Eugene Dynarski

American actor (1933–2020) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eugene Dynarski (September 13, 1933 – February 27, 2020) was an American actor. Three of the most popular projects that he has been involved with were two Steven Spielberg films, Duel and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the Westwood Studios computer game Command & Conquer: Red Alert.

Born(1933-09-13)September 13, 1933
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1]
DiedFebruary 27, 2020(2020-02-27) (aged 86)
OthernameGene Dynarski
OccupationActor
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Eugene Dynarski
Eugene Dynarski in Star Trek The Next Generation in 1987
Born(1933-09-13)September 13, 1933
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1]
DiedFebruary 27, 2020(2020-02-27) (aged 86)
Other nameGene Dynarski
OccupationActor
Years active19652020
Close

Acting career

Dynarski attended Harbor College in San Pedro, Los Angeles, where he majored in theater arts.[2][3][4]

Dynarski acted on stage before he began working in films and on television.[5]

In 1971's Duel, Dynarski had a small role as a truck driver in a cafe that was mistakenly identified by car driver David Mann (Dennis Weaver) as his tormenting truck driver that resulted in a short-lived fight at Chuck's Cafe. In Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Dynarski plays a major supporting role as Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin, appearing throughout much of the game's Soviet campaign and, to a lesser extent, the Allied campaign. In the 1974 film Earthquake, Dynarski portrays Fred, a worker at the Mulholland Dam who becomes the first fatality of the disaster.

Dynarski also appeared in numerous television shows. He was one of 32 actors or actresses to have guest-starred in both the original Star Trek television series (episodes "Mudd's Women" and "The Mark of Gideon") and in one of the series' spin offs (Star Trek: The Next Generation's "11001001").[citation needed] In Monkees TV series, Dynarski played the Dragonman's sidekick, Toto, in the episode titled "Monkee Chow Mein" (original US air date: March 13, 1967). His many other TV credits include episodes of Batman (episodes 47 and 48), Starsky & Hutch, CHiPs, Little House on the Prairie and The A-Team.

Dynarski is also known for his two appearances as Izzy Mandelbaum Jr. on Seinfeld and as Helmut Jitters in the short film Apple Jack.

His final role was in The X-Files episode "Patience" as Ernie Stefaniuk.

Dynarski and David Weitz, a friend, built the Gene Dynarski Theater, which opened June 20, 1979, in Los Angeles. Over 2+12 years they converted a bare four-walled space into a 99-seat theater.[5]

Death

Dynarski died on February 27, 2020, in Studio City, Los Angeles,[6] at the age of 86.[7]

Filmography

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1965MorituriMerchant MarineUncredited
1966Star Trek: The Original SeriesBen ChildressS1:E6, "Mudd's Women"
1966The MonkeesZeppoS1:E16, "Son of a Gypsy"
1967The MonkeesTotoS1:E26, "Monkee Chow Mein"
1967Voyage to the Bottom of the SeaCentaur IEpisode: "Journey with Fear"
1968In Enemy CountryCapek
1969Star Trek: The Original SeriesKrodakS3E16 "The Mark of Gideon"
1971 DuelTruck Driver in Chuck's Cafe
1974Airport 19751st. Friend
1974EarthquakeDam Caretaker
1976All the President's MenCourt Clerk
1976 Starsky and HutchVic BellamyS1:E22
1977Close Encounters of the Third KindIke
1984Best DefenseGil
1985Movers & ShakersBoard Member #2
1988Star Trek: The Next GenerationQuinterosEpisode: "11001001"
1989Breaking InBrock, Ernie's Mob Connection
1996Command & Conquer: Red AlertJoseph Stalin
1997SeinfeldIzzy Mandelbaum Jr.S9E4 "The Blood"
1999Boy Meets WorldMr. PetermanS7E7 "It's About Time"
2000The X-FilesErnie StefaniukS8E3 "Patience"
Close

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI