Fred Savage

Frederick Aaron Savage (born July 9, 1976)[1] is an American actor and television director, known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years (1988 to 1993).[2] He has earned several awards and nominations, such as People's Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards. He is also known for playing the Grandson in The Princess Bride, and voiced Oswald the blue octopus in Oswald.

Fred Savage
Savage in 1989
Born
Frederick Aaron Savage

(1976-07-09) July 9, 1976
Alma materStanford University
OccupationActor, director, voice actor, producer
Years active1985–present
Spouse(s)
Jennifer Lynn Stone
(m. 2004)
Children3
RelativesBen Savage (brother)
Kala Savage (sister)

Savage has worked as a director, and in 2005 later starred in the television sitcom Crumbs.[3] More recently, Savage returned to acting in the television series The Grinder, as well as the Netflix series Friends from College.

Early life

Savage was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Joanne and Lewis Savage (1946-2015),[4] who was an industrial real estate broker and consultant.[1] Savage grew up in Glencoe, Illinois, before moving to California. His younger brother is actor Ben Savage and his younger sister is actress/musician Kala Savage. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Latvia.[5] He was raised in Reform Judaism.[5]

Education

Savage was educated at Brentwood School, a private co-educational day school in Brentwood, in the Westside area of Los Angeles County in California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1999, with a bachelor's degree in English and as a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.[6][7]

Career

Acting

Savage in 1991

Savage's first screen performance was in the television show Morningstar/Eveningstar, at the age of 9. He then appeared onscreen in The Boy Who Could Fly, Dinosaurs! - A Fun-Filled Trip Back in Time!, and several television shows, including The Twilight Zone and Crime Story before gaining national attention as the grandson in the 1987 film The Princess Bride opposite Peter Falk.

In 1988, Savage appeared as Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years, the role for which he is best known, and for which he received two Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy[8] nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. At the age of thirteen, he was the youngest actor ever to receive these honors. He remained on the show until it ended in 1993. During this period, he appeared in several films, most notably Vice Versa (1988), and also starred in Little Monsters. After The Wonder Years ended, Savage returned to high school at age 17, and later attended Stanford. His first television role after high school was the NBC sitcom Working, which Savage starred in for its two-season run.[9] Savage also had a series of guest and supporting roles in the late 1990s and the 2000s such as on the show Boy Meets World (which starred his younger brother Ben Savage) and in the film Austin Powers in Goldmember as The Mole.

Savage has lent his voice to several animated projects, including Family Guy, Kim Possible, Justice League Unlimited, Oswald, and Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen. His two lead roles since The Wonder Years were on the short-lived sitcoms Working and Crumbs. He appeared as a serial rapist on a 2003 episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and as a womanizing professor on Boy Meets World. He ranked at #27 on VH1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars.

In July 2008, Savage guest-starred in the web series The Rascal on Crackle.[10]

In 2015, Savage returned to acting with the Fox series The Grinder.[11] Producer Nick Stoller approached Savage about playing the role of Stewart on The Grinder.[11] Savage was uninterested at first, but agreed to meet with the producers of the series because his children attended school with Stoller's children.[11] Savage eventually agreed to take on the role.[11] The Grinder was canceled by Fox on May 16, 2016.[12]

In 2017, he joined the cast of the Netflix series Friends from College as Max Adler, a gay literary agent.[13]

Directing and producing

In 1999, Savage began his directing career in which he helmed episodes of over a dozen television series. Savage's first directing credit was on the short-lived NBC sitcom Working which also starred Savage.[14] Following Working, Savage began observing production on the Disney Channel show Even Stevens to further learn the craft of directing.[14] Savage also learned by shadowing Amy Sherman-Palladino, Todd Holland, and James Burrows.

His credits include Boy Meets World, Drake & Josh and Ned's Declassified for Nickelodeon, as well as That's So Raven, Hannah Montana, and Wizards of Waverly Place for Disney Channel. Additionally, Savage has directed for prime-time network sitcoms including Modern Family and 2 Broke Girls.[14]

Besides directing several episodes, Savage co-produced the Disney Channel Original Series Phil of the Future. In 2007, he was nominated for a Directors Guild award for the Phil episode "Not-So-Great-Great Grandpa".

Savage has served as a producer for several episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Friends with Benefits, Party Down, Phil of the Future, The Crazy Ones, and Happy Endings.

