Earl Boen
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Earl Boen | |
|---|---|
 Boen in 1980 | |
| Born | August 8, 1941 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | January 5, 2023 (aged 81) |
| Other names | Oscar Earl Nitz Boen |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–2017 |
| Spouses | Carole Kean
(m. 1970; died 2001)Cathy Boen (m. 2008) |
| Children | 1 |
Earl Boen (/ˈboʊ.ən/; August 8, 1941 – January 5, 2023) was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for portraying criminal psychiatrist Doctor Peter Silberman from the Terminator franchise.[1]
Boen was also very active in the voice-over field, voicing characters such as Horace Bleakman in the Clifford the Big Red Dog television series, Police Chief Kanifky in Bonkers, the narrator and King Terenas Menethil II in World of Warcraft, Señor Senior Sr. in Kim Possible and LeChuck in the Monkey Island video game series.[2]
Early life
[edit]Earl Boen was born on August 8, 1941, in New York City.[3][4][5]
Career
[edit]Film and television
[edit]In 1977, Boen made his television series debut in The Streets of San Francisco and feature film debut in Mr. Billion.[6]
Some of Boen's subsequent television appearances include Hawaii Five-O,[3] The Jeffersons, Judge Barnes on What's Happening! and District Attorney Hepburn on Kojak. Boen played the Harper family's pastor, the Rev. Lloyd Meechum in a recurring role on the 1980s sitcom Mama's Family.[3] He also appeared as a clergyman in episodes of The Golden Girls, The Golden Palace, The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World, Seinfeld and Three's Company.[7]
Boen appeared in two episodes of Matlock,[4] and as Willie's boss in ALF. Boen played Jim Petersen, Angela Bower's boss on the show Who's The Boss?.[6] He had a recurring role as Dr. Kramer in the 1990s Fox series Get a Life. Boen appeared (alongside Tom Jones) in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1993 as a Princeton admissions agent.
In film, Boen was well-known for playing criminal psychiatrist Dr. Peter Silberman in The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003).[3][4] Other films in which he appeared include The Main Event (1979),[3] Battle Beyond the Stars (1980),[3] 9 to 5 (1980),[3] Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981), The Man with Two Brains (1983),[6] To Be or Not to Be (1983),[3] Alien Nation (1988),[3] Marked for Death (1990),[3] Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult (1994),[4] and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000).[1]
Boen retired from screen acting in 2003, but continued his work as a voice actor in radio, television cartoons and video games.[7]
Voice acting
[edit]Boen had a voice role as Taurus in the direct to video G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987). He voiced Police Chief Kanifky in Bonkers, Horace Bleakman in the Clifford the Big Red Dog television series,[3] and Señor Senior Sr. in Kim Possible.[3][7] He also voiced the villainous pirate LeChuck from the Monkey Island series of adventure games.[3] He also provided the introductions for World of Warcraft and its expansions,[3][7] voiced Magtheridon in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and King Terenas Menethil II in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, including the cinematic trailer and ending cutscene for that expansion, which featured the iconic line "no king rules forever, my son."[7]
He also voiced the omnipotent alien Nagilum in a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Boen voiced the dramatic thespian Edwin Blackgaard in Focus on the Family's "Adventures in Odyssey", as well as Edwin's nefarious twin brother Regis. He portrayed Sergei Gurlukovich in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, a role that he later reprised in the Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance rerelease and the official digital graphic novel.[7] Other roles include Colossus in X-Men: Legends and a variety of characters across multiple Star Trek titles, including Bridge Commander and Armada II.
