Steve Guttenberg

Steven Robert Guttenberg (born August 24, 1958)[1] is an American actor, author, businessman, producer, and director. He is known for his lead roles in Hollywood films of the 1980s and 1990s, including Cocoon, Police Academy, Three Men and a Baby, Diner, The Bedroom Window, Three Men and a Little Lady, The Big Green, and Short Circuit.[2]

Steve Guttenberg
Guttenberg in October 2013
Born	Steven Robert Guttenberg August 24, 1958 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, author, producer, director, businessman
Years active	1977–present
Spouse(s)	Denise Bixler ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 1992)​ Emily Smith ​ ​ (m. after 2019)​

Early life

Guttenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York,[3] the son of Ann Iris (née Newman), a surgical assistant, and Jerome Stanley Guttenberg, an electrical engineer.[1] He had a Jewish upbringing[4] in the Flushing neighborhood of the borough of Queens[3] before his family moved to North Massapequa, New York, where he graduated from Plainedge High School in 1976.[5][6][7] During high school, he attended a summer program at the Juilliard School where he studied under John Houseman, and he won a role in an off-Broadway production of The Lion in Winter.[5][7] After his high school graduation, he attended the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany for a year. He moved to California to pursue an acting career.[5][7] As Guttenberg recounts, within weeks he was cast in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial playing opposite Colonel Sanders.

Career

Guttenberg's film career has spanned four decades. He has been an actor, director, writer and producer. His production company, Mr. Kirby Productions, is named after Gerald J. Kirby, his high school drama teacher.[5]

Early films

After playing an uncredited bit part in Rollercoaster,[8] Guttenberg had his first screen credit in the TV movie Something for Joey (1977). He then played the starring role in the 1977 California high school comedy The Chicken Chronicles, set in Beverly Hills in 1969. He also appeared in the 1978 film The Boys From Brazil, based on the Ira Levin best seller, and guest starred on the show Family. Guttenberg starred in the short-lived TV series Billy (1979), based on Billy Liar. He had a supporting role in the tennis romance film Players (1979). In 1980, a Coca-Cola commercial featured him trying to help a non-English-speaking woman whose car stalled.

Guttenberg starred in the TV-movie To Race the Wind (1980) playing blind lawyer Harold Krents. The same year he starred in the Nancy Walker-directed Can't Stop the Music, a semi-autobiographical movie about the disco group Village People.

Guttenberg played Jim Craig in the TV movie Miracle on Ice (1981). He appeared in Barry Levinson's Diner (1982), then starred in another short-lived TV series No Soap, Radio (1982). He starred in the action-comedy The Man Who Wasn't There (1983) and had a supporting part in the television movie The Day After (1983). Guttenberg starred in The Ferret (1984) a pilot for a TV series that was not picked up.

Police Academy and busiest actor

Guttenberg starred in an enormous hit when he played the lead role in Police Academy (1984). He then became the busiest star over the next four years, appearing in 9 starring roles, tying with Gene Hackman.[9] Police Academy was quickly followed by a sequel, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985). Guttenberg then had the romantic male lead in Cocoon (1985), another box office success. A comedy he starred in, Bad Medicine (1985), was not particularly successful. Guttenberg played Pecos Bill in an episode of Tall Tales & Legends then was in Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986). Guttenberg starred in Short Circuit (1986) opposite Ally Sheedy, another very popular film. He changed pace with the thriller The Bedroom Window (1987), directed by Curtis Hanson, then made Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), his last Police Academy Film.

Guttenberg had a cameo in Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) and supported Michael Caine and Sally Field in Surrender (1987).

Three Men and a Baby

Guttenberg had the biggest financial success of his career to date with Three Men and a Baby (1987) with Tom Selleck and Ted Danson. He supported Peter O'Toole and Daryl Hannah in High Spirits (1988), which flopped. Cocoon: The Return (1989) was a commercial disappointment as was Don't Tell Her It's Me (1990). 3 Men and a Little Lady (1990) however was a hit. In 1989 he appeared in the Michael Jackson music video "Liberian Girl".[10]

1990s

In 1990 he replaced Timothy Hutton in the lead role of Prelude to a Kiss at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway.[11] He also performed in London's West End, where he starred in The Boys Next Door. He appeared in the world stage premiere production of Furthest From the Sun, which Woody Harrelson directed and co-authored.

