MovieChat Forums > National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) Discussion > Should Tim Matheson (Otter) have been a ...

Should Tim Matheson (Otter) have been a bigger star after Animal House?

posted 11 years ago by TMC-4
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http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16960322&postco unt=38

The other guy from Animal House that I was sure would make it big was Tim Matheson, who played Eric Stratton, they frat guy who seduced Dean Wermer's wife.

He had that easy Jack Lemmon (in his prime), cocktail-party, polo-shirt smooth manner. If Tim had come on the scene after Mad Men became popular, he probably would have made it big. Instead he wound up as the cheated-on husband in a bunch of Lifetime movies IIRC.

I loved it when he took Mrs. Wermer up to his room, and he loosened his tie in that James Bond way... and all he was wearing was a toga and a tie.

[–] Tank-McQuade 9 years ago

Tim Matheson sucked, sorry that's just my opinion. He was the only thing that I found nothing funny about in this movie. Bruce McGill is awesome btw, he should have been a bigger star but at least he had a decent career

[–] BiffGG 9 years ago

It's not always about how talented you are but how you navigate the system just as it is in most careers. Matheson may not have had a sterling reputation with producers and casting directors.
Rank in terms of success:
1. Bacon. I am not going to dissect relative to their importance in AH.
2. McGill. MacGyver and quality bit roles such as in My Cousin Vinny.
3 Furst. St Elsewhere. Babylon 5.
4. Allen. Indiana Jones
5. Belushi. I know the thread pretty much looks at prior unknowns but I will make sure all the younger cast members get looked at. Blues Brothers. 1941. I think he would have gotten his own series had he not died when he did.
6. Matheson. Did Bonanza and a Dirty Harry movie prior to AH. Had some bits including Buried Alive and Burn Notice.
7. Riegert. Bits on Seinfeld and other shows.
8. Metcalf. Seinfeld and reprising Neidermeyer for 1980's MTV videos.
9. Widdoes. Director but did lots of work in that capacity.
10. Hulce. Not much beyond Amadeus.

I think typecasting was a significant factor for actors such as Metcalf. And at the same time typecasting should have done in Furst but it did not. I can't really say any of the above were out and out failures. Some struck gold in terms of opportunity and some did not.

Honorable mention to Sutherland and Vernon who had roles before and after AH. Vernon may have been more disadvantaged because he started out in Canada.

[–] Dust_Indotex 9 years ago

He had recurring role on The West Wing. And his character on there could almost be seen as a continuation of Otter...

[–] TMC-4 (20130) a year ago

https://www.datalounge.com/thread/33460331-let%E2%80%99s-discuss-tim-matheson

Attractive enough but utterly bland and forgettable onscreen.

There's a reason he never really broke through to leading man status in TV or film (despite working a lot and for decades): he just doesn't have IT.

by Anonymous reply 3 September 17, 2023 3:20 AM