# David Naughton

David Walsh Naughton (born February 13, 1951) is an American actor and singer. He is known for his starring roles in the horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981) and the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980), as well as for a long-running "Be a Pepper" ad campaign for beverage maker Dr Pepper. He also starred in the short-lived sitcom Makin' It and sang its hit theme song "Makin' It", giving him a Top 5 hit on the Billboard charts.

## Early life

Naughton was born on February 13, 1951, in West Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary (née Walsh) and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers. He is the younger of two boys; his older brother is theater and film actor James Naughton. His family is Irish-American.
Naughton attended the University of Pennsylvania and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He earned a soccer scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania where he studied drama and graduated in 1973. He then moved to London to further his acting training. After two years in London, he moved to New York where he worked as a waiter and pursued his acting career.

## Career

Naughton's professional acting debut was in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Hamlet starring Sam Waterston. Naughton subsequently found steady work in various other local theater productions. He was an Assistant Stage Manager and Understudy for the Broadway production of Hugh Leonard's Da.
Naughton first became widely known as a result of his four-year stint (1977–1981) singing and dancing in television commercials and personal appearances to promote Dr Pepper. The commercials were considered creative and wildly popular. They involved Naughton dancing and singing in a Broadway musical style while handing out bottles of the beverage to people who then followed his lead Pied Piper style. The commercials won numerous Clio awards, and involved a multitude of celebrities from Mickey Rooney and Jimmie Walker to Fred Flintstone and Popeye.
By 1981, Naughton was at the height of his success as a soft drink spokesperson, but he wanted to try other ventures and decided to end his role in the commercials. Though the main commercial stint ended in 1981, Naughton occasionally returned to the pitchman role for the soft drink. In 1988, he did a commercial for Diet Dr. Pepper that was reminiscent of the earlier commercials. In 2010, Naughton joined a flash mob singing the iconic jingle at the New York Stock Exchange.
His popularity from the commercials led to him being cast as the star of the sitcom Makin' It. In 1979, he also recorded the show's theme song, Billboard, which was also titled "Makin' It." A US million selling disc, the track also peaked at No. 44 in the UK Singles Chart. The sitcom itself was less successful and lasted only 9 episodes, but his career continued to blossom. The next year, he starred in his first film, the Disney comedy Midnight Madness (1980).
That lead role then led to a starring role in a higher profile film: An American Werewolf in London (1981). The firm was directed by John Landis, who had already made a name for himself with National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) and the Blues Brothers (1980). An American Werewolf in London was a comedy-horror film whose special effects and make-up (used to show the werewolf metamorphosis) were particularly innovative for their time. Rick Baker's make-up work won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Make-up. The film was a critical and box office hit.
After the success of An American Werewolf in London, Naughton continued to work steadily, but never regained the same level of success. He appeared in various lesser known movies, as well as smaller roles in numerous episodes of television shows including MacGyver, Melrose Place, Murder, She Wrote, JAG, and Seinfeld.
From 1986-1988, Naughton had a reoccurring role on My Sister Sam as the goofy ex-boyfriend of the series' main character, which was played by Pam Dawber. Naughton appeared in 19 episodes. The series had a strong first season, but was cancelled due to low ratings in its second season. The following year, the series co-star, Rebecca Schaefer, was murdered at her apartment by a stalker who had pursued her for three years. In the wake of the tragedy, several actors from the sitcom including Naughton did a PSA to raise awareness of handgun violence.