He directed "Love Off Limits" for CBS Schoolbreak Special in 1993 and starred in The Big Green (1995) in England. He was among the ensemble in Home for the Holidays (1995) and starred in It Takes Two (1995) with Kirstie Alley and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. He also starred in Zeus and Roxanne (1997), Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997) and alongside Kirsten Dunst in Disney's Tower of Terror (1997), based on the attraction at the Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. In the late 90s he made some action films, Airborne (1998) and Overdrive (1998) and the comedy Home Team (1998).

2000s

His first film as director/producer/co-screenwriter/star was P.S. Your Cat Is Dead (2002), a film adaptation of a novel and Broadway play by James Kirkwood, Jr..[5] He starred in Mojave Phone Booth (2006) as Barry, and Making Change as Trafton. In Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus and its sequel Meet the Santas, he played the starring role of Nick. He had a recurring role on the 2005–2006 season of the television series Veronica Mars as Woody Goodman, a wealthy businessman and community leader. He appeared as a lead in the NBC made-for-TV remake of The Poseidon Adventure, which aired on November 20, 2005, playing Richard Clarke, a failing writer having an affair with a massage therapist. He also appeared in According to Jim episode "Two for the Money" in 2008

On August 25, 2008, Guttenberg released a video titled "Steve Guttenberg's Steak House"[12] on funnyordie.com. Guttenberg took part in the 2008 spring season of Dancing with the Stars with professional pro Anna Trebunskaya and was eliminated on April 1.[13] During an interview on November 4, 2009, Guttenberg mentioned that Disney was developing a second sequel to Three Men and a Baby, entitled Three Men and a Bride. Guttenberg stated that his co-stars, Ted Danson and Tom Selleck, would return for the sequel.[14] Guttenberg also mentioned how he would like to make another Police Academy and Cocoon movie, saying they are surefire hits if they were to be made.[15]

2010s

In an interview published August 1, 2010, Guttenberg revealed that David Diamond and David Weissman were writing a script for Police Academy 8.[16] Eight days later, actor Bobcat Goldthwait released a statement urging Hollywood to reboot the Police Academy series with a new group of actors instead of the original cast members. Goldthwait confirmed that Steve Guttenberg would return and that movie bosses were trying to get Kim Cattrall to return for an eighth sequel though Goldthwait said he had no desire to return to the series.[17]

Guttenberg also played himself in an episode of the Starz comedy Party Down that originally aired May 21, 2010. Guttenberg starred in Season 7 Episode 6 of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (air date: November 8, 2007) He appeared on Broadway in late 2011 to early 2012 in Woody Allen's one-act play "Honeymoon Hotel" which was part of the show Relatively Speaking.[11] Guttenberg can be seen on History Channel's 2015 miniseries Sons of Liberty. He plays Jack Bonner. In Fall 2014, Guttenberg wrapped production on SyFy Channel's Lavalantula, scheduled to premiere Summer 2015.[18] Guttenberg was also featured in the Season 6, Episode 8 of Community, "Intro to Recycled Cinema", which aired on Yahoo Screen in April 2015.[19]

Guttenberg starred in the Cinderella pantomime at Churchill Theatre in Bromley, UK, playing the Baron (father of Cinderella) in 2008.[20] To celebrate Guttenberg's involvement, the local Empire Cinema screened Police Academy on 19 November. Guttenberg introduced the film and answered questions.[21][22] On November 12, Guttenberg appeared as a guest on the British talk show The Paul O'Grady Show, he said he made the video for Will Ferrell's Funny or Die website, but then decided to release it virally "as if it were real".[23] As part of challenge set on the show, he then went on to become the Guinness World Record Holder for preparing the most hot-dogs in one minute.[24]

On September 3, 2018, Guttenberg told a fan on Twitter that a new Police Academy film was being planned.[25]

2020s

On May 21, 2020, Guttenberg appeared on Holey Moley II: The Sequel. Three months later on August 2, he appeared on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, via Cameo (website). On September 27, 2020, during an interview on a Zoom call with Norm Macdonald, Guttenberg confirmed that filming had begun on an eighth Police Academy movie. He confirmed that his character was returning and that his character uses a wheelchair, having lost his foot in the line of duty.

Awards

The sixth-annual Fire Island Golden Wagon Film Festival honored Guttenberg with the 2008 Tony Randall Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the entertainment industry, as well as his community service.[26] The award was created in tribute to the first Golden Wagon honoree, Tony Randall, and is given to a member of the entertainment industry who embodies the same love of Fire Island, independent spirit, and community service that Randall shared.

