Steve Guttenberg Bio
Steven Robert Guttenberg, professionally known as Steve Guttenberg, is an American actor, author, businessman, producer, and director. Born on August 24, 1958, he first rose to fame playing Carey Mahoney in the Police Academy films from 1984 to 1987. Over a career spanning several decades, Guttenberg has maintained a presence across film, television, Broadway, and charitable work, making him a recognizable figure in American entertainment.
He is widely remembered for a string of popular comedies including Diner (1982), Cocoon (1985), Short Circuit (1986), and Three Men and a Baby (1987), the latter becoming one of the most commercially successful films of his career. Beyond acting, Guttenberg has expanded into writing, production, and authorship, and he remains active in Hollywood through guest roles and reality television appearances.
Early Life and Background
Steven Robert Guttenberg was born on August 24, 1958, in New York City, New York, USA, and grew up in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens with a Jewish upbringing. He is the only son of Ann Iris Newman, a surgical assistant, and Jerome Stanley Guttenberg, an electrical engineer who had served in the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division as an Army Ranger. He has two sisters, and his godfather is actor Michael Bell.
In 1976, he graduated from Plainedge High School in North Massapequa after his family relocated from Queens. While still in high school, Guttenberg attended a summer program at the Juilliard School, where he studied under John Houseman. During that program, he auditioned for and won a part in an off-Broadway production of The Lion in Winter, an early signal of his dedication to the craft.
After high school, Guttenberg attended the University at Albany, SUNY for a year before deciding to pursue acting professionally. He moved to California to chase his dream, and his parents gave him $300, telling him he had two weeks to find a job. Within that timeframe, he landed his first paid work, appearing in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial opposite Colonel Sanders.
Path to Acting
Guttenberg’s first screen credit came in the 1977 television movie Something for Joey, after an uncredited bit part in the suspense film Rollercoaster. That same year, he played the starring role in the high school comedy The Chicken Chronicles, set in Beverly Hills in 1969. He went on to land a significant role in the 1978 film The Boys from Brazil, based on the Ira Levin bestseller, and guest-starred on the television series Family.
In 1979, he starred in the short-lived CBS television series Billy, which was based on Billy Liar, and took a supporting role in the tennis romance film Players. He continued working steadily in commercials and guest spots, appearing in a Coca-Cola commercial in 1980 and starring in the TV movie To Race the Wind as blind lawyer Harold Krents. His early persistence on stage and screen prepared him for the leading roles that defined his career.
Steve Guttenberg Career
Early Career (1977-1984)
Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, Guttenberg built his résumé across film, television, and commercials. In 1980, he starred in the Nancy Walker-directed Can’t Stop the Music, a semi-autobiographical movie about the disco group Village People. He played Jim Craig in the television movie Miracle on Ice in 1981, appeared in Barry Levinson’s Diner in 1982, and starred in the short-lived television series No Soap, Radio that same year.
In 1983, he starred in the action-comedy The Man Who Wasn’t There and had a supporting role in the post-apocalyptic television movie The Day After. He also starred in The Ferret in 1984, a pilot for a television series that was not picked up. These years of varied work gave him the experience he needed before his breakout year.
Breakthrough (1984-1987)
In 1984, Guttenberg landed the lead role in Police Academy, which grossed $8.5 million in its opening weekend and over $149 million worldwide against a $4.5 million budget. The film became the most successful entry in the franchise it launched, and Guttenberg’s performance as Carey Mahoney turned him into a household name. He went on to become one of the busiest stars in Hollywood, appearing in nine starring roles over the next four years and tying with Gene Hackman for the most active leading actor in the industry.
He quickly followed Police Academy with Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment in 1985 and the romantic lead in Cocoon, another box-office hit. In 1986, he starred opposite Ally Sheedy in Short Circuit, one of his most popular films, while also appearing in Police Academy 3: Back in Training. In 1987, he shifted tone with the Curtis Hanson-directed thriller The Bedroom Window before returning to comedy for Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, his final installment in the series.
That same year, Guttenberg achieved the biggest financial success of his career with Three Men and a Baby, co-starring with Tom Selleck and Ted Danson. He also supported Michael Caine and Sally Field in Surrender and had a cameo in Amazon Women on the Moon. The success of these films cemented his reputation as a reliable box-office draw during the 1980s.
Notable Works and Milestones
Among Guttenberg’s signature works are Police Academy, Cocoon, Short Circuit, Three Men and a Baby, and its 1990 sequel Three Men and a Little Lady. He later expanded into directing and producing with P.S. Your Cat Is Dead in 2002, and he appeared on Broadway in productions including Prelude to a Kiss, The Boys Next Door, and Woody Allen’s Honeymoon Hotel as part of Relatively Speaking in late 2011 and early 2012. He also holds a Guinness World Record for preparing the most hot dogs in one minute, a playful footnote in an otherwise serious career.
Steve Guttenberg Award Nominations
Verified information regarding specific award nominations across Steve Guttenberg’s career is limited in the available sources. Beyond the recognition documented in the awards section of this profile, no comprehensive list of nominations can be presented with full confidence.
Steve Guttenberg Awards Won
Throughout his career, Steve Guttenberg has received notable honors recognizing both his entertainment work and his community service. In 2008, the Fire Island Golden Wagon Film Festival presented him with the Tony Randall Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the entertainment industry and his charitable efforts. In 2011, he was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a milestone honoring his lasting impact on film.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Tony Randall Lifetime Achievement Award | 1 | 2008 |
| Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame | 1 | 2011 |
| Key to the City of Miami Beach | 1 | 2014 |
In 2014, Guttenberg received a Key to the City from Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine for his work with Fun Paw Care and his advocacy for animal rights. He has also been recognized by the Entertainment Industry Foundation as an Ambassador for Children’s Issues for his charitable work with homeless and young people.
Steve Guttenberg Family
Steve Guttenberg is the son of Jerome Stanley Guttenberg, an electrical engineer and Army veteran who served in the 82nd Airborne Division, and Ann Iris Newman, a surgical assistant. He grew up alongside two sisters in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens before his family moved to North Massapequa, where he attended Plainedge High School. His high school drama teacher, Gerald J. Kirby, remained an important influence, and Guttenberg named his production company Mr. Kirby Productions in his honor.
Personal Life
Guttenberg married model Denise Bixler on September 30, 1988. The couple separated in June 1991 and divorced in 1992. He later began living with WCBS-TV reporter Emily Smith in 2014, became engaged on Christmas Day 2016, and married her on January 19, 2019. The couple divorced in 2025.
Beyond his family life, Guttenberg is well known for his philanthropy. He supports charities focused on improving opportunities for the homeless and young people, and in 2016 a trust was established in his honor to provide support services to the homeless population of Los Angeles. In January 2025, he volunteered alongside first responders during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, helping to rescue neighbors and their pets.