Fred Savage
Fred Savage | |
---|---|
Born | Frederick Aaron Savage July 9, 1976 |
Alma mater | Stanford University |
Occupation | Actor, director, producer |
Years active | 1985–present |
Spouse(s) | Jennifer Lynn Stone (m. 2004) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives | Ben Savage (brother) Kala Savage (sister) |
Frederick Aaron Savage (born July 9, 1976)[1] is an American actor and television director, known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years (1988 to 1993).[2] He has earned several awards and nominations, such as People's Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards. He is also known for playing the Grandson in The Princess Bride, and voiced Oswald the blue octopus in Oswald. Savage has worked as a director, and in 2005 later starred in the television sitcom Crumbs.[3] More recently, Savage returned to acting in the television series The Grinder, as well as the Netflix series Friends from College.
Early life[]
Savage was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joanne and Lewis Savage (1946-2015),[4] who was an industrial real estate broker and consultant.[1] Savage grew up in Glencoe, Illinois, before moving to California. His younger brother is actor Ben Savage and his younger sister is actress/musician Kala Savage. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Latvia.[5] He was raised as a Reform Jew.[5]
Education[]
Savage was educated at Brentwood School, a private co-educational day school in Brentwood, in the Westside area of Los Angeles County in California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1999, with a bachelor's degree in English and as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.[6][7]
Career[]
Acting[]
Savage's first screen performance was in the television show Morningstar/Eveningstar, at the age of nine. He then appeared onscreen in The Boy Who Could Fly, Dinosaurs! - A Fun-Filled Trip Back in Time!, and several television shows, including The Twilight Zone and Crime Story before gaining national attention as the grandson in the 1987 film The Princess Bride opposite Peter Falk.
In 1988, Savage appeared as Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years, the role for which he is best known, and for which he received two Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy[8] nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. At the age of thirteen, he was the youngest actor ever to receive these honors. He remained on the show until it ended in 1993. During this period, he appeared in several films, most notably Vice Versa (1988), and also starred in Little Monsters. After The Wonder Years ended, Savage returned to high school at age 17, and later attended Stanford. His first television role after high school was the NBC sitcom Working, which Savage starred in for its two-season run.[9] Savage also had a series of guest and supporting roles in the late 1990s and the 2000s such as on the show Boy Meets World (which starred his younger brother Ben Savage) and in the film Austin Powers in Goldmember as The Mole.
Savage has lent his voice to several animated projects, including Family Guy, Kim Possible, Justice League Unlimited, Oswald, and Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen. His two lead roles since The Wonder Years were on the short-lived sitcoms Working and Crumbs. He appeared as a serial rapist on a 2003 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and as a womanizing professor on Boy Meets World. He ranked at #27 on VH1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars.
In July 2008, Savage guest-starred in the web series The Rascal on Crackle.[10]
In 2015, Savage returned to acting with the Fox series The Grinder.[11] Producer Nick Stoller approached Savage about playing the role of Stewart on The Grinder.[11] Savage was uninterested at first, but agreed to meet with the producers of the series because his children attended school with Stoller's children.[11] Savage eventually agreed to take on the role.[11] The Grinder was canceled by Fox on May 16, 2016.[12]
In 2017, he joined the cast of the Netflix series Friends from College as Max Adler, a gay literary agent.[13]
Directing and producing[]
In 1999, Savage began his directing career in which he helmed episodes of over a dozen television series. Savage's first directing credit was on the short-lived NBC sitcom Working which also starred Savage.[14] Following Working, Savage began observing production on the Disney Channel show Even Stevens to further learn the craft of directing.[14] Savage also learned by shadowing Amy Sherman-Palladino, Todd Holland, and James Burrows.
His credits include Boy Meets World, Drake & Josh and Ned's Declassified for Nickelodeon, as well as That's So Raven, Hannah Montana, and Wizards of Waverly Place for Disney Channel. Additionally, Savage has directed for prime-time network sitcoms including Modern Family and 2 Broke Girls.[14]
Besides directing several episodes, Savage co-produced the Disney Channel Original Series Phil of the Future. In 2007, he was nominated for a Directors Guild award for the Phil episode "Not-So-Great-Great Grandpa".