On December 12, 2011, Guttenberg received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[27] The star is located at 6411 Hollywood Blvd. On October 19, 2014, Guttenberg received a key to the city from Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine for his work with Fun Paw Care, raising awareness for animal rights.[28]

Publications

• The Guttenberg Bible - A memoir published in May 2012 by Thomas Dunne Books
• The Kids from D.I.S.C.O. (September 2014)

Philanthropy

Guttenberg is involved with charities whose goal is to improve opportunities for the homeless and for young people.[29] In 2016, a trust in Guttenberg's honor was established to provide support services to the homeless population of Los Angeles.[30] The Entertainment Industry Foundation, Hollywood's charity arm, selected him to be Ambassador for Children's Issues because of his work on behalf of children and the homeless.[31]

At the 2016 New York Walk to Fight Lymphedema & Lymphatic Diseases in Brooklyn, Guttenberg announced via a pre-recorded message, that he had joined the Lymphatic Education & Research Network's (LE&RN) Honorary Board.

Personal life

Guttenberg married model Denise Bixler on September 30, 1988.[32] They separated in June 1991[33] and divorced in 1992.[1]

Guttenberg has lived with WCBS-TV reporter Emily Smith since 2014.[34] On December 25, 2016, the couple announced their engagement.[35][36] The couple married on January 19, 2019.[37]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Rollercoaster	Messenger	uncredited
1977	The Chicken Chronicles	David Kessler	credited as Steven Guttenberg
1978	The Boys from Brazil	Barry Kohler	credited as Steven Guttenberg
1979	Players	Rusty	credited as Steven Guttenberg
1980	Can't Stop the Music	Jack Morell
1982	Diner	Edward 'Eddie' Simmons
1983	The Man Who Wasn't There	Sam Cooper
1984	Police Academy	Carey Mahoney
1985	Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
1985	Cocoon	Jack Bonner
1985	Bad Medicine	Jeff Marx
1986	Police Academy 3: Back in Training	Sergeant Carey Mahoney
1986	Short Circuit	Newton Crosby
1987	The Bedroom Window	Terry Lamdbert
1987	Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol	Carey Mahoney
1987	Amazon Women on the Moon	Jerry	segment "Two I.D.s" (credited as Steven Guttenberg)
1987	Surrender	Marty
1987	Three Men and a Baby	Michael Kellam
1988	High Spirits	Jack Crawford
1988	Cocoon: The Return	Jack Bonner
1990	Don't Tell Her It's Me	Gus Kubieck
1990	Three Men and a Little Lady	Michael Kellam
1995	The Big Green	Sheriff Tom Palmer
1995	Home for the Holidays	Walter Wedman
1995	It Takes Two	Roger Callaway
1997	Zeus and Roxanne	Terry Barnett
1997	Casper: A Spirited Beginning	Tim Carson	direct-to-video
1998	Airborne	Bill McNeil
1998	Overdrive	Matt Stricker
1998	Home Team	Mr. Butler
2002	P.S. Your Cat Is Dead!	Jimmy Zoole	also director/producer/writer
2003	The Stranger	The Stranger	short film
2005	Domino One	Casey
2006	Mojave Phone Booth	Barry
2008	Jackson	Businessman
2008	Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous	Sidney Green
2009	Fatal Rescue	Jacob Jones
2009	Shannon's Rainbow	Ed
2009	The Gold Retrievers	Wade Black
2009	Heidi 4 Paws	Sebastian (voice role)
2009	Help Me, Help You	Steve
2009	Cornered!	Morty
2010	Ay Lav Yu	Christopher
2010	Duckwalls	Mickey Beasn	short film
2011	A Novel Romance	Nate Shepard	also executive producer
2012	Highway to Hell	JJ	direct-to-video
2012	I Heart Shakey	Stubbs
2012	Making Change	Trafton	also executive producer
2013	Quick to Duck	Mickey Beans
2014	Affluenza	Philip Miller
2014	At the Top of the Pyramid	Principal Dickson
2015	A Man Before His Time	Narrator (voice role)	documentary
2015	Running on Empathy	unknown role	short film
2016	Lookin' Up	Edgar
2016	Alternative Universe: A Rescue Mission	Verstag
2017	Ay Lav Yu Tuu	Christopher
2017	Chasing the Blues	Dan McKenna
2017	After Party	Alan
2018	Miss Arizona	Gary
2018	Bigger	Louis Weider
2018	Lez Bomb	Mike
2018	Hangover in Death Valley	JJ	direct-to-video
2019	Heckle	Ray Kelly
2019	Trauma Center	Dr. Jones
2020	Rifkin's Festival	Jake
2020	Original Gangster	Jean-Baptiste Philippe
TBR	Roe v. Wade	Justice Powell	filming

