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Glenn Shadix

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Glenn Shadix
Shadix in 2004
Born
William Glenn Shadix

(1952-04-15)April 15, 1952
DiedSeptember 7, 2010(2010-09-07) (aged 58)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1979–2010
SpouseJon Jung[1]

William Glenn Shadix (April 15, 1952 – September 7, 2010) was an American actor and comedian. He was best known for his roles as Otho Fenlock in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and the Mayor of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.[2]

Early life

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Shadix was born on April 15, 1952, in Bessemer, Alabama, the eldest child in the family. His surname was legally changed to "Scott" when his mother, Annie Ruth (née Livingston), remarried a few years after his birth,[3] although he would use his original surname when working as an actor. He attended Birmingham–Southern College for two years, studying with absurdist playwright-director Arnold Powell.[4]

Career

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He lived in Manhattan, New York City, prior to moving to Hollywood in 1977. He got his breakthrough film role in Beetlejuice as interior decorator Otho Fenlock, while appearing in The Groundlings comedy troupe and performing in the stage play Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights, portraying Gertrude Stein.[5] Beetlejuice filmmaker Tim Burton went on to cast Shadix in 1993's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes. Throughout the 1990s he had small roles on iconic television shows, including Cheers, Roseanne and Seinfeld.

In 1995, Shadix was cast as Ray Cathode in the Space Mountain queue advertisements when the ride was sponsored by FedEx.

In 2005, Shadix was cast as the voices of the Brain and Monsieur Mallah in season five of the Teen Titans animated series. His other voice work includes the aforementioned Nightmare, and episodes of Jackie Chan Adventures and Justice League Unlimited (where he played Steven Mandragora). He reprised his Nightmare Before Christmas role in the video game The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge, and the Square Enix video game Kingdom Hearts II.

His television work included the HBO drama Carnivàle, the NBC television comedy Seinfeld, in which he played Jerry's landlord, and playing the roles of giant brothers Typhoon and Typhon in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. On stage, Shadix was set to begin rehearsals for a Birmingham production of Alan Bennett's History Boys.[citation needed]

Personal life

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According to an interview with the Truth Wins Out website, Shadix came out as gay at the age of 17. His parents then enrolled him in "ex-gay therapy", which included shock treatments. When this failed to change his orientation, he attempted suicide by overdosing with Elavil. His parents rushed him to a hospital, where he survived a three-day coma. After the incident, his parents began to accept his sexuality.[6][7]

Shadix was known to be a long-time fan of Joan Baez, dating back to his childhood, when he had to hide her records from his family who disapproved of the folk singer. Shadix travelled cross country to attend one of her concerts and meet her in person.[8]

In 2007, after spending 30 years in Los Angeles, Shadix retired to his native Bessemer, Alabama, where he purchased a Queen Anne-style, Victorian-era home. The house was completely destroyed in a fire on December 13, 2008. Shadix told reporters, "I have lost my dream."[9]

Death

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In 2009, Shadix underwent surgery to provide relief to an ankle which he broke while filming.[10][11] Subsequently, he had mobility problems and used a wheelchair.[12] On September 7, 2010, Shadix was found dead in his home. According to his sister, Susan Gagne, he fell in the kitchen at his condominium in Birmingham, Alabama, and died of blunt trauma, having suffered a fall that led to him hitting his head.[2][13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Skatetown, U.S.A. [10]
1981 The Postman Always Rings Twice Twin Oaks Customer
1988 Beetlejuice Otho Fenlock
Sunset Roscoe Arbuckle
Heathers Father Ripper
1989 Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon Chet Television film
1990 Meet the Applegates Greg Samson
1991 Bingo Duke
1992 Sleepwalkers Mr. Fallows
1993 Demolition Man Associate Bob
The Nightmare Before Christmas Mayor of Halloween Town Voice[14]
1994 Dark Side of Genius Leon Bennini
My Summer Story Leopold Doppler, Manager of Orpheum Theater
Love Affair Anthony Rotundo
1996 Dunston Checks In Lionel Spalding
Multiplicity Building Inspector
The Empty Mirror Hermann Göring
1997 Men Neil
Sparkler Announcer
1998 Chairman of the Board Larry
1999 Storm Nate Direct-to-video
Bartok the Magnificent Townspeople[14] Voice, direct-to-video
2000 Red Dirt Virgil Cunningham
More Dogs Than Bones Geoff
2001 Fast Sofa Apartment Manager
Planet of the Apes Senator Nado
Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth! Peter
2002 The Day the Dolls Struck Back Narrator Voice, direct-to-video
2003 Sol Goode Casting Director
Rose's Sheriff Winslow
2004 To Kill a Mockumentary Karl Direct-to-video
2007 The Final Curtain Jack Strong
2009 Tom Cool
2010 Finding Gauguin Monsieur Vollard Posthumous release