Savage has served as a producer for several episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Friends with Benefits, Party Down, Phil of the Future, The Crazy Ones, and Happy Endings.
In 2007, he made his feature film directing debut with the film Daddy Day Camp.[14]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Functioned as | Notes | Ref(s) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actor | Director | Role | ||||
1987 | The Boy Who Could Fly | Yes | No | Louis Michaelson | Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actor – Motion Picture | |
Dinosaurs! – A Fun-Filled Trip Back in Time! | Yes | No | Phillip | |||
The Princess Bride | Yes | No | The Grandson | Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture | ||
1988 | Vice Versa | Yes | No | Charlie Seymour / Marshall Seymour | Saturn Award for Best Young Performer | |
Runaway Ralph | Yes | No | Garfield "Garf" Jerrniga | |||
1989 | Little Monsters | Yes | No | Brian Stevenson | ||
The Wizard | Yes | No | Corey Woods | Nominated–Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture | ||
1996 | No One Would Tell | Yes | No | Bobby Tennison | Based on a true story | |
1997 | A Guy Walks Into a Bar | Yes | No | Josh Cohen | Short | |
1998 | Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story | Yes | No | Himself (Narrator) | ||
2002 | The Rules of Attraction | Yes | No | "A Junkie Named Marc" | ||
Austin Powers in Goldmember | Yes | No | Number Three / Mole | |||
2004 | The Last Run | Yes | No | Steven Goodson | ||
Welcome to Mooseport | Yes | No | Bullard | |||
2007 | Daddy Day Camp | No | Yes | N/A | Feature film directorial debut Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director |
|
2018 | Super Troopers 2 | Yes | No | Himself | Cameo in post-film scene | |
Once Upon a Deadpool | Yes | No | The Grandson / Himself | PG-13 cut of Deadpool 2 |
Television[]
Year | Title | Functioned as | Notes | Ref(s) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actor | Director | Producer | Role | ||||
1986 | The Twilight Zone | Yes | No | No | Jeff Mattingly | Episode: "What Are Friends For?/Aqua Vita" | |
1986–1987 | Morningstar/Eveningstar | Yes | No | No | Alan Bishop | 7 episodes | |
1987 | Convicted: A Mother's Story | Yes | No | No | Matthew Nickerson | Television film | |
Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater | Uncredited | No | No | Mowser | Episode: "Phantom of the Theater" | ||
1988 | ABC Weekend Special: Runaway Ralph | Yes | No | No | Garfield | Television film | |
Run Till You Fall | Yes | No | No | David Reuben | Television film | ||
1988–1993 | The Wonder Years | Yes | No | No | Kevin Arnold | Lead role; 115 episodes People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Performer (1989–90) Viewers for Quality Television Award Award for Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series (1989–90) Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Television Series (1988–89) Nominated– Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1989–90) Nominated– Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1989–90) |
|
1990 | When You Remember Me | Yes | No | No | Mike Mills | Television film | |
Saturday Night Live | Yes | No | No | Himself | Host; episode: "Fred Savage/Technotronic" | ||
1991 | Christmas on Division Street | Yes | No | No | Trevor Atwood | Television film | |
1992 | Seinfeld | Yes | No | No | Himself | Episode: "The Trip" | |
1996 | No One Would Tell | Yes | No | No | Bobby Tennison | Television film | |
How Do You Spell God? | Yes | No | No | Himself (Narrator) | Television film | ||
1997 | The Outer Limits | Yes | No | No | Danny Martin | Episode: "Last Supper" | |
1997–1999 | Working | Yes | No | No | Matt Peyser | Lead role; 39 episodes | |
1998 | Boy Meets World | Yes | No | No | Stuart | Episode: "Everybody Loves Stuart" | |
1999 | Working | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
1999–2000 | Boy Meets World | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2001 | All About Us | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2001–2002 | Even Stevens | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2001–2003 | Oswald | Yes | No | No | Oswald (voice) | 25 episodes | |
Nick Jr. | Yes | No | No | Himself (Host) | Host from September 3, 2001 – August 29, 2003 | ||
2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Yes | No | No | Michael Gardner | Episode: "Futility" | |
2003–2005 | That's So Raven | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2004 | Justice League Unlimited | Yes | No | No | Hank Hall/Hawk (voice) | Episode: "Hawk and Dove" | |
