Fred Savage
Fred Savage | |
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Savage in 1990 | |
Born | Frederick Aaron Savage July 9, 1976 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
Alma mater | Stanford University |
Occupations |
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Years active | 1985–present |
Spouse | Jennifer Lynn Stone (m. 2004) |
Children | 3 |
Relatives |
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Frederick Aaron Savage (born July 9, 1976)[1] is an American actor and director. He is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years (1988–1993).[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 the title protagonist in Oswald. Savage has worked as a director, and in 2005 later starred in the television sitcom Crumbs.[3] Savage returned to acting in the television series The Grinder, as well as the Netflix series Friends from College.
Early life and education
[edit]Savage was born in Chicago, to Joanne and Lewis Savage,[4] who was an industrial real estate broker and consultant.[5] 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.[6] He was raised as a Reform Jew.[6]
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.[7][8]
Career
[edit]Acting
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/FredSavage1989.jpg/220px-FredSavage1989.jpg)
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!, 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[9] 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.[10] 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), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Legend of Prince Valiant, and the film Austin Powers in Goldmember as The Mole.[11]
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 ranked at #27 on VH1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars.
In July 2008, Savage guest-starred in the web series The Rascal on Crackle.[12]
In 2015, Savage returned to acting with the Fox series The Grinder.[13] Producer Nick Stoller approached Savage about playing the role of Stewart on The Grinder.[13] Savage was uninterested at first, but agreed to meet with the producers of the series because his children attended school with Stoller's children.[13] Savage eventually agreed to take on the role.[13] The Grinder was canceled by Fox on May 16, 2016.[14]
In 2017, he joined the cast of the Netflix series Friends from College as Max Adler, a gay literary agent.[15]
Directing and producing
[edit]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.[16] Following Working, Savage began observing production on the Disney Channel show Even Stevens to further learn the craft of directing.[16] Savage also learned by shadowing Amy Sherman-Palladino, Todd Holland, and James Burrows.
His credits include Zoey 101, Drake & Josh, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Big Time Rush 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.[16]
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 for which he was nominated worst director for the Golden Raspberry Awards.[16]
Misconduct allegations
[edit]In 1993, Savage, then 16, and his Wonder Years co-star Jason Hervey were accused of sexual harassment in a lawsuit filed by the show's former costume designer. Monique Long alleged the young actors "verbally and physically harassed her daily," with her complaints over their behavior ignored by the show's staff. The lawsuit was settled out of court.[17][18]
In March 2018, a costume designer on The Grinder accused Savage of assault and intimidation and filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging crimes including assault, battery, and gender discrimination. Savage denied the allegations. Fox later stated that an investigation cleared the actor of any wrongdoing.[19][20]
On May 6, 2022, Savage was fired as executive producer and director of The Wonder Years reboot after an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct.[21][22] While Savage stated that 'some of the claims were untrue', he also stated that he was going to work on changing any perceived negative behavior.[23]
Personal life
[edit]Savage married his childhood friend Jennifer Lynn Stone on August 7, 2004.[24] They have three children.[25]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Functioned as | Notes | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Actor | Director | Role | ||||
1986 | The Boy Who Could Fly | Yes | No | Louis Michaelson | Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actor – Motion Picture | |
1987 | Dinosaurs! | 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 | |
1989 | Little Monsters | Yes | No | Brian Stevenson | ||
The Wizard | Yes | No | Corey Woods | Nominated–Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture | ||
1997 | A Guy Walks Into a Bar | Yes | No | Josh Cohen | Short film | |
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 | — | 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
[edit]Year | Title | Functioned as | Notes | Ref. | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | Yes | No | Matt Peyser | Lead role; 39 episodes | |
1998 | Boy Meets World | Yes | No | No | Stuart | Episode: "Everybody Loves Stuart" | |
1999–2000 | Boy Meets World | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | |
2001 | All About Us | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | |
2001–2002 | Even Stevens | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | — | 2 episodes | |
2004 | Justice League Unlimited | Yes | No | No | Hank Hall / Hawk | Voice, episode: "Hawk and Dove" | |
Drake & Josh | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
2004–2005 | Unfabulous | No | Yes | No | — | 5 episodes | |
2004–2006 | Phil of the Future | No | Yes | Yes | — | 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, 2 episodes | |
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | No | Yes | No | — | 6 episodes | ||
2005 | Kitchen Confidential | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