Boen's voice was heard on the Disneyland Railroad from 2002 until 2016 and on the Walt Disney World Railroad from 2002 until late 2010.[8]
He continued in voice-over work until his full retirement from acting in 2017.[9]
Personal life and death
[edit]Boen married actress Carole Kean in 1970.[10] She died on April 23, 2001, from ovarian cancer at the age of 58.[10][7][5] Together they had a daughter.[10] Boen married his second wife, Cathy, in 2008, they remained married until his death in 2023.[3][7] Boen was the stepfather of Cathy's daughter Ruby and also had two grandchildren.[5]
Boen was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2022.[10] He died in Honolulu on January 5, 2023, at the age of 81.[3][10][5]
Filmography
[edit]Live-action
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Mr. Billion | Colonel Winkle's Aide | |
| 1978 | |||
| Eight Is Enough | Unknown | ||
| The Fifth Floor | Phil | ||
| 1979 | Barnaby Jones | Eddie | |
| The Main Event | "Nose" Kline | ||
| A Man Called Sloane | Prentiss | ||
| 1980 | Battle Beyond the Stars | Nester 1 | |
| 9 to 5 | Perkins | ||
| 1981 | I'm a Big Girl Now | Dr. Michaels | |
| Soggy Bottom, U.S.A | Owen | ||
| 1982 | King's Crossing | Dr. Rivkin | |
| Barney Miller | Warren Gimble | ||
| The Powers of Matthew Star | Mr. Hansley | ||
| Madame's Place | Judge Blake | ||
| Three's Company | Reverend Gilmore | ||
| 1983 | Amanda's | Fred Cornwall | |
| Fantasy Island | Henry | ||
| The Man with Two Brains | Dr. Felix Conrad | ||
| Just Our Luck | Judge | ||
| To Be or Not to Be | Dr. Boyarski | ||
| 1984 | The Terminator | Dr. Peter Silberman | |
| 1985 | Movers & Shakers | Marshall | |
| 1987 | Walk Like a Man | Jack Mollins | |
| 1988 | Alien Nation | Duncan Crais | |
| Miracle Mile | Drunk Man in Diner | ||
| My Stepmother Is an Alien | Reverend | ||
| 1990 | Marked for Death | Dr. Stein | |
| 1991 | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Dr. Peter Silberman | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult | Dr. Stuart Eisendrath | |
| 1996 | The Dentist | Marvin Goldblum | |
| The Prince | Mr. Howell | ||
| 1997 | Living in Peril | Fingerprint Technician | |
| 1998 | The Odd Couple II | Fred | |
| 2000 | Nutty Professor II: The Klumps | Dr. Knoll | |
| 2002 | Now You Know | Grandpa | |
| 2003 | Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines | Dr. Peter Silberman | Last on-screen appearance |
| 2019 | Terminator: Dark Fate | Dr. Peter Silberman (archive footage, uncredited)[1] | Via footage from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Great Performances | Le Bret | Cyrano de Bergerac |
| 1976 | The Taming of the Shrew | Pedant | Television film |
| 1977 | The Streets of San Francisco | Frank Jennings | Episodes: "Monkey is Back" |
| What's Happening! | Judge Barnes | Episode: "Rerun Gets Married" | |
| Kojak | District Attorney Hepburn | Episode: "The Queen of Hearts is Wild" | |
| Rafferty | Vandler | Episode: "Walking Wounded" | |
| Hawaii Five-O | Denisovich | Episode: "Deadly Doubles" | |
| Wonder Woman | Chaka | Episode: "Mind Stealers from Outer Space" | |
| 1978 | Last of the Good Guys | Ike | Television film |
| Police Woman | Myron | Episode: "Sweet Kathleen" | |
| Richie Brockelman, Private Eye | Tausig | Episode: "The Framing of Perfect Sydney" | |
| Lou Grant | Vice-Cop | Episode: "Hooker" | |
| The Paper Chase | Nick Burch | Episode: "Nancy" | |
| 1979 | Last of the Good Guys | Ike | Television film |
| Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Selmar the Telepath | Episode: "Cosmic Whiz Kid" | |
| The Paul Williams Show | Virgil Weeks | ||
| The Jeffersons | Nathan Weems | Episode: "The Expectant Father" | |
| 1980 | Angie | Dr. Learner | Episode: "Angie and Brad's Close Encounter" |
| 1981 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Eustice Hastings | Episode: "Along Came a Duke" |
| Soap | Dr. Drell | Season 4, Episode 12 | |
| Family Ties | House Guest 'Ed Barker' | Episode: "4 Rms Ocn Vu" | |
