Geoffrey Lewis

Geoffrey Lewis

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Birth name: Geoffrey Lewis
Date of birth: 31 July 1935
Place of birth: San Diego, California, USA
Nickname: Geoffrey
Height: 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
Spouse: Paula Hochhalter (1985 – present), Glenis Batley (5 October 1973 – 1975) (divorced) 1 child

Famous Quote: “I work with the director and the other actors, but I figure that is about two inches of something that is a yard long. The other 34 inches is what I have to do myself. So far I have not conflicted with a director or writer or anybody else. But I know basically what I want to do as far as acting goes.”

Contact Address and Autograph: Addresses and fan mail information

Geoffrey Lewis
William Morris Agency
One William Morris Place
Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA 

Biography: 

Geoffrey Lewis (born July 31, 1935) is an American character actor. He is also a member of the musical group Celestial Navigations with Geoff Levin. Talented and highly capable character actor Geoffrey Lewis, with rustic (sometimes sour-faced) looks, grew up in Rhode Island but was moved out to California at the age of ten. Lewis was very keen on the dramatic arts at high school, but often preferred to put on his own one-man shows rather than participate in larger school productions. His drama teacher took note of his growing talent and referred him to the Plymouth Theater in Massachusetts, where he appeared in summer stock. This craggy-faced character player of TV and film is known for playing ornery cowpokes, laconic criminals, and flustered sidekicks, notably in several Clint Eastwood vehicles. 

After making his debut in “Welcome Home, Soldier Boys” (1971), a violent film depicting the troubles Vietnam vets faced upon returning home, Lewis went on to appear in a number of seminal 1970s films, including Eastwood’s “High Plains Drifter” (1973), as a small-town baddie, Michael Cimino’s “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot” (1974), as a second-rate crook, and Michael Ritchie’s “Smile” (1975), as the pageant president. Most of Lewis’ feature work in the 80s consists of back-up roles in “A” features like “Maverick” (1994) and “Man Without a Face” (1993) and TV Westerns including “Desperado: The Outlaw Wars” (1989), “Gunsmoke: The Last Apache” (1990) and “The Gambler V: Playing For Keeps” (1994).

Lewis was born in San Diego, California. He is the father of 10 children, including actress Juliette Lewis. Afterwards he appeared in several off-Broadway productions in New York City. After spending considerable time traveling, in both the United States and abroad, Lewis turned his attention back to his love of the dramatic arts, and scored his first minor movie role in The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972) as a somewhat jovial but deadly cowhand. He then cropped up as gangster Harry Pierpont in Dillinger (1973) before beginning a long association with Clint Eastwood, starting off with High Plains Drifter (1973), then as kind-hearted thief Eddie Goody in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), as Clint’s buddy Orville Boggs in Every Which Way But Loose (1978) and Any Which Way You Can (1980), then as a henpecked husband in Bronco Billy (1980), as Ricky Z in Pink Cadillac (1989), and in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997).

Lewis has appeared in several of Clint Eastwood’s films, including playing the main villain in High Plains Drifter, Orville in the Every Which Way But Loose series, and the eccentric, bee-loving juror Luther Driggers from the film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. 

Equally busy on the small screen, he has guest-starred in dozens of episodes of high profile TV series. Additionally, he received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in the series “Flo” (1980). Apart from his extensive film and TV exposure, Lewis is also a member of the rather unique musical/storytelling “Celestial Navigations,” along with award-winning composer songwriter Geoff Levin. Their performances have received terrific reviews from some of Hollywood’s top actors and noted musicians, including Chick Corea. As Geoffrey Lewis approaches his seventh decade, nothing seems likely to slow down this multi-talented actor, storyteller and engaging entertainer!

Other notable film roles include The Culpepper Cattle Company, Dillinger, My Name is Nobody, The Wind and the Lion, Return of a Man Called Horse, Tango and Cash, Pink Cadillac, The Man Without a Face, The New Guy, and The Devil’s Rejects. He has been a frequent television guest star, appearing in such series as Alias Smith and Jones, Gunsmoke, Starsky and Hutch, Barnaby Jones, Falcon Crest, Matlock, The X-Files, My Name Is Earl, Salem’s Lot and House M.D.. Father of ten children including actors Dierdre Lewis, Lightfield Lewis, Juliette Lewis, Matthew Lewis, and Producer Brandy Lewis.

Excellent and well-known character actor, is probably best known for his half-dozen guest star appearances in Clint Eastwood films, including Bronco Billy (1980), High Plains Drifter (1973), Every Which Way But Loose (1978), etc. Studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse NYC. He played characters in two different films about President Theodore Roosevelt; The Wind and the Lion (1975) and the made-for-television Rough Riders (1997) (TV). Won Best Actor at the 2006 California Independent Film Festival Slate Awards for his role in Old Man Music. Father-in-law of Ethan Suplee. Attended the Celebritymeetandgreet.com in Buena Park, California, on 1/13/07 to help benefit the Breast Cancer Fund. He is a firearms enthusiast who reloads his own ammunition and owns a custom-built Terry Tussey 1911 .45.

Lewis appeared in a Scientology public service announcement called “Scientology Creed”. He will be the voice of a character named Lenny in Rob Zombie’s upcoming animated film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto. In 2008, Lewis will be directing the feature film The Drummer. He has a production company called Pistol Films LLC.

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