to School Young Thornton
1987 The Monster Squad E.J.
1993 For Goodness Sake Short film
1997 Trading Favors Andy
A Day with Officer Pete Short film, writer
1999 The Last Great Ride Jimmy
2008 The Butler's in Love Short film, producer
2021 You, Me and The Christmas Trees Dwayne Television film
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Trapper John, M.D. Ricky Mercer Episode: "What Are Friends For?"
1981 The Love Boat Billy Episode: "Aquaphobiac/Humpty Dumpty/The Starmaker"
Gabe and Walker Kevin Television film
1982 ABC Afterschool Specials Roy Rollins Episode: "Daddy, I'm Their Mama Now"
1983 The Selling of Vince D'Angelo Vince's Son Television film
1984 The Ratings Game Todd Sweeney Television film
1985 Wildside Zeke Main role; 5 episodes
The O'Briens Son Television film
1985–1986 Diff'rent Strokes Charlie 9 episodes
1986 Sidekicks Bobby Television film: "The Last Electric Knight"
Fast Times Curtis / Curtis Spicoli 4 episodes
The Magical World of Disney Clint Westwood Episode: "Little Spies"
1987 A Year in the Life Episode: "Acts of Faith"
1988 Simon & Simon Bradley Episode: "Second Swell"
Punky Brewster Garth Goobler Episode: "Radio Daze"
Kids Incorporated Ethan Episode: "The Frog Prince"
1988–1993 The Wonder Years Wayne Arnold Main role; 112 episodes
1991-1992 Wide World of Kids Host
1994 Take Me Home Again Eddie Television film
1995 Spring Fling! John Television film
Baywatch Nights Todd Sandreen Episode: "Bad Blades"
1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave Wally Episode: "All Aboard"
1999 First Daughter Television film, co-executive producer
Chowdaheads Co-executive producer
2000 Shutterspeed Television film, co-executive producer
First Target Television film, co-executive producer
2002 Go for It! Writer
Executive producer
First Shot Television film, co-executive producer
2001–2002 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd Eddie McDowd Main role
2004 Sturgis: At Full Throttle Television film, co-executive producer
Justice League Unlimited Don Hall / Dove Voice, episode: "Hawk and Dove"
2005 I Want to Be a Hilton Writer and co-producer, Episode #1.4
2007 Billy Ray Cyrus: Home at Last Executive producer
2007–2008 Scott Baio Is 45...and Single Writer and executive producer
2008 Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling Executive producer - Episode 1: "Down to Basics"
2008–2009 Party Monsters Cabo Executive producer; 8 episodes
2009 Confessions of a Teen Idol Co-host Executive producer
Runnin' Wild... From Ted Nugent Executive producer
Posse: Young Guns of the PBR Executive producer
2010 Finding Hulk Hogan Documentary, executive producer
Lay It Down Writer and executive producer
2011 Beverly Hills Fabulous Writer and executive producer, 3 episodes
Bear Swamp Recovery Executive producer
Micro Championship Wrestling Writer, 4 episodes

Executive producer; episode 1: "Half the Size, Twice the Violence"

Big Easy Brides Writer and executive producer; 8 episodes
2012 The Catalina Writer and executive producer
The Devil's Ride Writer; 6 episodes

Executive producer

Gretta Style Producer
2012–2014 See Dad Run Executive producer; 45 episodes
2013 Hardcore Pawn: Chicago Executive producer
2017 Dope Man Documentary
Executive producer
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Return to Zork Troll King / Trolls

References

edit
  1. ^ "Jason Hervey Biography (1972-)". www.filmreference.com.
  2. ^ "Where Is 'The Wonder Years' Cast Now? - Page 4 of 10 - Fame Focus". www.famefocus.com. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  3. ^ Greg Farrell (May 28, 2003). "From emperor to outcast". USA Today.
  4. ^ "Fired HealthSouth V.P. Jason Hervey seeks severance pay". USA Today. Associated Press. December 25, 2003.
  5. ^ Caldwell, James (2010-08-12). "Caldwell's TNA Reaction TV report 8/12: TNA launches new weekly "Reaction" show with Fortune vs. EV2.0 follow-up". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-08-13. The credits rolled noting Eric Bischoff, Jason Hervey, and Dixie Carter as executive producers.
  6. ^ Keller, Wade (2011-06-16). "Keller's TNA Impact report 6/16: Ongoing coverage of Slammiversary fallout on Spike TV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-08-19.
  7. ^ "TNA News: Eric Bischoff and David Hasselhoff together at last?".
  8. ^ "Bischoff Hervey invests in MX Gaming". 28 December 2012. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  9. ^ . In 2007 Hervey pitched an idea of "Who wants to be the next Batman". Confessions of a Teen Idol's VH1 Page
edit