David Mendenhall
This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (August 2018) |
David Mendenhall | |
---|---|
Born | David Athen Mendenhall[1] June 13, 1971 Oceanside, California, U.S. |
Alma mater | California State University, San Bernardino University of Southern California Southwestern Law School |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1980–1990 2007–present |
David Athen Mendenhall (born June 13, 1971) is an American actor.[2] He is best known for his roles in the films Space Raiders, Over the Top,[3] The Transformers: The Movie and They Still Call Me Bruce.[4]
Early life and acting career[]
Mendenhall was born in Oceanside, California. He has a younger sister, Marissa. Mendenhall began his acting career at the age of four. In 1979, he auditioned for and won the role of Mike Webber on the soap opera General Hospital. He remained with the series until 1986. During that time, Mendenhall started acting in feature films. Mendenhall made his film debut in the 1983 space Western, Space Raiders, produced by Roger Corman. Notable television appearances during the 80s also included playing Elaine Nardo's son on Taxi on three episodes, and playing a 12-year-old drug dealer in “The Reporter”, a very special episode of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. The episode featured a guest appearance by then-First Lady Nancy Reagan.
At age 15, Mendenhall portrayed Sylvester Stallone’s son in the 1987 sport drama Over the Top, about a long haul truck driver who tries to win back his alienated son while becoming a champion arm wrestler. That same year, he appeared in the comedy Going Bananas with Dom DeLuise and Jimmie Walker. In 1989, Mendenhall worked on The Secret of the Ice Cave with Sally Kellerman, which was shot in Chile. All three movies were produced by Cannon Films. In 1989, Mendenhall starred opposite Christina Applegate in the drama Streets, once again working with Roger Corman, who produced. On television, Mendenhall had a recurring role for two seasons on the NBC drama Our House, starring Wilford Brimley.
Education and later work[]
In 1994, Mendenhall enrolled in the theater arts program at California State University, San Bernardino.{cn|date=July 2021}} In 1996, he transferred to the University of Southern California and graduated magna cum laude in 1998 with a bachelor's degree.{cn|date=July 2021}} Later that year, Mendenhall attended Southwestern Law School, graduating in 2001.[citation needed]
Mendenhall has since worked at the legal departments of several entertainment companies, including NBCUniversal Television Group, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment.{cn|date=July 2021}} From 2007-08, he was the clearance coordinator for the NBC television program Deal or No Deal.{cn|date=July 2021}} Afterwards he worked in the prize department on GSN Live for the Game Show Network, and later as a prize producer for shows on NBC and Fox.{cn|date=July 2021}}
In 2012, he returned to acting with a brief role in Bobcat Goldthwait's God Bless America.
Awards[]
- 1984 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Youth Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera for General Hospital
- 1984 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in Daytime Soap for General Hospital
- 1985 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Daytime or Nighttime Television Series for General Hospital
- 1986 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Actor - Animation Voice Over for Berenstain Bears
- 1987 Young Artist Award Exceptional Young Actors in Animation - Series, Specials or Feature Film for Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer. He was also nominated in the same category for The Transformers: The Movie
- 1988 Razzies Worst Supporting Actor in Over the Top
- 1988 Razzies Worst New Star in Over the Top
Selected filmography[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Last Song | Bobby Pierce | TV movie |
1981 | Young David Copperfield | TV movie | |
1982 | Puff and the Incredible Mr. Nobody | Terry | voice |
The Smurfs Christmas Special | William | voice | |
Taxi | Jason | ||
1983 | Space Raiders | Peter | |
1979–1986 | General Hospital | Mike Webber | |
1983 | Goodnight, Beantown | Alex | |
Diff'rent Strokes | Sidney | ||
1984 | Saturday Supercade | Joey | (Kangaroo segment) |
Cannon | voice | ||
1985 | The Twilight Zone | Richard "Dickie" Jordan Jr. | "Examination Day" |
Rainbow Brite | Krys | voice | |
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer | Krys | voice | |
Galtar and the Golden Lance | Zorn | voice | |
The Berenstain Bears | Brother Bear | voice | |
G.I. Joe | Fairmont Boy | voice | |
CBS Storybreak | Henry Green | Chocolate Fever | |
It's Punky Brewster! | Additional Voices | voice | |
Night on the Galactic Railroad | Giovanni | 1986 dub | |
1986 | Hunter's Son | ||
The Transformers: The Movie | Daniel Witwicky | voice | |
The Transformers season 3 and 4 | Daniel Witwicky | voice | |
Potato Head Kids | Big Chip | voice | |
The Centurions | Randy Chang | voice | |
Our House | J.R. Dutton | ||
1987 | Over the Top | Michael Hawk | |
Going Bananas | Ben | ||
They Still Call Me Bruce | Billy White | ||
Pound Puppies | Oran | Snow Puppies | |
1988 | Guest Star | unknown episodes | |
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo | Additional Voices | voice | |
The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible | Additional Voices | The Creation | |
1989 | The Secret of the Ice Cave | Alex Ostrow | |
1990 | Streets | Sy | |
1997 | Roseanne | Clerk | uncredited |
2008 | My Own Worst Enemy | Paul Wallace | |
2009 | The Forgotten | Newsstand Clerk | |
2011 | God Bless America | Roxy's Father | |
A Gifted Man | Peter Glenn | ||
2014 | A Help From Above | Kerr |
References[]
External links[]
- 1971 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male child actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- California State University, San Bernardino alumni
- Living people
- Male actors from California
- People from Oceanside, California
- Southwestern Law School alumni
- University of Southern California alumni