Edwin Neal | |
|---|---|
) Edwin Neal at the TCM panel at Days of the Dead Indianapolis 2012. | |
| Born | July 12, 1945 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Children | 6 |
Edwin Neal (born July 12, 1945) is an American actor, perhaps best known for his role as the hitchhiker in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.[1] He has been a voice talent and actor for years appearing on screen and off, including three voices in Wii's Metroid Prime 3. He has worked with Oliver Stone on JFK. He set a record doing 26 different voices in the only completely unedited version of all 103 episodes of Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets), which included the lead villain Berg Katse. Neal also provides three voices in the DC Universe Online game; those of Two-Face, Killer Croc, and Harvey Bullock.
Early life and career
Born in Houston, Texas, Neal, after high school, studied at Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, before moving on to acting and directing studies at the University of Texas at Austin. While there, Neal auditioned for the role of the Hitchhiker in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and got it. He has said that when auditioning he acted as an eccentric relative of his. The movie went on to become a cult classic.
Neal still continues to act. His most notable roles since The Texas Chain Saw Massacre were playing the Mercer interrogator in Oliver Stone's JFK, and Big Chuck's Henchman in the 1993 movie My Boyfriend's Back. He has also done some voice work, for films, computer games and cartoons. Neal also annually tours worldwide making many public appearances as "The Hitchhiker" at horror conventions and related gatherings.
Honors
Neal was inducted into the "Hollywood Horror Hall of Fame" in 1993 alongside Vincent Price, and owns one of the world's largest movie poster collections, from 1900 to the present day. He received a Bronze Star for Valor during his service in Vietnam in 1969.
Personal life
Neal currently lives in Austin, Texas and has six children: Kirsche Dickson, David Valenzuela, Heidi James, Morna Neal, Preston Neal, Marlee Neal and two step children: Angelina Hitchcock and Andrea Ramos.
Filmography
Film roles
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - The Hitchhiker
- My Two Loves (1986)
- Future-Kill (1985) - Splatter
- Good Girl, Bad Girl - Nolan
- JFK (1991) - Mercer
- My Boyfriend's Back (1993) - Big Chuck's Henchman
- Mr Hell (2001) - Freemont
- Holy Hell (2005) - Bolton
- Satan's Playground (2006) - Boy
- Shudder - Frances
- Dropping Evil - President Strode
- Bone Boys - Freddy
- The Best Laid Plans (2019) - Jimmy [2]
Anime roles
- Blade of the Phantom Master
- Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Pist Shaz
- Gatchaman - Berg Katse (ADV dub)[3]
- Gatchaman: The Movie - Berg Katse (BTVA Award for Best male supporting vocal performance in an anime movie/special.[4])[5]
- GetBackers - Mr. Sasakida
- Getter Robo Armageddon - Gai[5]
- Happy Lesson - Tanuki
- Jing: King of Bandits - Emcee[5]
- Lost Universe - Drunk, Barker, Superintendent General, Roy Glen
- Mazinger - Professor Morimori, Nuke[5]
- Moeyo Ken TV - Nekomaru
- Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water || Jean's Uncle, Newspaper Editor
- Ninja Resurrection - Souiken Mori
- Sakura Wars - Financier, Gojii
- Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie - Dr. Robotnik, President, Metal Robotnik[5]
- Soul Hunter - Lisei
- Steam Detectives - Dr. Guilty
- Wedding Peach - Jamapon
- Zaion: I Wish You Were Here - Dr. Domeki
Video game roles
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi | The Emperor (voice) | |
| 1995 | Crusader: No Remorse | Dr. Gregor Hoffman (voice) | |
| 2000 | Starlancer | Admiral Petrov | |
| 2001 | Conquest: Frontier Wars | Spinelayer / ESP Coil / Troopship | |
| 2003 | Deus Ex: Invisible War | Generic Citizen #5 / WTO Guard #1 | |
| 2007 | Metroid Prime 3: Corruption | Ghor, Trooper, Noncom | |
| 2011 | DC Universe Online | Two-Face, Killer Croc, Harvey Bullock | [5] |
Voice roles
- Love Lost in a Boat - Narration
References
- ^ "Edwin Neal". The New York Times. 22 April 2020.
- ^ The Best Laid Plans (2019) - IMDb
- ^ "The Giant Mummy That Summons Storms". Gatchaman. Season 1. Episode 3. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. - closing credits
- ^ BTVA Anime Dub Awards 2015 - Movies - Behind The Voice Actors
- ^ a b c d e f "Edwin Neal". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
External links
- Edwin Neal at IMDb
- Edwin Neal at Anime News Network's encyclopedia