Terry Kiser, a renowned and prolific character actor, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He attended the University of Kansas, where he excelled in both football and dramatic scholarships, graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Prior to pursuing his acting career, Kiser worked in his hometown of Omaha for three years in the industrial engineering profession, concurrently acting in over 50 plays.
He then moved to New York, where he studied at the Actors Studio, mentored by the legendary Lee Strasberg. Kiser's early career consisted of various television commercials, before making his film debut as a preacher in Rachel, Rachel (1968). Although often typecast as unsavory characters, Terry has demonstrated his range by portraying more sympathetic roles with equal skill and conviction.
One of Kiser's most notable performances was in the little-seen drama Lapin 360 (1972),where he played a substantial starring role. He is perhaps best known for his iconic portrayal of Bernie Lomax in the Weekend at Bernie's films. Additionally, Kiser has appeared in a wide range of films, including An Eye for an Eye (1981),Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land (1983),From a Whisper to a Scream (1987),Friday the 13th: The New Blood (1988),and Mannequin: On the Move (1991).
Kiser has also had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera The Doctors (1963) and has made guest appearances on numerous television series, including Will & Grace (1998),Walker, Texas Ranger (1993),Baywatch Nights (1995),Dream On (1990),The Golden Girls (1985),L.A. Law (1986),Hunter (1984),Murder, She Wrote (1984),Riptide (1984),Knight Rider (1982),The Fall Guy (1981),Magnum, P.I. (1980),Hill Street Blues (1981),CHiPs (1977),Diff'rent Strokes (1978),All in the Family (1971),Maude (1972),Hawaii Five-O (1968),The Bionic Woman (1976),The Six Million Dollar Man (1974),and Baretta (1975).
In addition to his extensive film and television work, Kiser has acted on stage in several Broadway plays, including "God's Favorite", "Shelter", "The Castro Complex", and "Paris Is Out!", earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance in "God's Favorite". He has also won both an Obie and a Theater World Award for his outstanding acting in the dramatic play "Fortune and Men's Eyes".
Currently, Terry resides in Colorado and co-founded the prestigious acting school The Actors Arena in Austin, Texas, with Joy Leigh.