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref
1987 The Golden Girls Musician Episode: "Diamond in the Rough"
1990 Roseanne Jay Episode: "Chicken Hearts"
1991 Seinfeld Harold Episode: "The Apartment"
1992 Night Court Dermot Drake Episode: "The 1992 Boat Show"
Cheers Bernard Episode: "The Beer Is Always Greener"
1993 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Ralph Scorpius Episode: "Hex and the Single Guy"
1994 Dinosaurs Ray, Monster Voice, 2 episodes
1994–95 Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills Nimbar Voice, 40 episodes [14]
1994 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Guard Monster Voice, episode: "Monsters, Get Real/Snorched If You Do, Snorched If You Don't" [14]
1995–96 The Mask: Animated Series Lonnie the Shark Voice, 4 episodes
1995 Bobby's World Additional voices Episode: "Bobby the Genius"
Life with Louie Additional voices Episode: "Lake Winnibigoshish"
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Typhon Season 2/Episode 10: "Cast a Giant Shadow"
1996 Quack Pack Professor Tobar, Dr. Emile Voice, 2 episodes
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Typhon Season 3/Episode 6: "Monster Child in the Promised Land"
1996–98 The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor Additional voices 26 episodes
1997 What a Cartoon! Doctor Voice, episode: "Snoot's New Squat" [14]
Duckman Army Leader Guest Voice, episode: "Duckman and Cornfed in 'Haunted Society Plumbers'"
Extreme Ghostbusters Mirror Demon Voice, episode: "The Ghostmakers"
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Typhon Season 4/Episode 1: "Beanstalks and Bad Eggs"
1997–98 The New Adventures of Zorro Additional voices 26 Episodes
1997 Cow and Chicken Prisoner #1, Poopy the Clown, Gate Guard Voice, episode: "Field Trip to Folsom Prison" [14]
1998 Jumanji Mr. Shattuck Voice, episode: "Return of Squint"
1999 Thanks Dr. Addington 6 episodes
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Caligula Episode: "Salem, the Boy"
Rocket Power Mayor Voice, episode: "D is for Dad/Banned on the Run"
2000 Men in Black: The Series Additional voices Episode: "The Spectacle Syndrome"
2000–01 Stainboy Sgt. Glen Dale, Charity Home Matron, TV Announcer #2 Voice, 6 episodes
2001–02 Jackie Chan Adventures Tso Lan, Xiao Fung Voice, 5 episodes
2001 ER Eldon Episode: "Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic"
2002 Time Squad Man, King of Troy Voice, episode: "Never Look A Trojan in the Gift Horse"
2003 Lilo & Stitch: The Series 'Look At This' Producer Voice, episode: "Swirly"
2003–05 Carnivàle Val Templeton 5 episodes
2004–05 All Grown Up! Santa, The Tree, Karl Bender Voice, 2 episodes
2004 The Batman Arthur Brown / Cluemaster Voice, episode: "Q&A" [14]
2005 Xiaolin Showdown Giant Spider Voice, episode: "Dangerous Minds"
Justice League Unlimited Steven Mandragora Voice, episode: "Double Date" [14]
2005–06 Teen Titans Brain, Monsieur Mallah Voice, 6 episodes [14]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Demolition Man Associate Bob Archive footage from Demolition Man
2004 The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge Mayor of Halloween Town
2005 Kingdom Hearts II English
2007 Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
2014 Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix Archival audio
2017 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix

References

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  1. ^ "Glenn Shadix 1952 - 2010". Pajiba. September 10, 2010. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Glenn Shadix, Actor in 'Beetlejuice,' Dies at 58". The New York Times. September 9, 2010. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  3. ^ Gary Childress. "Bio Tales Photo Gallery (Getting there was more than half the fun..)". GlennShadix.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Wilson, Claire M. (July 7, 2010) "Glenn Shadix Archived 2012-03-07 at the Wayback Machine". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  5. ^ "Glenn Shadix: From Alabama To Hollywood And Back". Legacy.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Late Bessemer-born Beetlejuice actor Glenn Shadix said he had 'ex-gay' shock therapy Archived July 12, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. blog.al.com. September 8, 2010.
  7. ^ "Actor and Bessemer native Glenn Shadix, who died Tuesday, appeared in more than 70 films and TV shows, from 'Beetle Juice' to 'Seinfeld'". Blog.al.com. September 8, 2010. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  8. ^ "Glenn Shadix". Bessemer Opinions 2. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  9. ^ "Beetlejuice Actor's House Burns" Archived December 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, TMZ.com, December 23, 2008
  10. ^ a b "Glenn's Ruminations: February 2009 Archives". November 23, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  11. ^ "Glenn's Ruminations: April 2009 Archives". November 23, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ Joe (September 8, 2010). "Bessemer Opinions: Glenn Shadix; Rest in Peace, my friend". Bessemer Opinions. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Carlton, Bob (September 7, 2010). "Bessemer native and "Beetlejuice" actor Glenn Shadix dies following a fall in his condo". al.com/. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Glenn Shadix (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
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