Zoey 101 | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | ||
What I Like About You | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | — | 1 episode | |
Hannah Montana | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
2007–2008 | Doozers | No | Yes | No | — | 4 episodes | |
Wizards of Waverly Place | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | — | 19 episodes | |
2008 | Ugly Betty | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
Worst Week | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
2009 | Family Guy | Yes | No | No | Himself | Voice, episode: "Fox-y Lady" | |
Zeke and Luther | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | — | 1 episode | ||
2009–2010 | Greek | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | |
Party Down | No | Yes | Yes | — | 9 episodes; executive producer | ||
2010 | Sons of Tucson | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
Big Time Rush | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | ||
Blue Mountain State | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | ||
2010–2013 | Generator Rex | Yes | No | No | Noah Nixon | Voice, 22 episodes | |
2010–2020 | Modern Family | No | Yes | No | — | 14 episodes | |
2011 | Gigantic | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | |
Breaking In | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
Perfect Couples | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | ||
Franklin & Bash | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
Friends with Benefits | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | — | 2 episodes | |
2011–2016 | 2 Broke Girls | No | Yes | No | — | 20 episodes | |
2012 | Whitney | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
Best Friends Forever | No | Yes | Yes | — | 6 episodes; executive producer | ||
2013 | The Michael J. Fox Show | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
The Crazy Ones | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | ||
2014 | Super Fun Night | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
Growing Up Fisher | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
Friends with Better Lives | No | Yes | No | — | 4 episodes | ||
Playing House | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | ||
Bad Teacher | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
Garfunkel and Oates | No | Yes | Yes | — | 8 episodes; executive producer | [26] | |
2014 | Marry Me | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
2014–2016 | BoJack Horseman | Yes | No | No | Goober / Richie Osborne | Voice, 2 episodes | |
2014–2019 | The Goldbergs | No | Yes | No | — | 2 episodes | |
2015 | Sin City Saints | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | — | 3 episodes | ||
2017 | Fresh Off the Boat | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | |
2017–2019 | Friends from College | Yes | No | No | Max Adler | Main cast; 2 seasons | [15] |
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 | — | Episode: "Parking Lot B" | ||
Bob's Burgers | Yes | No | No | Parker | Voice, episode: "Boywatch" | ||
2018–2019 | The Cool Kids | No | Yes | No | — | 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 | [27] |
2019–2020 | Single Parents | No | Yes | No | — | 4 episodes | |
2020 | Black-ish | No | Yes | No | — | 3 episodes | |
Indebted | No | Yes | No | — | 1 episode | ||
Home Movie: The Princess Bride | Yes | No | No | The Grandson | Episode: "Chapter One: As You Wish" | [28] | |
Dash & Lily | No | Yes | No | — | 4 episodes | ||
2021–2022 | The Wonder Years | No | Yes | Executive | — | 4 episodes | [29] |
2022 | The Afterparty | Yes | No | No | Vaughn | Episode: "Danner" |
References
[edit]- ^ Boland, Yasmin (August 16, 2021). "Horoscope". TV Guide. p. 72.
- ^ 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 12, 2010.
- ^ "Lewis Savage Obituary (2015) Chicago Tribune". Legacy.com. February 23, 2015.
- ^ "Lewis M. Savage". geni_family_tree. July 18, 1946. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Fred Savage - IMDB". IMDB. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ Ricard, Sarah (August 12, 2008). "International Espionage and Comedy with 'The Rascal'". Tilzy.TV. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on October 9, 2015. 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Trepany, Charles (May 6, 2022). "Fred Savage Fired from 'The Wonder Years' Over 'Multiple' Misconduct Claims". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Rowles, Dustin (May 6, 2022). "Revisiting 'The Wonder Years' Sexual Harassment Lawsuit During the MeToo Movement". Pajiba. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ Harris, Hunter (March 21, 2018). "Fred Savage Accused of Physical Harassment on The Grinder Set". Vulture. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ Trepany, Charles (May 6, 2022). "Fred Savage fired as 'Wonder Years' director, producer after misconduct investigation". USA Today. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
- ^ Trepany, Charles (May 6, 2022). "Fred Savage fired as 'Wonder Years' director, producer after a misconduct investigation". USA Today. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Butterfield, Michelle (May 9, 2022). "Fred Savage fired from 'Wonder Years' reboot after misconduct investigation". Global News. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ Calvario, Liz; Dasrath, Diana (August 10, 2022). "Fred Savage speaks out after 'Wonder Years' reboot firing". Today. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ Hearon, Sarah (July 9, 2022). "Fred Savage's Ups and Downs Over the Years". Us Weekly. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- ^ Grebenyuk, Yana (July 9, 2022). "Fred Savage's Family Album Through the Years". Us Weekly. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
- ^ 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
[edit]- Fred Savage at IMDb
- World Poker Tour Profile
- eFilmCritic Interviews Fred Savage Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- Fred Savage at Emmys.com