Tim Matheson Movies
As a child actor, Tim Matheson was billed under his fuller family name of Matthieson. His first weekly TV co-starring assignment was opposite Robert Young in the 1961 "dramedy" Window on Main Street. The young actor's voice became familiar to a generation of cartoon fans via his "role" as the title character in Hanna-Barbera's Jonny Quest. The handsome Matheson appeared on-screen during his maturation years on such western series as The Virginian, Bonanza, and The Quest. He remained busy in films during this period, scoring his biggest 1970s success as party animal Otter in National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). Matheson also kept his hand in the voiceover business, providing the truculent mutterings of "Blood" the dog in Harlan Ellison's A Boy and His Dog (1975) and recording the narration for the 1985 revival of Disney's Fantasia. His adult TV appearances have included weekly stints on the TV series Tucker's Witch (1982), Just in Time, (1988) and Charlie Hoover (1991). Turning to directing in 1985, Matheson has been active in episodic television, music videos and direct-to-cassette movies. In 1989, he became CEO of the National Lampoon Company, though he still manages to find time for the occasional acting assignment, appearing in everything from the theatrical feature Drop Dead Fred to the live-action prologue for one of the "thrill rides" at Disneyworld. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
A boy who's looking for trouble finds a lot more than he counted on in this action-comedy. Nathan (Ryan DeBoer) is a 12-year-old kid with a smart mouth and a bit too much attitude for his own good. Not happy at home, Nathan runs away and his parents report him missing to the police; when Nathan finds out, he finds himself dodging the cops at every turn. Low on money, Nathan happens upon a large amount of cash and figures his lucky day has arrived. However, it turns out the money he found belongs to gangsters who are bound and determined to get it back, and Nathan is forced to turn himself in to Norm (Tim Matheson), a police detective, in order to stay alive. But Nathan doesn't much care for cops, and Norm is not exactly charmed by Nathan, which makes working together rough sledding. Catch Me If You Can (also released as Deadly Game and Hide and Seek) also features William Katt and Carol Alt. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ryan De Boer, Tim Matheson, (more)
- 1998
- NR
In this TV movie "suggested by" a real-life incident, wife and mother Lizzie Brooks (Reba McEntire) is comatose in a hospital as McEntire's tune Forever Love provides an accompaniment to the flashback: After Lizzie meets Alex (Tim Matheson), a romance develops. They marry, have a daughter (Heather Stephens), and become close friends with Gail (Bess Armstrong) and Jerry (Andy Buckley). After a stroke puts Lizzie into a coma, Alex takes her home, providing love, care, and devotion through the years. Two decades pass, and one day Lizzie emerges from the coma and attempts to rebuild her life. Filmed in L.A., this TV movie aired September 27, 1998 on CBS. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Reba McEntire, Tim Matheson, (more)
In this comic fantasy for the family, 9-year-old Molly Wilson (Danielle Lombardi and Stephanie Lombardi) is relocated to Ireland when her father Howard (Tim Matheson) inherits an estate in the Old Sod. However, the Wilsons soon learn their new home has earned the nickname "Misfortune Mansion," as nothing good ever seems to happen to anyone who lives there. True to form, Howard learns that he'll have a pay a hefty tax assessment if he wants to stay in his new home. Molly decides what "Misfortune Mansion" needs is a leprechaun to bring them good luck, but when he calls out for one, she ends up with Lucky (Warwick Davis), whose name turns out to be ironic. A Very Unlucky Leprechaun was the first feature from director Brian Kelly. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Warwick Davis, Tim Matheson, (more)
- 1997
Professional nurse Rebecca Dubrovich (Shannen Doherty) is swept off her feet by charming millionaire Dick Strang (Tim Matheson), and the two begin a passionate romance. Only when it is too late does Rebecca discover that Strang has, to put it mildly, a dark side: He's a bigamist, a control freak, a pathological liar, and a vicious sadist. Breaking off the relationship, Rebecca is subsequently stalked by the obsessive Strang, who ultimately injures her so severely that she is confined to a wheelchair. During her painful recovery period, Rebecca falls in love with orthopedic surgeon Jerrold Petrofsky (David Bowe), and ultimately dedicates her life to helping other victims of abusive relationships. Based on a true story previously dramatized on the television anthology Unsolved Mysteries and then released in book form, the made-for-TV Sleeping with the Devil originally aired April 22, 1997 on CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
- PG13
This made-for-cable sequel to the 1990 TV-movie thriller Buried Alive picks up where the earlier film leaves off, with the death of the sheriff who solved the mystery in the original. Old Sam has left his money (a hefty sum indeed) to his niece Laura (Ally Sheedy), who is married to a no-account named Randy (Stephen Caffrey). Hoping to get his mitts on all of Laura's dough, Randy conspires with his mistress Roxanne (Tracey Needham) to arrange an "accidental" demise for his unwitting wife. On cue, Laura dies after consuming a poisoned meal, the authorities are satisfied that no foul play has occurred, and the girl's body is shipped off to the embalmer. Thanks to a power outage, the embalming process is halted and Laura is buried "intact" -- and of course, still alive! Once she's dug herself out of her grave, Laura embarks upon a campaign of vengeance, aided and abetted by a shadowy stranger who turns out to be the "murder victim" from the earlier Buried Alive, Clint Goodman (played again by Tim Matheson, who also directed this film). Entertaining in its own "they liked it once, they'll love it twice" fashion, Buried Alive II premiered February 4, 1997, on the USA network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ally Sheedy, Stephen Caffrey, (more)
