Tim Matheson Bio
Timothy Lewis Matthieson (born December 31, 1947) is an American actor and director whose career spans more than six decades in film, television, and animation. He is best known for his breakout role as Eric “Otter” Stratton in National Lampoon’s Animal House and for long-running television work that includes the voice of Jonny Quest and the recurring role of Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing.
Early Life and Background
Timothy Lewis Matthieson was born in Glendale, California, the son of Clifford Matthieson, a training pilot, and Sally Matthieson. He began acting as a teenager and appeared on television at age 13, gaining early experience on series work that established a steady screen presence in the 1960s.
While still building his acting résumé, Matheson provided the voice of the lead character in the 1960s animated series Jonny Quest and supplied other voice work for Hanna-Barbera and similar animation of the era. He also served a tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during his early adult years.
Path to Actor
Matheson moved from adolescent television roles into film and guest appearances through the 1960s. Early credits include work on Window on Main Street, Leave It to Beaver, My Three Sons and a supporting role as the oldest son in the 1968 feature Yours, Mine and Ours. He continued to take guest roles in established television Westerns and dramas, gaining range across genres.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s Matheson appeared in pilots and episodic television while also working in motion pictures. He took on varied parts that showcased a willingness to shift between voice acting, television guest spots and film supporting roles, a versatility that would underpin later transitions into leading ensemble work and directing.
Tim Matheson Career
Early Career (1961–1977)
Matheson began his screen career in 1961 and built consistent television credits through the 1960s and early 1970s. He voiced Jonny Quest in 1964 and appeared in family and dramatic films such as Yours, Mine and Ours. Television appearances on series like The Virginian and Bonanza and guest roles in anthology and crime shows broadened his profile during this period.
In film, Matheson took supporting parts that included roles in genre pictures and mainstream studio features. He appeared as a corrupt motorcycle cop in Magnum Force in 1973 and continued to work steadily on both television and in motion pictures, setting the stage for a higher-profile ensemble role at the end of the decade.
Breakthrough (1978–1985)
Matheson achieved wide recognition with his role as Eric “Otter” Stratton in the 1978 ensemble comedy National Lampoon’s Animal House, a film that became a cultural touchstone and expanded his visibility as a comedic actor. The success of Animal House led to further high-profile film work, including an appearance opposite John Belushi in Steven Spielberg’s 1941 the following year.
Through the early 1980s Matheson continued to oscillate between comedy and drama in feature films and television. He appeared in the Mel Brooks film To Be or Not to Be in 1983 and starred in comedies such as Up the Creek in 1984 and Fletch in 1985, roles that reinforced his standing in mainstream Hollywood comedies of the era.
Matheson also pursued opportunities behind the camera during this phase of his career. He auditioned for major roles, including an early screen test for Raiders of the Lost Ark, and began to expand into directing and producing interests that would define the second half of his career.
Notable Works and Milestones
Signature works include his voice performance as Jonny Quest, his breakout turn in National Lampoon’s Animal House and his recurring portrayal of Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing. Matheson has directed episodes of several high-profile television series and, along with business partner Daniel Grodnik, acquired National Lampoon in 1989 before selling it in 1991, a notable business move that extended his involvement in the entertainment industry.
Later Career (1990s–present)
In later decades Matheson broadened his television presence with recurring and guest roles across dramas and comedies while steadily adding directing credits. He appeared as a lead or supporting actor in projects across the 1990s and 2000s, taking roles that ranged from network sitcoms to cable dramas and participating in pilot productions as an actor and director.
Matheson directed pilot episodes and episodes of many series, including The West Wing, Third Watch and Hart of Dixie, and continued acting in recurring roles such as Dr. Brick Breeland on Hart of Dixie. Since 2019 he has starred as Doc Mullins in the Netflix drama Virgin River, maintaining an active presence on screen while continuing to direct for television.
Tim Matheson Award Nominations
Matheson earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his guest work on The West Wing, recognition that reflects his recurring role as Vice President John Hoynes on the series. His television nominations highlight a career that spans acting and directing across multiple decades and formats.
Tim Matheson Family
Matheson is the son of Clifford Matthieson and Sally Matthieson. He has three children from his second marriage and has been married three times: to Jennifer Leak from 1968 to 1971, to Megan Murphy from 1985 to 2010, and to Elizabeth Marighetto since 2018.
Personal Life
Matheson resides in Hollywood, California. Alongside his screen work he served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve early in his life and has balanced acting with directing and occasional production roles over a multi-decade career.