Jeffrey Alan Combs (born September 9, 1954)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Herbert West in the Re-Animator film series (1985–2003) and portraying multiple characters in the Star Trek universe, most notably Brunt and the various Weyouns on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994–1999) and Thy'lek Shran on Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005).
Jeffrey Combs | |
|---|---|
 Combs at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2022 | |
| Born | September 9, 1954 Oxnard, California, U.S. |
| Education | Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
Combs has been a prominent figure within the horror genre through most of his career, acting in eight films directed by Re-Animator director Stuart Gordon, such as From Beyond (1986), The Pit and the Pendulum (1991) and Castle Freak (1995). His other horror film appearances include Necronomicon (1993), Peter Jackson's The Frighteners (1996), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), House on Haunted Hill (1999) and Would You Rather (2012). As a voice actor, he is best known as the voice of Question on Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) and Ratchet on Transformers: Prime (2010–2013).[2]
Early life
editCombs was born in Oxnard, California, the fifth of nine children[3] born to Jean Owens (formerly Sullins; 1921–1986) and Eugene "Gene" Combs (1922–1999), and raised in Lompoc. Both of his parents were from the Ozarks region of Arkansas.[4] A graduate of Lompoc High School, as a senior, Combs played the lead role of Captain Fisby in a stage production of The Teahouse of the August Moon. Combs then attended Santa Maria's Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and later developed his acting skills in the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington.[5]
In 1980, after several years performing in playhouses on the West Coast, Combs moved to Los Angeles. He landed his first role in the film Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), playing an unnamed drive-in teller. His first horror film role came two years later in Frightmare (1983).[6][self-published source?]
Career
editCombs's best-known horror role is Herbert West, the main character in the film Re-Animator (1985),[7] and its two sequels.[2] He portrayed author H. P. Lovecraft (creator of the Herbert West character) in the film Necronomicon: Book of the Dead (1993) and has starred in eight H.P. Lovecraft adaptations. Other film credits include The Attic Expeditions (2001), FeardotCom (2002), House on Haunted Hill (1999), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) and The Frighteners (1996).[8]
Combs has had roles in many science fiction television series. He starred as the telepath Harriman Gray in first-season episode "Eyes" (1994) of Babylon 5. In 2001, he played the sinister Dr. Ek in The Attic Expeditions. In August 2005, he appeared for the first time on the science fiction series The 4400 as Dr. Kevin Burkhoff which had become a recurring role by 2006. In early 2007, he played a highly fictionalized Edgar Allan Poe in "The Black Cat" episode of Masters of Horror.[9] In the 2012 miniseries Dorothy and the Witches of Oz (sometimes called The Witches of Oz), he had a small role as a highly fictionalized L. Frank Baum.
Combs has also worked as a voiceover artist. His voiceover roles include the Scarecrow in The New Batman Adventures, the Question in Justice League Unlimited, Ratchet in Transformers: Prime, the Leader in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Rat King in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Brainiac in Injustice 2.[8] He also narrated the 25th anniversary of Re-Animator at the 2010 FanTasia.[10]
In July 2009, Combs returned to his stage roots and reprised his role as Edgar Allan Poe in a one-man theatrical show, Nevermore...an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, at The Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, California.[11] Although it was supposed to run for only a month, it enjoyed much success and sold-out crowds, and was extended four times, until closing in Los Angeles on December 19, 2009. The show had its East Coast debut on January 23 and 24, 2010 at Westminster Hall in Baltimore, MD, Poe's final resting place.[12] A tour of the Saturn Award-nominated[13] Nevermore was subsequently planned.[14]
Combs starred with Andrew Divoff in the 2012 Screen Media Films release Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation, a prequel to the 2006 film Night of the Living Dead 3D directed by Jeff Broadstreet. In 2012, he also played the sadistic Dr. Lambrick in another horror-thriller, Would You Rather.[8]
Star Trek
