Steve Oedekerk

2024-05-18T17:42:41Z

172.90.2.194: /* Film */

{{short description|American filmmaker, actor, and stand-up comedian (born 1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Steve Oedekerk
| image = Steve Oedekerk.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Oedekerk in 2006
| birth_name = Steven Brent Oedekerk
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Seattle, Washington]], U.S.
| other_names = Steve O.
| occupation = {{flatlist|
*Filmmaker
*actor
*stand-up comedian
}}
| years_active = 1983–present
| employer =
| notable_works = The Chosen One in ''[[Kung Pow: Enter the Fist]]''
| spouse =
| children = 2
| website =
}}
'''Steven Brent Oedekerk''' is an American filmmaker, actor, and stand-up comedian. He is best known for his collaborations with actor and comedian [[Jim Carrey]] and director [[Tom Shadyac]] (particularly the ''[[Ace Ventura]]'' franchise), his series of "[[Thumbs!|Thumbmation]]" shorts and his film ''[[Kung Pow! Enter the Fist]]'' (2002), along with his films ''[[Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]'', ''[[Santa vs. the Snowman 3D]]'', ''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]'', and ''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' remake.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steve Oedekerk – Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/steve_oedekerk|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=www.rottentomatoes.com|language=en|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129121628/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/steve_oedekerk|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Oedekerk was born in [[Seattle, Washington]];<ref>Micheal E. Hill, [https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164423/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4408185.html "Comedian got start tormenting his mom"], ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', September 2, 1997 .</ref> he was raised by his mother Rena Borlandeli and father Martin Oedekerk in [[Huntington Beach, California]]. He attended [[Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California)|Mater Dei High School]] in [[Santa Ana, California]] and [[Golden West College]] in Huntington Beach.<ref>Annabelle Robertson, [http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/features/from-goof-off-to-barnyard-one-directors-animated-rise-1409953.html "From "Goof Off" to "Barnyard": One Director's Animated Rise"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109185258/http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/features/from-goof-off-to-barnyard-one-directors-animated-rise-1409953.html |date=January 9, 2017 }}, [[Crosswalk.com]], July 27, 2006.</ref> He is of Dutch Frisian, Irish, Hungarian and Italian ([[Lombardy|Lombard]]) descent.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 21, 2015|title=Steve Oedekerk: an Italian in Hollywood|url=https://italoamericano.org/steve-oedekerk/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=L'Italo-Americano – Italian American bilingual news source|language=en-US|archive-date=September 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906015958/https://italoamericano.org/steve-oedekerk/|url-status=live}}</ref> His mother is an emigrant from [[Magnago]], Italy. His paternal grandfather was an [[Afrikaner]] born in South Africa to Dutch parents.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0644203/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm | title=Steve Oedekerk | website=[[IMDb]] | access-date=November 10, 2021 | archive-date=November 10, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110165758/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0644203/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Career ==
Throughout his career, Oedekerk has appeared in and created several television specials for [[NBC]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], and [[UPN]]. He also contributed his writing talents to [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] during the late 1980s and through the early 1990s. It was during this time that Oedekerk befriended fellow comic/actor [[Jim Carrey]] while working on the television series ''[[In Living Color]]'' during its 1990–1994 run; this was the first of numerous collaborations between the two.

Prior to his successful contributions to several unknown episodes in the ''Color'' TV series, he wrote and starred in his first independent/directorial film, ''Smart Alex'' (1987). It wasn't until 1991 that Oedekerk was attached not only as a writer, but also as the protagonist, as Thane Furrows in the film ''[[High Strung (1991 film)|High Strung]]''. Jim Carrey also starred opposite him in the role of [[Death (personification)|Death]], although he went uncredited. They eventually developed a strong friendship, which still exists today. Shortly afterward, Oedekerk again worked alongside Carrey as the project consultant for [[Tom Shadyac]]'s first film ''[[Ace Ventura: Pet Detective]]'' (1994). The film became a break-out success and he was given the opportunity to both direct and write its sequel, ''[[Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls]]'' (1995). This time Oedekerk directed and wrote the movie after Shadyac left before filming. The sequel proved to be more successful, surpassing the box office gross of the original. Despite this, both Oedekerk and Carrey wanted to pursue other projects, but still remained friends.

Following the ''Ace Ventura'' franchise, Oedekerk co-wrote ''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]'' (1996), which was also directed by Shadyac for [[Universal Pictures]]; it became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. He soon wrote, directed and also had a cameo appearance in ''[[Nothing to Lose (1997 film)|Nothing to Lose]]'' (1997), starring [[Tim Robbins]] and [[Martin Lawrence]]. Oedekerk took a hiatus from directing major film productions for the rest of the 1990s, but continued to write screenplays, including ''[[Patch Adams (film)|Patch Adams]]'' (1998), ''[[Nutty Professor II: The Klumps]]'' (2000), ''[[Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]'' (2001), ''[[Kung Pow! Enter the Fist]]'' (2002) (which he directed, wrote and starred in<ref>Cindy Pearlman, [https://web.archive.org/web/20181119092331/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1434218.html "Steve Oedekerk"], ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'', January 17, 2002</ref>), ''[[Bruce Almighty]]'' (2003) and ''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]'' (2006) (which he directed, wrote, produced, and voiced various characters). In 2003, he signed a first look deal with Universal.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|date=June 6, 2003|title='Almighty' writer takes a family vacation|url=https://variety.com/2003/film/columns/almighty-writer-takes-a-family-vacation-1117887446/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=July 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727235047/https://variety.com/2003/film/columns/almighty-writer-takes-a-family-vacation-1117887446/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, Oedekerk produced the screenplay and story for the ''Bruce Almighty'' sequel, ''[[Evan Almighty]];'' again, Shadyac directed both films. He has also been commissioned to write the screenplay for the ''[[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]]'' film adaptation; Jim Carrey has since been cast in the title role. No news involving the project has been reported since.

