Stephen Furst obit

Stephen Furst, actor who played Flounder in 'Animal House,' dies at 63

 

 He was not on the list.

Stephen Furst, the actor who played the hapless, beanie-wearing frat boy Flounder in the 1978 movie "Animal House," has died at age 63, his son, Nathan Furst, told CNN on Saturday.

"It was from complications from diabetes," Nathan Furst said. "Over the last several years it was getting worse a little bit. Sort of the typical things that tend to happen when you have diabetes a long time."

Furst appeared on TV in "St. Elsewhere" and "Babylon 5," but he was best remembered for his role as the innocent freshman Kent Dorfman in "National Lampoon's Animal House," which ushered in a brand of raunchy comedy.

His character was rejected by other fraternities at the fictional Faber College but got into the hard-partying, rule-breaking frat nicknamed Animal House. Bluto -- the house wild man played by John Belushi in his own breakout role -- gave Dorfman the nickname Flounder. A series of mishaps and humiliations followed.

Flounder accidentally killed a horse -- apparently by inducing fright -- by firing a pistol loaded with blanks into the air during a midnight prank in Dean Vernon Wormer's office.

He was also the recipient of one of the movie's most famous lines, delivered by Wormer: "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son."

 

Furst was born May 8, 1955, in Norfolk, Virginia, as Stephen Fuerstein, according to the Internet Movie Database. He was orphaned at 16 and raised by an aunt, the Turner Classic Movies archives said.

He started acting in high school, partly because he was self-conscious about his weight, he said in a 1985 interview with the Chicago Tribune.

"I'm one of the most insecure people in the world, always have been, and when you're a fat kid, you try to make the fat jokes before other people make them," he said.

"I went to high school in Virginia Beach, Va., and we had these guys, they were surfers. They didn't like me, never talked to me. And if they didn't like you, they threw toothpicks at you. After I did a play, it was different. I found out I was pretty good at something."

He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and delivered pizzas in Hollywood, giving himself publicity by putting his picture and resume inside the pizza boxes, IMDb said. Producer Matty Simmons discovered him and put Furst into "Animal House."

After "Animal House," he kept getting Flounder-like parts and reprised the role in "Delta House," an ABC sitcom based on the movie, according to the Turner Classic Movies archives.

Furst had a more serious role playing Dr. Elliot Axelrod on the NBC series "St. Elsewhere" from 1983 to 1988. His character fought questions about his competency and obesity -- a real-life struggle for Furst, who weighed more than 300 pounds at times.

He played an alien ambassadorial aide in "Babylon 5," which ran on TNT from 1994 to 1998, and found roles on shows like "Have Faith" on ABC. He had a recurring role on "Melrose Place" in the 1990s.

Furst directed "Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure" in 1999 and "Magic Kid 2" in 1994.

 

After he was diagnosed with diabetes in 1996, Furst dropped more than 85 pounds and appeared in an educational video produced by the American Diabetes Association.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Lorraine Wright.

Actor (93 credits)

 2006 Basilisk: The Serpent King (TV Movie)

Carlton

 2006 Against Type (TV Movie)

Barry Stein

 2006 Seven Days of Grace

Henry Henary, III

 2005 Path of Destruction (TV Movie)

Terry

 2004/I Wild Roomies

Mr. Nossee

 2003 Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update (Video short)

Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

 2003 Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (TV Movie)

Hospital Doctor

 2003 Autopsy Room Four (Short)

Howard Randall Cottrell

 2003 Living in Walter's World (Short)

Hank

 2003 Searching for Haizmann

Dr. Gaulforid

 2002 She Spies (TV Series)

Mr. Washman / Dental Patient

- Ice Man (2002) ... Mr. Washman / Dental Patient

 2002 Scrubs (TV Series)

Dr. Franklyn

- My Sacrificial Clam (2002) ... Dr. Franklyn

 2002 Sorority Boys

The Alum

 2001 Echos of Enlightenment

House Foreclosure Client

 2001 Going Greek

 2001 Title to Murder

Oscar, the Security Guard

 2000-2001 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (TV Series)

Booster / Blister

- 42 (2001) ... Booster (voice)

- Ancient Evil (2001) ... Booster (voice)

- Opposites Attract (2000) ... Booster (voice)

- Holiday Time (2000) ... Booster (voice)

- Speed Trap (2000) ... Booster (voice)

Show all 61 episodes

 2000 Disney's Activity Center: The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (Video Game)

Dash (voice)

 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (Video Game)

Booster (voice)

 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins (Video)

Booster (voice)

 2000 The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (Video)

Dash (voice)

 2000 Everything's Jake

Assistant Librarian

 2000 The Little Mermaid II (Video Game)

Dash (voice)

 1999 Deadly Delusions

Rev. Crane

 1999 Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure (Video)

Phantoms' Manager / Voice of Baby Huey

 1994-1998 Babylon 5 (TV Series)