editOn television, Combs enjoyed popular success playing a number of alien characters on the various modern Star Trek incarnations, beginning with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1994, and continuing to Star Trek: Voyager in 2000, Star Trek: Enterprise in 2001 and Star Trek: Lower Decks in 2021. He has played nine onscreen roles in the Star Trek universe. His largest science-fiction role to date was his regular guest role on Deep Space Nine as the Vorta clone Weyoun. Combs has said that Weyoun was his favorite Star Trek role, and that he had considerable input in developing the character.[15]
On the same series, Combs had a recurring role as the Ferengi character Brunt. During the DS9 episode "The Dogs of War", he appeared as both Weyoun and Brunt, becoming one of the few Star Trek actors to play two characters in the same episode (others including Patrick Stewart[16] and Brian Markinson[17]). Combs wanted the characters to appear in the same scene, but the logistics and expense worked against it.[18]
On Enterprise, Combs had a recurring role as Shran, an Andorian military officer. Enterprise producer Manny Coto once said in an interview that he had hoped to make Combs a regular on Enterprise had the series been renewed for a fifth season.[19]
In addition to his recurring Star Trek roles, Combs had non-recurring roles as human police officer Kevin Mulkahey,[20] alien Tiron on Deep Space Nine, alien Penk on Voyager, and Ferengi pirate Krem on Enterprise. Along with many other actors, writers and creators of the show, Combs also had a cameo appearance as a holographic patron in Vic's Lounge in the final episode of Deep Space Nine. He also voices the character of Romulan Commander Suldok for the Star Trek: Elite Force II video game.[citation needed] In 2021, he had a guest voice role as AGIMUS, an evil computer, in episode 7, season 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, which he reprised in seasons 3 and 4.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Drive-In Teller | ||
| Whose Life Is It Anyway? | 1st-Year Intern | |||
| 1983 | Frightmare | Stu | ||
| The Skin of Our Teeth | Henry Antrobus | |||
| The Man with Two Brains | Dr. Jones | |||
| 1985 | Re-Animator | Herbert West | ||
| 1986 | From Beyond | Crawford Tillinghast | ||
| 1987 | Cyclone | Rick Davenport | ||
| 1988 | Cellar Dweller | Colin Childress | ||
| Dead Man Walking | Chaz | |||
| The Phantom Empire | Andrew Paris | Direct-to-video | ||
| Pulse Pounders | Johnathan | |||
| 1990 | Bride of Re-Animator | Herbert West | ||
| Robot Jox | Spectator, Prole | |||
| 1991 | The Guyver | Dr. East | ||
| Death Falls | Lonnie Hawks | |||
| The Pit and the Pendulum | Francisco, The Inquisitor | |||
| Trancers II | Dr. Pyle | |||
| 1992 | Doctor Mordrid | Dr. Mordrid | ||
| Fortress | "D-Day" | |||
| 1993 | Necronomicon | H. P. Lovecraft | ||
| 1994 | Love and a .45 | Bob "Dinosaur Bob" | ||
| Lurking Fear | Dr. Haggis | |||
| 1995 | Castle Freak | John Reilly | ||
| Felony | Bill Knight | |||
| Cyberstalker aka The Digital Prophet | Andy Coberman | |||
| Dillinger and Capone | Gilroy | Direct-to-video | ||
| 1996 | The Frighteners | Special Agent Milton Dammers | ||
| Norma Jean & Marilyn | Montgomery Clift | |||
| 1997 | Time Tracers | Dr. Carrington | ||
| Snide and Prejudice | Therapist Meissner | |||
| 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Mr. Brooks | ||
| Caught Up | Security Guard | |||
| Spoiler | Captain | |||
| 1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | ||
| Poseidon's Fury: Escape From the Lost City | Lord Darkennon | Short film | ||
| 2000 | Faust: Love of the Damned | Lieutenant Dan Margolies | ||
| 2001 | The Attic Expeditions | Dr. Ek | ||
| 2002 | FeardotCom | Detective Sykes | ||
| Contagion | Brown | |||
| 2003 | Beyond Re-Animator | Herbert West | ||
| 2005 | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy | Dr. Preston King | ||
| All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos | Thomas White | |||
| Edmond | Desk Clerk | |||
| 2006 | Satanic | Detective Joyner | ||
| Voodoo Moon | Frank Taggert | Television film | ||
| Abominable | Buddy, The Clerk | |||
| Blackwater Valley Exorcism | Sheriff Jimmy Fleck | |||
| 2007 | Return to House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | ||
| The Wizard of Gore | The Geek | |||
| Brutal | Sheriff Jimmy Fleck | Direct-to-video | ||
| The Attackmen | Mr. Simms | |||
| Stuck | 911 Operator | Voice | ||
| 2008 | Parasomnia | Detective Garrett | ||
| 2009 | The Dunwich Horror | Wilbur Whateley | Television film | |
| Dark House | Walston Rey | |||
| 2010 | American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James | Ed Bass | ||
| 2012 | Elf-Man | Mickey | ||
| Would You Rather | Shepard Lambrick | |||
| Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation | Harold Tovar | |||
| 2013 | Motivational Growth | The Mold | Voice | |
| Favor | Tad Harrison | |||
| Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising | Ratchet | Voice, television film[21] | ||
| 2014 | Suburban Gothic | Dr. Carpenter | ||
