Fisher Stevens
Stevens in November 2016
Born
Stephen Fisher

(1963-11-27) November 27, 1963
EducationNew York University
Occupation(s)Actor, director, producer, writer
Years active1981–present
Spouse
Alexis Bloom
(m. 2017)
Children2

Stephen Fisher (born November 27, 1963), known professionally as Fisher Stevens, is an American actor, director, producer and writer. As an actor, he is best known for his portrayals of Ben in Short Circuit (1986) and Short Circuit 2 (1988). He is a documentary filmmaker winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for The Cove (2009). He also directed the documentaries Crazy Love (2007) and Before the Flood (2016).

Stevens is known for his roles in films such as Reversal of Fortune (1990), Bob Roberts (1992), Hackers (1995), Anything Else (2003), and Hail, Caesar! (2016). He has acted in the Wes Anderson films The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Isle of Dogs (2018), The French Dispatch (2021), and Asteroid City (2023).

In television he portrayed Chuck Fishman in CBS series Early Edition (1996–2000), Marvin Gerard on NBC's The Blacklist (2015–2022), Gabriel Kovac in CBS's The Good Fight (2017–2020), and Hugo Baker in the HBO drama series Succession (2019–2023).

Early life

Stevens was born Stephen Fisher in 1963 in Chicago, the son of Sally, a painter and AIDS activist, and Norman Fisher, a furniture executive.[1] Stevens grew up in the Chicago, Illinois, area, living in Hyde Park, Highland Park, and Evanston[2] and describes himself as a "white Jewish kid from Chicago."[3]

His parents divorced when he was 13, after which he moved to New York with his mother. At age 16, Stevens landed his first film role, acting in the horror film The Burning. He completed one year at New York University before deciding to pursue acting full time.[2] He adopted the stage name "Fisher Stevens" upon joining the Screen Actors Guild because the Guild had several existing actors named "Steven Fisher".[4]

Career

Stevens in 2006

He co-founded the Naked Angels Theater Company with longtime friends Rob Morrow, Nicole Burdette, Pippin Parker, Charles Landry, Nancy Travis and Ned Eisenberg in 1986. He co-founded Greene Street Films, a film production company located in Tribeca, New York City, in 1996. Stevens performed as Edgar Allan Poe on Lou Reed's album The Raven in 2003. He is a harmonica player.

As an actor, he is known for his roles as Chuck Fishman on Early Edition, Seamus O'Neill on Key West, Eugene "The Plague" Belford in Hackers, Iggy in Super Mario Bros., Hawk Ganz in The Flamingo Kid, and his role as Indian character Ben Jabituya/Jahveri in Short Circuit and Short Circuit 2, respectively.[3] His television credits include Columbo, Frasier, Friends, Law & Order, Key West, Damages, The Mentalist and Lost. He appeared on two episodes of the television series Numbers.[5]

Fisher has a Broadway and off-Broadway career spanning nearly three decades. In 1988, he and John Leguizamo appeared in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream where he played Demetrious[6] He played Jigger Craigin in the 1994 Lincoln Center revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel. He had an early success in the 1982 Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy playing David, the adopted son of the gay protagonist played by the show's writer Harvey Fierstein, and the original Broadway production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, where he succeeded Matthew Broderick in the starring role of Eugene. Throughout his career, he has acted in and directed more than 50 stage productions.[7]

Stevens in 2007

In 2010, Fisher co-founded a new media and documentary film company, Insurgent Media, with Andrew Karsch and Erik H. Gordon.

In June 2010, Stevens made his major theatrical directing debut with John Leguizamo's one-man show, Ghetto Klown (originally called Klass Klown), which eventually ran on Broadway from March to July 2011.[8][9] The two had appeared together in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Public Theater about 20 years earlier. On July 13, 2012, PBS debuted Tales From a Ghetto Klown, a documentary about the development of the show which prominently features Stevens.[10]

In 2010, Stevens won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for co-producing The Cove.[11]

He directed the 2012 crime story Stand Up Guys, starring Al Pacino and Christopher Walken. He teamed up with his longtime partner Alexis Bloom to direct the film Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016. The film was a tribute to both mother and daughter as they passed in the same year. Both were close friends with Stevens.

In 2018, Stevens had a recurring role as Hugo Baker in the second season of HBO's satirical-comedy-drama series Succession. He was promoted to series regular in season 3.

In 2021, he directed the Apple TV drama film Palmer, starring Justin Timberlake.