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Something for Joey	Mike Cappelletti	TV movie
1979	Family	Philip	episode: "An Apple for the Teacher"
1979	Billy	Billy Fisher	series regular (8 episodes)
1980	To Race the Wind	Harold Krents	TV movie
1980	Magic Night	Himself	TV movie
1981	Miracle on Ice	Jim Craig	TV movie
1982	No Soap, Radio	Roger	series regular (5 episodes)
1983	The Day After	Stephen Klein	TV movie (credited as Steven Guttenberg)
1984	The Ferret	Sam Valenti	TV movie
1986	Tall Tales & Legends	Pecos Bill	episode: "Pecos Bill"
1986	Saturday Night Live!	Himself (Host)	episode: "Steve Guttenberg/The Pretenders"
1988	CBS Schoolbreak Special		executive producer (episode: "Gangs")
1990	The Joan Rivers Show	Himself (Guest)	episode: "9.18.1990"
1991	48th Golden Globe Awards	Himself (Host)	TV special
1993	CBS Schoolbreak Special	Tom Hardgrove	also director episode: "Love Off Limits"
1997	The Wonderful World of Disney	Buzzy Crocker	episode: "Tower of Terror"
2004	Rocket Power	Billie Joe (voice role)	episode: "Island of the Menehune"
2004	Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus	Nick	TV movie
2005	The Poseidon Adventure	Richard Clarke	TV movie
2005	Meet the Santas	Nick	TV movie
2005–2006	Veronica Mars	Woody Goodman	recurring role (8 episodes)
2007	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	Clay Darren, Sr.	episode: "Courtship"
2008	Dancing with the Stars	Himself (Contestant)	series regular – 7 episodes (season 6)
2008	According to Jim	Himself	episode: "Two for the Money"
2010	Party Down		episode: "Steve Guttenberg's Birthday"
2012	Watch What Happens: Live	Himself (Guest)	episode: "Steven Guttenberg/Joey Lawrence"
2015	Sons of Liberty	Jack Bonner	television miniseries episode: "A Dangerous Game"
2015	Community	Maury	episode: "Intro to Recycled Cinema"
2015	The Mysteries of Laura	Himself	episode: "The Mystery of the Deceased Documentarian"
2015	Lavalantula	Colton West	TV movie
2015	Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens		TV movie
2016	2 Lava 2 Lantula!		TV movie
2017	The Other F Word	Professor George Mueller	2 episodes
2017	Ballers	Wayne Hastings, Jr.	recurring role (8 episodes)
2018	Paper Empire	Saul	episode: "#1.1"
2019–2020	The Goldbergs	Dr. Katman	5 episodes
2019	Schooled		1 episode
2020	Paper Empire	Saul	2 episodes
2020	Last Week Tonight with John Oliver	Himself	1 episode

Theatre

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1990	The Boys Next Door	unknown role	Comedy Theatre in London, England

Music videos

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1989	"Liberian Girl"	Himself	artist: Michael Jackson (directed by Jim Yukich)

Video games

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2005	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	unknown (voice role)	released for Microsoft Windows

Dancing with the Stars

Season 6 performances

Week#	Dance / Song	Judge's scores			Result	Ref
		Inaba	Goodman	Tonioli
1	Foxtrot / "(Up a) Lazy River"	6	6	6	No Elimination
2	Mambo / "I Got a Girl"	6	5	5	Safe
3	Tango / "Jalousie"	7	7	7	Eliminated

