Tim Matheson
Known for
Tim Matheson is an American actor born in Glendale, California, who became a defining face of American comedy with his role as the charming fraternity brother Otter in the 1978 classic 'Animal House'. He went on to a long career including a recurring role as Vice President John Hoynes on the acclaimed drama 'The West Wing'. Matheson has continued working steadily in film and television for decades, including voice and live-action roles well into his later career. He remains best remembered for a performance central to one of American comedy's most influential films.
Tim Matheson
42 Movies
52 Series
Tim Matheson is an American actor born in Glendale, California, who became a defining face of American comedy with his role as the charming fraternity brother Otter in the 1978 classic 'Animal House'. He went on to a long career including a recurring role as Vice President John Hoynes on the acclaimed drama 'The West Wing'. Matheson has continued working steadily in film and television for decades, including voice and live-action roles well into his later career. He remains best remembered for a performance central to one of American comedy's most influential films.
Movies
Plays Eli's Dad #2
No Strings Attached
2011
Plays Henry Kaslan
Child's Play
2019
Plays Vance Wilder Sr.
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
2002
Plays Harlan Siler
She's All That
1999
Plays Alumnus Guy #4
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love
2009
Plays Officer Phil Sweet
Magnum Force
1973
Plays Capt. Loomis Birkhead
1941
1979
Plays Eric 'Otter' Stratton
Animal House
1978
Plays Alan Stanwyk
Fletch
1985
Plays Charles
Drop Dead Fred
1991
Plays The President (voice)
Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest
2015
Plays Bob McGraw
Up the Creek
1984
Plays Al Donnelly
Black Sheep
1996
Plays Stuart
Impulse
1984
Plays Jack
Speed Zone
1989
Plays Mike Beardsley
Yours, Mine and Ours
1968
Plays Lt. Andre Sobinski
To Be or Not to Be
1983
Director
Plays Dodd
Behind Enemy Lines III: Colombia
2009
Plays Jerry Brecken
Redline
2007
Plays Producer 1
Don't Come Knocking
2005
Plays Michael Donovan
A Little Sex
1982
Plays Gary
6 Balloons
2018
Plays Roy Martin / Trevor Thomas
A Very Brady Sequel
1996
Plays Steve Kelso
Solar Crisis
1992
Plays Jeff Reed
The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again
1979
Plays Weiss
The Etruscan Smile
2018
Plays Dick Strang
Sleeping with the Devil
1997
Plays David Poe
How to Commit Marriage
1969
Plays Kevin Hawkins
Almost Summer
1978
Plays Simon Sez Simone
Chump Change
2000
Plays Mark
Divorce American Style
1967
Plays Roy Basch
The House of God
1984
Plays Mark Fisher
The Best Legs in Eighth Grade
1984
Plays Howard Wilson
A Very Unlucky Leprechaun
1998
Plays Harold 'Dreamer' Nuttingham
Dreamer
1979
Director
Wild Card
2013
Plays Tom
Joshua's Heart
1990
Plays Tyler Grey
Midnight Heat
1996
Plays Amy's Husband (voice)
The War Widow
1976
TV Shows
Director
Plays Dr. Brick Breeland
Hart of Dixie
2011
Plays Jace (voice)
Space Ghost and Dino Boy
1966
Director
Plays Vernon 'Doc' Mullins
Virgin River
2019
Plays Jonny Quest (voice)
Jonny Quest
1964
Plays Jim Horn
The Virginian
1962
Plays Samson (voice)
Young Samson & Goliath
1967
Plays Jace (Voice)
Space Ghost
1966
Director
Plays John Hoynes
The West Wing
1999
Plays Quentin Beaudine
The Quest
1976
Plays Griff King
Bonanza
1959
Plays Bill Dunne
Breaking News
2002
Plays Brad Chiles (voice)
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated
2010
Plays Rick Tucker
Tucker's Witch
1982
Plays Sheriff Matthew Donner
Wolf Lake
2001
Plays John O'Rourke (voice)
The Legend of Calamity Jane
1997
Plays Edward Raleigh
9-1-1: Nashville
2025
Director
Plays Larry Sizemore
Burn Notice
2007
Plays General Dudley (voice)
Fast & Furious Spy Racers
2019
Plays Edward Tragoren
Evil
2019
Plays Tully Nelson
The Good Fight
2017
Plays Dave Malone
This Is Us
2016
Director
Cold Case
2003
Plays Gerry Collier
Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law
1971
Director
Third Watch
1999
Plays John F. Kennedy
Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis
2000
Plays Gil Mason (voice)
Batman: The Animated Series
1992
Plays Curt Grayson
How the West Was Won
1977
Plays Oliver Tate
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Plays James
The Affair
2014
Director
Covert Affairs
2010
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Child's Play
Full Filmography
9-1-1: Nashville
Edward Raleigh · 5 episodes
2025–
TV
Quantum Leap
Neal Russell · 1 episode
2022–
TV
Fast & Furious Spy Racers
General Dudley (voice) · 4 episodes
2019–
TV
Virgin River
Vernon 'Doc' Mullins · Director · 42 episodes
2019–
TV
Evil
Edward Tragoren · 4 episodes
2019–
TV
Child's Play
Henry Kaslan
2019
Film
The Etruscan Smile
Weiss
2018
Film
6 Balloons
Gary
2018
Film
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Old Man Vreeke (uncredited)
2017
Film
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Tim Matheson and where are they from?
Tim Matheson is 78 years old, born on December 31, 1947 in Glendale, California, USA.
What are the most famous roles of Tim Matheson?
Tim Matheson is best known for roles in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, No Strings Attached, She's All That.
How many movies has Tim Matheson been in?
Over a 59-year career (since 1967), Tim Matheson has appeared in 42 movies and 52 TV shows.
What was Tim Matheson's first movie?
The career of Tim Matheson began with Divorce American Style (1967).
What is Tim Matheson's most recent movie or series?
Tim Matheson's most recent release is 9-1-1: Nashville, which premiered on October 9, 2025.
What TV shows has Tim Matheson appeared in?
On television, Tim Matheson has appeared in Fast & Furious Spy Racers, Batman: The Animated Series, This Is Us, White Collar.
Tim Matheson
1947-12-31 · Glendale, California, USA
Tim Matheson (born Timothy Lewis Matthieson; December 31, 1947) is an American actor, director and producer. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the smooth-talking Eric 'Otter' Stratton in the 1978 comedy Animal House. His other well-known roles are as Vernon 'Doc' Mullins on Netflix's Virgin River, Henry Kaslan in the remake of Child's Play (2019), Dr. Brick Breeland on CW's Hart of Dixie, Vance Wilder Sr. in National Lampoon's Van Wilder, John Hoynes on West Wing, Al Donnelly in Black Sheep, Alan Stanwyk in Fletch, Officer Phil Sweet in Magnum Force, David Poe in How to Commit Marriage, Mike Beardsley in Yours, Mine & Ours (1968), and Mark Harmon in Divorce American Style.
He also voiced the cartoon character roles of Jonny Quest, Jace in Space Ghost and Dino Boy, and Samson in Young Samson & Goliath.