Rick Overton
Life and career
Overton was born on August 10, 1954, in Forest Hills, Queens , New York , the son of Nancy Overton (née Swain), a singer, and Hall Overton , a teacher and music arranger. He grew up in Englewood, New Jersey ,[ citation needed ] where he attended Dwight Morrow High School .
Overton made his first onscreen appearance performing his standup act in 1981's HBO Presents The 6th Annual Young Comedians . His first movie role was in the 1982 film Young Doctors in Love , followed by a small role in Airplane II: The Sequel later that year. In 1987, he wrote an episode of The New Adventures of Beans Baxter while also appearing in various films and television shows including Willow , Amazing Stories and Million Dollar Mystery .
In 1992, he landed a role in the FOX Network sketch comedy show The Edge . The show ended in 1993. Later that year, Overton appeared in two episodes of Seinfeld and landed a small role in Mrs. Doubtfire . The following year, he won an Emmy for writing an episode of Dennis Miller Live .
In 2005, Overton appeared on Alias and Joan of Arcadia ; in the latter he played God explaining to the title character the meaning of real wealth. He also portrayed both H. G. Wells and Orson Welles in a podcast episode of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd that same year.
In 2009, Overton appeared in the film A Fork in the Road alongside Jaime King .
In 2010s, Overton appeared in a General Electric commercial.
Filmography
Television
HBO Presents The 6th Annual Young Comedians – Himself
Remington Steele (1 episode, 1983) – New Wave Cop
Help Wanted: Kids (1986) – Photographer
Double Switch (1987) – DeeJay
Amazing Stories (1 episode, 1987) – John Aubrey
Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge (1987, TV Movie) – Additional Improviser
Encyclopedia Brown (1 episode, 1989) – Buddy Claggett
Babes (10 episodes, 1990) – Ronnie Underwood
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures (animated) (1991) – voice of Rufus
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventures (live action) '(1992) – Rufus
The Edge (7 episodes, 1992–1993)
Seinfeld (2 episodes, 1993) – The Drake
Attack of the 5 Ft. 2 Women (1994, TV Movie) – Officer Brown
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes, 1994–1995) – Victor
Duckman (1 episode, 1995) – (voice)
Encino Woman (1996, TV Movie) – Raji
The Single Guy (2 episodes, 1996) – Carl Gannon / Gannon
Married... with Children (2 episodes, 1996) – Dr. Fisher
Ned and Stacey (1 episode, 1997) – Rod
ER (1 episode, 1997) – Mr. McNamara
The Weird Al Show (1 episode, 1997) – Mr. Molasses
Mad About You (2 episodes, 1998) – Earl / Shepherd
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show (1 episode, 1998) – George
Ghosts of Fear Street - Fred the Bugman
It's Like, You Know... (2 episodes, 1999–2001) – Evan / Milosevic
The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne (5 episodes, 2000) – Count Gregory
Charmed (3 episodes, 2000) – Triad Member #3
JAG (1 episode, 2001) – William Markey
Curb Your Enthusiasm (1 episode, 2001) – Angry Gentile
Comic Remix (1 episode, 2002)
My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star (11 episodes, 2002) – Dole Greyson
NYPD Blue (1 episode, 2002) – Richard Webb
According to Jim (1 episode, 2004) – Rick
Six Feet Under (1 episode, 2004) – Thomas Sheedy
Joan of Arcadia (1 episode, 2004) – Bad Stand-Up Comedian God
Alias (1 episode, 2005) – Alexei Vasilevich
Family Plan (2005, TV Movie) – Owens
Lost (1 episode, 2005) – Matthew Reed
Van Stone: Tour of Duty (2006, TV Movie) – Gary Seibert's Dad
Rodney (1 episode, 2006) – Max
Drive (1 episode, 2007) – Bank Manager
Leverage (3 episodes, 2008–2009) – Taggert / FBI Agent Taggert
The Office (2 episodes, 2009) – William Beesly
True Jackson, VP (1 episode, 2010) – Jimmy's Dad
The George Lucas Talk Show (1 episode, 2020) – Self
Secret Level (1 episode, 2024) – Dr. Light
Awards and nominations
Emmy Awards
Nominated: Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program, Dennis Miller Live (1997)
Won: Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program, Dennis Miller Live (1996)
Writers Guild of America Award
Nominated: Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series, Dennis Miller Live (1997)
Billy Crystal / Jerry Belson , James L. Brooks , Marc Flanagan , Dinah Kirgo, Jay Kogen , Marilyn Suzanne Miller , Heide Perlman , Ian Praiser, Sam Simon , Tracey Ullman and Wallace Wolodarsky (1990, tie)
Billy Crystal , Hal Kanter , Buz Kohan , David Steinberg , Bruce Vilanch and Robert Wuhl (1991)
No award (1992)
Judd Apatow , Robert Cohen , David Cross , Brent Forrester , Jeff Kahn, Bruce Kirschbaum, Bob Odenkirk , Sultan Pepper , Dino Stamatopoulos and Ben Stiller (1993)
No award (1994)
No award (1995)
David Feldman , Eddie Feldmann , Mike Gandolfi, Tom Hertz , Leah Krinsky , Dennis Miller and Rick Overton (1996)
Chris Rock (1997)
Jose Arroyo, David Feldman , Eddie Feldmann , Jim Hanna , Leah Krinsky , Dennis Miller and David Weiss (1998)
Tom Agna , Vernon Chatman , Louis C.K. , Lance Crouther , Gregory Greenberg, Ali LeRoi , Steve O'Donnell , Chris Rock , Frank Sebastiano, Chuck Sklar , Jeff Stilson , Wanda Sykes and Mike Upchurch (1999)
International National Artists People Other