Ronald Perlman

Ronald Perlman

Ronald Perlman was born April 13, 1950. He is an American actor and voice actor. He played the role of Vincent on the television series Beauty and the Beast (1987–1990), for which he won a Golden Globe Award, the comic book character Hellboy in both Hellboy (2004) and its sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), and Clay Morrow on the television series Sons of Anarchy (2008–2013).

Perlman is known as a collaborator of Hellboy director Guillermo del Toro, having roles in the del Toro films Cronos (1993), Blade II (2002), and Pacific Rim (2013). He is also known for his voice-over work as the narrator of the post-apocalyptic game series Fallout, Clayface on Batman: The Animated Series, Slade on the animated series Teen Titans, The Lich on Adventure Time, and The Stabbington Brothers in Disney’s animated film Tangled (2010).

Early life

Ronald Perlman was born in Washington Heights, New York. His mother, Dorothy (née Rosen), (1921-2018) was a municipal employee, and his father, Bertram “Bert” Perlman, (1919-1969) was a jazz drummer and television repairman.

Perlman said in 1988, “It was not a bad childhood but I had a perception of myself that was … I was terribly overweight as a young kid, and it was sort of a low self image.” He cited this experience as one thing that attracts him to roles where he portrays “these sorts of deformed people who are very endearing”. His parents are Jewish (their families were from Hungary and Poland). Perlman had a Bar Mitzvah ceremony.

He has said that he and his father were “very close” and that it was his father, after seeing Perlman in a college production of Guys and Dolls, who told him that he “had to” pursue a career as an actor. Perlman later said that his father essentially “gave him permission to be an actor”. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a master’s degree in theater arts in 1973.

Career

Film and television

Perlman started his career as a stage actor, appearing in various productions, and made his feature film debut in Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film Quest for Fire (1981). Annaud later revealed that when he contacted Perlman to ask him about playing Salvatore in The Name of the Rose (1986), Perlman was thinking of abandoning his career. After various minor and supporting roles in films and television series, his breakthrough role came when he played Vincent on the television series Beauty and the Beast, opposite Linda Hamilton from 1987 to 1990. This earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series in 1989.

He went on to play roles in many films and television series throughout the 1980s and 1990s as well as the 2000s. His most notable film appearances were in films such as The Name of the Rose (1986), Romeo is Bleeding (1993), The Adventures of Huck Finn (1993), Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994), The Last Supper (1995), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996), Alien Resurrection (1997), Enemy at the Gates (2001), Blade II and Star Trek: Nemesis (both 2002) and two Stephen King story-to-movie adaptations, Sleepwalkers and Desperation. His appearances on television series include Highlander: The Series, The Outer Limits, The Magnificent Seven, and the Amazon series Hand of God.

He played his first leading film role in 1995, when he played “One” in Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro’s French-language The City of Lost Children.

In 2003, Perlman starred in a commercial for Stella Artois beer. This commercial, which was called “Devil’s Island”, won a Silver Award at the 2003 British Advertising Awards.

Subsequently, he got another leading film role in 2004 when he played the title role in the comic book adaptation Hellboy. Thereafter, Perlman reprised his role as Hellboy in the straight to DVD animated features Hellboy: Sword of Storms (2006) and Hellboy: Blood and Iron (2007) as well as Hellboy II: The Golden Army, released on July 11, 2008.

In 2008, Perlman joined the cast of the television series Sons of Anarchy on FX playing  Clay Morrow, the national president of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club. He stared alongside Katey Sagal, Charlie Hunnam, Kim Coates, Ryan Hurst, Tommy Flanagan, David Labrava, and Theo Rossi.

Voice-over work

Perlman also has a successful career as a voice actor in addition to his onscreen acting. Having portrayed characters in numerous video games and animated series and in voice-over work in television commercials. These include Casper High English teacher and vice-principal Mr. Lancer in Danny Phantom, The Lich in Adventure Time, Kurtis Stryker in Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm.

He appeared as Justice in Afro Samurai, various characters in DC Comics based series such as the villainous Slade, a version of DC character Deathstroke in the Teen Titans animated series and again in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.  Clayface in Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, Jax-Ur in Superman: The Animated Series, Orion in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Sozin in Avatar: The Last Airbender, several villains (Killer Croc, Rumor and Bane) in The Batman, Doctor Double X in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Sinestro in Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

Video Game Credits

His video game credits include Fleet Admiral Lord Terrence Hood in the games Halo 2 and Halo 3, Jagger Valance in The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, and Batman in Justice League Heroes. He is well known by Fallout fans for narrating the introductory movies in the series, including uttering the famous phrase “War. War never changes.”

