Christian Clemenson
Born
Christian Dayton Clemenson

(1958-03-17) March 17, 1958
EducationHarvard University (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1985–present

Christian Dayton Clemenson[1] (born March 17, 1958)[2][3][4] is an American film and television actor. He is well known for his portrayal of Jerry "Hands" Espenson in the television series Boston Legal, for which he was nominated for three Emmy Awards and won the 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[5] He has appeared in a number of highly acclaimed films, including Hannah and Her Sisters, Broadcast News, Apollo 13 and The Big Lebowski, and portrayed Tom Burnett in Paul Greengrass' United 93. He starred in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story as prosecutor William Hodgman.

Early life

Clemenson was born and raised in Humboldt, Iowa, the son of drug store owners Ruth Alzora (Dayton) and Ernest Arnold Clemenson.[1] In his early teens, he delivered the Des Moines Register, which had a long tradition of awarding scholarships to top east-coast preparatory schools to a select few "paper boys."[6] Clemenson, a straight-A junior high school student, won a Register scholarship to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.[7] In 1973, while Clemenson was enrolled at Phillips, his father died at age 58.[8] He participated in many theatrical productions at Phillips Academy.

Upon graduation from Phillips in 1976, he entered Harvard College. From his freshman year onward he received important roles in campus stage productions. When Clemenson starred in a Harvard Lampoon sketch comedy show, a Harvard Crimson theater critic described Clemenson as "hugely talented actor who can trigger hysteria with any of a dozen subtle expressions or inflections."[9] Other Crimson critics described his performances in Shakespeare plays as "a tour de force of sheer talent and intelligence" (in The Winter's Tale)[10] and "a very fine and subtle performance" (in Measure for Measure).[11] He displayed early on his remarkable range when he undertook with inimitable flair and hilarious effect the hugely solemn role of Erde "the green-faced torso", goddess of the Earth, in Peter Sellars's Loeb Drama Center puppet production of Wagner's Ring cycle (1979).[12]

During many summers he would return to Humboldt to star in, and later direct, local community theater plays at Humboldt's Castle Theatre.[2]

After graduating from Harvard College in 1980 and the Yale School of Drama in 1984, he moved to Los Angeles.[2]

Career

Clemenson began his career in a number of character roles in film and television. He was a law student in the television version of The Paper Chase, Alex Keaton's English teacher in the television show Family Ties, a security salesman on The Golden Girls, a suspect in season 10, episode 14 of NYPD Blue, a bailiff in the Ivan Reitman movie Legal Eagles, a flight surgeon in the movie Apollo 13, a cop in The Big Lebowski, a killer in The Fisher King, and Dr. Dale Lawrence in the movie And the Band Played On. He had a regular role as Socrates Poole, a lawyer in the Old West, in the Fox series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.

In 1999, Clemenson appeared in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Bad Girls" as a grotesquely obese demon named Balthazar. He wore a large padded suit and extensive make-up for the role, and the character's repulsive, villainous nature contradicted many of his earlier roles.

Clemenson became well-known for his role as Jerry "Hands" Espenson on the television series Boston Legal. For playing Espenson, he won an Emmy Award for Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2006 and was nominated for the same award in 2007.[5] He remained with the series through to its finale in 2008.

Clemenson starred in the film United 93 as Tom Burnett, one of the victims of the 9/11 hijacking of the flight that crashed in rural Pennsylvania after a passenger revolt. He also had a recurring role on Veronica Mars as Abel Koontz. In total, Clemenson appeared in three episodes of the show: "Like a Virgin", "Mars vs. Mars", and "Rat Saw God". Clemenson also has appeared in a season 6 episode of NCIS, "Dead Reckoning". He also appeared in two season 2 episodes of The Mentalist. He also played Jimmy Masterson on the 3rd episode of Memphis Beat, "Love Me Tender".

In 2009, Clemenson joined CSI: Miami as the new medical examiner, Dr. Tom Loman. He appeared throughout the show's eighth, ninth, and tenth seasons as a recurring character. In 2013, he appeared as a guest star in Harry's Law.

In 2016, he played Deputy District Attorney William Hodgman in American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role
1986Hannah and Her SistersLarry
1986Legal EaglesClerk
1986HeartburnSidney
1987Black WidowArtie
1987Making Mr. RightBruce
1987SurrenderDream Lawyer
1987Broadcast NewsBobby
1988Daddy's BoysOtis
1990Bad InfluencePismo Boll
1991The Fisher KingEdwin
1992HeroConklin
1993Josh and S.A.M.Policeman
1995Apollo 13Charles Berry
1998The Big LebowskiYounger Cop
1998Almost HeroesFather Girard
1998ArmageddonDroning Guy
1998Mighty Joe YoungJack
1999Lost & FoundRay
2006United 93Thomas E. Burnett, Jr.
2010Ashley's AshesFather Tim
2011J. EdgarInspector Schell
2014Not Safe for WorkAlan Z. Emmerich
2016Live by NightRitz Investor
2021No Man of GodJames Dobson
2021MalignantDr. Victor Fields