Handsome, smooth-talking Al Donnelly (Tim Matheson) has everything going for him. A politician, he is engaged in a heated gubernatorial race with the feisty Governor Tracy (Christine Ebersole), a tough old bird who doesn't hesitate to play hardball with opponents. Unfortunately for her, things are looking good for Donnelly. Fortunately she finds his Achilles' heel with his young brother Mike Donnelly (Saturday Night Live alumnus Chris Farley), a fat slob gym teacher and hopeless imbecile who only wants to win his more successful sibling's respect. Unfortunately all he does is embarrass poor Al to death. In desperation, Al assigns the sardonic and prissy Steve Dodds (David Spade) to keep Mike under constant surveillance. The real trouble begins when Tracy's aids try to frame hapless Mike for arson. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Farley, David Spade, (more)
- 1996
In this high-tech psychological thriller, Tim Matheson plays Jordan Cooper, a college professor and successful author whose life appears to be just the way he'd like. However, one day he goes to the doctor for his annual checkup and discovers all of his computerized medical records have been changed. Before he knows it, Jordan is shipped off to a hospital, scheduled for brain surgery, robbed of his possessions and accused of the murder of his girlfriend. Jordan manages to escape and discovers he's been targeted by Hollis Deitz (Dean Stockwell), an insane and vindictive computer expert who is using his superior hacking skills to ruin Jordan's life. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Dean Stockwell, (more)
- 1996
Rising business executive Jake Peterson (Tim Matheson) is given a make-or-break assignment when he is sent to a small town for the purpose of severely downsizing the local tractor factory. Upon his arrival, Jake is mistaken by the townsfolk as the man sent to save rather than destroy their community, and is treated as such, much to his discomfort. Making his task even more difficult is Jake's blossoming romance with factory employee Emma Murphy (Melissa Gilbert), whose daughter Noelle (Michelle Trachtenberg) regards our hero as Santa Claus Incarnate. Made for the CBS TV network (and filmed under the title A Holiday for Love, Christmas in My Hometown premiered December 10, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1996
In this haunting made-for-TV drama, a young woman is visited by the troubled ghost of a young girl and asked to capture the person who killed the girl's mother by throwing her off a cliff. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Tim Matheson, (more)
Like its lively predecessor, The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), this mild comic send-up takes its characters and situations from the popular family sitcom of the 1970s, The Brady Bunch. Set in the '90s, it is filled with in-joke references to American pop culture. However, one need not be familiar with the original series in order to enjoy this film. Bad guy Trevor Thomas (Tim Matheson) is posing as supermom Carol Brady's long-dead first husband Roy Martin. He claims to have been amnesiac and made unrecognizable by plastic surgery after suffering disfiguring injuries, but in truth, he is on the hunt for a very valuable artifact, an ancient Chinese horse carving which Roy sent to his family from the field. Because of the family's sheer niceness, they could never imagine such deception, and husband Mike Brady (Gary Cole) welcomes him into their midst. This causes Roy no end of frustration, as not only must he live with this incredibly sweet and cheerful family while he searches for the carving, but he must endure having his ill-tempered sarcastic jibes go completely unrecognized. When Carol (Shelley Long) is kidnapped, the whole family goes a-hunting. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shelley Long, Gary Cole, (more)
In this drama, a husband's moment of indiscretion has nearly catastrophic consequences when his mistress refuses to accept that their affair is over. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennie Garth, Tim Matheson, (more)
- 1995
In this chilling thriller, an ordinary man's life takes an extraordinary turn for the worst after he finds himself caught in the tangled web of a manipulative mass murderer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Upon learning that her daughter was sexually attacked by a family friend, a grieving widow adds rage to the flood of emotions threatening to drive her to madness. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cybill Shepherd, Tim Matheson, (more)
- 1994
- PG13
This made-for-cable movie tells the story of a military wife in jeopardy. Tom Verica stars as Lt. Ted Lutz, an Army soldier who has been transferred to a Utah base. When power-hungry commanding officer Col. Andrew Case (Peter Coyote) develops an interest in Lutz' wife Helen (Courtney Thorne-Smith), Lt. Lutz is suddenly shipped off-base, leaving Helen alone on the base to defend herself and fend off the advances of the colonel. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Coyote, Courtney Thorne-Smith, (more)