| 1981–1982 | It's a Living | Dennis Hubner | Unknown episodes |
| 1981–1983 | Benson | Kocholnik, Mr. Tucker | Unknown episodes |
| 1982 | M*A*S*H | Major Robert Hatch | Episode: "Heroes" |
| 1983–1990 | Mama's Family | Reverend Meechum | Recurring role |
| 1984–1986 | Punky Brewster | Oliver Green | Episodes: "Dog Dough Afternoon", "Changes, part 5" |
| 1985 | Growing Pains | Dr. Marlens | Episode: "Standardized Test" |
| 1986 | Annihilator | Sid | Television film |
| 1987–1988 | The Law & Harry McGraw | Howard | 16 episodes |
| 1988 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Nagilum | Episode: "Where Silence Has Lease" |
| 1988–1993 | L.A. Law | Judge Walter L. Swanson | 8 episodes |
| 1990 | Tales from the Crypt | Mr. Clayton | Episode: "Dead Right" |
| Empty Nest | Lou | Episode: "Harry's Excellent Adventure" | |
| 1990, 1992 | The Golden Girls | Reverend | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Seinfeld | Eulogist | Episode: "The Pony Remark" |
| Family Matters | Dr. Goodrich | Episode: "Words Hurt" | |
| 1993 | The Golden Palace | Priest | Episode: "One Angry Stan" |
| 1994 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Dr. Heller | Episode: "Madame Ex" |
| 1996 | Within the Rock | Michael Isaacs | Television film |
| Ellen | Hubert Warwell | Episode: "The Tape" | |
| 2000 | Ali: An American Hero | Howard Cosell | Television film |
| 2001 | The Jennie Project | Reverend Palliser | Television film |
| The West Wing | Paulson | Episode: "Manchester" | |
| 2003 | The Practice | Dr. David Broadman | Episode: "Burnout" |
Voice-over roles
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | G.I. Joe: The Movie | Taurus | Direct-to-video[11] |
| 1995 | Gordy | Minnesota Red | [11] |
| 1996 | Dot and Spot's Magical Christmas | Santa | [11] |
| 2001 | The Majestic | Newsreel Announcer | |
| 2002 | The Wild Thornberrys Movie | Gorilla | [11] |
| 2003 | Porco Rosso | Additional voices | English dub |
| 2004 | Clifford's Really Big Movie | Horace Bleakman | [11] |
| 2005 | The Toy Warrior | Additional voices |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo | Mr. Gordon, The Ghost of Chef Pierre Goulash | Episode: "Robopup" |
| 1988–1989 | Fantastic Max | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | The Further Adventures of SuperTed | 13 episodes | |
| 1989 | X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men | Magneto | TV pilot; credited as Earl Bowen |
| 1989–1990 | Paddington Bear | Additional voices | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | The Pirates of Dark Water | Lugg Brother #1 | 3 episodes |
| 1991 | 3×3 Eyes | Benares | English dub[11] |
| 1992–1993 | The Addams Family | Additional voices | 21 episodes |
| 1993 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Jack, King | Episode: "The Pastmaster Always Rings Twice" |
| 1993 | Problem Child | Additional voices | |
| 1993–1994 | Bonkers | Police Chief Kanifky | 37 episodes |
| 1986–1994 | ABC Weekend Special | Monostatos, General Massey | 2 episodes |
| 1993–1995 | Batman: The Animated Series | Rhino | 2 episodes[11] |
| 1993 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ed | Episode: "The Alma Matter" |
| 1994–1995 | Skeleton Warriors | 11 episodes | |
| 1995 | Animaniacs | Zeus | Episode: "Hercules Unwound" |
| 1995–1997 | Pinky and the Brain | Earth, Moon, Santa Claus | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | What-a-Mess | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Capitol Critters | Additional voices | Episode: "The Bug House" |
| 1996–1997 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Dr. Forbes, Kyle, Stage Coach Guard | 3 episodes |
| 1996 | Wing Commander Academy | Commander | Episode: "Red and Blue" |
| 1996 | Bruno the Kid | Additional voices | |
| 1997 | Extreme Ghostbusters | Ep. "Casting the Runes" | |
| 1996–1998 | The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor | Additional voices | 26 episodes |
| 1997 | The New Adventures of Zorro | Captain Montecero | Episode: "To Catch a Fox" |
