Charles Rocket
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Born Name:
Charles Adams Claverie
Born Date: August 28, 1949
Born Place: Bangor, Maine
Died Date: October 7, 2005
Died Place: Canterbury, Connecticut
Occupations: Actor, comedian, musician, reporter
Brief Biography: Charles Rocket was best known for his stint on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in the 1980s and his memorable, towering villains in 1990s comedy films. He brought a distinctive, deadpan, and deeply resonant voice to numerous television and film roles before his tragic death in 2005.
Early Life and Career:
Charles Adams Claverie attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the late 1960s.
Early Scene: He was deeply involved in the Providence underground arts scene, occasionally performing with his band, the Fabulous Motels (where he played the accordion).
Newscaster Days: Before breaking into comedy, he worked as a local news anchor under the names Charles Claverie and Charles Kennedy at television stations in Colorado and Nashville.
Saturday Night Live Fame and Controversy:
The SNL Era: Rocket was hired for the 1980–1981 SNL season. This was a turbulent time for the show, as producer Lorne Michaels and the original cast had just departed.
The "Rocket Reports": Rocket anchored the Weekend Update segment and starred in his own pre-taped, quirky comedy segments called the "Rocket Reports".
The Firing: During the February 21, 1981 episode (which parodied the "Who Shot J.R.?" Dallas storyline), Rocket was accidentally shot in a sketch. At the end of the show, guest Charlene Tilton asked him how it felt. Rocket replied, "Oh, man, this is the first time I've ever been shot... I'd like to know who the fuck did it". This live-TV expletive, combined with overall low ratings and press criticism for the season, resulted in Rocket and executive producer Jean Doumanian being fired shortly after.
Film and Television Career:
Despite the SNL firing, Rocket steadily built a successful, decades-long career as a character actor. His notable roles include:
Film: He played Dave Dennison in Disney's Hocus Pocus (1993), the antagonist Nicholas Andre in Dumb and Dumber (1994), and made appearances in Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) and Dances with Wolves (1990).
TV: Rocket had a prolific run on television, appearing in Moonlighting (as Bruce Willis's brother), Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Voyager, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Voice Work: He lent his deep, recognizable voice to animated shows like Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and The New Batman Adventures.
Born Date: August 28, 1949
Born Place: Bangor, Maine
Died Date: October 7, 2005
Died Place: Canterbury, Connecticut
Occupations: Actor, comedian, musician, reporter
Brief Biography: Charles Rocket was best known for his stint on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in the 1980s and his memorable, towering villains in 1990s comedy films. He brought a distinctive, deadpan, and deeply resonant voice to numerous television and film roles before his tragic death in 2005.
Early Life and Career:
Charles Adams Claverie attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the late 1960s.
Early Scene: He was deeply involved in the Providence underground arts scene, occasionally performing with his band, the Fabulous Motels (where he played the accordion).
Newscaster Days: Before breaking into comedy, he worked as a local news anchor under the names Charles Claverie and Charles Kennedy at television stations in Colorado and Nashville.
Saturday Night Live Fame and Controversy:
The SNL Era: Rocket was hired for the 1980–1981 SNL season. This was a turbulent time for the show, as producer Lorne Michaels and the original cast had just departed.
The "Rocket Reports": Rocket anchored the Weekend Update segment and starred in his own pre-taped, quirky comedy segments called the "Rocket Reports".
The Firing: During the February 21, 1981 episode (which parodied the "Who Shot J.R.?" Dallas storyline), Rocket was accidentally shot in a sketch. At the end of the show, guest Charlene Tilton asked him how it felt. Rocket replied, "Oh, man, this is the first time I've ever been shot... I'd like to know who the fuck did it". This live-TV expletive, combined with overall low ratings and press criticism for the season, resulted in Rocket and executive producer Jean Doumanian being fired shortly after.
Film and Television Career:
Despite the SNL firing, Rocket steadily built a successful, decades-long career as a character actor. His notable roles include:
Film: He played Dave Dennison in Disney's Hocus Pocus (1993), the antagonist Nicholas Andre in Dumb and Dumber (1994), and made appearances in Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) and Dances with Wolves (1990).
TV: Rocket had a prolific run on television, appearing in Moonlighting (as Bruce Willis's brother), Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Voyager, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Voice Work: He lent his deep, recognizable voice to animated shows like Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, and The New Batman Adventures.