- 1993
Originally broadcast as a prime-time telemovie in 1993, Going Underground re-explores a thematic landscape charted on the big screen by Sleeping with the Enemy (1991). Joanna Kerns (Cross My Heart, Growing Pains) is Maryanne Walker-Tate, suburban housewife to Daniel (Tim Matheson) and mother of two, Josie and Jason. But all is not domestic bliss. In public, Daniel charms to the point of perfection; behind closed-doors, he's a psychotic brute and a sadist who enjoys turning his family's life into a waking death dream. Now, Daniel drums up phony allegations of abandonment that force the seemingly content Maryanne down a one-way path; she snatches the children up and they flee from Daniel, assuming new lives and new identities in another town. But soon, Daniel discovers his family's whereabouts, and heads straight for them, hell-bent on an ugly onslaught of retribution. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Following the death of a pregnant woman undergoing routine surgery, an anesthesiologist is falsely accused of drug abuse and charged with murder. Desperate to prove his innocence, the doctor escapes and quietly launches his own investigation into the tragedy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Emma Samms, (more)
- 1993
This film noir style, made-for-TV movie contains three parts, each based on stories by three different authors (Jim Thompson, Cornell Woolrich, and James Elroy). It looks as if a con-artist (Peter Gallagher) has finally met someone who can pull the wool over his eyes in "The Frightening Frammis." In "Murder, Obliquely," a shifty man (Alan L. Rickman) manages to win the affections of a woman (Laura Dern). Little does she know that his former girlfriend might have been murdered by his own hands. The mobster Mickey Cohen (James Woods) and Howard Hughes (Tim Matheson) both have their eyes on the same woman and Buzz Meeks (Gary Busey) has been contracted to seek her out in "Since I Don't Have You." ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Tim Matheson stars in this made-for-TV movie based on a true story. Roger Paulson (Matheson) is a divorcee who wants to start dating again. Roger thinks he's found the perfect woman, but he learns she's been keeping a few secrets from him -- some of which have deadly consequences. Dying to Love You also stars Tracy Pollan and Christine Ebersole.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1993
After a patient murders his wife, a distraught criminal psychologist resigns from his profession. But when police present him with a puzzling murder, he goes back into practice to help solve the crime and in so doing, comes to terms with his own terrible tragedy. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Alberta Watson, (more)
- 1992
Tim Matheson plays a zealous prosecutor named Peter Hudson in the made-for-cable thriller Trial and Error. After sending a petty criminal to death row, Hudson pursues a political career, eventually becoming attorney general. Just before he is to be nominated for Lieutenant Governor, the criminal is about to be executed, and due to his wife's beliefs Hudson starts to suspect that the man was innocent. Hudson doesn't want to pursue his suspicions, since his political career is at stake. However, he is forced into action when the real killer begins stalking his wife. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- 1992
William (Tim Matheson) is a Harvard psychology professor who is having a hard time dealing with life after the death of his wife when he meets a beautiful woman named Ali (Mimi Rogers). William and Ali strike up a relationship, and he finds the days easier to face. However, she seems oddly secretive about her past, and William can't help but wonder if she's hiding something. When William discovers the police are investigating Ali in connection with a series of murders, he becomes determined to find out her secret so he can clear her name. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
In this made-for-cable thriller, the idyllic life of an upstanding architect is nearly destroyed when his partner attempts to corrupt a city official. When murder ensues, the architect must evade the prying eye of a sleazeball detective. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Phoebe Cates stars in this bizarre comedy that wants to be the kind of stylish comic fable the likes of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice and Pee-wee's Big Adventure but ends up looking like a shabby burlesque about schizophrenia. Cates is Elizabeth, who has recently separated from her philandering husband Charles (Tim Matheson) and moved back home with her harridan mother Polly (Marsha Mason). Back in her old little-girl haunts, she regresses into childhood and recalls her imaginary childhood friend Drop Dead Fred (Rik Mayall), a nasty, ill-tempered sociopath. As a child, Elizabeth created mayhem with her imaginary pal, but Polly locked him up tight in a jack-in-the-box. But now, Elizabeth mistakenly liberates him from the jack-in-the-box, and the newly freed Drop Dead Fred proceeds to wreak more havoc than the Id Monster from Forbidden Planet -- taking vengeance upon all the people who have made Elizabeth miserable -- and then some. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phoebe Cates, Rik Mayall, (more)
This adaptation of Stephen King's thriller is about a man who returns to his hometown after 27 years. Soon he is tormented by ghosts of the dead teens who killed his brother years before. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tim Matheson, Brooke Adams, (more)