## Personal life

Naughton has been married four times and divorced three times. In 2008, he was arrested for domestic violence in Henderson, Nevada.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Midnight Madness | Adam Larson | |
| 1981 | Separate Ways | Jerry Lansing | |
| 1981 | An American Werewolf in London | David Kessler | |
| 1984 | Hot Dog…The Movie | Dan | |
| 1984 | Not for Publication | Barry Denver | |
| 1984 | Terror in the Aisles | David Kessler | Archival footage |
| 1986 | The Boy in Blue | Bill | |
| 1986 | Separate Vacations | Richard Moore | |
| 1987 | Kidnapped | Vince McCarthy | Director Howard Avedis |
| 1988 | Private Affairs | Mauro | |
| 1990 | The Sleeping Car | Jason McCree | |
| 1990 | Overexposed | Phillip | |
| 1991 | Steel and Lace | Dunn | |
| 1993 | Wild Cactus | Philip Marcus | |
| 1993 | Amityville: A New Generation | Dick Cutler | Direct-to-video |
| 1994 | Desert Steel | Zach Gardener | |
| 1994 | Beanstalk | Mr. Ladd | |
| 1994 | Caribbean Kill | N/A | |
| 1995 | Ice Cream Man | Martin Cassera | Direct-to-video |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Black Feather | Professeur Byrd | |
| 1995 | Mirror, Mirror III: The Voyeur | Detective Kobeck | |
| 1996 | Urban Safari | Joe | |
| 2000 | Little Insect | Buzz | Voice |
| 2001 | A Crack in the Floor | EMT Driver | |
| 2001 | Flying Virus | Dr. Stephen North | |
| 2003 | Sky Blue | Commander Locke Dr. Noah | Voice, English dub |
| 2006 | Big Bad Wolf | Sheriff Ruben | |
| 2007 | Brutal Massacre: A Comedy | Harry Penderecki | |
| 2007 | Hallows Point | Shopkeeper | |
| 2009 | Little Hercules in 3-D | Dwayne Harr | |
| 2012 | A Thousand Cuts | Alan | |
| 2013 | Cool as Hell | Clark | |
| 2017 | Do It or Die | Herb Clough | |
| 2017 | The Hatred | Walter | |
| 2023 | Waking Nightmare | Dr. Doolin | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Planet of the Apes | Dr. Stole | Episode: "The Surgeon" |
| 1976 | Muggsy | Danny Atwater | Episode: "Hit and Run" |
| 1976 | The Other Side of Victory | N/A | Television film |
| 1979 | Makin' It | Billy Manucci | 9 episodes |
| 1982 | I, Desire | David Balsiger | Television film |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Edwin Winnaker | Episode: "Fountain of Youth/Bad Luck Cabin/Uncle Daddy" |
| 1983 | At Ease | Pfc. Tony Baker | 14 episodes |
| 1984 | Getting Physical | Mickey Ritter | Television film |
| 1986–1988 | My Sister Sam | Jack Kincaid | 44 episodes |
| 1988 | Goddess of Love | Ted Beckman | Television film |
| 1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Ken Parrish | Episode: "Wearing of the Green" |
| 1989 | The Twilight Zone | John Sellig | Episode: "Special Service" |
| 1991 | The Belles of Bleeker Street | Chris | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1991 | MacGyver | LaManna | Episode: "Honest Abe" |
| 1991 | Seinfeld | Dick | Episode: "The Red Dot" |
| 1993 | Body Bags | Pete | Television film ("The Gas Station" segment) |
| 1993 | Basic Values: Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's | Brad | Television film |
| 1994 | Diagnosis: Murder | Harry Gelson | Episode: "My Four Husbands" |
| 1994–1995 | Turbocharged Thunderbirds | Scott Tracy, Virgil Tracy, additional voices | Voice |
| 1996 | Melrose Place | Lou Chandler | Episode: "Run, Billy, Run" |
| 1996 | Touched by an Angel | Michael Russell | Episode: "Birthmarks" |
| 1996 | Bailey Kipper's P.O.V. | Norm Kipper | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Cybill | Andy | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Chance of a Lifetime | Art Haber | Television film |
| 1998 | Silk Stalkings | Max Behring | Episode: "Ramone, P.I." |
| 1999 | V.I.P. | Roy | Episode: "K-Val" |
| 1999 | Chicken Soup for the Soul | Paul Dinsman | Episode: "It's Never Too Late" |
| 2000, 2001 | JAG | Det. Grady | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | ER | Ben Stevens | Episode: "Thy Will Be Done" |
| 2001 | Kate Brasher | Ames | Episode: "Tracy" |
| 2001 | Out of the Wilderness | Professor Byrd | Television film |
| 2001 | The Nightmare Room | Mr. Ryan | Episode: "Tangled Web" |
| 2002 | Justice League | The Streak | Voice, episode: "Legends" |
| 2005 | Higglytown Heroes | Orchestra Conductor Hero | Voice, episode: "Higgly Harmonies" |
| 2005 | Mystery Woman: Sing Me a Murder | Steven | Television film |
| 2009 | Psych | Dr. Ken Tucker | Episode: "Let's Get Hairy" |
| 2010 | Big Love | Mr. Usher | Episode: "Next Ticket Out" |
| 2011 | The Mentalist | Neurologist | Episode: "Fugue in Red" |
| 2012 | Major Crimes | State Senator McAustin | Episode: "The Shame Game" |
| 2013 | Grey's Anatomy | Nick Parker | Episode: "Transplant Wasteland" |
| 2013–2015 | Granite Flats | Dr. Millard Whittison | 23 episodes |
| 2013 | Holliston | Mark Ward | Episode: "Joe's Soda" |
| 2015 | American Horror Story | Mr. Samuels | Episode: "Mommy" |
| 2017 | Sharknado 5: Global Swarming | Ambassador Kessler | Television film |
| 2018 | SuperMansion | Himself | Voice, episode: "Comicarnage" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | Marc Eckō's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure | Manfred | |
| 2006 | Marvel Ultimate Alliance | Mister Fantastic | |
| 2016 | Fallout 4: WRVR | Traveler | |
| 2017 | Saga of the Nine Worlds | Guard Captain | The Four Stags Collector's Edition |
| 2018 | Project Pro Skater | God | |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Location | Other work/notes |
| 1975–1976 | Hamlet | Francisco Player Queen Ensemble | Vivian Beaumont Theater | Understudy for Osric |
| 1978–1980 | Da | | Morosco Theatre | Assistant Stage Manager Understudy for Young Charlie |