Blake Clark (born February 2, 1946) is an American comic character actor, stand-up comedian and voice actor whose trademark is a raspy voice similar to Jim Varney.

He is perhaps best known as Farmer Fran in The Waterboy. His other known role is as the voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story 3, replacing Varney who died in 2000 (and, according to John Lasseter, Clark sounds an "awful lot like him")^[1]. Ironically, it was revealed that Clark and Varney have known each other for a long time.

Clark is also a prolific actor, frequently cast in Adam Sandler films.

Early life

Clark was born in Macon, Georgia. He graduated from LaGrange College in 1969 with a degree in the performing arts.

A decorated Infantry Platoon Leader in the Vietnam War, Clark brought the plight of the Vietnam Veteran to the people of America in a humorous way in the 80's and was adopted by numerous Veteran Organizations throughout the United States. His personal quote is "I was born and raised in Georgia and fought in Vietnam. It was like being punished for the same thing twice. In fact, I used to have flashbacks in Vietnam."

Having moved from his home state of Georgia to Hollywood, Clark soon landed his first Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and soon thereafter, was cast in his first of many recurring roles on Television as Fred the Chauffeur on Remington Steele. Since then, he has been Harry, Tim Taylor's friend on Home Improvement; Jules, the next-door neighbor on The Drew Carey Show; Chet Hunter, Sean's father on Boy Meets World, and Bob the womanizing boss on The Jamie Foxx Show. And he recently received critical acclaim as Drew Barrymore's father in the hit movie, 50 First Dates. He also acted as an umpire in the 2006 film The Benchwarmers. He even came out in the 2008 film Get Smart, starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway.

Clark has traveled the world doing comedy and recently went to Iraq for an extended USO Tour with Drew Carey. He is a warm, intelligent, funny, and innovative social commentator with a quiet patriotism that he lives as well as portrays. His comedy runs the gamut from observation on the current military conflict to his Southern root in Georgia. He is a man of all seasons.

He has also made special appearances in Politically Incorrect, Memorial Day, 2001, Redneck Comedy Roundup, Redneck Comedy Roundup 2, Campus Movie Network, Mancow's Morning Madhouse, Waste Watch Journal, and others as well.

Filmography

Film

• Apt. 25 (TV) (1985)

• Moonlighting (TV) (1985)

• St. Elmo's Fire (TV) (1985)

• Newhart (TV) (1985-86)

• Long Time Gone (TV) (1986)

• Fast Food (1989)

• Wired (1989)

• Johnny Handsome (1989)

• The Dark Wind (1991)

• Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive (TV) (1992)

• Ladybugs (1992)

• Love Potion No. 9 (1992)

• Toys (1992)

• Fatal Instinct (1993)

• Thea (TV) (1994)

• The Mask (1994)

• Alone in the Woods (1996)

• Nothing to Lose (1997)

• Tycus (V) (1998)

• The Waterboy (1998)

• Smart Guy (TV) (1998)

• Valerie Flake (1999)

• Critical Mass (2000)

• Intrepid (2000)

• Bread and Roses (2000)

• Little Nicky (2000)

• Donut Men (2001)

• Joe Dirt (2001)

• Corky Romano (2001)

• Back by Midnight (2002)

• Mr. Deeds (2002)

• Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

• BachelorMan (2003)

• Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

• 50 First Dates (2004)

• The Ladykillers (2004)

• Todd's Coma (TV) (2005)

• The Benchwarmers (2006)

• I'm Reed Fish (2006)

• Car Babes (2006)

• I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)

• Strange Wilderness (2007)

• Leatherheads (2008)

• Wieners (2008)

• Toy Story 3 (voice) (2010)

• Grown Ups (2010)

• Son of Morning (2010)

• Highland Park (2010)

• The Last Godfather (2011)

Television work

• The Greatest American Hero (TV) (1981)

• Remington Steele (TV) (1982-89)

• M*A*S*H (TV) (1983)

• Hot Flashes (TV) (1984)

• The Facts of Life (TV) (1986)

• Gimme a Break! (TV) (1987)

• Women in Prison (TV) (1987-88)

• It's Garry Shandling's Show (TV) (1987-88)

• Midnight Caller (TV) (1991)

• Shakes the Clown (1991)

• Who's the Boss? (TV) (1991)

• Designing Women (TV) (1991)

• Roseanne (TV) (1993)

• Grace Under Fire (TV) (1993-94)

• Comedy: Coast to Coast (TV) (1994)

• Tales from the Crypt (TV) (1994)

• Home Improvement (TV) (1994-99)

• The Drew Carey Show (TV) (1995)

• Boy Meets World (TV) (1995-00)

• Coach (TV) (1996)

• Murphy Brown (TV) (1997)

• Arliss (TV) (1998)

• The Jamie Foxx Show (TV) (1999-00)

• Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV) (2001)

• Lucky (TV) (2003)

• Lost at Home (TV) (2003)

• Cold Case (TV) (2004)

• My Name Is Earl (TV) (2005)

• Everybody Hates Chris (TV) (2006)

• Good Luck Charlie (1 episode, 2010)

Video games

• Toy Story 3: The Video Game (voice) (VG) (2010)

References

External links

• Blake Clark at the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)
• Official homepage