Drake & Josh | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
2004–2005 | Unfabulous | No | Yes | No | N/A | 5 episodes | |
2004–2006 | Phil of the Future | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 9 episodes Nominated–Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program (Episode: "Not So Great Great Great Grandpa") |
|
2004–2007 | Kim Possible | Yes | No | No | Wego (voice) | Episodes: "Go Team Go" and "Stop Team Go" | |
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | No | Yes | No | N/A | 6 episodes | ||
2005 | Kitchen Confidential | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
Zoey 101 | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | ||
What I Like About You | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
2006 | Crumbs | Yes | No | No | Mitch Crumb | Lead role; 13 episodes | |
Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen | Yes | No | No | Rusty (voice) | TV special | ||
2007 | Cavemen | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
Hannah Montana | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
2007–2008 | Doozers | No | Yes | No | N/A | 4 episodes | |
Wizards of Waverly Place | No | Yes | No | N/A | 3 episodes Nominated– Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program (Episode "The Crazy 10 Minute Sale") |
||
2007–2009 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 19 episodes | |
2008 | Ugly Betty | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
Worst Week | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
2009 | Family Guy | Yes | No | No | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Fox-y Lady" | |
Zeke and Luther | No | Yes | No | N/A | Pilot episode Nominated– Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program (Episode "Pilot") |
||
Ruby & The Rockits | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
2009–2010 | Greek | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
Party Down | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 9 episodes; executive producer | ||
2010 | Sons of Tucson | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
Big Time Rush | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | ||
Blue Mountain State | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | ||
2010–2013 | Generator Rex | Yes | No | No | Noah (voice) | 22 episodes | |
2010–2020 | Modern Family | No | Yes | No | N/A | 14 episodes | |
2011 | Gigantic | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
Breaking In | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
Perfect Couples | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | ||
Franklin & Bash | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
Friends with Benefits | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
Mr. Sunshine | Yes | Yes | No | Himself | Episode: "Celebrity Tennis" | ||
Happy Endings | Yes | Yes | No | Himself | 3 episodes | ||
2011–2012 | How to Be a Gentleman | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2011–2016 | 2 Broke Girls | No | Yes | No | N/A | 20 episodes | |
2012 | Whitney | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
Best Friends Forever | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 6 episodes; executive producer | ||
2013 | The Michael J. Fox Show | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
The Crazy Ones | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | ||
2014 | Super Fun Night | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
Growing Up Fisher | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
Friends with Better Lives | No | Yes | No | N/A | 4 episodes | ||
Playing House | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | ||
Bad Teacher | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
Garfunkel and Oates | No | Yes | Yes | N/A | 8 episodes; executive producer | [15] | |
2014 | Marry Me | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
2014–2016 | BoJack Horseman | Yes | No | No | Goober / Richie Osborne (voice) | 2 episodes | |
2014–present | The Goldbergs | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2015 | Sin City Saints | No | Yes | No | N/A | 2 episodes | |
2015–2016 | The Grinder | Yes | No | No | Stewart Sanderson | Lead role; 22 episodes Nominated–Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series |
|
Casual | No | Yes | No | N/A | 3 episodes | ||
2017 | Fresh Off the Boat | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | |
2017–2019 | Friends from College | Yes | No | No | Max Adler | Main cast; 2 seasons | [13] |