References

1. "Steve Guttenberg Biography (1958-)". Film Reference.com. Retrieved January 21, 2019.. Source notes re: birthplace, "[S]ome sources [erroneously] cite Massapequa, Long Island."
2. Michael, Savvas D. (December 1, 2020), Original Gangster (Crime), Steve Guttenberg, Vas Blackwood, Daniel Caltagirone, Ian Reddington, Saints and Savages, retrieved December 7, 2020
3. Guttenberg, Steve, in Katz, Eileen (January 23, 2017). "Why Steve Guttenberg Lives on the Upper West Side". West Side Rag. Manhattan. Archived from the original on June 23, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2019. I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Flushing, Queens, then Massapequa for my middle and high school years.
4. Aushenker, Michael (January 23, 2003). "P.S., Your Mensch Is Dead—for Now". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
5. Fischler, Marcelle S. (January 19, 2003). "A Cheese Slice and a Dose of South Shore". The New York Times.
6. Guttenberg, Steve [@SteveGuttbuck] (January 11, 2019). "1975 The Math Room, Plainedge High School" (Tweet) – via Twitter. "@PLainedge1976".
7. Carlson, Timothy (May 19, 1979). "Show Biz". Youngstown Vindicator. Youngstown, Ohio. Note: Source says Guttenberg transferred to New York City's High School of Performing Arts for his final two years of high school.
8. Harris, Will (July 25, 2015). "Steve Guttenberg on 'Police Academy', 'Party Down', and turning down 'Sharknado". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 20, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
9. Cohn, Lawrence (October 5, 1988). "Acting Jobs Steadiest Since Studio Era". Variety. p. 1.
10. "Liberian Girl - Michael Jackson". Vevo. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013.
11. Zeitchik, Steven (October 16, 2011). "Steve Guttenberg is back in the majors". Los Angeles Times.
12. "Steve Guttenberg's Steak House". Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
13. "Steve Guttenberg Eliminated From 'Dancing With The Stars'". Access Hollywood. April 2, 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
14. "Tom Selleck says he's up for making 'Three Men and a Baby' sequel". Entertainment Weekly. January 3, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
15. "Guttenberg, Danson, Selleck Walking Down the Aisle for 'Three Men and a Bride'?". Moviefone. November 4, 2009. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
16. Gencarelli, Mike (August 1, 2010). "Interview with Steve Guttenberg". Movie Mikes. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
17. "Bobcat Goldthwait Wants A New 'Police Academy' Cast". StarPulse.com. August 9, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
18. Deadline, The (September 22, 2014). "'Lavalantula': Lava-Spewing Tarantulas Attack Los Angeles In Syfy's Latest Schlock-athon". Deadline. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
19. Community Season Six (April 28, 2015). "Community Episode 8: Intro to Recycled Cinema [Video]". Screen.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
20. Gee, Alastair (December 15, 2008). "Steve Guttenberg: from Hollywood to panto in Kent". The Times. TimesOnline. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
21. Mullins, Scott (November 21, 2008). "Steve Guttenberg faced fans questions at a Police Academy screening at The Empire, Bromley". ThisisLocalLondon.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
22. Eustice, Kerry Ann (November 21, 2008). "Actor Steve Guttenberg talks about starring in panto at The Churchill, Bromley". ThisisLocalLondon.com. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
24. "Steve Guttenberg Wins World Record, Spills Beans On Naked Jogging". VH1. November 12, 2008. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
25. "Steve Guttenberg says another 'Police Academy' film is in the works". Yahoo. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
26. Timothy Bolger (August 6, 2008). "6th Annual Golden Wagon Film Festival Rocks OB". EDGE Media Network.
27. "Steve Guttenberg gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". The Washington Post. December 12, 2011.
28. "Steve Guttenberg, Fun Paw Care & Sabrina Cohen Foundation". Funpawcare.com. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
29. "Steve Guttenberg: Charity Work & Causes". Look to the Stars. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
30. "Private Citizens Aid Los Angeles Homeless Population". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
31. "Steve Guttenberg Charity Work, Events and Causes". Look to the Stars. Retrieved October 13, 2011.
32. "Steve Guttenberg Weds". Rome News-Tribune. October 4, 1988.
33. "Guttenberg seeks divorce from model". Chicago Sun-Times. January 17, 1992.
34. Kaufman, Joanne (August 19, 2016). "Steve Guttenberg's Little Home in the Sky". The New York Times. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
35. "Grand Island native Emily Smith engaged to actor Steve Guttenberg". The Buffalo News. Buffalo, New York. December 27, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
36. Smith, Emily, in "yes, yes, yes". Emily Smith Facebook account. December 25, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
37. Fernandez, Alexia (January 20, 2019). "Three Men and a Baby Star Steve Guttenberg Marries News Anchor Emily Smith in Intimate Ceremony". People. Retrieved January 21, 2019.

External links

• Steve Guttenberg at IMDb
• Steve Guttenberg at the Internet Broadway Database
• Steve Guttenberg at the Internet Off-Broadway Database