TIM MATHESON

Actor, director and producer, TIM MATHESON has come a long way since his break-out role in the timeless comedy classic, "Animal House." Through a succession of challenging film and television acting roles, as well as helming numerous directing and producing projects, Matheson has successfully embraced his, craft, both in front of and behind the camera.

Matheson is earning praise for his continued role as Vice President John Hoynes in NBC’s drama series "West Wing." He can currently be seen in Artisan’s "Van Wilder: Party Liason" as well as a role in the NBC mini-series "Judas and Jesus." He starred as John F. Kennedy in the CBS miniseries, "Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis." The telefilm was based on best-selling author Donald Spoto’s book, "Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life," which examined Kennedy’s private and public life from childhood on.

A true hyphenate, Matheson continues to distinguish himself behind the camera. His film for Showtime, "In The Company of Spies," premiered last fall, and had him directing stars Tom Berenger and Ron Silver. This motion picture gave a detailed and accurate look inside the ambiguous Central Intelligence Agency. The cast and crew were given unprecedented access to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, and received a great deal of support and input for their movie from the CIA. "It [was] our intent to tell the true story of this organization - which never receives credit for the good things it does," states Matheson.

Matheson’s other roles include the motion pictures, The Story of Us, She’s All That, A Very Brady Sequel and Black Sheep, and for television, he starred opposite Daryl Hannah in the Showtime drama Rescuers: Stories of Courage-Two Families, which was executive produced by Barbara Streisand and Cis Corman. In addition, he starred in the CBS telefilm, Forever Love, opposite Reba McEntire, Christmas in My Home Town with Melissa Gilbert and Travis Tritt and An Unfinished Affair with Jennie Garth.

Raised in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley by a family far removed from the workings of the entertainment industry, Matheson immersed himself in his own world of entertainment, writing and performing mini-plays at home with friends. At a very young age, he enrolled in an acting class and immediately earned the attention of an agent.

Tim promptly landed his first television role on the series, "Window on Main Street," which in turn led to leading roles on such popular series as "The Twilight Zone," "Leave it to Beaver," "My Three Sons," and "The Mickey Rooney Show."

Gifted with unique vocal versatility, Tim gave voice to a number of Hanna-Barbera cartoon characters as well, including the voice of the popular ‘Jonny Quest.’

It wasn’t long before Matheson made his feature film debut co-starring with Debbie Reynolds and Dick Van Dyke in Divorce American Style. He followed that up with a leading role in Yours, Mine & Ours, opposite Hollywood legends Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda and Van Johnson.

Soon after, Tim joined the Marine Corps Reserves and pursued collegiate studies while under a four-year contract with Universal. During this period, he was given a role in virtually every television project Universal produced, including "The Virginian," "The Bold Ones," a pilot with Sally Field titled "Hitched," "Night Gallery," and "Bonanza."

Returning solely to his acting, Matheson began four years of intense theatrical study at the Actors and Directors Lab in Los Angeles, and held the role of Romeo in San Diego’s Shakespeare Festival, and numerous other roles in productions with Theatre Forty, a classical repertory company.

His career began building momentum with a starring role in the successful, but short-lived, dramatic series, "The Quest," and as a founding member of the well known improvisational troupe called the Groundlings, performing alongside future "Saturday Night Live" star, Laraine Newman and others.

It was in John Landis’ film entitled "Animal House" that Tim truly tested his comic mettle, portraying the preppy upper-classman nicknamed Otter. The phenomenal success of the film which also starred John Belushi, Donald Sutherland and Kevin Bacon, opened vistas of opportunity for the actor.

With his career in high gear, Matheson went on to star in Steven Speilberg’s 1941, Dreamer, A Little Sex, To Be or Not To Be, Up the Creek, One For The Money, Fletch with Chevy Chase and Geena Davis, and Drop Dead Fred. He has also starred in numerous television series and films including "Tucker’s Witch," "Obsessed With A Married Woman," "Warm Hearts -Cold Feet," "Blind Justice" and "The George Burns Comedy Special." During this time, Tim also reconnected with his theatrical roots, appearing in Steve Tisch’s Division Street, Sam Shepard’s True West, and Love Letters with Shelley Long.

Making the decision to move behind the camera, Tim produced his first feature film, the Rutger Hauer action/comedy, Blind Fury, through his own production company at Warner Brothers. With partner Dan Grodnik, Tim raised funds and searched for an existing company to revitalize, choosing National Lampoon, the company which had given him a leg into comedy with "Animal House." Producing two pilots through Lampoon, Matheson also executive produced and starred in his own ABC series, "Just In Time."

In addition to performing and producing, Tim is an accomplished director. His directorial debut was made with an episode of television’s "St. Elsewhere" which then led him to direct USA Cable’s "Breach of Contract" with Peter Coyote and Courtney Thome-Smith. Recently, Matheson directed and starred in the TV thriller, "Buried Alive II," (he starred in the original "Buried Alive" which holds the distinction of being the most watched feature ever presented on USA Cable).

When not working, Tim is active on the Advisory Board of the Remedial Reading and Learning Center of South Central Los Angeles. He has competed successfully in the Los Angeles Marathon five times on behalf of the center, and also finds time to help coach his youngest daughter’s baseball team. Tim, his wife, Megan, and their three children live in Southern California.

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