Michael McManus (American actor)

Michael McManus
Born (1946-01-26) January 26, 1946
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
OccupationsActor, writer, producer
Years active1975–2001

Michael McManus (born January 26, 1946) is an American actor, writer, and producer. His best known movie role is perhaps Ben Tuthill in the 1982 film Poltergeist. He has had roles in the films Mother, Jugs & Speed, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, Funland and Action Jackson and guest starred in TV series including M*A*S*H, Laverne & Shirley, Rhoda, The Six Million Dollar Man, Dallas, Happy Days, Night Court, Knight Rider, and The Golden Girls. He won a Writers Guild of America Award in 1982 for Steve Martin's All Commercials...A Steve Martin Special for "Best Variety, Musical, or Comedy."[1]

Career

McManus was a series regular on the television sitcom Lewis & Clark as John, the bartender; the series lasted only one season of thirteen episodes.[2] He also guest starred in a number of popular television series including Mr. Belvedere, Growing Pains, Newhart, Full House, Alice, Diff'rent Strokes. Webster, Hunter, Married... with Children, and Columbo, among others. In 1989, he had a recurring role as Sid Wilson on the first season of Baywatch. McManus' last known screen acting appearance was in a 2001 episode of According to Jim.

He has also worked behind the camera, most notably as the producer and writer of the crime comedy film Mafia!, writer of All Commercials...A Steve Martin Special,[1] and as producer of Hot Shots! Part Deux.

Filmography

Source:[3]

Year Title Role Notes
1975When Things Were RottenGuy Tinker
1976Mother, Jugs & SpeedWalker
1976Monster SquadAllegro
1976RhodaHerb Buck
1976Gemini ManyMoose
1976–1977Laverne and ShirleyHerb Prange
1977M*A*S*HSgt. Ames
1977Smokey and the BanditTrucker 'Silver Tongued Devil'
1977The World's Greatest LoverYes Man #5
1977The Kentucky Fried MovieHornung(segment "Courtroom")
1978The Six Million Dollar ManGuard Sims
1978A Wild and Crazy GuySelf
1978FamilyMr. Lemon
1979DallasMatt
1981MarieWriter
1981Happy DaysSheriff
1981All Commercials...A Steve Martin SpecialWriter
1981Happy DaysSheriff
1981–1982Lewis & ClarkJohn
1982PoltergeistBen Tuthill
1982Twilight Theater IIWriter
1983DempseyBabe Ruth
1983–1984Thicke of the NightRegular cast member[4]
1984Remington SteeleRalph Kelsey
1985Moving ViolationsFarmer #1
1985Head OfficeBranch Kipp
1985AliceCharlie
1985Knight RiderDanny "Rooster" Roskovich
1985Diff'rent StrokesCal
1986Mr. Bill's Real Life AdventuresSluggo
1987–1988WebsterCalvin Berke
1987Police Academy 4: Citizens on PatrolTodd
1987FunlandT. G. Hurley
1988Action JacksonLionel Grantham
1988–1989Night CourtDr. Gordon Mooney
1989HunterLou Mason
1989The Golden GirlsSid LaBass
1989BaywatchSid LaBass
1990Married... with ChildrenPuggy
1990Saved by the BellMr. Manfredi
1990Doogie Howser, M.D.Roy Lester
1990CoachHoyt
1991Shannon's DealBruce
1991Step by StepPapa Larson
1992DeltaRoy
1992Dear JohnBruce
1993Hot Shots! Part DeuxProducer
1998Mafia!Writer/Producer
2001According to JimBen

References

  1. 1 2 "Hill Street two films win writers' top honors" The Courier Journal, Page 15, March 27, 1982
  2. ↑ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present, page 784
  3. ↑ "Michael McManus". IMDB. October 3, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Thicke of the Night (February 1, 1984)". Archive. February 1, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.