He also voices “Slade” in the 2008 Turok game, and Emil Blonsky/Abomination in Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, Conan for the PS3 and Xbox 360, and voices the fast-talking Mayor Hoodoo Brown in the Neversoft game Gun. He also made an appearance in Payday 2 as “Rust”, part of the “Biker Pack” DLC.

Perlman also provided the narration for the introduction to UFC on FOX 13.

Personal life

Perlman married his wife, jewelry designer Opal Stone on February 14, 1981.

They have two children: daughter Blake Amanda Perlman who was born in 1984 and son Brandon Avery Perlman who was born in 1990. Importantly, his son produces electronic music under the stage name Delroy Edwards.

Perlman is spiritual but not religious, and described himself as a lifelong Democrat in November 2016. He has volunteered as an actor with the Young Storytellers Program. In addition to this, he is actively involved with many charities, including animal rescue projects.

It should be noted, Ron once spent several hours getting made up in his Hellboy makeup, just to make a very ill little boy’s “Make a Wish” come true.

Ron Perlman was featured in the January/February 2014 installment of Cigar Aficinado Magazine and graced it’s cover.

In fact, on November 9, 2016, Perlman announced via Facebook his intention to run for U.S. President in 2020. Furthermore, on June 26, 2018, Perlman claimed to have urinated on his hand before a requested handshake with Harvey Weinstein at a charity event.

Filmography

Film

Year       Title       Role       Notes

The 1980’s

• 1981      Quest for Fire – Amoukar – ominated—Genie Award for Best Performance by a Foreign Actor
• 1984      The Ice Pirates – Zeno
• 1986      The Name of the Rose  –  Salvatore

The 1990’s

• 1992      Sleepwalkers  –    Captain Soames
• 1993      Cronos – Angel De La Guardia
•              Romeo Is Bleeding –  Jack’s attorney
•              When the Bough Breaks – Dr. Douglas Eben
•              The Adventures of Huck Finn –  Pap Finn
• 1994      Double Exposure              John McClure
•              Police Academy: Mission to Moscow       Konstantine Konali
•              Sensation            Detective Pantella
• 1995      The City of Lost Children               One
•              Fluke      Sylvester
•              The Last Supper Norman Arbuthnot
• 1996      The Island of Dr. Moreau              Sayer of the Law
• 1997      Prince Valiant     Boltar
•              Tinseltown          Cliff
•              Alien Resurrection           Johner
• 1998      I Woke Up Early the Day I Died    Cemetery Caretaker
•              Frogs for Snakes               Gascone
•              The Protector     Dr. Ramsey Krago
•              An American Tail: The Treasure of Manhattan Island  Mr. Grasping (voice)
• 1999      Happy, Texas     Marshal Nalhober

The 2000’s

• 2000      The Trial of Old Drum      Charles Burden Sr.
•              Titan A.E.            Sam Tucker (voice)
•              Operation Sandman        Dr. Harlan Jessup
•              The King’s Guard              Lord Morton
•              Price of Glory     Nick Everson
•              Bread and Roses              Himself Uncredited cameo
•              Stroke   Schumaker
• 2001      Down    Mitchell
•              Enemy at the Gates         Koulikov
• 2002      Blade II Dieter Reinhardt
•              Night Class          Morgan
•              Crime and Punishment    Dusharo
•              Star Trek: Nemesis           Reman Viceroy
•              Shakedown         Christopher ‘St. Joy’ Bellows        Direct-to-DVD
•              L’Chayim, Comrade Stalin!            Narrator
• 2003      Boys on the Run               Captain
•              Rats       Dr. William Winslow
•              Hoodlum & Son ‘Ugly’ Jim McCrae
•              Absolon               Murchison
•              Two Soldiers       Colonel McKellog             Short film
•              Looney Tunes: Back in Action      VP for Never Learning
• 2004      Comic Book: The Movie Himself Cameo

