Curtis Armstrong
About
Biography
Filmography
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Biography
This rumpled, elfin character actor is best-known for two continuing roles: the lovelorn operative Herbert Viola on TV's "Moonlighting" (ABC, 1985-89) and Dudley "Booger" Dawson in four "Revenge of the Nerds" movies and TV films. Armstrong began acting in his native Michigan, where he founded his own theater company. By the early 1980s, he was touring with "Da" and appearing in regional theaters around the country.
Armstrong made his film debut as Tom Cruise's arrogant pal in "Risky Business" (1983), and the following year created the role of "Booger" in the unexpectedly popular comedy "Revenge of the Nerds." He went on to re-create "Booger" in "Revenge of the Nerds II" (1987) and the TV sequels "Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation" (Fox, 1992) and "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love" (Fox, 1994). Thus far, "Booger" has proven to be Armstrong's most lasting film image. His other appearances include the teen comedies "Better Off Dead" and "Bad Medicine" (both 1985), a Neanderthal named "Goov" in "Clan of the Cave Bear" (1986), a radio operator in "Hot Shots: Part Deux" (1993), Country Jake in "The Adventures of Huck Finn" (1993) and "Big Bully" (1996). Armstrong continued to rack up numerous film credits, in comedies honoring his iconic 80s films such as "Van Wilder" (2002) and "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004), and in dramas; the actor was particularly enjoyable in his turn as music mogul Ahmet Ertegun in the Ray Charles biopic "Ray" (2004).
"Moonlighting" was Armstrong's TV debut (he joined the cast in the second season). He later appeared in the TV-movies "Hi, Honey, I'm Dead," as a reincarnated realtor, (Fox, 1991), the "America's Most Wanted" spoof "Public Enemy Number 2" (Showtime, 1991) and a children's special based on a William Saroyan story, "The Parsley Garden" (ABC, 1993). He has also made guest appearances on the series "Grand" and "Murphy Brown." More recently the actor could be seen in recurring roles on "Felicity," "Ed" and "One on One."
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1980
New York stage debut, "The Irish Hebrew Lesson"
1983
Film debut, "Risky Business"
1984
Had memorable role as Booger in "Revenge of the Nerds"
1986
Co-starred in "Clan of the Cave Bear"
1986
TV series debut, "Moonlighting" (ABC), played regular role of Herbert Viola
1987
Reprised Booger in the sequel "Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise"
1991
TV-movie debut, "Hi, Honey, I'm Dead" (Fox)
1992
Reprised Booger in the TV-movie sequel "Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation" (Fox)
1994
Once again played Booger in the Fox TV-movie "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love"
2001
Returned to series TV as a pig-snouted newspaper archivist in the Sci-Fi Channel series "The Chronicle"
2002
Cast as a Campus Cop in National Lampoon's "Van Wilder"
2004
Cast in "Ray" a biopic of legendary blues singer Ray Charles, starring Jamie Foxx
2006
Played principal Mr. Welch in "Akeelah and the Bee"
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