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John Glover (actor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with English actor Jon Glover.

John Glover
Glover in 2024
Born (1944-08-07) August 7, 1944 (age 80)
Kingston, New York, U.S.
Alma materTowson University
OccupationActor
Years active1970–present
Spouse
Adam Kurtzman
​
(m. 2016)​

John Glover (/ˈɡlʌvər/ born August 7, 1944[1]) is an American actor, known for a range of villainous roles in films and television, including Daniel Clamp in Gremlins 2: The New Batch and Lionel Luthor in Smallville. He is also the voice of Riddler in the DC Animated Universe.

Early life

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Glover was born in Kingston, New York,[2] and raised in Salisbury, Maryland. His father was a television salesman.[3][4] Glover attended Wicomico High School and acted at Towson University.[5][6]

Glover began his career at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, and later studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas.[7]

Career

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Glover began his career in television, playing a mentally disturbed kidnapper who kidnapped Joanne, the lead character in Search for Tomorrow. One of his early film performances was a role as a U.S. diplomat in White Nights. His other roles include Alan Raimy in 52 Pick-Up, Bryce Cummings in Scrooged, Tony Gateworth in Masquerade, Daniel Clamp in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, a mobster in Payback, an advertising spokesman in RoboCop 2, Derek Mills in Night of the Running Man, the Riddler in Batman: The Animated Series, Doctor Jason Woodrue in Batman & Robin, Verad in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Invasive Procedures", the Devil in the series Brimstone, and a recurring role in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd as Cousin Jerry, from Bal'mer, a relative whom no one actually seemed to know.

In 1987, he appeared in the Miami Vice episode "Lend Me an Ear" as Steve Duddy. He also appeared in two episodes of Murder, She Wrote, "One White Rose for Death" and "When Thieves Fall Out". He appeared in the television film An Early Frost in 1985, the first TV film to confront the issue of AIDS, and received an Emmy nomination for his performance as a gay AIDS patient.[8] In 1986, he appeared in the TV film Apology with Lesley Ann Warren.

Glover at the 1991 Emmy Awards

He appeared in the role of Max Brodsky, an inmate in concentration camps and later a fighter for Israel's independence, in Ian Sharp's 1989 TV miniseries Twist of Fate (also known as Pursuit). That same year, he played a hard-driving, low-on-morals district sales manager in HBO's Traveling Man. He also received a 1994 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his appearance in Frasier.[8]

Glover is perhaps best known for his role as Lionel Luthor on Smallville from 2001 to 2008 where he first appeared as a guest actor in the show's first season and then appeared as a full cast member from seasons two to seven. He later returned in 2010 and 2011 for the tenth and final season as a parallel universe version of the character.[9]

He had a small appearance in the Woody Allen film Annie Hall (1977) in a flashback in which he tells the title character, "Touch my heart. With your foot." He had a recurring role in Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Declan Gage, an old friend and mentor to Detective Robert Goren. On ABC's Brothers & Sisters he played Henry (the boyfriend of Saul Holden) in 2009. In Heroes he had a brief appearance as Samson Gray, the father of Sylar.

He had made notable appearances on stage, winning a Tony Award for Featured Actor in a Play for his dual roles in the Broadway play Love! Valour! Compassion!, which he reprised in the film version. In 2004, he performed with the Philadelphia Theatre Company staging of Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?

He also appeared as "man in the chair/narrator" in The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway during the summer of 2007. He played the role of Lucky in a Broadway production of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, for which he earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play. In 2014, he appeared as Leonato in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Much Ado About Nothing.[10]

He played Telemachus in Yuri Rasovsky's Peabody Award-winning radio dramatization of The Odyssey of Homer and has played in several radio plays of the LA Theatre Works. Glover is receiving increasing recognition for narrating audiobooks. In 2011, he performed the audiobook version of Ghost Story, the thirteenth novel in Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files series. In October/November 2011, he performed in David Bar Katz's drama The Atmosphere of Memory at the Bank Street Theatre in New York City, co-starring with Ellen Burstyn in a LAByrinth production. He played the role of Uncle Ben in the 2012 Broadway production of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, directed by Mike Nichols. He is seen rehearsing the role of John Kreese in behind-the-scenes pre-production footage from The Karate Kid, indicating he may have been considered for that role.[11] In 2013, Glover starred in the horror anthology Sanitarium. He also guest-starred in an episode of Agent Carter.[12] Glover has done various voice-over work for several projects related to Tron: Legacy: the villain Abraxas in Tron: Evolution, and Dyson in Tron: Uprising. In 2014, he guest-starred on The Blacklist in the episode titled "Berlin".