| Beethoven's Treasure Tail | Fritz Bruchschnauser / Howard Belch | |||
| 2016 | Unbelievable!!!!! | Male Larrisha | ||
| 2017 | Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom | King Abdul | Voice, direct-to-video[21] | |
| 2018 | Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Vic Sage / Question | Voice, direct-to-video | |
| Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness | H. P. Lovecraft | Voice, direct-to-video[21] | ||
| 2019 | Holiday Hell | The Shopkeeper | Direct-to-video | |
| In Search of Darkness | Himself | Documentary film | [22] | |
| 2020 | In Search of Darkness: Part II | Himself | Documentary film | |
| 2021 | Age of Stone and Sky: The Sorcerer Beast | Far Seeing Crow | ||
| 2022 | Enough Sleep | Henry | Voice, short film | |
| 2023 | Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham | Kirk Langstrom | Voice, direct-to-video | [23][21] |
| Butch vs. Sundance | Charles Siringo | |||
| Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch | Charles Siringo | |||
| Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls | Bartok the Great | |||
| 2024 | Stream | Mr. Lockwood | [24][25][26] | |
| Watchmen Chapter 1 | Moloch the Mystic / Edgar Jacobi, British Newscaster, Photographer #1 | Voice, direct-to-Video | [27] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Mississippi | Military cadet | Episode: "We Remember, We Revere" |
| 1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Python | Episode: "No Way Down" |
| Houston Knights | Frank Stark | Episode: "Lady Smoke" | |
| 1988 | Jake and the Fatman | Alan Shuba | Episode: "What is This Thing Called Love" |
| Incredibly Strange Film Show | Himself | Episode: "Tsui Hark and Stuart Gordon" | |
| 1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Ralph | Episode: "Love Stinks" |
| Life Goes On | Burk Clifton | Episode: "Invasion of the Thatcher Snatchers" | |
| Hunter | James Wilkins | Episode: "Fatal Obsession, Part 2" | |
| 1991 | The Flash | Jimmy Swain | Episode: "Captain Cold" |
| Sisters | Derek Cotts | Episode: "Protective Measures" | |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 | Harriman Gray | Episode: "Eyes" |
| 1994–1999 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Brunt, Weyoun, Tiron | 33 episodes |
| 1995 | The Single Guy | Klein | Episode: "The Virgin" |
| Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Roger "Sheck" Shector | Episode: "A Quartet Of Creatures" | |
| 1996 | Perversions of Science | Prisoner #50557 | Episode: "The Exile" |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures | Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow | Voice, episode: "Never Fear"[21] |
| 1998 | The Net | Max Copernicus | Episode: "Lunatic Fringe" |
| 1999 | FreakyLinks | Coroner | Episode: "Subject: Live Fast, Die Young" |
| 2000 | Martial Law | Antoine Trembel | Episode: "In the Dark" |
| Star Trek: Voyager | Penk | Episode: "Tsunkatse" | |
| 2001–2005 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Shran, Krem | 11 episodes |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone | Harry Radditch | Episode: "The Placebo Effect" |
| She Spies | Indigo | Episode: "The Replacement" | |
| 2003 | Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Dr. Zellner, Professor | Voice, 2 episodes |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Dale Sterling | Episode: "Jackpot" | |
| 2004–2006 | Justice League Unlimited | Vic Sage / Question | Voice, 5 episodes[21] |
| Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Gyrus Krinkle | Voice, 2 episodes[21] | |
| 2005–2007 | The 4400 | Dr. Kevin Burkoff | 15 episodes |
| 2006 | Masters of Horror | Edgar Allan Poe | Episode: "The Black Cat" |
| 2008 | Cold Case | Sly Borden | Episode: "Spiders" |
| 2009 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Chuck Brown / Kite Man | Voice, episode: "Long Arm of the Law!"[21] |
| 2010–2011 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Professor Hatecraft | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes | Samuel Sterns / Leader | Voice, 5 episodes[21] |
| 2010–2013 | Transformers: Prime | Ratchet, MECH #1 | Voice, 56 episodes[21] |
| 2012 | Thundercats | Soul Sever | Voice, episode: "The Soul Sever" |
| Femme Fatales | Interrogator | Voice, episode: "Killer Instinct" | |
| 2012–2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Victor Falco / Rat King | Voice, 4 episodes[21] |
| 2013 | DC Nation – Doom Patrol | Chief | Voice, 3 episodes[21] |
| 2014 | Criminal Minds | John Nichols | Episode: "The Black Queen" |
| Ben 10: Omniverse | Kuphulu | Voice, 2 episodes[21] | |
| 2015 | Gotham | Office Manager | 2 episodes |
| Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. | Mainframe | Voice, episode: "Wheels of Fury"[21] | |
| 2016 | Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Ratchet | Voice, 2 episodes[21] |
| 2017 | Stan Against Evil | Impish Man | Episode: "Girls' Night" |
