Charles Adams Claverie (August 24, 1949 – October 7, 2005), known by such stage names as Charlie Hamburger, Charlie Kennedy, and, most famously, Charles Rocket, was an American film and television actor, notable for his tenure as a cast member on Saturday Night Live as well as for his appearances as the villain Nicholas Andre in the film Dumb and Dumber; and as Dave Dennison, the father in Disney's Hocus Pocus. He appeared twice on Quantum Leap, first as "Scrooge" like real estate developer / business mogul Michael Blake, who plans to tear down a city mission building in the old Manhattan neighborhood which he grew up in, which Sam, as his valet, is dispatched to keep him from doing in the Season Three episode "A Little Miracle", then as CDR Dirk Riker, former commanding officer and nemesis of a young Al "Bingo" Calavicci, who accused him of raping and murdering his wife Marci in the Season 4 episode titled "A Leap For Lisa".
Saturday Night Live[]
Rocket was cast for the 1980–81 season, which followed the departure of the remaining members of the show's original cast and executive producer Lorne Michaels. Singled out by new executive producer Jean Doumanian, he was promoted as a cross between Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.[1] Rocket was tapped to anchor Weekend Update, and was featured in more sketches than any other male cast member that season with the exception of Joe Piscopo.
Personal and family life[]
Charles had a son with his wife Beth.[2] Charles and Beth were married on board the battleship USS Massachusetts anchored in Fall River, Massachusetts.[3]
Tragic death[]
Rocket was found dead in a field near his Connecticut home on October 7, 2005; his throat had been cut. The state medical examiner later ruled the death a possible suicide.[4] He was 56 years old.
References[]
- ↑ Hill, Doug; Weingrad, Jeff (1986). Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. William Morrow & Co. ISBN 0-688-05099-9 p. 390.
- ↑ Charles Rocket, 56, TV and Movie Actor, Dies New York Times article, via Reuters, October 20, 2005, accessed 2007-07-21.
- ↑ Charlie Rocket Blasts Off Amid the Turmoil of the 'Saturday Night Live' Massacres, March 23, 1981, vol. 15 issue 11, story by Richard K. Rein for People magazine, accessed July 14, 2013.
- ↑ Charles Rocket's death ruled a suicide, North County (CT) Times, 2005-10-18, first accessrd 2012-05-28.
External links[]
- Charles Rocket article at Wikipedia
Charles Rocket at the Internet Movie Database- Obituary for Charles Rocket Variety.com. October 10, 2005.