Personal life

Stevens dated actress Michelle Pfeiffer from 1989 until 1992.[12] Stevens later dated longtime filmmaking partner and producer Alexis Bloom. The couple married in 2017 in a private ceremony. They have two children.[13]

Stevens is a survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma.[1]

Filmography

Actor

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981The BurningWoodstock
1983Baby It's YouStage Manager
1984The Brother from Another PlanetCard Trickster
1984The Flamingo Kid'Hawk' Ganz
1985My Science ProjectVince Latello
1986Short CircuitBen Jhoveri
1986The Boss' WifeCarlos Delgado
1988Short Circuit 2Ben Jahveri
1989Bloodhounds of BroadwayHarry 'Hotfoot Harry'
1990Point of ViewPerformer
1990Reversal of FortuneDavid Marriott
1991The Marrying ManSammy
1991Mystery DateDwight
1992LiftJoeShort
1992Bob Roberts'Rock' Bork
1992HeroDirector of Channel 4 Crash FeatureCameo
1993When the Party's OverAlexander
1993Super Mario Bros.Iggy
1994Nina Takes a LoverPaulie
1994Only YouLarry
1995Cold FeverJack
1995Hackers'The Plague'
1996The Pompatus of LoveSitcom Star
1997Four Days in SeptemberMowinkel
1999TaxmanKenneth Green
1999The Tic CodeMorris
2000Sam the ManSam Manning
2000Lisa Picard Is FamousHimself
20013 A.M.Haplin
2001Prison SongProsecutor
2001PiñeroPublic Theatre Cashier
2002UndisputedJames 'Ratbag' Kroycek
2003Kill the PoorStuffed Shirt
2003Uptown GirlsHimself
2003Anything ElseManager
2003Easy SixOfficer Donny
2003ReplyBlu (voice)
2004On the CouchGaryShort
2005FactotumManny
2005UndiscoveredGarret Schweck
2005Slow BurnAlan Turlock
2006Kettle of FishBruce
2007Red AngelDavidShort
2007AwakeDr. Puttnam
2010FakeTom Kozinski
2010Rio Sex ComedyFish / Tourist Guide
2010Rising StarsMo
2010The ExperimentArchaleta
2010Henry's CrimeEddie's Vibes
2012One for the MoneyMorty Beyers
2012LOLRoman
2013Movie 43Vrankovich / Minotaur
2014The Grand Budapest HotelM. Robin
2014Mission BlueHimselfDocumentary
2014United PassionsCarl Hirschmann
2016Hail, Caesar!Communist Writer
2018Isle of DogsScrap (voice)
2019Motherless BrooklynLou
2021PalmerAdditional voices
2021The French DispatchStory Editor
2021Sing 2Additional voice
2023Asteroid CityDetective 1
2023Coup!Upton Sinclair
2024The Ministry of Ungentlemanly WarfarePost-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980One Life to LiveUnknown
1983Ryan's HopeHenry Popkin
1984CBS Schoolbreak SpecialGary GordonSeason 1, episode 4
1986Tall Tales & LegendsIndian ChiefEpisode: "Ponce de Leon"
1989ColumboAlex BradyEpisode: "Murder, Smoke and Shadows"
1990The Young Riders'Bulldog'Episode: "Bull Dog"
1991General Motors TheatreWally ZuckermanEpisode: "It's Called the Sugar Plum"
1993Key WestSeamus O'Neill13 episodes
1995FriendsRogerEpisode: "The One with the Boobies"
1995Homicide: Life on the StreetJonathan HeineEpisode: "Autofocus"
1995Law & OrderRoss FinemanEpisode: "Angel"
1996The Right to Remain SilentDale MeyersonTelevision movie
1996–2000Early EditionChuck Fishman48 episodes
2000The HungerMax ArmstrongEpisode: "The Suction Method"
2001FrasierDr. Sheldon MoreyEpisode: "The Wizard and Roz"
2001100 Centre StreetBen BerkowitzEpisode: "Queenie's Running"
2001JeniferDr. Aaron SandersTelevision movie
2002Is It College Yet?(voice)Television movie
2002HackDonnie FrancoEpisode: "Favors"
2003The Lives They LivedNarratorTelevision movie
2004Hope & FaithNick SpinelliEpisode: "The Diner Show"
2004Dr. VegasCharlieEpisode: "Dead Man, Live Bet"
2004–2007Law & Order: Criminal IntentPerformer2 episodes
2008It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaLyle KormanEpisode: "Paddy's Pub: The Worst Bar in Philadelphia"
2008–2010LostGeorge Minkowski6 episodes
2009MediumNeal GreybridgeEpisode: "Medium is the Message"
2009Numb3rsJohn Buckley2 episodes
2009The Grean TeemJack FisherTelevision movie
2010Ugly BettyMr. ZEpisode: "Back in her Place"
2010The MentalistTolman BuntingEpisode: "Season 2 Episode 21"
2011Californication'Zig' SemetauerEpisode: "Monkey Business"
2011DamagesTherapist4 episodes
2012–2016Law & Order: Special Victims UnitAlvin Gilbert / Ted Scott2 episodes
2015ElementaryMarty WardEpisode: "Under My Skin"
2015–2022The BlacklistMarvin Gerard15 episodes
2016The Night OfSaul, The Pharmacist3 episodes
2017Red OaksJerryEpisode: "Summer in the City"
2017Vice PrincipalsBrian Biehn4 episodes
2017–2020The Good FightGabriel Kovac3 episodes
2019–2023SuccessionHugo Baker19 episodes
2022Would I Lie to You? (US)HimselfEpisode: "Banana Bread"

