Ask American Profile 8/12/2007

Q What can you tell about actor Tim Matheson? I just loved him in The West Wing.
—Ciney Bivens, Coalinga, Calif.

Despite many roles since, Matheson, 59, is best remembered for playing a suave fraternity brother in the 1978 movie Animal House. Born in Glendale, Calif., he launched his career at age 12 in the TV series Window on Main Street. He has been married since 1985 and has three children. In addition to acting, Matheson, who has more than 100 film and TV credits, also works as a director and has starring roles in two new TV series pilots, The World According to Barnes and To Love and Die in L.A., that are being considered for the fall lineup.

Q I enjoyed Rare Earth’s music back in the 1970s. Whatever happened to the group? Are they still performing?
—Melva Rooney, Belen, N.M.

The Detroit-based rock band, best-known for the 21-minute FM-radio classic “Get Ready” in 1968, is alive and kicking, thanks to the group’s only remaining original member, Gil Bridges, 65. “I love it more now than ever,” says the saxophone player (far left in above photo), who joined the band when he was 16. “This is the only band I’ve ever been in. I feel so blessed being able to do something my whole life that I have loved doing.”

Q Is Ed Wynn still around? If he is, he’s got to be getting on up in years.
—Allen Diedrick, Elyria, Ohio

Wynn, a longtime vaudeville comedian who headed to Hollywood late in his career at the urging of his son, actor Keenan Wynn, died in 1966 at the age of 80. He was known for his rubbery, expressive face and his unique, fluttery voice in a string of movies, including Mary Poppins, Son of Flubber and The Absentminded Professor. He also hosted his own TV variety show, turned down the role of the wizard in The Wizard of Oz—he thought the part was too small—and provided the voice of the Mad Hatter in the animated Alice in Wonderland.

Q Who did the voice for the TV character Underdog? I seem to recall it was a comedian. Is he still alive?
—Polly Sheppard, Albany, Ga.

Wally Cox provided the vocals for the 1964-73 adventures of television’s heroic cartoon canine, now available on DVD in The Ultimate Underdog Collection. A beloved character actor known for his high-pitched voice, meek demeanor, slight build and eyeglasses, Cox died of a heart attack in 1973 at the age of 48. His longtime friend, actor Marlon Brando, took possession of his cremated ashes. Even though Cox also was a regular on The Hollywood Squares and appeared in dozens of other TV shows and movies, he always will be known as the man behind the line, “There’s no need to fear—Underdog is here.”

Q Michael Keaton is one of my favorite actors. But I haven’t seen him in anything recently. Has he retired?
—Angel Batts, Gulf Shores, Ala.

Keaton, 55, has made nearly 30 movies during the last 25 years, and some of his memorable roles have included the leads in Batman, Beetle Juice, Jack Frost, Johnny Dangerously and Mr. Mom. His latest undertaking, however, is on the small screen: He plays a fact-obsessed U.S. counter-intelligence agent in the TNT miniseries about the Cuban missle crisis of the 1960s, The Company, which concludes its three-week run Sunday night, Aug. 19.

Q I heard a song recently by Minnie Driver. Is this the same person as the actress?
—Ann Sheridan, Rock Springs, Wyo.

Yes, indeed. The London-born actress, 37, has released her second CD, Seastories. In addition to her current starring role on the FX-TV series The Riches, Driver also has appeared in the movies Good Will Hunting, Hard Rain, Ella Enchanted and The Phantom of the Opera, and provided the voice of Jane in the 1999 animated Tarzan. “I can’t imagine not making records and playing for people,” she says. “It’s so much a part of who I am.”

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