In 2007, he made his feature film directing debut with the film Daddy Day Camp.[14]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1987 The Boy Who Could Fly Louis Michaelson Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actor – Motion Picture
1987 Dinosaurs! – A Fun-Filled Trip Back in Time! Phillip
The Princess Bride The Grandson Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture
1988 Vice Versa Charlie Seymour / Marshall Seymour Saturn Award for Best Young Performer
Runaway Ralph Garfield "Garf" Jerrniga
1989 Little Monsters Brian Stevenson
The Wizard Corey Woods Nominated–Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture
1996 No One Would Tell Bobby Tennison Based On True Story
1997 A Guy Walks Into a Bar Josh Cohen Short
1998 Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story Narrator
2002 The Rules of Attraction "A Junkie Named Marc"
Austin Powers in Goldmember Number Three/Mole
2004 The Last Run Steven Goodson
Welcome to Mooseport Bullard
2018 Super Troopers 2 Himself Cameo in post-film scene
Once Upon a Deadpool The Grandson/Himself PG-13 cut of Deadpool 2

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Twilight Zone Jeff Mattingly Episode: "What Are Friends For?/Aqua Vita"
1986–87 Morningstar/Eveningstar Alan Bishop 7 episodes
1987 Convicted: A Mother's Story Matthew Nickerson TV film
Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater Mowser Episode: "Phantom of the Theater"; uncredited
1988 ABC Weekend Special: Runaway Ralph Garfield TV film
Run Till You Fall David Reuben TV film
1988–93 The Wonder Years Kevin Arnold Lead role; 115 episodes
People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Performer
(1989–90)
Viewers for Quality Television Award Award for Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series
(1989–90)
Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Television Series
(1988–89)
Nominated– Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy
(1989–90)
Nominated– Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
(1989–90)
1990 When You Remember Me Mike Mills TV film
Saturday Night Live Himself Host; Episode: "Fred Savage/Technotronic"
1991 Christmas on Division Street Trevor Atwood TV film
1992 Seinfeld Himself Episode: "The Trip"
1996 No One Would Tell Bobby Tennison TV film
How Do You Spell God? Narrator TV film
1997 The Outer Limits Danny Martin Episode: "Last Supper"
1997–99 Working Matt Peyser Lead role; 39 episodes
1998 Boy Meets World Stuart Episode: "Everybody Loves Stuart"
2001–03 Oswald Oswald (voice) 25 episodes
Nick Jr. Host Host from September 3, 2001 – August 29, 2003
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Michael Gardner Episode: "Futility"
2004 Justice League Unlimited Hank Hall/Hawk (voice) Episode: "Hawk and Dove"
2004 -2007 Kim Possible Wego (voice) Episodes: "Go Team Go" and "Stop Team Go"
2006 Crumbs Mitch Crumb Lead role; 13 episodes
Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen Rusty (voice) TV special
2009 Family Guy Himself (voice) Episode: "Fox-y Lady"
2010 Big Time Rush Director Episode: "Big Time Christmas"
2010–13 Generator Rex Noah (voice) 22 episodes
2011 Mr. Sunshine Himself Episode: "Celebrity Tennis"
Happy Endings Himself Episode: "Lying Around"
2014–16 BoJack Horseman Goober / Richie Osborne (voice) 2 episodes
2015–16 The Grinder Stewart Sanderson Lead role; 22 episodes
Nominated–Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series
2017–19 Friends from College Max Adler Main cast; 2 seasons[13]
2018 Robot Chicken Oswald / Steve / Westworld Investor (voice) Episode: "Scoot to the Gute"
Modern Family Caleb Episode: "Dear Beloved Family"
Child Support Himself Host. In 2018, he began to host Child Support (originally called Five to Survive) with Ricky Gervais.
Bob's Burgers Parker (voice) Episode: "Boywatch"
2019 What Just Happened??! with Fred Savage Himself Host[15]
2020 Home Movie: The Princess Bride Grandson [16]

Films

Year Title Notes
2007 Daddy Day Camp Feature film directorial debut
Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director