Direct-to-DVD

• 2004      Hellboy  Hellboy
•              Quiet Kill             Detective Sergeant Perry
• 2005      The Second Front             General von Binding
•              Missing in America          Red
•              Tarzan II              Kago (voice)        Direct-to-DVD
•              Scooby-Doo! in Where’s My Mummy?     Hotep (voice)     Direct-to-DVD
• 2006      Local Color          Curtis Sunday
•              How to Go Out on a Date in Queens         Vito
•             The Last Winter Ed Pollack Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
•             Five Girls              Father Drake
•             Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy! Captain Skunkbeard/Biff Wellington (voice)
•              Hellboy: Sword of Storms      Hellboy (voice)   Direct-to-DVD
• 2007      In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale   Norick
•              Hellboy: Blood and Iron Hellboy (voice)   Direct-to-DVD
•              Battle for Terra  Elder Vorin (voice)
• 2008      The Spiderwick Chronicles   Redcap (voice)   Uncredited cameo
•              Uncross the Stars   Bobby Walden
•              Hellboy II: The Golden Army  Hellboy Nominated—Scream Award for Best Fantasy Actor and Nominated—Scream Award for Best Superhero
•             Outlander            Gunnar
•              Spirit of the Forest           Oak (voice)
•              Mutant Chronicles           Brother Samuel
• 2009      The Devil’s Tomb             Wesley
•              Dark Country      Deputy Thompson           Direct-to-DVD
•               I Sell The Dead   Father Duffy
•              The Job Jim

The 2010’s

• 2010      Killer by Nature Dr. Julian
•              Acts of Violence Priest Bill
•              Tangled The Stabbington Brothers (voices)
•              Bunraku               Nicola
•              The Legend of Secret Pass            Parker (voice)
•              Season of the Witch        Felson
• 2011      The Littlest Angel             God (voice)
•              Conan the Barbarian       Corin
•              Drive      Nino
•              Elwood Louie the Jaw     Short film; also executive producer
• 2012      The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption          Horus    Direct-to-DVD
•              Bad Ass   Mayor Williams
•              The Punisher: Dirty Laundry         Big Mike              Short film
•              Crave     Pete
•              3,2,1… Frankie Go Boom              Phil
•              The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America Gene Krupa
• 2013      Pacific Rim          Hannibal Chau
• 
• 2013      Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox   Slade Wilson/Deathstroke (voice)
•              Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters  Polyphemus (voice)
• 2014      The Virginian      Judge Henry        Direct-to-DVD
•              Tbilisi, I Love You             American motorcyclist
•              13 Sins  Chilcoat
•              Before I Disappear           Bill
•              Kid Cannabis       Barry Lerner
•              Dermaphoria      Anslinger
•              The Book of Life Xibalba (voice)
•              Skin Trade           Viktor Dragovic
•              Poker Night        Calabrese
• 2015      Moonwalkers     Kidman
•              Bone in the Throat          N/A        Executive producer
•              Stonewall            Ed Murphy
• 2016      Chuck    Al Braverman
•              All I See Is You   N/A        Executive producer
•              Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom           Shoggoth (voice)
•              Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them      Gnarlack
• 2017      All Nighter           N/A        Executive producer
•              Sergio and Sergei             Peter     Also executive producer
•              Howard Lovecraft and the Undersea Kingdom      Shoggoth (voice)
•              Pottersville          Sheriff Jack         Also producer
• 2018      To Dust N/A        Producer
•              The Escape of Prisoner 614          The Sheriff          Also executive producer
•              The Steam Engines of Oz              Magnus (voice)  Direct-to-DVD
•               Asher     Asher     Also producer
•              Robodog             Marshall (voice) Post-production
• 2019      Monster Hunter                               Filming

Television

• Year       Title       Role       Notes
• 1979      Ryan’s Hope       Dr. Bernie Marx
• 
• 1985      The Fall Guy        Thug      Episode: “Split Image”
•               Our Family Honor            Bausch  Episode: “Pilot”
•               MacGruder and Loud      Attorney              Episode: “The Very Scary Man”
•              Our Family Honor            Bausch  Episode: “Split Image”
• 1986      The Insiders                       Episode: “Den of Thieves”
•              Miami Vice         John Ruger          Episode: “Walk-Alone”
• 
• 1987–1990          Beauty and the Beast     Vincent – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1989) Q Award for Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1988–1989) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1988–1989) Nominated—Q Award for Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1990)
• 1988      A Stoning in Fulham County         Jacob Shuler       Television film