Vir Cotto

- Sleeping in Light (1998) ... Vir Cotto

- Objects at Rest (1998) ... Vir Cotto

- Objects in Motion (1998) ... Vir Cotto (credit only)

- The Wheel of Fire (1998) ... Vir Cotto (credit only)

- The Fall of Centauri Prime (1998) ... Vir Cotto

Show all 110 episodes

 1998 Babylon 5: Thirdspace (TV Movie)

Vir Cotto

 1998 Little Bigfoot 2: The Journey Home

Derby Ferris

 1997-1998 Jungle Cubs (TV Series)

Hathi

- Nice Tiger/Sleepless in the Jungle (1998) ... Hathi (voice)

- Tree for Two/Waiting for Baloo (1997) ... Hathi (voice)

- A Tale of Two Tails/Hair Ball (1997) ... Hathi (voice)

- Old Green Teeth/The Elephant Who Couldn't Say No (1997) ... Hathi (voice)

- Birthday Snake/The Five Bananas (1997) ... Hathi (voice)

Show all 8 episodes

 1996 Timon & Pumbaa (TV Series short)

Male Warthog

- Home Is Where the Hog Is (1996) ... Male Warthog (voice)

 1996 Road Rovers (TV Series)

Sport

- The Dog Who Knew Too Much (1996) ... Sport (voice)

 1996 Diagnosis Murder (TV Series)

Vic Slovak

- 35 Millimeter Murder (1996) ... Vic Slovak

 1996 Back to Back (TV Movie)

Jimmy

 1995-1996 Freakazoid! (TV Series short)

Fan Boy

- Next Time, Phone Ahead/Nerdator (1996) ... Fan Boy (voice)

- Relax-O-Vision/Fatman and Boy Blubber/Limbo Lock-Up/Terror Palace (1995) ... Fan Boy (voice)

- Foamy the Freakadog/Office Visit/Ode to Leonard Nimoy/Emergency Broadcast System (1995) ... Fan Boy (voice)

- And Fan Boy Is His Name/Lawn Gnomes Chapter IV: Fun in the Sun/Freak's French Lesson (1995) ... Fan Boy (voice)

 1995 Cops n Roberts

 1995 Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Hawkins

 1995 Howie Mandel's Sunny Skies (TV Series)

Various

- Episode #1.10 (1995) ... Various

- Episode #1.5 (1995) ... Various

 1995 Chicago Hope (TV Series)

Dr. Elliot Feinstein

- Christmas Truce (1995) ... Dr. Elliot Feinstein

 1995 Misery Loves Company (TV Series)

Lewis

- Joe DeMarco, Boy Wonder (1995) ... Lewis

- The Streak (1995) ... Lewis

- The Witches of East 6th (1995) ... Lewis

- Pilot (1995) ... Lewis

- That Book by Nabokov (1995) ... Lewis

Show all 8 episodes

 1994 Rebel Highway (TV Series)

Frank Doyle

- Shake, Rattle and Rock! (1994) ... Frank Doyle

 1994 Shake, Rattle and Rock! (TV Movie)

Frank

 1994 Melrose Place (TV Series)

Public Defender Benjamin Skyler

- With This Ball and Chain (1994) ... Public Defender Benjamin Skyler

 1994 Magic Kid II

Uncle Bob

 1993 Magic Kid (Video)

Bob Ryan

 1993 Jack's Place (TV Series)

Kurt

- The Pipes Are Calling (1993) ... Kurt

 1993 Good Advice (TV Series)

Roger

- The Kiss (1993) ... Roger

 1992 Davis Rules (TV Series)

Marty Lindell

- Strike Down the Band (1992) ... Marty Lindell

 1992 Nurses (TV Series)

Chet 'Poofie' McGuire

- Catch a Fallen Star (1992) ... Chet 'Poofie' McGuire

 1991 Howie and Rose (TV Movie)

Lawrence Fine

 1991 Dream On (TV Series)

Leon Carp

- The Second Greatest Story Ever Told: Parts 1 & 2 (1991) ... Leon Carp

 1991 Gabriel's Fire (TV Series)

Lawrence Daskell III

- Kelly Green (1991) ... Lawrence Daskell III

 1991 Shades of LA (TV Series)

Alan

- Last Laugh (1991) ... Alan

 1990 Murder, She Wrote (TV Series)

Sgt. Paulsen

- Trials and Tribulations (1990) ... Sgt. Paulsen

 1990 Bobby's World (TV Series short)

- Uncle Ted's Excellent Adventure (1990) ... (voice)