Director

YearTitleNotes
1995Call of the Wylie
1996Phinehas
1998–1999Early Edition2 episodes
2002Just a Kiss
2007Crazy Loveco-directed with Dan Klores
2010–2011John Leguizamo - Ghetto Klownopened on Broadway March 2011
2012Stand Up Guys
2016Before the Flood[14]
2016Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
2019And We Go Green
2021Palmer
2023Beckham

Producer

YearTitleNotes
2000Sam the Man
2001The Château
2001Piñero
2002Swimfan
2003Uptown Girls
2004Yes
2005Slow Burn
2006A Prairie Home Companion
2006Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
2006Wedding Daze
2007Crazy Love
2007Meet Bill
2007Feast of Love
2007Awake
2008The Midnight Meat Train
2009The Grean Teem
2009Balls Out: Gary the Tennis Coach
2009Tenderness
2009The Cove [Academy Award for Best Documentary]
2011Blank City
2011Hollywood Renegade
2011Bad Trip
2011Mission Blue
2012Beware of Mr. Baker
2015Racing Extinction
2016Sky Ladder: The Art of Cai Guo-Qiang
2016Before the Flood
2020Tiger King
2023 Beckham

Writer

Narrator

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Academy AwardBest Documentary FeatureThe CoveWon
Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Documentary SeriesAmerican MastersNominated
Exceptional Merit in Documentary FilmmakingRacing ExtinctionNominated
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie ReynoldsNominated
Outstanding Directing for a Documentary ProgramNominated
Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction SeriesTiger KingNominated
2016
Cannes Film FestivalGolden EyeBright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie ReynoldsNominated
2016
Toronto International Film FestivalPeople's Choice AwardBefore the FloodNominated
Saturn AwardBest Guest-Starring Performance in a Network or Cable Television SeriesThe BlacklistNominated
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Succession Won [15]
2024 Pending [16]

References

  1. 1 2 Lipton, Michael A. (July 13, 1992). "The Two Lives of Catwoman – Couples, Batman Returns, Fisher Stevens, Michelle Pfeiffer". People. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Johnson, Steven (June 26, 1986). "Fisher Stevens Scoots Into The Limelight 'Short Circuit' Role Puts Chicago Native On Fast Track". Chicago Tribune. p. 11.
  3. 1 2 Steve Weinstein (August 2, 1988). "Shooting Stars: 'Short Circuit's' Stevens No Foreigner to Ethnic Roles". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  4. Leonardo DiCaprio Helped Fisher Stevens Land His Director Role for Beckham, retrieved October 27, 2023
  5. Fisher Stevens at IMDb
  6. "Director Fisher Stevens on Being the Ringmaster of John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown".
  7. "Biography for Fisher Stevens". Internet Movie Database.
  8. Hurwitt, Robert (June 3, 2010). "John Leguizamo goes deeper, darker in 'Klown'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  9. Isherwood, Charles (March 22, 2011). "A Queens Guy Toughs It Out in Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
  10. Aucoin, Don (July 12, 2012). "In 'Tales From a Ghetto Klown,' Broadway minus the glitz". The Boston Globe.
  11. "Nominees & Winners for the 82nd Academy Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences". Oscars.org. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
  12. Jones, Isabel (January 28, 2021). "TBT: Michelle Pfeiffer and Fisher Stevens". InStyle. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  13. "Fisher Stevens is a Married New Dad". Hollywood.com. March 10, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  14. "Before the Flood [programme note]". Toronto International Film Festival. 2016. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  15. Lewis, Hilary; Coates, Tyler (January 12, 2022). "SAG Awards: 'House of Gucci,' 'The Power of the Dog' Lead Film Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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