2018 | Child Support | Yes | No | No | Himself | Host. In 2018, he began to host Child Support (originally called Five to Survive) with Ricky Gervais. | |
Robot Chicken | Yes | No | No | Oswald / Steve / Westworld Investor (voice) | Episode: "Scoot to the Gute" | ||
Modern Family | Yes | No | No | Caleb | Episode: "Dear Beloved Family" | ||
LA to Vegas | No | Yes | No | N/A | Episode: "Parking Lot B" | ||
Bob's Burgers | Yes | No | No | Parker (voice) | Episode: "Boywatch" | ||
2018–2019 | The Cool Kids | No | Yes | No | N/A | 4 episodes | |
2018–2021 | The Conners | Yes | Yes | No | Dr. Harding | 7 episodes | |
2019 | What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage | Yes | No | No | Himself | Host | [16] |
2019-2020 | Single Parents | No | Yes | No | N/A | 4 episodes | |
2020 | Black-ish | No | Yes | No | N/A | 3 episodes | |
Indebted | No | Yes | No | N/A | 1 episode | ||
Home Movie: The Princess Bride | Yes | No | No | The grandson | 1 episode | [17] | |
Dash & Lily | No | Yes | No | N/A | 4 episodes | ||
2021 | The Wonder Years | No | Yes | Executive | N/A | Pilot | [18] |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Fred Savage Biography (1976-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ The Wonder Years, retrieved January 19, 2019
- ^ Lee, Felicia R. (January 19, 2006). "A Sitcom 70's Child Grows Up to Be an Alter Ego". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
- ^ https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/lewis-savage-obituary?pid=174223621
- ^ Jump up to: a b Shirley, Don (December 16, 2001). "LA Times: Theater; Not Just Acting Like an Adult; Fred Savage contemplates his roots – as a performer and a Jew – for 'Last Night of Ballyhoo". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Rubin, Sylvia (May 5, 1996). "Fred Savage's Post-'Wonder Years' / He's all grown up, a Stanford student and a bad guy on TV". SFGate. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ^ Goldman, Leah; Ward, Marguerite. "26 of the most famous and successful Stanford University students of all time". Business Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ^ "Fred Savage Emmy Nominated". Emmys.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
- ^ Wollman Rusoff, Jane (February 2, 1998). "Life after 'Wonder Years' is 'Working' for Fred Savage". CNN.
- ^ Ricard, Sarah (August 12, 2008). "International Espionage and Comedy with 'The Rascal'". Tilzy.TV. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Snierson, Dan (October 7, 2015). "How Fred Savage went from actor to director to actor again with The Grinder". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 12, 2016). "'Grinder', 'Grandfathered', 'Bordertown' & 'Cooper Barrett' Canceled By Fox After One Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Andreeva, Nellie (August 22, 2016). "Keegan-Michael Key, Cobie Smulders & Fred Savage Lead Cast of Nick Stoller Netflix Series 'Friends from College'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Rose, Lacey (May 3, 2012). "Fred Savage's Never-Ending Wonder Years as TV's Hot Comedy Director". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- ^ Locker, Melissa (March 5, 2014). "Fred Savage to Direct and Executive Produce Garfunkel and Oates". IFC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
- ^ ""What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage": Fictional Sci-Fi Thriller "The Flare" Gets After-Show, Co-Created and Hosted by Emmy Award Nominee Fred Savage, to Premiere Sunday, June 30, on FOX". The Futon Critic. April 29, 2019.
- ^ Starner, Nina (June 26, 2020). "Quibi just announced a Princess Bride remake you never expected to see". Looper.com. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
- ^ Petski, Denise (May 18, 2021). "ABC New Series Teasers: 'Queens', 'The Wonder Years', 'Abbott Elementary', 'Maggie' – Watch". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
External links[]
- 1976 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Male actors from Chicago
- American male child actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American game show hosts
- American people of German-Jewish descent
- American people of Latvian-Jewish descent
- American people of Polish-Jewish descent
- American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent
- American television directors
- Television producers from Illinois
- American male voice actors
- Jewish American male actors
- People from Glencoe, Illinois
- Stanford University alumni
- Brentwood School (Los Angeles) alumni