Television

Year Title Notes
1999 Working 1 episode
Boy Meets World 2 episodes (1999 & 2000)
2001 All About Us 2 episodes
Even Stevens 2 episodes (2001 & 2002)
2003–2005 That's So Raven 2 episodes
2004 Unfabulous 5 episodes (2004–2005)
Phil of the Future 9 episodes (2004–2006), also producer
Nominated–Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program
(Episode: "Not So Great Great Great Grandpa")
Drake & Josh 1 episode
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide 6 episodes (2004–2007)
2005 Kitchen Confidential 1 episode
Zoey 101 2 episodes
What I Like About You 1 episode
2007 Cavemen 1 episode
Hannah Montana 1 episode
2007–2008 Doozers 4 episodes
2007–2009 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 19 episodes, also producer
2007–2008 Wizards of Waverly Place 3 episodes
Nominated– Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program
(Episode "The Crazy 10 Minute Sale")
2008 Ugly Betty 1 episode
Worst Week 1 episode
2009 Party Down 9 episodes (2009–2010), also producer and supervising producer
Zeke and Luther pilot episode
Nominated– Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program
(Episode "Pilot")
Ruby & The Rockits 1 episode
Greek 2 episodes
2010 Sons of Tucson 1 episode
Big Time Rush 2 episodes
Blue Mountain State 2 episodes
2010–2020 Modern Family 14 episodes
2011 Gigantic 2 episodes
Happy Endings 3 episodes
How to Be a Gentleman 2 episodes (2011–2012)
Perfect Couples 2 episodes
Breaking In 1 episode
Franklin & Bash 1 episode
Friends with Benefits 1 episode
2 Broke Girls 20 episodes (2011–2016)
Mr. Sunshine 1 episode
2012 Whitney 1 episode
Best Friends Forever 6 episodes; also executive producer
2013 The Michael J. Fox Show 1 episode
The Crazy Ones 2 episodes
2014 Super Fun Night 1 episode
Growing Up Fisher 1 episode
Friends with Better Lives 4 episodes
Playing House 2 episodes
Bad Teacher 1 episode
Garfunkel and Oates 8 episodes;[17] also executive producer
2014–present The Goldbergs 2 episodes
2014 Marry Me 1 episode
2015 Sin City Saints 2 episodes
2015–2016 Casual 3 episodes
2017 Fresh Off the Boat 1 episode
2018 LA to Vegas 1 episode
2018–2019 The Cool Kids 4 episodes
2018–2020 The Conners 7 episodes
2019-2020 Single Parents 4 episodes
2020 Black-ish 2 episodes
Indebted 1 episode
Dash & Lily 4 episodes

References

  1. "Fred Savage Biography (1976-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  2. The Wonder Years, retrieved January 19, 2019
  3. Lee, Felicia R. (January 19, 2006). "A Sitcom 70's Child Grows Up to Be an Alter Ego". The New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. Retrieved August 11, 2010.
  4. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/lewis-savage-obituary?pid=174223621
  5. Shirley, Don (December 16, 2001). "LA Times: Theater; Not Just Acting Like an Adult; Fred Savage contemplates his roots – as a performer and a Jew – for 'Last Night of Ballyhoo". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  6. Rubin, Sylvia (May 5, 1996). "Fred Savage's Post-'Wonder Years' / He's all grown up, a Stanford student and a bad guy on TV". SFGate. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  7. Goldman, Leah; Ward, Marguerite. "26 of the most famous and successful Stanford University students of all time". Business Insider. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  8. "Fred Savage Emmy Nominated". Emmys.com. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  9. Wollman Rusoff, Jane (February 2, 1998). "Life after 'Wonder Years' is 'Working' for Fred Savage". CNN.
  10. Ricard, Sarah (August 12, 2008). "International Espionage and Comedy with 'The Rascal'". Tilzy.TV. Retrieved March 2, 2009.
  11. Snierson, Dan (October 7, 2015). "How Fred Savage went from actor to director to actor again with The Grinder". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (May 12, 2016). "'Grinder', 'Grandfathered', 'Bordertown' & 'Cooper Barrett' Canceled By Fox After One Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (August 22, 2016). "Keegan-Michael Key, Cobie Smulders & Fred Savage Lead Cast of Nick Stoller Netflix Series 'Friends from College'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  14. Rose, Lacey (May 3, 2012). "Fred Savage's Never-Ending Wonder Years as TV's Hot Comedy Director". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  15. ""What Just Happened??! With Fred Savage": Fictional Sci-Fi Thriller "The Flare" Gets After-Show, Co-Created and Hosted by Emmy Award Nominee Fred Savage, to Premiere Sunday, June 30, on FOX". The Futon Critic. April 29, 2019.
  16. Starner, Nina (June 26, 2020). "Quibi just announced a Princess Bride remake you never expected to see". Looper.com. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  17. Locker, Melissa (March 5, 2014). "Fred Savage to Direct and Executive Produce Garfunkel and Oates". IFC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
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