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Jeffrey Combs

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For the businessman, see Jeffrey F. Combs.

Jeffrey Combs
Combs at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2022
Born (1954-09-09) September 9, 1954 (age 70)
Oxnard, California, U.S.
EducationPacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts
Alma materUniversity of Washington
OccupationActor
Years active1971–present

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).

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

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Combs 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

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Combs'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

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On 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

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Film

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b "Jeffrey Combs". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
  3. ^ The Shuttlepod Show (March 13, 2022). "Shuttlepod Episode 004: "That's Shrantastic!" with Jeffrey Combs". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
  4. ^ The Shuttlepod Show (March 13, 2022). "Shuttlepod Episode 004: "That's Shrantastic!" with Jeffrey Combs". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Olson, Christopher J. (April 12, 2018). 100 Greatest Cult Films. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-1104-9.
  6. ^ 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]
  7. ^ Maslin, Janet (October 18, 1985). "Re Animator (1985) SCREEN: STUART GORDON DIRECTS 'RE-ANIMATOR'". The New York Times.
  8. ^ a b c Mcivar, Brice (August 9, 2011). "Q&A: Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  9. ^ Jeffrey Combs, Star of "The Black Cat" Archived June 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, UGO
  10. ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 5 Through 9". July 16, 2010.
  11. ^ Stebe Allen Theater – Nevermore
  12. ^ Baltimore Poe Bicentennial Celebration Archived December 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 10 and 11". October 18, 2012.
  14. ^ "Nevermore Heading to San Diego for Two Performances". July 18, 2012.
  15. ^ Jeffrey Combs (2004). StarTrek.com First Person. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  16. ^ Jean-Luc Picard and Michael Williams, see The Defector
  17. ^ Peter Durst and Sulan, see the Filmography section
  18. ^ "Star Trek Online Community Q&A with Jeffrey Combs!". April 24, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Startrek.com Deep Space Nine – Far Beyond the Stars
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ Miska, Brad (March 22, 2019). "Exclusive Clip: John Carpenter Joins '80s Horror Documentary 'In Search of Darkness'!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  23. ^ Couch, Aaron (December 6, 2022). "'Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham' Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  24. ^ Millican, Josh (September 3, 2021). "Gallery: New Vacation Horror 'Stream' Coming Soon From the Producers of 'Terrifier 2'". Dread Central. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ Gingold, Michael (September 14, 2021). "Exclusive Interview: Director Michael Leavy on His All-Horror-Star Movie "Stream"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  27. ^ "Watchmen Chapter I: Exclusive Trailer, Voice Cast, Boxart and Release Date". July 10, 2024.

Bibliography

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  • Voisin, Scott, Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
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