Jeffrey Combs
Jeffrey Combs | |
|---|---|
 Combs at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2022 | |
| Born | September 9, 1954 Oxnard, California, U.S. |
| Education | Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–present |
Jeffrey Alan Combs (born September 9, 1954)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Herbert West in Re-Animator (1985), Crawford Tillinghast in From Beyond (1986), various characters in the Star Trek franchise (1994–2023), Milton Dammers in The Frighteners (1996), Kevin Burkhoff on the CBS series The 4400 (2005–07) and Mr. Lockwood in Stream (2024). His voice acting credits include the Question on Justice League Unlimited (2004–06), the Leader on The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2010–12), Ratchet on Transformers: Prime (2010–13) and Brainiac in Injustice 2 (2017).[2]
Early life
[edit]Combs was born in Oxnard, California, the fifth of nine children[3] born to Jean Owens (formerly Sullins; 1921–1986) and Eugene "Gene" Combs (1922–1999), and raised in Lompoc. Both of his parents were from the Ozarks region of Arkansas.[4] A graduate of Lompoc High School, as a senior, Combs played the lead role of Captain Fisby in a stage production of The Teahouse of the August Moon. Combs then attended Santa Maria's Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and later developed his acting skills in the Professional Actor's Training Program at the University of Washington.[5]
In 1980, after several years performing in playhouses on the West Coast, Combs moved to Los Angeles. He landed his first role in the film Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), playing an unnamed drive-in teller. His first horror film role came two years later in Frightmare (1983).[6][self-published source?]
Career
[edit]Combs's best-known horror role is Herbert West, the main character in the film Re-Animator (1985),[7] and its two sequels.[2] He portrayed author H. P. Lovecraft (creator of the Herbert West character) in the film Necronomicon: Book of the Dead (1993) and has starred in eight adaptations of Lovecraft's works. Other film credits include The Attic Expeditions (2001), FeardotCom (2002), House on Haunted Hill (1999), I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998) and The Frighteners (1996).[8]
Combs has had roles in many science fiction television series. He starred as the telepath Harriman Gray in first-season episode "Eyes" (1994) of Babylon 5. In 2001, he played the sinister Dr. Ek in The Attic Expeditions. In August 2005, he appeared for the first time on the science fiction series The 4400 as Dr. Kevin Burkhoff which became a recurring role by 2006. In early 2007, he played a highly fictionalized Edgar Allan Poe in "The Black Cat" episode of Masters of Horror.[9] In the 2012 miniseries Dorothy and the Witches of Oz (sometimes called The Witches of Oz), he had a small role as a highly fictionalized L. Frank Baum.
Combs has also worked as a voiceover artist. His voiceover roles include the Scarecrow in The New Batman Adventures, the Question in Justice League Unlimited, Ratchet in Transformers: Prime, the Leader in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, the Rat King in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Brainiac in Injustice 2.[8] He also narrated the 25th anniversary of Re-Animator at the 2010 FanTasia.[10]
In July 2009, Combs returned to his stage roots and reprised his role as Edgar Allan Poe in a one-man theatrical show, Nevermore...an Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, at The Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, California.[11] Although it was supposed to run for only a month, it enjoyed much success and sold-out crowds, and was extended four times, until closing in Los Angeles on December 19, 2009. The show had its East Coast debut on January 23 and 24, 2010 at Westminster Hall in Baltimore, Maryland, Poe's final resting place.[12] A tour of the Saturn Award-nominated[13] Nevermore was subsequently planned.[14]
Combs starred with Andrew Divoff in the 2012 Screen Media Films release Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation, a prequel to the 2006 film Night of the Living Dead 3D directed by Jeff Broadstreet. In 2012, he also played the sadistic Dr. Lambrick in another horror-thriller, Would You Rather.[8]
Star Trek
[edit]On television, Combs enjoyed popular success playing a number of alien characters on the various modern Star Trek incarnations, beginning with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1994, and continuing to Star Trek: Voyager in 2000, Star Trek: Enterprise in 2001 and Star Trek: Lower Decks in 2021. He has played nine onscreen roles in the Star Trek universe. His largest science-fiction role to date was his regular guest role on Deep Space Nine as the Vorta clone Weyoun. Combs has said that Weyoun was his favorite Star Trek role, and that he had considerable input in developing the character.[15]
