David Naughton

• Name — David Naughton • Birth Name — David Walsh Naughton • Birthplace — West Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. • Born — 13 February 1951 • Education — * London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art[5] • University of Pennsylvania • Years Active — 1974–present • Relatives — James Naughton (brother) • Children — 2

Naughton was born on February 13, 1951, in West Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary (née Walsh) and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers. He is the younger of two boys; his older brother is theater and film actor James Naughton. His family is Irish American.[3] Naughton attended the University of Pennsylvania[4] and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He earned a soccer scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania where he studied drama and graduated in 1973.[6] He then moved to London to further his acting training. After two years in London, he moved to New York where he worked as a waiter and pursued his acting career.

Naughton's professional acting debut was in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Hamlet starring Sam Waterston.[7] Naughton subsequently found steady work in various other local theater productions. He was an assistant state manager and understudy for the Broadway production of Hugh Leonard's Da.[8] Naughton first became widely known as a result of his four-year stint (1977–1981) singing and dancing in television commercials and personal appearances to promote Dr Pepper.[9] The commercials were considered creative and wildly popular. They involved Naughton dancing and singing in a Broadway musical style while handing out bottles of the beverage to people who then followed his lead Pied Piper style. The commercials won numerous Clio awards and involved a multitude of celebrities from Mickey Rooney and Jimmie Walker to Fred Flintstone and Popeye. By 1981, Naughton was at the height of his success as a soft drink spokesperson but he wanted to try other ventures and decided to end his role in the commercials. Though the main commercial stint ended in 1981, Naughton occasionally returned to the pitchman role for the soft drink. In 1988, he did a commercial for Diet Dr. Pepper that was reminiscent of the earlier commercials. In 2010, Naughton joined a flash mob singing the iconic jingle at the New York Stock Exchange. Naughton's popularity from the Dr Pepper commercials led to him being cast as the star of the sitcom Makin' It. In 1979, he also recorded the show's theme song, also titled "Makin' It.", which peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. A US million-selling disc, the track also peaked at #44 in the UK Singles Chart.[10] The sitcom itself was less successful and lasted only nine episodes but his career continued to blossom. The next year, he starred in his first film, the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980). Naughton then had a starring role in a higher-profile film: An American Werewolf in London (1981). The film was directed by John Landis, who had already made a name for himself with National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) and The Blues Brothers (1980). An American Werewolf in London was a comedy-horror film whose special effects and make-up (used to show the werewolf metamorphosis) were particularly innovative for their time.[11] Rick Baker's make-up work won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup at the 54th Academy Awards. The film was a critical and box-office hit.[12] After the success of An American Werewolf in London, Naughton continued to work steadily, but never regained the same level of success. He appeared in various lesser known movies, as well as smaller roles in numerous episodes of television shows including MacGyver, Melrose Place, Murder, She Wrote, JAG and Seinfeld. From 1986 to 1988, Naughton had a recurring role on My Sister Sam as Jack Kincaid, the goofy ex-boyfriend of the series' main character Sam Russell (Pam Dawber). Naughton appeared in 19 episodes.[13] The series had a strong first season but was cancelled due to low ratings in its second season.[14] The following year, series co-star Rebecca Schaefer was murdered at her apartment by Robert John Bardo, a stalker who had pursued her for three years. In the wake of the tragedy, several actors from the sitcom including Naughton did a PSA to raise awareness of handgun violence.[15]

Naughton has been married four times and divorced three times. In 2008, he was arrested for domestic violence in Henderson, Nevada.[16]

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1974 — Planet of the Apes — Dr. Stole — Episode: "The Surgeon" • 1976 — Muggsy — Danny Atwater — Episode: "Hit and Run" • The Other Side of Victory — Michael Dooley — Television film • 1979 — Makin' It — Billy Manucci — 9 episodes • 1981 — Fridays — Himself/Host — Episode: "David Naughton/Billy & the Beaters" • 1982 — I, Desire — David Balsiger — Television film • 1983 — The Love Boat — Edwin Winnaker — Episode: "Fountain of Youth/Bad Luck Cabin/Uncle Daddy" • At Ease — Pfc. Tony Baker — 14 episodes • 1984 — Getting Physical — Mickey Ritter — Television film • 1986–1988 — My Sister Sam — Jack Kincaid — 44 episodes • 1988 — Goddess of Love — Ted Beckman — Television film • Murder, She Wrote — Ken Parrish — Episode: "Wearing of the Green" • 1989 — The Twilight Zone — John Sellig — Episode: "Special Service" • 1991 — The Belles of Bleeker Street — Chris — Episode: "Pilot" • MacGyver — LaManna — Episode: "Honest Abe" • Seinfeld — Dick — Episode: "The Red Dot" • 1993 — Body Bags — Pete — Television film • Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's — Brad — Television film • 1994 — Diagnosis: Murder — Harry Gelson — Episode: "My Four Husbands" • 1994–1995 — Turbocharged Thunderbirds — Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, additional voices — Voice, 8 episodes • 1996 — Melrose Place — Lou Chandler — Episode: "Run, Billy, Run" • Touched by an Angel — Michael Russell — Episode: "Birthmarks" • Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. — Norm Kipper — 2 episodes • 1997 — Cybill — Andy — 2 episodes • 1998 — Chance of a Lifetime — Art Haber — Television film • Silk Stalkings — Max Behring — Episode: "Ramone, P.I." • 1999 — V.I.P. — Roy — Episode: "K-Val" • Chicken Soup for the Soul — Paul Dinsman — Episode: "It's Never Too Late" • 2000–2001 — JAG — Det. Grady — 2 episodes • 2001 — ER — Ben Stevens — Episode: "Thy Will Be Done" • Kate Brasher — Ames — Episode: "Tracy" • Out of the Wilderness — Professor Byrd — Television film • The Nightmare Room — Mr. Ryan — Episode: "Tangled Web" • 2002 — Justice League — The Streak — Voice, episode: "Legends" • 2005 — Higglytown Heroes — Orchestra Conductor Hero — Voice, episode: "Higgly Harmonies" • Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder — Steven — Television film • 2009 — Psych — Ken Tucker — Episode: "Let's Get Hairy" • 2010 — Big Love — Mr. Usher — Episode: "Next Ticket Out" • 2011 — The Mentalist — Neurologist — Episode: "Fugue in Red" • 2012 — Major Crimes — State Senator McAustin — Episode: "The Shame Game" • 2013 — Grey's Anatomy — Nick Parker — Episode: "Transplant Wasteland" • Holliston — Mark Ward — Episode: "Joe's Soda" • 2013–2015 — Granite Flats — Millard Whittison — 23 episodes • 2015 — American Horror Story — Mr. Samuels — Episode: "Mommy" • 2017 — Sharknado 5: Global Swarming — Ambassador Kessler — Television film • 2018 — SuperMansion — Himself — Voice, episode: "Comicarnage" • 2019 — Rediscovering Christmas — Harry — Television film

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2005 — Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure — Manfred • 2006 — Marvel Ultimate Alliance — Mister Fantastic • 2016 — Fallout 4: WRVR — Traveler • 2017 — Saga of the Nine Worlds — Guard Captain — The Four Stags Collector's Edition • 2018 — Project Pro Skater — God

• Year — Title — Role — Location — Other work/notes • 1975–1976 — Hamlet — Francisco Player Queen Ensemble — Vivian Beaumont Theater — Understudy for Osric • 1978–1980 — Da — Morosco Theatre — Assistant Stage Manager Understudy for Young Charlie Tynan