Personal life

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Glover is gay. He married sculptor Adam Kurtzman in 2016,[13] whom he had been dating since 1993.[14] According to Glover, he slept with Freddie Mercury in the 1970s.[13]

Glover is involved with the Alzheimer's Association. His father had Alzheimer's disease, leading Glover to become more active in charity and activism surrounding the disorder.[14]

Glover returns to Towson annually to work with theater students.[15][16] The theater department awards a scholarship in his name.[17]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 Shamus Johnnie
1977 Annie Hall Actor Boy Friend
1977 Julia Sammy
1978 Somebody Killed Her Husband Herbert Little
1979 Last Embrace Richard Peabody
1980 The American Success Company Ernst
1980 The Mountain Men Nathan Wyeth
1980 Melvin and Howard Freese – Attorney #2
1981 The Incredible Shrinking Woman Tom Keller
1982 A Little Sex Walter
1984 The Evil That Men Do Briggs
1985 White Nights Wynn Scott
1986 A Killing Affair Sheb Sheppard
1986 52 Pick-Up Alan Raimy
1986 Willy/Milly Fred Niceman
1988 David Charles Rothenberg
1988 Masquerade Tony Gateworth
1988 Rocket Gibraltar Rolo Rockwell
1988 Scrooged Brice Cummings
1988 The Chocolate War Brother Leon
1989 Meet the Hollowheads Henry Hollowhead
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Daniel Clamp
1990 RoboCop 2 Magnavolt salesman
1993 Ed and His Dead Mother A. J. Pattle
1994 In the Mouth of Madness Saperstein
1995 Night of the Running Man Derek Mills
1995 Automatic Goddard Marx
1997 Love! Valour! Compassion! John Jeckyll, James Jeckyll
1997 Batman & Robin Dr. Jason Woodrue
1997 Medusa's Child Rogers Henry
1998 Dead Broke Sam
1997 The Broken Giant Bennett Hale
1999 Payback Phil
1999 Macbeth in Manhattan Richard, Director
2001 The Body Jesus Christ Street Actor
2001 On Edge Yuri Moskvin
2002 Mid-Century Bill Gates
2004 Tricks Ralph
2004 A Kiss at Kerouac's Grave Will
2005 The Civilization of Maxwell Bright Ogden
2013 Sanitarium Gustav Segment: "Figuratively Speaking"
2013 Sweet Talk Professor, Count
2014 Reality Zog
2015 You Bury Your Own Detective Gillespie
2016 We Go On Dr. Ellison
2019 Shazam! Mr. Sivana [18]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1975 Kojak Billy Jo Episode: "Elegy In An Asphalt Graveyard"
1984 George Washington Charles Lee Episode: "Charles Lee"
1985 ABC Afterschool Specials Mr. Stewart Episode: "Don't Touch"
1985 An Early Frost Victor DiMato Television film
1986 The Twilight Zone The Alien Ambassador Episode: "A Small Talent for War"
1986 Apology Philip Cable television film
1986 Murder, She Wrote Franz Mueller Episode: "One White Rose for Death"
1987 Nutcracker: Money, Madness and Murder Richard Behrens Episode: 1-3 (entire miniseries)
1987 Miami Vice Steve Duddy Episode: "Lend Me an Ear"
1987 Murder, She Wrote Andrew Durbin Episode: "When Thieves Fall Out"
1989 Breaking Point Dr. Gerber Television film
1989 Twist of Fate Max Brodsky TV miniseries
1989 The Hitchhiker Miles Duchet Episode: "Striptease"
1991 What Ever Happened to... Billy Korn Television film
Tales from the Crypt Sebastian Esbrook Episode: "Undertaking Palor"
1992 Drug Wars: The Cocaine Cartel Loco Garrison Television film
The Ray Bradbury Theater Walter Grip Episode: "Silent Towns"
1993 Frasier Ned Miller Episode: "Oops"
Crime & Punishment Dennis Atwood Episode: "Best Laid Plans"; nominated for Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
The Legend of Prince Valiant King Edward Voice, episode: "The Blackest Poison"
Animaniacs Rasputin Voice, episode: "Nothing but the Tooth"[19]
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Verad Episode: "Invasive Procedures"
1992–1994 Dinosaurs Babysitter, Prosecutor, Lucius Voice, 3 episodes
Batman: The Animated Series Edward Nygma / The Riddler Voice, 3 episodes[19]
1998 Superman: The Animated Series Voice, episode: "Knight Time"[19]
The New Batman Adventures Voice, episode: "Judgement Day"[19]
The Tempest Anthony Prosper
Pinky and the Brain Tycoon Voice, episode: "Pinky's Turn"[19]
1998–1999 Brimstone The Devil, Angel 13 episodes
1999–2001 Haunted History Narrator Voice, 25 episodes
2001–2011 Smallville Lionel Luthor 145 episodes
2006 Numb3rs Samuel Craft (The Psychic) Episode: "Mind Games"
2006–2008 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Declan Gage 2 episodes
2009 Heroes Samson Gray Episode: "Shades of Gray"
2011–2015 The Good Wife Jared Andrews 4 episodes
2012–2013 Tron: Uprising Dyson Voice, 4 episodes[19]
2014 The Blacklist Dr. Bruce Sanders Episode: "Berlin"
2014 Perception The Devil Episode: "Possession"
2015 Agent Carter SSR Informant Episode: "The Iron Ceiling"
2019 The Good Fight Jared Andrews Episode: "The One where a Nazi Gets Punched"
Tales of the City Bill Schwartz Episode: "Next Level Sh*t"
Evil Byron Duke Episode: "3 Stars"
2021 Fear the Walking Dead Theodore "Teddy" Maddox 5 episodes
Lucifer Peter Peterson Episode: "Family Dinner"
2022 Dead in the Water: A Fear the Walking Dead Story Theodore "Teddy" Maddox Web series; episode: "This Ain't It"
2023 And Just Like That... Elliot Episode: "A Hundred Years Ago"
2024 Gremlins TBA Voice[20]

