Tim Matheson

'Tim Matheson' (qv) is an American actor, director and producer perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth talking 'Eric "Otter" Stratton' in the 1978 comedy, _National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)_ (qv), but has had a variety of other well-known roles both before and since, including critical accolades for his playing "Vice President John Hoynes" on the television series, _The West Wing (1999)_ (qv), which garnered him two Primetime Emmy award nominations for Best Guest Star in a Drama Series.From 2011 to 2015, Matheson starred as 'Dr. Brick Breeland' in The CW series, _Hart of Dixie (2011)_ (qv), opposite 'Rachel Bilson' (qv). He has and continues to direct several episodes each season throughout the series. Not limited to "Hart of Dixie", Matheson has made a career of directing an array of episodic projects on some of television's most prominent shows, including "The Last Ship," "Burn Notice," "Criminal Minds," "Without a Trace," "Cold Case," "Numbers," "Drop Dead Diva," "Suits," "Eureka" and "White Collar," as well as pilots for Fox's "The Good Guys" and the USA Network successful original series "Covert Affairs."Beginning his career at the age of 13, Matheson appeared in Robert Young's CBS nostalgia comedy series, _Window on Main Street (1961)_ (qv), during the 1961-1962 television season. In 1964, he provided the voice of the lead character in the cartoon program _Jonny Quest (1964)_ (qv), as well as the voice of "Jace" in the original animated series, _Space Ghost (1966)_ (qv). Additionally, he played the role of the oldest son, "Mike Beardsley", in the film _Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)_ (qv), which starred 'Lucille Ball' (qv) and 'Henry Fonda' (qv).In 1969, Matheson joined the cast of NBC's western series, _The Virginian (1962)_ (qv), in its eighth season, as "Jim Horn". During the final season of the television western _Bonanza (1959)_ (qv) in 1972-1973, Matheson played "Griff King", a parolee who tries to reform his life as a worker at the Ponderosa Ranch under Ben Cartwright's watch. Following that, he portrayed young motorcycle cop "Phil Sweet", in the 1973 film, _Magnum Force (1973)_ (qv).In the fall of 1976, Matheson was seen opposite 'Kurt Russell' (qv) in the NBC series, _The Quest (1976)_ (qv), the story of two young men in the American West seeking the whereabouts of their sister, a captive of the Cheyenne. In 1978, he co-starred in the acclaimed _National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)_ (qv), opposite 'John Belushi' (qv); the following year, he appeared alongside Belushi again in 'Steven Spielberg' (qv)'s _1941 (1979)_ (qv). Matheson and 'Catherine Hicks' (qv) played "Rick Tucker" and "Amanda Tucker", who operate a detective agency in Laurel Canyon in CBS' _Tucker's Witch (1982)_ (qv), which aired during the 1982-1983 season. He then appeared in the 1983 _To Be or Not to Be (1983)_ (qv), starring 'Mel Brooks' (qv) and 'Anne Bancroft' (qv) and went on to star in the 1984 comedy, _Up the Creek (1984)_ (qv) and 1985's _Fletch (1985)_ (qv).Matheson, along with business partner 'Dan Grodnik', bought National Lampoon in 1989, when the magazine was facing financial decline. They were unable to reverse the magazine fortunes, however, and sold it in 1991. In 1996, Matheson took on the role of a con man who claims to be Carol Brady's thought-to-be-dead husband in _A Very Brady Sequel (1996)_ (qv). Matheson was seen opposite 'Ryan Reynolds' (qv) in the feature comedy _Van Wilder: Party Liaison (2002)_ (qv) in 2002, playing the father of the title character, who was inspired by his own character in _National Lampoon's Animal House (1978)_ (qv), as a nod to the original film.Tim was born Timothy Lewis Matthieson in Glendale, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, the son of Sally and Clifford Matthieson, a training pilot. He has three wonderful children with former wife 'Megan Murphy Matheson' (qv).::Mike Liotta