On the same series, Combs had a recurring role as the Ferengi character Brunt. During the DS9 episode "The Dogs of War", he appeared as both Weyoun and Brunt, becoming one of the few Star Trek actors to play two characters in the same episode (others including Patrick Stewart and Brian Markinson).[16][17] Combs wanted the characters to appear in the same scene, but the logistics and expense worked against it.[18]
On Enterprise, Combs had a recurring role as Shran, an Andorian military officer. Enterprise producer Manny Coto once said in an interview that he had hoped to make Combs a regular on Enterprise had the series been renewed for a fifth season.[19]
In addition to his recurring Star Trek roles, Combs had non-recurring roles as human police officer Kevin Mulkahey,[20] alien Tiron on Deep Space Nine, alien Penk on Voyager, and Ferengi pirate Krem on Enterprise. Along with many other actors, writers and creators of the show, Combs also had a cameo appearance as a holographic patron in Vic's Lounge in the final episode of Deep Space Nine. He also voices the character of Romulan Commander Suldok for the Star Trek: Elite Force II video game.[21] In 2021, he had a guest voice role as AGIMUS, an evil computer, in episode 7, season 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, which he reprised in seasons 3 and 4.[22]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Film | Role | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Honky Tonk Freeway | Drive-In Teller | ||
| Whose Life Is It Anyway? | 1st Year Intern | |||
| 1983 | Frightmare | Stu | ||
| The Skin of Our Teeth | Henry Antrobus | |||
| The Man with Two Brains | Dr. Jones | |||
| 1985 | Re-Animator | Herbert West | ||
| 1986 | From Beyond | Crawford Tillinghast | ||
| 1987 | Cyclone | Rick Davenport | ||
| 1988 | Cellar Dweller | Colin Childress | ||
| The Phantom Empire | Andrew Paris | Direct-to-video | ||
| Pulse Pounders | Johnathan | |||
| 1990 | Bride of Re-Animator | Herbert West | ||
| Robot Jox | Spectator, Prole | |||
| 1991 | The Guyver | Dr. East | ||
| The Pit and the Pendulum | Francisco, The Inquisitor | |||
| Trancers II | Dr. Pyle | |||
| 1992 | Doctor Mordrid | Dr. Mordrid | ||
| Fortress | "D-Day" | |||
| 1993 | Necronomicon | H. P. Lovecraft | ||
| 1994 | Love and a .45 | Bob "Dinosaur Bob" | ||
| Lurking Fear | Dr. Haggis | |||
| 1995 | Castle Freak | John Reilly | ||
| Dillinger and Capone | Gilroy | Direct-to-video | ||
| 1996 | The Frighteners | Special Agent Milton Dammers | ||
| Norma Jean & Marilyn | Montgomery Clift | |||
| 1997 | Snide and Prejudice | Therapist Meissner | ||
| 1998 | I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Mr. Brooks | ||
| Caught Up | Security Guard | |||
| Spoiler | Captain | |||
| 1999 | House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | ||
| 2000 | Faust: Love of the Damned | Lieutenant Dan Margolies | ||
| 2001 | The Attic Expeditions | Dr. Ek | ||
| 2002 | FeardotCom | Detective Sykes | ||
| 2003 | Beyond Re-Animator | Herbert West | ||
| 2005 | Hammerhead: Shark Frenzy | Dr. Preston King | ||
| All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos | Thomas White | |||
| Edmond | Desk Clerk | |||
| 2006 | Satanic | Detective Joyner | ||
| Abominable | Buddy, The Clerk | |||
| 2007 | Return to House on Haunted Hill | Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacutt | ||
| The Wizard of Gore | The Geek | |||
| Stuck | 911 Operator | Voice | ||
| 2008 | Parasomnia | Detective Garrett | ||
| 2009 | Dark House | Walston Rey | ||
| 2012 | Elf-Man | Mickey | ||
| Would You Rather | Shepard Lambrick | |||
| Night of the Living Dead 3D: Re-Animation | Harold Tovar | |||
| 2014 | Suburban Gothic | Dr. Carpenter | ||
| Beethoven's Treasure Tail | Fritz Bruchschnauser / Howard Belch | |||
| 2016 | Unbelievable!!!!! | Male Larrisha | ||
| 2017 | Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom | King Abdul | Voices Direct-to-video[23] |
|
| 2018 | Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold | The Question, Professor Scarlett | ||
| Howard Lovecraft and the Kingdom of Madness | H. P. Lovecraft | |||
| 2019 | In Search of Darkness | Himself | Documentary | [24] |
| 2020 | In Search of Darkness: Part II | Documentary | ||
| 2023 | Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham | Kirk Langstrom | Voice Direct-to-video |
[25][23] |
| 2024 | Stream | Mr. Lockwood | [26][27][28] | |
| Watchmen Chapter 1 | Edgar Jacobi / Moloch the Mystic, British Newscaster, Photographer #1 | Voices Direct-to-video |
[29][23] |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Mississippi | Military Cadet | Episode: "We Remember, We Revere" |
| 1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Python | Episode: "No Way Down" |
| 1988 | Jake and the Fatman | Alan Shuba | Episode: "What is This Thing Called Love" |