The 1990’s

• 1992      Blind Man’s Bluff             Frank Cerrillo     Television film
• 1992–1993          Batman: The Animated Series     Clayface / Driller (voices)
• 1993      The Untouchables            Snake    Episode: “Railroaded”
•              Bonkers               Sergeant Francis Q. Grating (voice)
•              Animaniacs         Satan / Sgt. Sweete (voices)
•              Arly Hanks           Jim-Bob Buchanan           Television film
• 1994      The Cisco Kid      Lt. Col. Delacroix              Television film
•              Aladdin  Arbutus (voice)  Episode: “Garden of Evil”
•              Mighty Max        Goar (voice)        Episode: “Tar Wars”
•              The Little Mermaid          Apollo (voice)     Episode: “Heroes”
• 1995      Tiny Toon Adventures     Mr. Scratch (voice)          Episode: “Night Ghoulery”
•              Fantastic Four    Wizard / Hulk (voices)     2 episodes
•              Iron Man             Dr. Bruce Banner/The Hulk (voice)    Episode: “Hulk Buster”
•              Original Sins       Chas Bradley      Television film
•              Mr. Stitch            Doctor Frederick Texarian            Television film
•              The Adventures of Captain Zoom in Outer Space Lord Vox of Vestron
• 1996      Phantom 2040   Graft (voice)
•              Wing Commander Academy        Daimon Karnes (voice)
•              Duckman Roland Thompson (voice)  Episode: “They Craved Duckman’s Brain!”
•              Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm Kurtis Stryker / Scorpion (voice)
• 1996–1998          Hey Arnold!        Mickey Kaline (voice)
• 1996      Highlander: The Series    The Messenger  Episode: “The Messenger”
• 1997      Tracey Takes On…           Stuart    Episode: “Secrets”
•              Perversions of Science    40132    Episode: “The Exile”
•              The Second Civil War      Alan Manieski     Television film
• 1997–1999          Superman: The Animated Series Jax-Ur (voice)
• 1997–1998          The New Batman Adventures       Clayface (voice)
• 1998–2000          The Magnificent Seven   Josiah Sanchez
• 1998      Godzilla Leviathan Alien/Ship Captain (voice)        Episode: “Leviathan”
•              The Outer Limits              Lt. Col. Brandon Grace    Episode: “Black Box”
•              A Town Has Turned to Dust          Jerry Paul            Television film
•              Houdini Booking Agent   Television film
• 1999      Family Law         Roy        Episode: “The List”
•              Men in Black: The Series  Drekk / Javkor (voice)
•              Supreme Sanction            The Director       Television film
•              Primal Force       Frank Brodie       Television film

The 2000’s

• 2000      The Wild Thornberrys     Wild Horse (voice)           Episode: “Horse Sense”
•              Jackie Chan Adventures  Karl (voice)          Episode: “Shell Game”
•              Buzz Lightyear of Star Command  Leader (voice)    Episode: “Haunted Moon”
•              Operation Sandman        Dr. Harlan Jessup             Television film
•              The Trial of Old Drum      Charles Burden Sr.           Television film
• 2001      Charmed     Mr Kelleman       Episode: “Wrestling with Demons”
•              The Legend of Tarzan     Colonel Nikolas Rokoff (voice)
•              The Tick               Fiery Blaze          Episode: “Couples”
• 2003      Static Shock        Heavyman (voice)            Episode: “The Parent Trap”
•              Justice League   Clayface / Orion (voices)
• 2003–2006          Teen Titans         Slade (voice)
• 2004–2007          Danny Phantom Mr. Lancer (voice)
• 2005      What’s New, Scooby-Doo? Joe/Frozen Fiend (voice)
• 2005–2008          The Batman        Killer Croc / Bane / Rumor (voices)
• 2006      Masters of Horror            Dwayne Burcell  Episode: “Pro-Life”
•              Desperation        Collie Entragian Television film
•              Justice League Unlimited   Orion (voice)  Episode: “Flash and Substance”
• 2007      Afro Samurai      Justice (voice)    English dub
•              Kim Possible       Warhawk (voice)
•              Avatar: The Last Airbender  Firelord Sozin (voice)
• 2008–2013          Sons of Anarchy Clay Morrow
• 
• 2008–2010          Chowder              Arbor (voice)
• 2009      Star Wars: The Clone Wars           Gha Nachkt (voice)
•              Robot Chicken    Tony Stark / Handy Ball (voices)  Episode: “Tell My Mom”

