Glenn Shadix
| Glenn Shadix | |
|---|---|
|
as "Otho Fenlock" in Beetlejuice (1988) | |
| Born |
William Glenn Shadix April 15, 1952 Bessemer, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died |
September 7, 2010 (aged 58) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Blunt trauma |
| Occupation | Actor and voice actor |
| Years active | 1981–2010[1] |
William Glenn Shadix (April 15, 1952 – September 7, 2010) was an American actor known for his role as Otho in Tim Burton's horror comedy film Beetlejuice and as the voice of the Mayor of Halloween Town in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Early life
Shadix was born in Bessemer, Alabama. He added the surname "Scott" when his mother, Annie Ruth (Livingston), remarried a few years after his birth.[2] He attended Birmingham-Southern College for two years, studying with absurdist playwright-director Arnold Powell.[3]
Career
He lived in New York City prior to moving to Hollywood in the late 1970s. He got his breakthrough film role in Beetlejuice while appearing in a stage play, portraying Gertrude Stein.[4] 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.
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 Tobias Whale and 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. He also recorded a promo for Red Bar Radio.
Personal life
Shadix was openly gay throughout his life. According to an interview with the Truth Wins Out website, he came out to his parents at the age of 17 who enrolled him in so-called "ex-gay therapy" which included "shock" (electro-convulsive therapy) 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 the three-day coma. After the incident, his parents began to accept his sexuality.[5]
In 2007, after spending 30 years in Los Angeles, he 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."[6]
Death
On September 7, 2010, according to Shadix's sister, Susan Gagne, he fell in the kitchen at his condominium in Birmingham, Alabama, and died of blunt trauma to his head. Shadix had mobility problems and was in a wheelchair.[7][8]
Filmography
- The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981) as Twin Oaks Customer
- Beetlejuice (1988) as Otho
- Sunset (1988) as Roscoe Arbuckle
- Heathers (1989) as Father Ripper
- Meet the Applegates (1991) as Greg Samson
- Sleepwalkers (1992) as Mr. Fallows
- Demolition Man (1993) as Associate Bob
- The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) as Mayor of Halloween Town (voice)
- My Summer Story (1994) as Leonard Doppler, Manager of Orpheum Theater
- Love Affair (1994) as Anthony Rotundo
- Dunston Checks In (1995) as Lionel Spalding
- Multiplicity (1996) as Building Inspector
- The Empty Mirror (1996) as Hermann Göring
- Men (1997) as Neil
- Chairman of the Board (1998) as Larry
- Bartok the Magnificent (1999) (voice)
- Red Dirt (2000) as Virgil Cunningham
- Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001) as Tar Monster (voice)
- Planet of the Apes (2001) as Senator Nado
- Shut Yer Dirty Little Mouth (2002) as Peter
- To Kill a Mockumentary (2004) as Karl
- The Final Curtain (2007) as Jack Strong
- Tom Cool (2009)
- Finding Gauguin (2010) as Monsieur Vollard
Television
- The Golden Girls (1987) 1 episode; "Diamond in the Rough"
- Roseanne (1990) 1 episode; "Chicken Hearts"
- Seinfeld (1991) 1 episode; "The Apartment"
- Night Court (1992) 1 episode; "The 1992 Boat Show"
- Cheers (1992) 1 episode; "The Beer Is Always Greener"
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1993) 1 episode; "Hex and the Single Guy"
- Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills (1994) 40 episodes as the voice of the blob-like alien Nimbar
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995) Season 2: Episode 23 "Cast a Giant Shadow"
- The Mask: Animated Series (1995–96) 3 episodes as Lonnie the Shark
- Quack Pack (1996) Season 1: Episode 7 "The Germinator" as Professor Tobar and Season 1: Episode 14 "Pardon My Molecules" as Dr. Emile Crocker
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1996) Season 3: Episode 43 "Monster Child in the Promised Land"
- Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1997) Season 4: Episode 60 "Beanstalks and Bad Eggs"
- Thanks (1999) 6 episodes as Dr. Addington
- Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1999) 1 episode; "Salem, the Boy"
- Jackie Chan Adventures (2000) 4 episodes; "The Stronger Evil", "Shangai Moon", "The Eighth Door", "Demon World Part 2"
- Rocket Power (2002) as The Mayor
- Carnivàle (2003) as Val Templeton
- The Batman (2004) Season 1: 1 episode; "Q & A" as Cluemaster
- Teen Titans (2005) 6 episodes as The Brain and Monsieur Mallah
- Justice League Unlimited (2005) 1 episode; "Double Date" as Steven Mandragora
References
- ↑ "Actor and Bessemer native Glenn Shadix, who died Tuesday, appeared in more than 70 films and TV shows, from "Beetle Juice" to "Seinfeld" | AL.com". Blog.al.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- ↑ Gary Childress. "Bio Tales Photo Gallery (Getting there was more than half the fun..)". GlennShadix.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- ↑ Wilson, Claire M. (July 7, 2010) "Glenn Shadix". Encyclopedia of Alabama – accessed September 7, 2010
- ↑ Gary Childress. "When Dressing As A Woman, Always Wear Sensible Shoes". GlennShadix.com. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- ↑ Late Bessemer-born Beetlejuice actor Glenn Shadix said he had 'ex-gay' shock therapy. blog.al.com. September 8, 2010.
- ↑ "Beetlejuice Actor's House Burns", TMZ.com, December 23, 2008
- ↑ Carlton, Bob (7 September 2010). "Bessemer native and "Beetlejuice" actor Glenn Shadix dies following a fall in his condo". al.com/. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
- ↑ "Glenn Shadix, Actor in 'Beetlejuice,' Dies at 58". The New York Times. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 11 October 2014.