| 1997–1998 | Spider-Man: The Animated Series | Red Skull, Beyonder | 8 episodes |
| 1997 | The New Batman Adventures | Rhino | Episode: "Double Talk"[11] |
| 1998 | The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries | Vice President Obsequious | Episode: "Spooker of the House/Furgo" |
| 1998–2002 | Dexter's Laboratory | General, Commander Chief, Man #2 | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Cow and Chicken | Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Mr. Rossl | Episode: "I.M. Weasel: Revolutionary Weasel"[11] |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Nick[11] | Episode: "Holiday Time" |
| 2000–2002 | Clifford the Big Red Dog | Horace Bleakman | 6 episodes[11] |
| 2001 | The Zeta Project | Event Judge | Episode: "Remote Control"[11] |
| 2001–2004 | Grim & Evil | Doctor, TV Narrator, Monster, Mr. Hobson | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Johnny Bravo | Santa Claus, Jay the Bear, Norman | Episode: "A Johnny Bravo Christmas"[11] |
| 2002 | Time Squad | William Howard Taft, Frankenstein | Episode: "White House Weirdness"[11] |
| 2002–2006 | Kim Possible | Señor Senior Sr. | 4 episodes; role shared with Ricardo Montalbán |
| 2002 | Justice League | Simon Stagg | Episode: "Metamorphosis"[11] |
| 2003 | Evil Con Carne | Vlad | Episode: "Boskov's Day Out" |
| 2004 | Megas XLR | Emperor, Subject | Episode: "Coop D'Etat"[11] |
Video games
[edit]Radio
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–2015 | Adventures in Odyssey | Dr. Regis Blackgaard, R. Edwin Blackgaard, various voices | 61 episodes |
Theme parks
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–2010 | Walt Disney World Railroad | Announcer | |
| 2002–2016 | Disneyland Railroad |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | NAVGTR Awards | Best Supporting Performance in a Comedy | Psychonauts | Nominated | [14] |
| 2010 | The Secret of Monkey Island (Special Edition) | Nominated | [15] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Papenfuss, Mary (January 7, 2023). "Veteran Actor Earl Boen, Who Played Hapless 'Terminator' Doctor, Dead At 81". HuffPost. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ "Earl Boen - Voice Actor Profile at Voice Chasers". Archived from the original on 2004-09-11. Retrieved 2017-12-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Zee, Michaela (6 January 2023). "Earl Boen, Actor in 'The Terminator' Movies, Dies at 81". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Thomas, Carly (6 January 2023). "Earl Boen, Actor in the 'Terminator' Films, Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Jen Juneau (January 6, 2023). "Earl Boen, 'Terminator' Star and Prolific Voice Actor, Dead at 81". People.
- ^ a b c "Earl Boen". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Terminator actor Earl Boen, who played the villainous Dr. Peter Silberman, dies at 81". Entertainment Weekly. January 6, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "Earl Boen, The Terminator Actor, Passes Away at 81". CBR. January 6, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ "Terminator actor Earl Boen dies aged 81 following lung cancer diagnosis". Metro. January 6, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Variety Staff (June 5, 2001). "Carole Kean". Variety.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Earl Boen (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors (A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information).
- ^ Matrix Software (2000). Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins. Activision. Scene: Ending Credits.
- ^ Shade (October 26, 2000). Orphen: Scion of Sorcery. Activision. Scene: Closing credits, 2 minutes in, Cast.
- ^ "2005 Awards - National Academy of Video Game Reviewers Corporation". Retrieved December 28, 2017.
- ^ "2009 Awards - National Academy of Video Game Reviewers Corporation". Retrieved December 28, 2017.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