Video games

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Year Title Voice role Notes
1994 The Adventures of Batman & Robin The Riddler
2003 Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo Help Points [19]
2010 Tron: Evolution Abraxas, Jalen [19]

Audiobooks

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Year Title Author
1992 The Thief of Always (abridged) Clive Barker
1999 Night Shift Stephen King
The Lawnmower Man Stephen King
Gray Matter Stephen King
Thank You for Smoking Christopher Buckley
2009 Level 26: Dark Origins Anthony E. Zuiker
2010 Worst Case James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
The Bride Collector Ted Dekker
The Tempest William Shakespeare
Red Harvest Joe Schreiber
2011 Gideon's Sword Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child
Dracula (Dramatized) Bram Stoker and Charles Morey

References

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  1. ^
    • "Almanac: Today's Birthdays". Standard-Speaker. Hazleton, Pennsylvania. August 7, 2023. ProQuest 2847079779. Actor John Glover is 79. Actor David Rasche is 79. Former diplomat, talk show host and activist Alan Keyes is 73.
    • "Almanac: Today's Birthdays". Newsday. August 7, 1998. p. A2. ProQuest 279144225. John Glover, 54, David Rasche, 54
  2. ^ Buck, Jerry (February 23, 1992). "To Smile—and Still Be Glover: Actor's Villainy in 'Grass Roots' Makes Room For Shakespeare". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Who's who from Salisbury". Daily Times. Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Cox, Jeremy (September 22, 2014). "Actor John Glover returns to Salisbury for a cause". Delmarva Now. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  5. ^ "John Glover Biography". Yahoo. Archived from the original on April 30, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Phedre Sold Out Six Nights In World Premiere". Tower Light. March 25, 1966. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "John Glover on The Beverly Hills Playhouse Acting School". Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "JOHN GLOVER - Emmy Awards, Nominations and Wins". Emmys.com. March 3, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "Lionel Luthor Returning to Smallville". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  10. ^ Brantley, Ben (June 17, 2014). "Lily Rabe in 'Much Ado About Nothing' in Central Park". New York Times. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  11. ^ "THE KARATE KID 1983 READ THRU PART 1". YouTube.com. May 17, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  12. ^ Jose Molina (writers) & Peter Leto (director) (February 3, 2015). "The Iron Ceiling". Agent Carter. Season 1. Episode 5. ABC.
  13. ^ a b Rosenbaum, Michael (June 18, 2019). "John Glover". Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum (Podcast). Unqualified Productions. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  14. ^ a b Green, Bill (June 22, 2005). "Out in Smallville: Smallville's John Glover". WC Times. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  15. ^ "Cofac Today" (PDF). Towson University. 2013. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 12, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Waldsachs, Wendy S. (October 12, 1995). "Tony Award-winning alumnus John Glover visits TSU theatre department". The Towerlight. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "Scholarships for Current Majors". Towson University. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  18. ^ "Shazam! Movie Reportedly Casts Smallville's John Glover". Screen Rant. January 10, 2019.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h "John Glover (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 30, 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.
  20. ^ Taylor, Drew (July 26, 2024). "'Gremlins: The Wild Batch' Adds Simu Liu as Series Regular, Sets Season 2 Premiere Date". TheWrap. Archived from the original on July 26, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
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