Steve Oedekerk

Steven Brent Oedekerk (born November 27, 1961) is an American comedian, director, editor, producer, screenwriter and actor. Oedekerk is best known for his collaborations with actor and comedian Jim Carrey and director Tom Shadyac (particularly the Ace Ventura franchise), his series of "Thumbmation" shorts and his film Kung Pow! Enter the Fist (2002).

Steve Oedekerk
Born
Steven Brent Oedekerk

(1961-11-27) November 27, 1961
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesSteve O.
OccupationStand-up comedian, actor, director, producer, writer, voice artist, comedian
Years active1984–present
EmployerO Entertainment
Universal Pictures
Websitewww.oedework.com

Early life

Oedekerk was raised in Huntington Beach, California.[1] He attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California and Golden West College in Huntington Beach.[2] He is of Italian descent.

Career

Throughout his career, Oedekerk has appeared in and created several television specials for NBC, ABC, and UPN. He also contributed his writing talents to FOX during the late 1980s and through the early 1990s. It was during this time that Oedekerk befriended fellow comic/actor Jim Carrey while working on the television series In Living Color during its 1990–1994 run; this was the first of numerous collaborations between the two.

Prior to his successful contributions to several unknown episodes in the Color TV series, he wrote and starred in his first independent/directorial film, Smart Alex (1987). It wasn't until 1991 that Oedekerk was attached not only as a writer, but also as the protagonist, as Thane Furrows in the film High Strung. Jim Carrey also starred opposite him in the role of Death, although he went uncredited. They eventually developed a strong friendship, which still exists today. Shortly afterward, Oedekerk again worked alongside Carrey as the project consultant for Tom Shadyac's first film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). The film began a break-out success and he was given the opportunity to both direct and write its sequel, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995). This time Oedekerk directed and wrote the movie after Shadyac left before filming. The sequel proved to be more successful, surpassing the box office gross of the original. Despite this, both Oedekerk and Carrey wanted to pursue other projects, but still remained friends.

Following the Ace Ventura franchise, Oedekerk co-wrote The Nutty Professor (1996), which was also directed by Shadyac for Universal Pictures; it became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. He soon wrote, directed and also had a cameo appearance in Nothing to Lose (1997), starring Tim Robbins and Martin Lawrence. Oedekerk would take a hiatus from directing major films productions for the rest of the 1990s, but continued to write screenplays, including Patch Adams (1998), Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001), Kung Pow! Enter the Fist (2002) (which he directed, wrote and starred in[3]), Bruce Almighty (2003) and Barnyard (2006) (which he directed, wrote, produced, and voiced various characters).

In 2007, Oedekerk produced the screenplay and story for the Bruce Almighty sequel, Evan Almighty; again, Shadyac directed both films. He has also been commissioned to write the screenplay for the Ripley's Believe It or Not! film adaptation; Jim Carrey has since been cast in the title role. No news involving the project has been reported since.

In February 2009, Universal Pictures announced that Steve Oedekerk would be penning a film adaptation of the Stretch Armstrong superhero doll. As of 2016, the film is left in development hell with an animated series currently in the works.

In 2015, it was announced that a sequel to Kung Pow is currently in the works with him returning to write and direct.[4]

Animation

In 1990, Oedekerk founded an entertainment company, O Entertainment. In 1997, he created and starred in a variety special for NBC, featuring computer animation, entitled The O Show (also known as steve.oedekerk.com).[5] He is also executive producer of the computer animated series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius on Nickelodeon. In 2002, he founded the animation division Omation Animation Studios,[6] whose first animation project was the feature film Barnyard (which Oedekerk wrote, directed, produced, and voice acted in). In 2007, he began production on a Nicktoon based on the film Back at the Barnyard. The series premiered on Nickelodeon on September 29, 2007. A second season followed, and 6 additional episodes airing on Nickelodeon's sister channel Nicktoons from September 12, 2011 until November 12, 2011.

Oedekerk also gained popularity with his series of "Thumbmation" shorts: Thumb Wars, Bat Thumb, The Godthumb, Frankenthumb, The Blair Thumb and Thumbtanic.

Filmography

Film
Year Film Director Writer Producer Notes
1987 Smart Alex Yes Yes No
1991 High Strung No Yes No
1995 Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls Yes Yes No
1996 The Nutty Professor No Yes No
1997 Nothing to Lose Yes Yes No
1998 Patch Adams No Yes Yes
2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps No Story No
2001 Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius No Yes Yes Nominated- Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
2002 Kung Pow! Enter the Fist Yes Yes Yes
Santa vs. the Snowman 3D No Yes No Short film
2003 Bruce Almighty No Yes executive
2006 Barnyard Yes Yes Yes
2007 Evan Almighty No Yes No
2011 Cowboys & Aliens No Story No
TBA Kung Pow! Tongue of Fury Yes Yes Yes Announced

Acting roles

Year Film Role Notes
1987 Smart Alex Alex
1988 Casual Sex? Joey
1991 High Strung Thane Furrows
1997 Nothing to Lose Baxter
2002 Kung Pow! Enter the Fist The Chosen One
Santa vs. the Snowman 3D Sno' Hellton Voice only
2006 Barnyard Snotty Boy / Mr. Beady / Pizza Twin #2
2022 Kung Pow! Tongue of Fury The Chosen One

Television
Year Title Director Executive
Producer		 Writer Notes
1997 The O Show Yes Yes Yes TV Movie
1999– Thumbs! Yes Yes Yes
2001–2007 Crossing Jordan No Yes No
2002–2006 The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius No Yes No
2007–2011 Back at the Barnyard No Yes Yes Creator
2010–2013 Planet Sheen No Yes Yes Co-creator

Acting roles

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Full House Himself Episode "Star Search"
1997 The O Show Himself TV movie
1999– Thumbs! Multiple Voice only
2007–2011 Back at the Barnyard Multiple
gollark: (I forgot to breed mine until now, sooo...)
gollark: https://dragcave.net/lineage/w5AnlThoughts on the use of a zyu here?
gollark: What is this "good place"?
gollark: The garland SAlts are very cool.
gollark: That's not even very weird.

References
  1. Micheal E. Hill, "Comedian got start tormenting his mom", Chicago Sun-Times, September 2, 1997  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  2. Annabelle Robertson, "From "Goof Off" to "Barnyard": One Director's Animated Rise", Crosswalk.com, July 27, 2006.
  3. Cindy Pearlman, "Steve Oedekerk", Chicago Sun-Times, January 17, 2002  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  4. "Steve Oedekerk is working on a Kung Pow: Enter the Fist sequel". flickeringmyth.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  5. Keith Marder, "Oedekerk's quirks: The name may not ring a bell, but chances are you're aware of his work.", Los Angeles Daily News, September 3, 1997.
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