David Walsh Naughton (born February 13, 1951) is an American actor and singer. He is known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980), as well as for a long-running "Be a Pepper" ad campaign for beverage maker Dr Pepper. He also starred in the short-lived sitcom Makin' It and sang its hit theme song "Makin' It", giving him a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Early life
Naughton was born on February 13, 1951, in West Hartford, Connecticut,
Naughton attended the University of Pennsylvania and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He earned a soccer scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania where he studied drama and graduated in 1973. He then moved to London to further his acting training. Naughton subsequently found steady work in various other local theater productions.
Naughton first became widely known as a result of his four-year stint (1977–1981) singing and dancing in television commercials and personal appearances to promote Dr Pepper. The commercials were considered creative and wildly popular. The sitcom itself was less successful and lasted only nine episodes but his career continued to blossom. The next year, he starred in his first film, the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980).
Naughton then had a starring role in a higher-profile film: An American Werewolf in London (1981). The film was directed by John Landis, who had already made a name for himself with National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) and The Blues Brothers (1980). An American Werewolf in London was a comedy-horror film whose special effects and make-up (used to show the werewolf metamorphosis) were particularly innovative for their time. Rick Baker's make-up work won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Makeup at the 54th Academy Awards.
After the success of An American Werewolf in London, Naughton continued to work steadily, but never regained the same level of success. He appeared in various lesser known movies, as well as smaller roles in numerous episodes of television shows including MacGyver, Melrose Place, Murder, She Wrote, JAG and Seinfeld.
From 1986 to 1988, Naughton had a recurring role on My Sister Sam as Jack Kincaid, the goofy ex-boyfriend of the series' main character Sam Russell (Pam Dawber). Naughton appeared in 19 episodes. The series had a strong first season but was cancelled due to low ratings in its second season. The following year, series co-star Rebecca Schaefer was murdered at her apartment by Robert John Bardo, a stalker who had pursued her for three years.
Personal life
Naughton has been married four times and divorced three times. In 2008, he was arrested for domestic violence in Henderson, Nevada.
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1980 || Midnight Madness || Adam Larson ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|1981 || Separate Ways || Jerry Lansing ||
|-
| An American Werewolf in London || David Kessler ||
|-
| rowspan="2" |1984 || Hot Dog…The Movie || Dan O'Callahan ||
|-
| Not for Publication || Barry Denver ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|1986 || The Boy in Blue || Bill ||
|-
| Separate Vacations || Richard Moore ||
|-
| 1987 || Kidnapped || Vince McCarthy ||
|-
| 1988 || Private Affairs || Mauro ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|1990 || The Sleeping Car || Jason McCree ||
|-
| Overexposed || Phillip ||
|-
| 1991 || Steel and Lace || Dunn ||
|-Body Bags 1993 Pete
| rowspan="2"|1993 || Wild Cactus || Philip Marcus ||
|-
| Amityville: A New Generation || Dick Cutler ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|1994 || Desert Steel || Zach Gardener ||
|-
| Beanstalk || Mr. Ladd ||
|-
| Caribbean Kill || N/A ||
|-
| rowspan="3"|1995 || Ice Cream Man || Martin Cassera ||
|-
| The Adventures of Black Feather || Professeur Byrd ||
|-
| Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur || Detective Kobeck ||
|-
| 1996 || Urban Safari || Joe ||
|-
| 2000 || Little Insect || Buzz || Voice
|-
| rowspan="2"|2001 || A Crack in the Floor || EMT Driver ||
|-
| Flying Virus || Stephen North ||
|-
| 2003 || Sky Blue|| Commander Locke<br>Dr. Noah || Voice, English dub
|-
| 2006 || Big Bad Wolf || Sheriff Ruben ||
|-
| rowspan="2"|2007 || Brutal Massacre: A Comedy || Harry Penderecki ||
|-
| Hallows Point || Shopkeeper ||
|-
| 2009 || Little Hercules in 3-D || Dwayne Harr ||
|-
| 2012 || A Thousand Cuts || Alan ||
|-
| 2013 || Cool as Hell || Clark ||
|-
|2014
|Psychotic State
|Himself
|
|-
| rowspan="2"|2017 || Do It or Die || Herb Clough ||
|-
| The Hatred || Walter ||
|-
|2022
|Attack of the Killer Chickens: The Movie
|President Robertson
|
|-
|2023 || Waking Nightmare || Dr. Doolin ||
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1974 || Planet of the Apes || Dr. Stole || Episode: "The Surgeon"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1976 || Muggsy || Danny Atwater || Episode: "Hit and Run"
|-
| The Other Side of Victory || Michael Dooley || Television film
|-
| 1979 || Makin' It || Billy Manucci || 9 episodes
|-
|1981
|Fridays
|Himself/Host
|Episode: "David Naughton/Billy & the Beaters"
|-
| 1982 || I, Desire || David Balsiger || Television film
|-
| rowspan="2"|1983 || The Love Boat || Edwin Winnaker || Episode: "Fountain of Youth/Bad Luck Cabin/Uncle Daddy"
|-
| At Ease || Pfc. Tony Baker || 14 episodes
|-
| 1984 || Getting Physical || Mickey Ritter || Television film
|-
| 1986–1988 || My Sister Sam || Jack Kincaid || 44 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1988 || Goddess of Love || Ted Beckman || Television film
|-
| Murder, She Wrote || Ken Parrish || Episode: "Wearing of the Green"
|-
| 1989 || The Twilight Zone || John Sellig || Episode: "Special Service"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1991 || The Belles of Bleeker Street || Chris || Episode: "Pilot"
|-
| MacGyver || LaManna || Episode: "Honest Abe"
|-
| Seinfeld || Dick || Episode: "The Red Dot"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1993 || Body Bags || Pete || Television film
|-
| Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's || Brad || Television film
|-
| 1994 || Diagnosis: Murder || Harry Gelson || Episode: "My Four Husbands"
|-
| 1994–1995 || Turbocharged Thunderbirds || Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, additional voices || Voice, 8 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3"|1996 || Melrose Place || Lou Chandler || Episode: "Run, Billy, Run"
|-
| Touched by an Angel || Michael Russell || Episode: "Birthmarks"
|-
| Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. || Norm Kipper || 2 episodes
|-
| 1997 || Cybill || Andy || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1998 || Chance of a Lifetime || Art Haber || Television film
|-
| Silk Stalkings || Max Behring || Episode: "Ramone, P.I."
|-
| rowspan="2"|1999 || V.I.P. || Roy || Episode: "K-Val"
|-
| Chicken Soup for the Soul || Paul Dinsman || Episode: "It's Never Too Late"
|-
| 2000–2001 || JAG || Det. Grady || 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="4"|2001 || ER || Ben Stevens || Episode: "Thy Will Be Done"
|-
| Kate Brasher || Ames || Episode: "Tracy"
|-
| Out of the Wilderness || Professor Byrd || Television film
|-
| The Nightmare Room || Mr. Ryan || Episode: "Tangled Web"
|-
| 2002 || Justice League || The Streak || Voice, episode: "Legends"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2005 || Higglytown Heroes || Orchestra Conductor Hero || Voice, episode: "Higgly Harmonies"