The 2010’s

• 2009–2012          1000 Ways to Die             Narrator
• 2010, 2014          Archer   Ramon Limon (voice)
• 2010  Batman: The Brave and the Bold  Doctor Double X (voice)
• 2011–2012          American Dad!   Monster Hunter / Colonel (voices)
• 2011–2017          Adventure Time The Lich (voice)
• 2012      DC Nation Shorts              Slade / Alfred Pennyworth (voices)
• 2013      Green Lantern: The Animated Series   Sinestro (voice)
• 2014–2017   Hand of God   Judge Pernell Harris; also executive producer
• 2015      The Blacklist       Luther Braxton
•              SuperMansion    Blazar (voice)
• 2015–2016          Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles     Armaggon (voice)
• 2016      Turbo FAST         Darryl (voice)     Episode: “Keep on Truckin'”
•              Maron   Mel
• 2016      Trollhunters        Bular (voice)
• 2017      Tangled: The Series         The Stabbington Brothers (voices)
• 2017–present     StartUp  Wes Chandler
• 2018      Final Space         John Goodspeed (voice)
•              Transformers: Power of the Primes          Optimus Primal (voice)

Video games

Year       Title       Voice role            Notes

The 1990’s

• 1994      The Adventures of Batman & Robin  Clayface   Sega CD version
• 1995      Chronomaster    Rene Korda
• 1997      Fallout   Narrator, Butch Harris
• 1998      Fallout 2              Narrator

The 2000’s

• 2001      Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter     Wylfdene
•              Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel       Narrator
• 2003      Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu  Clayface, Matt Hagen
•              True Crime: Streets of LA              Misha, Additional Voices
•              Lords of EverQuest          Lord Skass
• 2004      The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay          Jagger Valance
•              Halo 2   Lord Hood
• 2005      Narc      Captain Joe Kowalski
•              Gun        Mayor Hoodoo Brown
•              The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction   Emil Blonsky/The Abomination
•              The Outfit           Tommy Mac
• 2006      Teen Titans         Slade
•              Justice League Heroes    Bruce Wayne/Batman
• 2007      Halo 3   Lord Hood
•              Conan   Conan the Barbarian
• 2008      Turok     Slade
•              Hellboy: The Science of Evil         Hellboy
•              Fallout 3              Narrator

The 2010’s

• 2009      Afro Samurai      Justice   English dub
•              Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X 2 Dagger
• 2010      Fallout: New Vegas         Narrator
•              Tangled: The Video Game             Stabbington Brotherl
• 2013      Payday 2             Rust
• 2014      Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff  Himself
• 2015      Call of Duty: Black Ops III             Floyd Campbell
•              Fallout 4              Anchorman[22]
• 2016      Payday 2             Rust
•              Lego Dimensions              Gnarlack / The Lich
• 2018      Fallout 76            Narrator
• 

Stage

• Year       Title       Role       Notes
• 1975     A Country Scandal           Vengerovich       Knickerbocker Theatre
• 1975–1976          Measure for Measure     Lucio     Knickerbocker Theatre
• 1976–1977          The Architect and the Emperor of Assyria              The Emperor      National & European tours
• 1979–1980          Teibele and Her Demon Beadle Treitel     Brooks Atkinson Theatre
• 1984      La Tragedie de Carmen                  Lincoln Center
• 1990–1991          A Few Good Men             Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep     Music Box Theatre
• 1996      Bus Stop              Dr. Gerald Lyman             Circle in the Square Theatre

In 2014, Ron Perlman published Easy Street (the Hard Way): A Memoir. The Overview at Barnes & Noble reads: The engaging, passionate, always-honest, and often-hilarious memoir of actor Ron Perlman—his triumphant story of perseverance and determination navigating the slippery slopes of Hollywood, with a foreword by Guillermo del Toro

Ron Perlman was a kid who had a myriad of self-image issues, yet he triumphed in an industry that trades on image and self-confidence. He landed a leading role in Quest for Fire, won a Golden Globe for Beauty and the Beast, and played the title role in two Hellboy movies, becoming along the way an icon among sci-fi and comic book fans worldwide.

In Easy Street (the Hard Way), Ron shares his life story, starting with his up-by-your-bootstraps background in New York’s Washington Heights. He sheds light on his life as a working actor; offers behind-the-scenes insight into the working styles of directors, including Jean-Jacques Annaud, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy and the Academy Award-winning Pan’s Labyrinth); and provides a peek into Hollywood, where he’s encountered Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and others. He also turns his eye on the trajectory of American culture—the good and the bad—as observed by a man who started out in a mom-and-pop world where the arts were disseminated by individuals rather than corporations.

Ron’s memoir will inspire anyone who has ever dared to dream and offers a roadmap to the next generation of dreamers.

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