Dennis Dugan

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Dennis Dugan
Born (1946-09-05) September 5, 1946 (age 77)
Wheaton, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Actor, film director, comedian
Years active 1968–present
Spouse(s) Joyce Van Patten (1973–1987; divorced)
Sharon O'Connor (?–present)

Dennis Dugan (born September 5, 1946) is an American actor, director, and comedian. He is famous for his partnership with comedic actor Adam Sandler, with whom he directed the films Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Grown Ups, Just Go with It, Jack and Jill, and Grown Ups 2.

Life and career

Dugan was born in Wheaton, Illinois, on September 5, 1946, the son of Marion and Charles Dugan. He started his acting career in 1972, appearing in the 1973 TV movie The Girl Most Likely to.... Other early film appearances include Night Call Nurses (1972), Night Moves (1975), Smile (1975), Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976) and Norman... Is That You? (1976). In 1979, he was cast as the time-displaced hero in Unidentified Flying Oddball, Disney's updated remake of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. In 1981, he appeared in Joe Dante's adaptation of The Howling.

Dugan made guest appearances on several TV series during the 1970s including The Mod Squad, The Waltons, Cannon, Columbo, The Rockford Files, and Alice. He also appeared in the mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man, as well as two episodes of M*A*S*H and in 1978 starred in the short-lived series Richie Brockelman, Private Eye, a spin-off from The Rockford Files.

He took on a semi-regular role as an erstwhile caped crusader who called himself "Captain Freedom" on Hill Street Blues. He also appeared on Empire (1984) and Shadow Chasers (1984). He played Walter Bishop, briefly the husband of Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) on Moonlighting. Dugan's other film credits of the 1980s include Water (1985), Can't Buy Me Love (1987), The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988) and Ron Howard's Parenthood (1989).

Dugan launched a career as a television and film director, making cameo appearances in many of his films. Ones he directed include the comedy Problem Child (1990), Brain Donors (1992),[1] the comedy Saving Silverman (2001) (in which Dugan plays a football referee), the comedy National Security (2003), and the Adam Sandler comedies Happy Gilmore (1996) (in which Dugan plays Doug Thompson, the golf tour supervisor) and Big Daddy (1999) (with Dugan as a man who reluctantly gives candy to a trick-or-treating Julian). Dugan has directed episodes of such television series as Moonlighting (was also a guest star in some episodes), Ally McBeal, and NYPD Blue.

Dugan directed The Benchwarmers (2006), a comedy co-produced by Sandler, about trio of men who try to make up for missed opportunities in childhood by forming a three-player baseball team to compete against standard Little League squads. Dugan himself has a bit part as Coach Bellows. Dugan directed the comedy I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007) and You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008), both Sandler vehicles.

Dugan directed Grown Ups (2010), which follows a group of high school friends who are reunited after thirty years for the Fourth of July. The film again stars Sandler, along with Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade; it was released in the summer of 2010 with major box office success.

Dugan's Just Go with It (2011) was his sixth film with Sandler; it also starred Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker. Dugan directed Jack & Jill (2011), again with Sandler, and Grown Ups 2 (2013), with Sandler, James, Rock and Spade, all reprising their roles. Schneider was unable to do so due to scheduling conflicts.

To date, Dugan's films have grossed over $1 billion worldwide.[2]

Personal life

He has been married twice, first to actress Joyce Van Patten in 1973, before divorcing in 1987. Dugan then wed Sharon O'Connor, to whom he is still married.

In June 2009, Dugan's son, Kelly Dugan, was drafted with the 75th over-all selection by the Philadelphia Phillies in the Major League Baseball Draft, and has played for four of the club's minor league teams since including the Gulf Coast League Phillies, Williamsport Crosscutters, Lakewood BlueClaws and now currently with the Reading Phillies.[3]

Directing credits

Name Year Other notes
Hunter 1987 2 episodes
Wiseguy 1988 "Phantom Pain"
Moonlighting 1988–1989 5 episodes
Problem Child 1990
Brain Donors 1992
Doogie Howser, M.D. 1993 "What Makes Doogie Run"
Columbo 1993 "Butterfly in Shades of Grey"
Burke's Law 1994 "Who Killed Nick Hazard?"
L.A. Law 1993–1994 2 episodes
Traps 1994
The Byrds of Paradise 1994 2 episodes
The Shaggy Dog 1994 TV movie
Marker 1995 "The Pilot"
Picket Fences 1994–1995 2 episodes
Chicago Hope 1995 "Freeze Outs"
Happy Gilmore 1996 Doug Thompson
Beverly Hills Ninja 1997
The Love Boat: The Next Wave 1998 "Smooth Sailing"
Ally McBeal 1998 "Alone Again"
Big Daddy 1999 Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
Shasta McNasty 1999 "Pilot"
Saving Silverman 2001 Also known as Evil Woman.
A Screwball Homicide 2003 TV movie
National Security 2003
NYPD Blue 1993–2004
The Mullets 2004 "Silent But Deadly"
Karroll's Christmas 2004 TV movie
Hope & Faith 2005 "Wife Swap" (Parts 1 and 2)
The Benchwarmers 2006
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry 2007 Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
You Don't Mess with the Zohan 2008
Grown Ups 2010 Basketball Referee
Just Go with It 2011 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
Jack and Jill 2011
Grown Ups 2 2013 Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
Mother’s Day TBA Sequel to Valentine's Day (2010 film) and New Year's Eve (film)[4]

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Dugan, Dennis "Dennis Dugan: A quiet hitmaker", Variety, 3 December 2010. Retrieved on 21 March 2013.
  3. Dugan, Kelly "Kelly Dugan Minor League Statistics & History", Baseball Reference. Retrieved on 21 March 2013.
  4. http://www.heyuguys.com/dennis-dugan-confirms-hes-directing-new-years-eve-sequel-mothers-day/

External links