| 1989 | Freddy's Nightmares | Ralph | Episode: "Love Stinks" |
| Life Goes On | Burk Clifton | Episode: "Invasion of the Thatcher Snatchers" | |
| Hunter | James Wilkins | Episode: "Fatal Obsession, Part 2" | |
| 1991 | The Flash | Jimmy Swain | Episode: "Captain Cold" |
| Sisters | Derek Cotts | Episode: "Protective Measures" | |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 | Harriman Gray | Episode: "Eyes" |
| 1994–99 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Brunt, Weyoun, Tiron | 33 episodes |
| 1995 | The Single Guy | Klein | Episode: "The Virgin" |
| Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero | Roger "Sheck" Shector | Episode: "A Quartet Of Creatures" | |
| 1996 | Perversions of Science | Prisoner #50557 | Episode: "The Exile" |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures | Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow | Voice Episode: "Never Fear"[23] |
| 1998 | The Net | Max Copernicus | Episode: "Lunatic Fringe" |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Voyager | Penk | Episode: "Tsunkatse" |
| 2001–05 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Shran, Krem | 11 episodes |
| 2002 | The Twilight Zone | Harry Radditch | Episode: "The Placebo Effect" |
| She Spies | Indigo | Episode: "The Replacement" | |
| 2003 | Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Dr. Zellner, Professor | Voices 2 episodes |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Dr. Dale Sterling | Episode: "Jackpot" | |
| 2004–06 | Justice League Unlimited | Vic Sage / Question, Dr. Moon, Assistant | Voices 5 episodes[23] |
| Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! | Gyrus Krinkle | Voice 2 episodes[23] | |
| 2005–07 | The 4400 | Kevin Burkhoff | 15 episodes |
| 2006 | Voodoo Moon | Frank Taggert | Television film |
| 2006 | Masters of Horror | Edgar Allan Poe | Episode: "The Black Cat" |
| 2008 | Cold Case | Sly Borden | Episode: "Spiders" |
| 2009 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Kite Man | Voice Episode: "Long Arm of the Law!"[23] |
| 2010–11 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Professor Hatecraft | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2010–12 | The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes | Samuel Sterns / Leader | Voice 5 episodes[23] |
| 2010–13 | Transformers: Prime | Ratchet, MECH #1 | Voice 56 episodes[23] |
| 2012 | Thundercats | Soul Sever | Voice Episode: "The Soul Sever" |
| Femme Fatales | Interrogator | Voice Episode: "Killer Instinct" | |
| 2012–16 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Dr. Victor Falco / Rat King | Voice 4 episodes[23] |
| 2013 | Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising | Ratchet | Voice Television film |
| 2013 | DC Nation – Doom Patrol | Chief | Voice 3 episodes[23] |
| 2014 | Criminal Minds | John Nichols | Episode: "The Black Queen" |
| Ben 10: Omniverse | Kuphulu | Voice 2 episodes[23] | |
| 2015 | Gotham | Office Manager | 2 episodes |
| Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. | Mainframe, Referee Bot | Voices Episode: "Wheels of Fury"[23] | |
| 2016 | Transformers: Robots in Disguise | Ratchet | Voice 4 episodes[23] |
| 2017 | Stan Against Evil | Impish Man | Episode: "Girls' Night" |
| 2018–20 | Tigtone | Prince Lavender, The Greater Good | Voices 6 episodes |
| 2019 | Pandora | Berman Livingston | Episode: "Hurricane" |
| Hot Streets | Stinkeroni, Captain Moldmug, Elder Vossler | Voices 2 episodes | |
| Creepshow | Reinhard | Episode: "Bad Wolf Down/The Finger" | |
| 2021–23 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | AGIMUS | Voice 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Dota: Dragon's Blood | Father | Voice 3 episodes |
| 2023–24 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Wally | Voice 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Ollie & Scoops | Edgar Grimson | Voice Episode: "A Night at Claudia's" |
| 2024 | Masters of the Universe: Revolution | Zodac | Voice Episode: "The Scepter and the Sword" |
| Hysteria! | Mr. McCarthy | Episode: "Mother" |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Dominion Wars | Weyoun |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Elite Force II | Cmdr. Suldok |
| Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu | Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow[23] | |
| 2012 | The Secret World | Hayden Montag, Charles Zurn |
| Transformers: Prime – The Game | Ratchet[23] | |
| 2013 | Imperium Galactic War | Novus Ordo, Narrator |
| Lego Marvel Super Heroes | The Leader | |
| 2017 | Injustice 2 | Brainiac[23] |
| 2018 | Star Trek Online: Victory Is Life | Weyoun[23] |
| Lego DC Super-Villains | Scarecrow, Kite Man, Man | |
| 2025 | Dune: Awakening | Zayne De Witte[30] |
References
[edit]- ^ "The Birthday Bunch". The Spokane Spokesman-Review. February 2, 2024. p. A4. ProQuest 2864808674.
