Courtney Gains
Courtney Gains (born August 22, 1965) is an American character actor best known for his portrayal of Malachai in the 1984 horror movie Children of the Corn.
Courtney Gains

Sam Howzit · Courtney Gains · CC BY 2.0
- Born
- 22 August 1965
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, US
- Occupation
- Actor
- Nationality
- United States
- Education
- John Marshall High School
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q1137839 · wikipedia · Courtney Gains
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
The documentary record
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Institutions cited
Bibliothèque nationale de France
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Key facts
Key facts
• Born — 22 August 1965 • Birthplace — Los Angeles, California, US • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1984–present
Documentary record
Courtney Gains, born on 22 August 1965, is documented in the authority records of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The birth is recorded by the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
Career
Career
Gains achieved success during the 1980s with a variety of roles in films such as Children of the Corn, Hardbodies, Lust in the Dust, Back to the Future, Can't Buy Me Love, Secret Admirer, Colors, The 'Burbs, and Memphis Belle. Later films include Sweet Home Alabama, Dorm Daze (which he also executive-produced), Desolation Canyon, and a cameo in Rob Zombie's Halloween remake. In addition to his film work, Gains appeared in the video games Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger, LA Noire and guest-starred on episodes of various television series, including Seinfeld, Monk, In the Heat of the Night, ER, JAG, Nash Bridges, Diagnosis: Murder, Charmed, Alias and My Name is Earl. Gains has also worked as an acting coach. Gains worked as a musician and once performed live on stage with Phish, appearing at the band's December 6, 1996 concert in Las Vegas, which was later released on CD as Vegas 96. Gains has since released a solo album.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1984 — CBS Schoolbreak Special — Joe Newbolt — Episode: "Welcome Home, Jellybean" • 1984 — Call to Glory — Dave Jensen — Episode: "A Nation Divided" • 1985 — Misfits of Science — Mechanic — Episode: "Twin Engines" • 1987 — Starman — Bo — Episode: "The Test" • 21 Jump Street — Birch — Episode: "Blindsided" • 1988 — Vietnam War Story — Albertson — Episode: "The Fragging" • Superboy — Jeff Hilford — Episode: "The Russian Exchange Student" • The Judge — Jody Haney — Episode: "Mountain Grown" • 1989 — CBS Summer Playhouse — Silas — Episode: "Shivers" • 1993 — FBI: The Untold Stories — Kirby Anthony — Episode: "Breakpoint" • Seinfeld — The Clerk — Episode: "The Smelly Car" • In the Heat of the Night — Coley Hiffern — Episode: "Hatton's Turn: Part 1 & 2" • Bakersfield P.D. — Doug — Episode: "The Poker Game" • Tales from the Crypt — Frat Boy — Episode: "House of Horror" • 1994 — Rebel Highway — Deputy 1 — Episode: "Runaway Daughters" • ER — Ronnie — Episode: "ER Confidential" • 1995 — Legend — Asa — Episode: "Knee-High Noon" • 1996 — JAG — Pete — Episode: "Survivors" • Silk Stalkings — Norman Harrison — Episode: "Divorce, Palm Beach Style" • Pacific Blue — Jim-Joe — Episode: "Cranked Up" • 1997 — Nash Bridges — Unknown Role — Episode: "Payback" • Diagnosis: Murder — Dwayne Roberts — Episode: "Slam Dunk Dead" • 1998 — Brooklyn South — Joe Beldon — Episode: "Don't You Be My Valentine" • Arli$$ — Dealer — Episode: "His Name Is Arliss Michaels" • 2000 — Charmed — D.J., Bane's Right Hand — Episode: "Ms. Hellfire" • 2002 — Fastlane — Detective Guthrie — Episode: "Girls Own Juice" • 2003 — Alias — Holden Gemler — Episode: "The Getaway" • 2003–2004 — The Guardian — Roy Cantwell — Guest: Season 2, Recurring Cast: Season 3 • 2006 — NCIS — Gary Silverstein — Episode: "Escaped" • 2008 — Monk — Frank Nunn — Episode: "Mr. Monk Is on the Run: Part 1 & 2" • My Name Is Earl — Lloyd — Episode: "Sold a Guy a Lemon Car" • 2009 — CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Stan Gerber — Episode: "Death and the Maiden" • 2011 — Southland — Unknown Role — Episode: "Graduation Day" • 2013 — Franklin & Bash — Lyle — Episode: "By the Numbers" • 2014 — Switched at Birth — Donny — Episode: "The Past (Forgotten-Swallowed)" • Bones — The Super — Episode: "The Nail in the Coffin" • The Middle — Phil — Episode: "Orlando" • We Are Angels — Parro — Recurring Cast • Perception — Officer James McKenzie — Episode: "Prologue" • Ride the Lightning — "Red" Russo — Episode: "Vengeance Part 3" • 2015 — Hell's Kitty — Mordicia — Episode: "The Medium" • Texas Rising — Cole Hornfischer — Recurring Cast • 2016 — It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia — Roach — Episode: "The Gang Hits the Slopes" • Criminal Minds — Todd Burton — Episode: "Keeper" • 2022 — Tales — Richard — Episode: "Put It on Me" • 2023 — Paul T. Goldman — Royce — Episode: "Royce Auditioner"