 1990 Night Court (TV Series)

Alexander Tobin

- The Blues of the Birth (1990) ... Alexander Tobin

 1990 Sydney (TV Series)

William B. Gold

- The Me Nobody Knows (1990) ... William B. Gold

 1990 Doctor Doctor (TV Series)

George

- No Free Lunch (1990) ... George

 1989 Buster Poindexter: Hit the Road, Jack (Music Video)

Albert Ianuzzi

 1989 Have Faith (TV Series)

Father Gabriel 'Gabe' Podmaninski

- The Competition (1989) ... Father Gabriel 'Gabe' Podmaninski

- The Confession (1989) ... Father Gabriel 'Gabe' Podmaninski

- Letters from Home (1989) ... Father Gabriel 'Gabe' Podmaninski

- Bingo (1989) ... Father Gabriel 'Gabe' Podmaninski

- The Window (1989) ... Father Gabriel 'Gabe' Podmaninski

Show all 7 episodes

 1989 MacGyver (TV Series)

Dr. Kozby

- Renegade (1989) ... Dr. Kozby

 1989 The Dream Team

Albert Ianuzzi

 1983-1988 St. Elsewhere (TV Series)

Dr. Elliot Axelrod

- The Last One (1988) ... Dr. Elliot Axelrod (credit only)

- The Abby Singer Show (1988) ... Dr. Elliot Axelrod

- Split Decision (1988) ... Dr. Elliot Axelrod

- Requiem for a Heavyweight (1988) ... Dr. Elliot Axelrod

- The Naked Civil Surgeon (1988) ... Dr. Elliot Axelrod

1987 If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium (TV Movie)

Leo Fletch

 1987 Alf Loves a Mystery (TV Movie)

Mole

 1987 Throb (TV Series)

Dr. Axelrod

- Death Be Not Weird (1987) ... Dr. Axelrod

 1985 Faerie Tale Theatre (TV Series)

Peter

- The Three Little Pigs (1985) ... Peter

 1984 Twisted Sister: I Wanna Rock (Music Video short)

Principal

 1984 Up the Creek

Gonzer

 1984 Lottery! (TV Series)

- St. Louis: Win or Lose (1984)

 1984 The Jeffersons (TV Series)

Wiley

- The Command Post (1984) ... Wiley

 1983 The Day After (TV Movie)

Aldo

 1983 For Members Only (TV Movie)

Gilbert Kovacs

 1983 CHiPs (TV Series)

Dirtball

- Fun House (1983) ... Dirtball

 1983 Newhart (TV Series)

Student

- Sprained Dreams (1983) ... Student

 1982 Class Reunion

Hubert Downs

 1982 Silent Rage

Charlie

 1982 Pigs vs. Freaks (TV Movie)

Steamboat

 1981 Revenge of the Gray Gang (TV Movie)

Fats

 1981 Two Reelers (TV Movie)

Stephen

 1980 The Unseen

'Junior' Keller (The Unseen)

 1980 Getting Wasted

Marshall

 1980 Midnight Madness

Harold - Blue Team Leader

 1979 Scavenger Hunt

Merle

 1979 Swim Team

Bear

 1979 Delta House (TV Series)

Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

- The Matriculation of Kent Dorfman (1979) ... Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

- Hoover and the Bomb (1979) ... Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

- Campus Fair (1979) ... Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

- The Blotto Who Came to Dinner (1979) ... Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

- The Fall of Dean Wormer (1979) ... Kent 'Flounder' Dorfman

Show all 13 episodes

 1979 Bizarre (TV Series)

- Pilot (1979)

 1979 Take Down

Randy Jensen

 1978 CBS Afternoon Playhouse (TV Series)

Piggy

- Joey and Redhawk: Part 5 (1978) ... Piggy

- Joey and Redhawk: Part 4 (1978) ... Piggy

- Joey and Redhawk: Part 3 (1978) ... Piggy

- Joey and Redhawk: Part 2 (1978) ... Piggy

- Joey and Redhawk: Part 1 (1978) ... Piggy

 1978 Family (TV Series)

Delivery Boy

- Changes (1978) ... Delivery Boy

 1978 National Lampoon's Animal House

Kent Dorfman

 1978 The Bastard (TV Series)

Bertrand

 1977 Prime Time

Fat Gin Player

 1975 Movin' On (TV Series)

Road Construction Worker

- General Delivery (1975) ... Road Construction Worker (uncredited)

Hide Hide Director (11 credits)

 2006 Basilisk: The Serpent King (TV Movie) (as Louie Myman)

 2006 Game Day

 2005 Path of Destruction (TV Movie) (as Louie Myman)

 2004 Dragon Storm (TV Movie)

 2001 Title to Murder

 2001 D4G (Video)

 2000 Stageghost

 1999 Crusade (TV Series) (2 episodes)

- Each Night I Dream of Home (1999)

- Appearances and Other Deceits (1999)

 1999 Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure (Video) (directed by)

 1997-1998 Babylon 5 (TV Series) (3 episodes)

- The Corps Is Mother, the Corps Is Father (1998)

- The Deconstruction of Falling Stars (1997)

- The Illusion of Truth (1997)

 1994 Magic Kid II (directed by)