| 2018–2020 | Tigtone | Prince Lavender | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2019 | Pandora | Berman Livingston | Episode: "Hurricane" |
| Creepshow | Reinhard | Segment: "Bad Wolf Down" | |
| 2021–2023 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | AGIMUS | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Dota: Dragon's Blood | Father | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2023 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Wally | Voice, episode: "Wallhalla" |
| Ollie & Scoops | Edgar Grimson | Voice, episode: "A Night at Claudia's" | |
| 2024 | Masters of the Universe: Revolution | Zodac | Voice, episode: "The Scepter and the Sword" |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars | Weyoun |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Elite Force II | Commander Suldok |
| Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu | Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow[21] | |
| 2012 | The Secret World | Hayden Montag, Charles Zurn |
| Transformers: Prime – The Game | Ratchet[21] | |
| 2013 | Imperium Galactic War | Novus Ordo, Narrator |
| Lego Marvel Super Heroes | Samuel Sterns / Leader | |
| 2017 | Injustice 2 | Brainiac[21] |
| 2018 | Star Trek Online: Victory Is Life | Weyoun[21] |
| Lego DC Super-Villains | Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow, Chuck Brown / Kite Man |
References
edit- ^ "The Birthday Bunch". The Spokane Spokesman-Review. February 2, 2024. p. A4. ProQuest 2864808674.
Actor Angela Cartwright is 71. Astronaut Lee Morin is 71. Actor Jeffrey Combs is 69. Actor Hugh Grant is 63.
- ^ a b "Jeffrey Combs". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ The Shuttlepod Show (March 13, 2022). "Shuttlepod Episode 004: "That's Shrantastic!" with Jeffrey Combs". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
- ^ The Shuttlepod Show (March 13, 2022). "Shuttlepod Episode 004: "That's Shrantastic!" with Jeffrey Combs". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
- ^ Olson, Christopher J. (April 12, 2018). 100 Greatest Cult Films. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-1104-9.
- ^ Rowan, Terry (August 16, 2014). The Book of the Undead A Zombie Film Guide. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-312-43947-4.[self-published source]
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 18, 1985). "Re Animator (1985) SCREEN: STUART GORDON DIRECTS 'RE-ANIMATOR'". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Mcivar, Brice (August 9, 2011). "Q&A: Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Jeffrey Combs, Star of "The Black Cat" Archived June 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, UGO
- ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 5 Through 9". July 16, 2010.
- ^ Stebe Allen Theater – Nevermore
- ^ Baltimore Poe Bicentennial Celebration Archived December 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 10 and 11". October 18, 2012.
- ^ "Nevermore Heading to San Diego for Two Performances". July 18, 2012.
- ^ Jeffrey Combs (2004). StarTrek.com First Person. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ^ Jean-Luc Picard and Michael Williams, see The Defector
- ^ Peter Durst and Sulan, see the Filmography section
- ^ "Star Trek Online Community Q&A with Jeffrey Combs!". April 24, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ Pascale, Anthony (August 10, 2009). "VegasCon09: Braga & Coto Talk Enterprise Season 5 + Star Trek 2009 & more". Las Vegas, Nevada: TrekMovie.com. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Startrek.com Deep Space Nine – Far Beyond the Stars
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Jeffrey Combs (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 9, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Miska, Brad (March 22, 2019). "Exclusive Clip: John Carpenter Joins '80s Horror Documentary 'In Search of Darkness'!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (December 6, 2022). "'Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham' Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Millican, Josh (September 3, 2021). "Gallery: New Vacation Horror 'Stream' Coming Soon From the Producers of 'Terrifier 2'". Dread Central. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ Squires, John (September 10, 2021). "From the Team Behind 'Terrifier 2' Comes Horror Movie 'Stream' Starring Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Combs!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ Gingold, Michael (September 14, 2021). "Exclusive Interview: Director Michael Leavy on His All-Horror-Star Movie "Stream"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Watchmen Chapter I: Exclusive Trailer, Voice Cast, Boxart and Release Date". July 10, 2024.
Bibliography
edit- Voisin, Scott, Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
External links
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