For those fans of the classic movie "Animal House"...

ZetaPhi708 · #1 02-03-2005, 11:36 PM

Actor John Vernon of 'Animal House' Dies

By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES - John Vernon, a stage-trained character actor who played cunning villains in film and TV and made his comedy mark as Dean Wormer in "National Lampoon's Animal House," has died. He was 72.

Vernon died at home in his sleep Tuesday following complications from Jan. 16 heart surgery, his daughter, Kate Vernon, said Thursday.

The Canadian-born actor found satisfaction in his varied career, his daughter said.

"He loved the comedy that he was able to do, but his training was in drama and he really enjoyed the dramatic roles," she said.

Movie fans may know him best for his role in "Animal House" as Dean Wormer, who is bent on expelling the hard-partying Delta fraternity house. The movie, starring John Belushi (news) and Tim Matheson, is one of the most popular comedies ever made.

Born in 1932 in Montreal, Vernon studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He did repertory work in England and was heard off-screen as the voice of Big Brother in the 1956 film "1984."

He returned to Canada to appear on stage and on television, including the starring role in the 1960s drama "Wojeck," in which he played a coroner.

"John was superb. He really knew how to use the camera, and vocally he was just born to have a mike nearby," Ted Follows, his co-star in "Wojeck," told The Canadian Press.

After appearing on Broadway in "Royal Hunt of the Sun" he became a steady player in U.S. films, making his debut in director John Boorman's "Point Blank" (1967) as a turncoat tossed to his death by Lee Marvin.

Vernon went on to work with other celebrated filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock ("Topaz," 1969); Don Siegel ("Dirty Harry," 1971), and Clint Eastwood (news) ("The Outlaw Josey Wales," 1976).

His deep, menacing voice was custom-made for the many bad guys he played.

He reprised his role in "National Lampoon's Animal House" in the TV spinoff "Delta House" (1979). Other comedy roles followed, including the part of Mr. Big in the film "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" in 1988.

Vernon appeared in a DVD edition of "Animal House" as part of a satiric update on the characters. Wormer was portrayed as a curmudgeonly old man in a wheelchair.

mmcat · #2 02-04-2005, 12:13 AM

dare we say, in his honor, road trip.
seriously....it appears he had a long and successful career.

honeychile · #3 02-04-2005, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmcat
dare we say, in his honor, road trip.
seriously....it appears he had a long and successful career.

LOL - I was wondering if he was in double secret seclusion.

Thanks for the fun, John Vernon! You set a high bar for deans everywhere.

mmcat · #4 02-04-2005, 12:25 AM

amen...

Jill1228 · #5 02-04-2005, 04:46 AM

Mr. 1228 told me this. Of course he emphasized him being Canadian (that is what I get for marrying a Canadian)

So sad!

We gotta go on "super secret probation" in his memory
Ya can tell I love that movie

DeltAlum · #6 02-04-2005, 10:55 AM

The guy we loved to hate.

33girl · #7 02-04-2005, 11:10 AM

The time has come for someone to put his foot down, and that foot is me.

R.I.P.

PhiPsiRuss · #8 02-04-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
The time has come for someone to put his foot down, and that foot is me.

R.I.P.

Amen

Peaches-n-Cream · #9 02-04-2005, 02:08 PM

Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
http://www.geocities.com/tranzion3/a...runkstupid.wav

Rest in Peace, John Vernon.

TSteven · #10 02-04-2005, 05:16 PM

"Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween the trees are filled with undewear.....Every Spring the toilets explode."

Quote:

Originally posted by ZetaPhi708
Vernon appeared in a DVD edition of "Animal House" as part of a satiric update on the characters. Wormer was portrayed as a curmudgeonly old man in a wheelchair.

I have the 'Double Secret Probation Edition DVD' of 'Animal House' and it's excellent. As well as the mouckumentary update noted above, it includes the making of 'Animal House'. In it, the cast members talk about attending a real fraternity party while they were filming and other antics.

And for you John Vernon fans, Mr. Vernon was also in a funny cult ScFi film called 'Killer Klowns From Outer Space'. ("In space, no one can eat ice cream!") He's quite a hoot. As is the film.

We'll miss you John 'Dean Wormer' Vernon. Thanks for the laughs.

dekeguy · #11 02-06-2005, 06:17 PM

To have delivered lines that have become part of the language is not a bad accomplishment for one who has lived an actor's life. Think about how many Dean Wormerisms have remained familiar catch phrases even today after all these years. Most of us were not even born when Animal House was first released. Requescat in Pace. In a moment of kindly fantasy I would like to picture Mr Vernon being met at the Celestial Gates by John Belushi in a toga saying "C'mon in, have a beer, it dont cost nutthin".

AlphaSigOU · #12 02-06-2005, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dekeguy
In a moment of kindly fantasy I would like to picture Mr Vernon being met at the Celestial Gates by John Belushi in a toga saying "C'mon in, have a beer, it dont cost nutthin".

It's "Grab a brew, don't cost nuthin'"

D-Day: War's over, man. Wormer dropped the big one.

Bluto: Over? Did you say "over"? NOTHING is over until WE decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

Otter: Germans?

Boon: Forget it, he's rolling.

Bluto: And it ain't over now. 'Cause when the goin' gets tough...
[thinks hard]

Bluto: The tough get goin'! Who's with me? Let's go! H-e-e-e-e-y!

[runs out, alone; then returns]

Bluto: What the fuck happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? "Ooh, we're afraid to go with you Bluto, we might get in trouble." Well just KISS MY ASS from now on! NOT ME! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer...

Otter: DEAD! Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.

Bluto: We're just the guys to do it.

D-Day: Let's do it.

Bluto: LET'S DO IT!

RIP Dean Wormer...

tinydancer · #13 02-06-2005, 08:12 PM

A classic role in a classic movie. R.I.P., Dean.

AznSAE · #14 02-07-2005, 10:26 AM

animal house aired twice this weekend on the wb channel. and of course i watched it both times.

Tom Earp · #15 02-07-2005, 07:50 PM

Help.

Looking to buy a DVD of A H!!!!!!!!

My Tape got trashed from being played to damn much!

We sat around this weekend at My 40 th Cebeleration saying who was who in the movie!

I am sure We all can!