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985FameAlan StewartEpisode: "Selling Out"
1985The Golden GirlsThe SalesmanEpisode: "Break In"
1985MaryTim FlowersEpisode: "From Pillar to Post"
1986The Paper ChaseEpisode: "Graduation"
1986L.A. LawPomerantzEpisode: "The Princess and the Wiener King"
1987Head of the ClassDave NashEpisode: "Past Imperfect"
1987Scarecrow and Mrs. KingJack ColmanEpisode: "Rumors of My Death"
1987Cagney & LaceyDr. WeinbergEpisode: "Happiness Is a Warm Gun"
1987The Slap Maxwell StoryMarty's FriendEpisode #1.1
1987Beauty and the BeastJonathan GouldEpisode: "Nor Iron Bars a Cage"
1987It's Garry Shandling's ShowThe Amazing Al2 episodes
1988Family TiesMr. Flaherty2 episodes
198821 Jump StreetCharles GreeningEpisode: "Raising Marijuana"
1988Disaster at Silo 7Col. BrandonTelevision film
1989Hard Time on Planet EarthHerb LeavittEpisode: "Losing Control"
1989The Robert Guillaume ShowDavidEpisode: "You Win Some, You Lose Some"
1989–1991MatlockCyril Henning / Dr. Tim Crider2 episodes
1990Capital NewsTodd Lunden13 episodes
1991Designing WomenJack HenryEpisode: "Last Tango in Atlanta"
1992Civil WarsLeo HoodEpisode: "Dirty Pool"
1993Hearts AfireMartin SmithersEpisode: "While the Thomasons Slept in the Lincoln Bedroom"
1993And the Band Played OnDr. Dale LawrenceTelevision film
1993–1994The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Socrates Poole27 episodes
1995Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanRollie Vale2 episodes
1995CybillEd PhiloEpisode: "The Odd Couples"
1996Murder OneDonald LoseyEpisode: "Chapter Thirteen"
1997Mad About YouJared2 episodes; uncredited
1998The PracticeBarry WallEpisode: "Duty Bound"
1998Vengeance UnlimitedAgent Stuart BrownsteenEpisode: "Victim of Circumstance"
1999Buffy the Vampire SlayerBalthazarEpisode: "Bad Girls"
2001BetteMr. McNallyEpisode: "The Invisible Mom"
2001Ladies ManDog ConsultantEpisode: "A Quiet Evening at Home"
2001The DistrictCliff / BobEpisode: "Night Shift"
2001The West WingEvan Woodkirk, Smithsonian CuratorEpisode: "The Women of Qumar"
2002Ally McBealMr. HooklandEpisode: "Homecoming"
2003NYPD BlueTimothy BoshamEpisode: "Laughlin All the Way to the Clink"
2003The DivisionCapt. Leo Spivey2 episodes
2004Method & RedDonald3 episodes
2004–2005Veronica MarsAbel Koontz4 episodes
2005CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCharles PellewEpisode: "Committed"
2005NumbersHenry KorfeltEpisode: "Assassin"
2005–2008Boston LegalJerry Espenson44 episodes
2006Crossing JordanFr. Edward KlausnerEpisode: "Mysterious Ways"
2009ERDr. KurtagEpisode: "Old Times"
2009NCISPerry SterlingEpisode: "Dead Reckoning"
2009The MentalistDr. Roy Carmen2 episodes
2009Raising the BarTomEpisode: "Maybe, Baby"
2009–2012CSI: MiamiDr. Tom Loman52 episodes
2010Memphis BeatJimmy MastersonEpisode: "Love Her Tender"
2010Grey's AnatomyIvan FinkEpisode: "Can't Fight Biology"
2011The GladesEd VickersEpisode: "Iron Pipeline"
2012Harry's LawSam Berman5 episodes
2013ShamelessChristopher Collier2 episodes
2013Mike & MollyMr. O'DonnellEpisode: "Poker in the Front, Looker in the Back"
2014DallasHoward RiederEpisode: "Trust Me"
2014CalifornicationCouples CounsellorEpisode: "Faith, Hope, Love"
2014ManhattanNiels BohrEpisode: "Last Reasoning of Kings"
2014LegendsMr. Porter3 episodes
2014–2017Turn: Washington's SpiesMartin De Young7 episodes
2015Masters of SexLeslie RiordanEpisode: "Undue Influence"
2016The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime StoryBill Hodgman5 episodes
2017ColonyDan Bennett10 episodes
2017LifelineDugan MorrisEpisode: "There's a Chip in Her Arm"
20199-1-1Franklin PrentissEpisode: "Ocean's 9-1-1"
2019Law & Order: Special Victims UnitForreston GrahamEpisode: "The Burden of Our Choices"
2021The Good DoctorDr. Silas ChambersEpisode: "Teeny Blue Eyes"
2022JuliaJames BeardEpisode: "Crepes Suzette"

References

  1. 1 2 "The Descendants of Olav Tomassen Sandness (1703-1752)". 1997.
  2. 1 2 3 "Christian Clemenson Biography". ABC Medianet. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  3. "Christian Clemenson: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  4. Truitt, Brian (April 14, 2010). "TV's CSI secrets uncovered". USA Weekend. Archived from the original on February 5, 2013. Clemenson, 52
  5. 1 2 "59th Primetime Emmy Awards". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. September 16, 2007. Archived from the original on May 15, 2008.
  6. "Letters to the Editor". Time. August 7, 1933. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  7. "Prep School Scholarship Winners". Des Moines Register, May 14, 1972, at 11-F.
  8. Obituary of Ernest Clemenson, Des Moines Register, September 25, 1973, at 3-S.
  9. Paul A. Attanasio, "Dissertation on Roast Pig", The Harvard Crimson, October 15, 1979.
  10. Esme Murphy, "The Sad Tale's Best", The Harvard Crimson, December 10, 1979.
  11. Thomas Hines, "A Good Measure", The Harvard Crimson, July 7, 1981.
  12. Rosenberg, Scott A. (September 29, 1979). "Wringing Pleasure From Wagner". The Harvard Crimson.
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