Actor Angela Cartwright is 71. Astronaut Lee Morin is 71. Actor Jeffrey Combs is 69. Actor Hugh Grant is 63.
- ^ a b "Jeffrey Combs". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
- ^ The Shuttlepod Show (March 13, 2022). "Shuttlepod Episode 004: "That's Shrantastic!" with Jeffrey Combs". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
- ^ The Shuttlepod Show (March 13, 2022). "Shuttlepod Episode 004: "That's Shrantastic!" with Jeffrey Combs". YouTube. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023.
- ^ Olson, Christopher J. (April 12, 2018). 100 Greatest Cult Films. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-1104-9.
- ^ Rowan, Terry (August 16, 2014). The Book of the Undead A Zombie Film Guide. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-312-43947-4.[self-published source]
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 18, 1985). "Re Animator (1985) SCREEN: STUART GORDON DIRECTS 'RE-ANIMATOR'". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c Mcivar, Brice (August 9, 2011). "Q&A: Jeffrey Combs". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Jeffrey Combs, Star of "The Black Cat" Archived June 22, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, UGO
- ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 5 Through 9". July 16, 2010.
- ^ Stebe Allen Theater – Nevermore
- ^ Baltimore Poe Bicentennial Celebration Archived December 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Fantasia 2010: Days 10 and 11". October 18, 2012.
- ^ "Nevermore Heading to San Diego for Two Performances". July 18, 2012.
- ^ Jeffrey Combs (2004). StarTrek.com First Person. Paramount Pictures. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
- ^ Peter Durst and Sulan, see the Filmography section
- ^ Jean-Luc Picard and Michael Williams, see The Defector
- ^ "Star Trek Online Community Q&A with Jeffrey Combs!". April 24, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ^ Pascale, Anthony (August 10, 2009). "VegasCon09: Braga & Coto Talk Enterprise Season 5 + Star Trek 2009 & more". Las Vegas, Nevada: TrekMovie.com. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
- ^ Startrek.com Deep Space Nine – Far Beyond the Stars
- ^ Webb, Andy (September 9, 2023). "Every Star Trek Character Played by Jeffrey Combs, Ranked". www.startrek.com. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ^ "Catching Up With Jeffrey Combs". www.startrek.com. September 27, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Jeffrey Combs (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 9, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ Miska, Brad (March 22, 2019). "Exclusive Clip: John Carpenter Joins '80s Horror Documentary 'In Search of Darkness'!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (December 6, 2022). "'Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham' Sets Voice Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Millican, Josh (September 3, 2021). "Gallery: New Vacation Horror 'Stream' Coming Soon From the Producers of 'Terrifier 2'". Dread Central. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ Squires, John (September 10, 2021). "From the Team Behind 'Terrifier 2' Comes Horror Movie 'Stream' Starring Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Combs!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ Gingold, Michael (September 14, 2021). "Exclusive Interview: Director Michael Leavy on His All-Horror-Star Movie "Stream"". Rue Morgue. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Watchmen Chapter I: Exclusive Trailer, Voice Cast, Boxart and Release Date". July 10, 2024.
- ^ "Dune: Awakening - Game Credits".
Bibliography
[edit]- Voisin, Scott, Character Kings: Hollywood's Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting BearManor Media, 2009. ISBN 978-1-59393-342-5.
External links
[edit]
- 1954 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- Male actors from Los Angeles
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- Living people
- Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts alumni
- People from Lompoc, California
- Male actors from Oxnard, California
- University of Washington School of Drama alumni
- Lompoc High School alumni