Video Games
Video Games
• Year — Title — Role • 1994 — Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger — Lieutenant Ted "Radio" Rollins (voice) • 2011 — L.A. Noire — Eli Rooney (voice) • 2023 — Grand Theft Auto Online: The Last Dose — Labrat (voice)
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1984 — Children of the Corn — Malachai • Hardbodies — "Rag" • 1985 — Lust in the Dust — Richard "Red Dick" Barker • Secret Admirer — Doug • Back to the Future — Dixon • The Orkly Kid — Unknown Role — Short • 1986 — The Children of Times Square — Punk Who Robs Victor — TV movie • Ratboy — Kid In Car • 1987 — American Harvest — Chips — TV movie • Winners Take All — "Goose" Trammel • Can't Buy Me Love — Kenneth Wurman • 1988 — Colors — "Whitey" • 1989 — The 'Burbs — Hans Klopek • 1990 — Memphis Belle — Sergeant Eugene McVey • 1994 — In the Line of Duty: The Price of Vengeance — Barlow — TV movie • 1997 — Behind Enemy Lines — Church • The Killing Grounds — Vincent Reynosa — Video • Dilemma — "Tex" • 1998 — Shadow of Doubt — Ernie • The Landlady — Tyson Johns • No Code of Conduct — Cameron • 1999 — Dreamers — Mike Watt • King Cobra — Dr. Joseph McConnell — Video • A Clean Kill — Hood • 2002 — Sweet Home Alabama — Sheriff Wade • 2003 — National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze — Lorenzo "The Black Hand" • 2004 — No Ordinary Hero — W. Fritz Bean — Short • Headshot — The Writer — Short • 2005 — Freezerburn — Scooter, The Grip • 2006 — The Phobic — Dr. Cecil Westlake • Desolation Canyon — Jack McAllister — TV movie • 2007 — Halloween — Jack Kendall • 2008 — Alien Encounter — Donovan • 2009 — Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness — Benny Bliss • Shadowheart — Finch • He's Such a Girl — Barrista • 2010 — Cinema Salvation — Courtney • The Quiet Ones — Michael's Father • Raven — Danny • Faster — Prescott Ashton / Telemarketer • The Ascent — Andrew • Watch Out for Slick — Benji • 2011 — Discipline — Jack Baldwin • Poolboy: Drowning Out the Fury — Gil Highdecker • Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead — Gordon • My Trip to the Dark Side — Bobby G. — Video • 2 Flats — Tow Truck Driver — Short • 2012 — Lose Yourself — Bobby G. — Video • Ambush at Dark Canyon — Sheriff Hurley • 2013 — The House Across the Street — Ned • 2014 — My Trip Back to the Dark Side — Bobby G. • Field of Lost Shoes — Captain Chinook • 2015 — Halcyon — Robert • The Funhouse Massacre — Dennis • 2016 — Prettyface — "Shorty" — Short • The Bronx Bull — Chain Gang Guard • 2017 — It Happened One Valentine's — Freddy Craig • Trafficked — Frank Anderson • Goodnight, Gracie — Billy — Short • Urban Myths — Stanley • Allen + Millie: A Short Romance — Allen Mitchell — Short • Scramble — Rick "Canada Rick" • 2018 — Hell's Kitty — Mordicia • Corbin Nash — Detective Holloway • Deadly Crush — Lawrence • Camp Cold Brook — John Brierwitz • 2019 — The Silent Natural — "Tug" Wilson • Candy Corn — Sheriff Sam Bramford • 2020 — Await the Dawn — Dr. Hewitt • 2021 — Queen Bees — Biker • River — Dr. Michael Glenn • Haunted: 333 — Deputy Jed • Charming the Hearts of Men — Mr. Spratz • 2022 — Hellblazers — Bernard • American Bigfoot — Wesley Harlin • 2023 — The Wrath of Becky — "Twig" • 2024 — Rice Girl: My Redneck Neighbor II — Dirk Reddick
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Courtney Gains, revision 1356917960 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Loudside.com. interview with Courtney Gains. 2007-05-31.
- 2."My Name is Earl" Season 4 Preview: The Legend of Dan Coscino. 19 September 2008.
- 3.Myspace.com. Courtney on Myspace.
- 4.Phish 12/06/96 Setlist
- 5.SXSW – 'Evil Dead Rise', 'The Wrath of Becky', & 'Late Night With the Devil' to World Premiere! [Images]. Bloody Disgusting. January 11, 2023.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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