Stephen Furst 422679 224882205 2008-07-10T20:48:15Z PeruAlonso 6294401 {{Infobox Actor | name = Stephen Furst | image = B5_vir.jpg | imagesize = 220px | caption = '''Stephen Furst''' as [[Vir Cotto]] in [[Babylon 5]] | birthname = Steven Nelson Feuerstein | birthdate = {{birth date and age|1954|05|08}} | location = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]], [[United States]] | height = 5'10" | deathdate = | othername = | website = http://www.stephenfurst.com | notable role = '''[[Vir Cotto]] ''' in<br>''[[Babylon 5]]'' (TV)<br>'''Flounder''' in<br>''[[National Lampoon's Animal House]]'' (movie) | academyawards = | emmyawards = | spouse = '''Lorraine Wright'''<br>(June 13, 1976 - Present) }} '''Stephen Furst''' (born '''Steven Nelson Feuerstein''' on [[8 May]] [[1954]]) is an [[United States|American]] [[actor]] and [[film director|film]] and [[television director]]. Born in [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], [[Virginia]], he is best known for his roles as Flounder in the feature film ''[[National Lampoon's Animal House|Animal House]]'' (1978), as Gonzer in the feature film ''[[Up the Creek]]'' (1984), as Dr. Elliot Axelrod in the television series ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' (1983–1988), and as [[Vir Cotto]] in the science fiction television series ''[[Babylon 5]]'' (1993–1998). In 1972, Furst's father died from diabetes complications. Years later, Furst was diagnosed with type II [[diabetes]]. One of his sisters, Marsha, died from kidney disease as a result of adult-onset diabetes. After almost needing to have his left foot amputated due to diabetes complications in 1996, Furst lost nearly 80 lb (36 kg) in the time between the third and fourth seasons of ''Babylon 5''. When filming started for the fourth season, the show's producers found that all of the costumes were now too large for him. His weight loss is easily visible in the later seasons of ''Babylon 5''. (This weight loss was not explained within the context of the Vir Cotto character.) He wrote the book ''[[Confessions of a Couch Potato]]'' about his weight loss and diabetes, and co-wrote and directed a video called ''[[Diabetes for Guys]]'', an attempt to educate about diabetes management through humor. Although not a regular, he also appeared in the short-lived [[1992 in television|1992]] TV series ''[[The Amazing Live Sea Monkeys]]''. In the [[1995 in television|1995]] [[Animation|animated]] TV series ''[[Freakazoid]]'', he voiced the character Fanboy. Also in 1995, he took a hiatus from ''Babylon 5'' to star in a short-lived TV series, ''Misery Loves Company''. He had a starring voice role as Booster in the 2000 series ''[[Buzz Lightyear of Star Command]]''. He also played a hunky walurus named dash in the 2000 Disney movie ''[[The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea]]'' Furst has directed many independent and/or low-budget movies, including the low-budget movie ''[[Title to Murder]]'' starring [[Christopher Atkins]] and [[Maureen McCormick]] in 2001. In [[2002 in television|2002]], he guest starred in an episode of ''[[Scrubs (TV series)|Scrubs]]''. Furst directed three low-budget movies for the [[Sci Fi Channel (United States)|Sci Fi Channel]], ''[[Dragon Storm (Film)|Dragon Storm]]'' in [[2004 in television|2004]]; and ''[[Path of Destruction (film)|Path of Destruction]]'' and ''[[Basilisk (film)|Basilisk]]'' in [[2005 in television|2005]]. He also co-starred in ''Path of Destruction'' and ''Basilisk''. Since June 2006 Furst has co-hosted the [[Renal Support Network|Renal Support Network's]] webcast [[Renal Support Network|KidneyTalk]] with [[Lori Hartwell]]. Furst has two sons, both in the entertainment business. His older son, [[Nathan Furst]] (b. 1978), is a successful television and film composer who has been nominated for numerous awards. His younger son, [[Griff Furst]] (b. 1981), is an actor, director and musician. His wife, Lorraine, is an entertainment lawyer. He is a graduate of [[Virginia Commonwealth University]]'s theater program. == Bibliography == {{Refbegin}} * Furst, Stephen. (2002). ''Confessions of a Couch Potato (Or, If I'm So Skinny, Why Do I Still Feel Like Flounder?)'' McGraw-Hill. ISBN 1-58040-144-9 {{Refend}} ==External links== * [http://www.stephenfurst.com/ Stephen Furst official site] * {{imdb name|id=0299122|name=Stephen Furst}} * [http://www.nathanfurst.com Nathan Furst official site] * {{imdb name|id=0299115|name=Nathan Furst}} * {{imdb name|id=0975225|name=Griff Furst}} * [http://www.rsnhope.org/programs/kidney_talk3.php KidneyTalk biweekly webcast] {{DEFAULTSORT:Furst, Stephen}} [[Category:American television actors]] [[Category:American film actors]] [[Category:American voice actors]] [[Category:American television directors]] [[Category:People from Norfolk, Virginia]] [[Category:Virginia actors]] [[Category:Jewish American film directors]] [[Category:1955 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[de:Stephen Furst]] [[es:Stephen Furst]] [[no:Stephen Furst]]