Paul Le Mat

Last updated
Paul Le Mat
Born (1945-09-22) September 22, 1945 (age 78)
OccupationActor
Years active1972–present
Spouse
(m. 1978;div. 1994)
Children3
Website www.paullemat.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Paul Le Mat (born September 22, 1945) is an American actor. [1] He first came to prominence with his role in American Graffiti (1973); his performance was met with critical acclaim and earned him the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor.

Contents

Le Mat's breakout performance in American Graffiti landed him the lead role in box office hit Aloha, Bobby and Rose (1975). He also is known for his work in the Jonathan Demme films Handle with Care (1977) and Melvin and Howard (1980). He won another Golden Globe award for his performance in the TV film The Burning Bed (1984) and starred in the cult film Puppet Master (1989), which spawned a franchise.

Early life and education

Le Mat was born to Matthew (1914–1963) and Elizabeth LeMat (1917–2016). He graduated from Newport Harbor High School in 1963, and attended San Diego City College, Cypress Junior College, Chapman College, and eventually received an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles Valley College. Le Mat served in the Vietnam War with the U.S. Navy on an SP-5B Marlin seaplane in a maritime patrol squadron.

Career

Le Mat starred in the pilot episode of Firehouse in 1973. In the same year, he appeared in American Graffiti , a coming-of-age film about a group of friends in Modesto, California in the early 1960s. He played John Milner - a role that would earn him his first Golden Globe Award. Le Mat also starred in Floyd Mutrux's 1975 crime spree film Aloha, Bobby and Rose , another commercial hit.

In 1977, he starred in Jonathan Demme's acclaimed comedy Citizens Band, later re-titled Handle with Care. Le Mat would reunite with Demme for 1980's Melvin and Howard , in which he played the title role of Melvin Dummar. The film was based upon the true story of a gas station attendant who claimed to be an heir of eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes, and it won two Academy Awards. Le Mat was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. In 1979, Le Mat reprised his role of John Milner in More American Graffiti .

In 1982, Le Mat played the character John Dortmunder in Jimmy the Kid , opposite Gary Coleman in the role of Jimmy. He also provided the voice of Omar in the American release of the animated film Rock & Rule . Le Mat starred in the made-for-TV movie The Burning Bed with Farrah Fawcett. The film was based on the true story of an abusive husband who drives his wife to drastic measures with his aggressive ways. Le Mat was awarded the second Golden Globe Award of his career for his role in the film. He starred in other television films such as The Night They Saved Christmas , Into the Homeland and Secret Witness. He appeared in the TV miniseries On Wings of Eagles and in the film Puppet Master .

In the 1990s, Le Mat worked on independent films and TV movies. He played Josiah Peale in Lonesome Dove: The Series and in the follow-up Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years . He had a small role in the 1998 film American History X . More recently, Le Mat starred in the film Stateside .

Personal life

He married Suzanne de Passe in 1978[ citation needed ] Le Mat and de Passe have since divorced.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1973 Firehouse Billy DalzellTV series; episode "Pilot"
1973 American Graffiti John Milner Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor
1975 Aloha, Bobby and Rose Bobby
1977 Handle with Care (aka Citizen's Band)Spider
1979 More American Graffiti John Milner
1980 Melvin and Howard Melvin Dummar Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1982 Death Valley Mike
1982The Gift of LifeDwayne SuttonTelevision film
1982 Jimmy the Kid John Dortmunder
1983 Rock & Rule OmarVoice role, American dub
1983 Strange Invaders Charles Bigelow
1984 The Burning Bed Mickey HughesTelevision film
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
1984 The Night They Saved Christmas Michael BaldwinTelevision film
1986 On Wings of Eagles Jay CoburnTV mini-series
1986Long Time GoneNick SanduskyTelevision film
1987 P.K. and the Kid Kid Kane
1987Deadly NightmaresJake PurlyTV series; episode "Doctor's Orders"
1987 The Hanoi Hilton Earl Hubman
1987 P.I. Private Investigations Detective Wexler
1987Into the HomelandDerrick WinstonTelevision film
1988 Murder, She Wrote Carl Mattson / Luke PurdueTV series; episode "Showdown in Saskatchewan"
1988Secret WitnessKurtTelevision film
1988 The Twilight Zone Tom BennettTV series; episode "Appointment on Route 17"
1989 Easy Wheels Bruce
1989 Puppet Master Alex Whitaker
1989Grave SecretsDavid Shaw
1989Veiled ThreatJack Purcell
1989 Blind Witness Detective Mike TuthillTelevision film
1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater CharlieTV series; episode "The Jar"
1992In the Line of Duty: Siege at MarionDoug BodreroTelevision film
1992Woman with a PastMerleTelevision film
1992 Wishman Basie
1992Deuce CoupeSheriff
1994 Caroline at Midnight Emmet
1994SensationMitch Snyder
1995 Deep Down Ray
1995 Grace Under Fire The StrangerTV series; episode "Memphis Bound"
1994–1995 Lonesome Dove: The Series Josiah PealeTV series; 16 episodes
1995–1996 Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years Josiah PealeTV series; 14 episodes
1998 American History X McMahon
1999The OutfittersRobby
2000 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Sheldon LudovicTV series; episode "Eclipse"
2001 Big Bad Love Monroe
2004 Stateside Dori's Internist
2004 The Long Shot Guido LevitsTelevision film
2009Chrome AngelsElliot

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References

  1. "Paul Le Mat". The New York Times . Archived from the original on December 11, 2007.