In February 2009, Universal Pictures announced that Steve Oedekerk would be penning a film adaptation of the [[Stretch Armstrong]] superhero doll. As of 2016, the film is left in [[development hell]] with an animated series currently in the works.

In 2015, it was announced that a sequel to ''Kung Pow'' is currently in the works with him returning to write and direct.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/07/steve-oedekerk-is-working-on-a-kung-pow-enter-the-fist-sequel/|title=Steve Oedekerk is working on a Kung Pow: Enter the Fist sequel|work=flickeringmyth.com|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221043916/http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/07/steve-oedekerk-is-working-on-a-kung-pow-enter-the-fist-sequel/amp/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== O Entertainment ==
{{Infobox company
| name = O Entertainment
| logo = O entertainment logo.jpg
| type = Production company
| industry = [[Animation]]<br>[[Live Action]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|1990}}
| founder = Steve Oedekerk
| defunct = 2013
| fate = Closed
| successor = [[Nickelodeon Animation Studio]]
| hq_location_city = [[Burbank, California]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served =
| divisions = Omation Animation Studio
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20130622080846/http://oedekerk.com/}}
}}

'''O Entertainment''' was a production company founded by Steve Oedekerk in 1990. O Entertainment's productions include the Thumbmation series (''Thumb Wars'', ''Bat Thumb'', ''Thumbtanic'', etc.), ''Santa vs. the Snowman 3D'', ''Jimmy Neutron: The Boy Genius'', ''The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius'', ''Back at the Barnyard'', ''Planet Sheen'', and the movie ''The Super Mouse''. The animation division, Omation Animation Studio, was founded by Oedekerk himself and hired animators who previously worked in [[DNA Productions]] after the studio closed down in 2006.

In 1990, Oedekerk founded an entertainment company, O Entertainment. In 1997, he created and starred in a variety special for [[NBC]], featuring computer animation, entitled ''[[The O Show]]'' (also known as ''steve.oedekerk.com'').<ref>Keith Marder, [https://web.archive.org/web/20170911025112/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83877509.html "Oedekerk's quirks: The name may not ring a bell, but chances are you're aware of his work."], ''[[Los Angeles Daily News]]'', September 3, 1997.</ref> He is also executive producer of the [[computer animated]] series ''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius]]'' on [[Nickelodeon]].

== Omation Animation Studio ==
{{Infobox company
| name = Omation Animation Studio
| logo = Omation.jpg
| type = [[Division (business)|Division]]
| industry = [[Animation]]
| predecessor = [[DNA Productions]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002}}
| founder = Steve Oedekerk
| defunct = 2013
| fate = Closed
| successor = [[Nickelodeon Animation Studio]]
| hq_location_city = [[Burbank, California]]
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| website = {{URL|https://web.archive.org/web/20091031132652/http://www.omation.com}}
}}

Oedekerk founded '''Omation Animation Studio''' (commonly known as '''Omation''') in 2002 as a division of O Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mpophotohost.com/~mposystems/filehost/oedework/index.html |title=Home |website=mpophotohost.com |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521220116/http://mpophotohost.com/~mposystems/filehost/oedework/index.html |archive-date=May 21, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Their first animation project was the feature film ''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]'' (which Oedekerk wrote, directed, produced, and performed as a voice actor). Around 2006–2007, the studio began production on a Nicktoon based on the film titled ''[[Back at the Barnyard]]''. The series premiered on Nickelodeon on September 29, 2007. A second season followed, and six additional episodes airing on Nickelodeon's sister channel Nicktoons from September 12, 2011, until November 12, 2011. Following the closure of [[DNA Productions]] in 2006, many of the employees there moved to Omation.

Oedekerk also gained popularity with his series of "[[Thumbs!|Thumbmation]]" shorts: ''[[Thumb Wars]]'', ''[[Bat Thumb]]'', ''[[The Godthumb]]'', ''[[Frankenthumb]]'', ''The Blair Thumb'' and ''Thumbtanic''.

Following the failure of ''[[Planet Sheen]]'' and its subsequent cancellation in 2013, the studio was shut down along with O Entertainment.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}}

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Title
! width="65"| Director
! width="65"| Writer
! width="65"| Producer
! Notes
|-
|1987
|''Smart Alex''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|Incomplete, never released
|-
|1991
|''[[High Strung (1991 film)|High Strung]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1996
|''[[The Nutty Professor (1996 film)|The Nutty Professor]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Nothing to Lose (1997 film)|Nothing to Lose]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|1998
|''[[Patch Adams (film)|Patch Adams]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Co}}
|
|-
|2000
|''[[Nutty Professor II: The Klumps]]''
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Story}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Nominated – [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]]
|-
| rowspan="3" |2002
|''[[Kung Pow! Enter the Fist]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|''[[Juwanna Mann]]''
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|
|-
|''[[Santa vs. the Snowman 3D]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes|Creator}}
|{{yes}}
| Short film
|-
|2003
|''[[Bruce Almighty]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes|Executive}}
|
|-
|2006
|''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Evan Almighty]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|2011
|''[[Cowboys & Aliens]]''
|{{no}}
|{{partial|Story}}
|{{no}}
|
|-
|}

'''Other credits'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
|-
| 1994
|''[[Ace Ventura: Pet Detective]]''
| Executive consultant
|-
| 2015
|''[[Harbinger Down]]''
| Producers would like to thank
|-
| 2024
|''[[Ricky Stanicky]]''
| Additional literary material
|-
|}

'''Acting roles'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1987
|''Smart Alex''
|Alex
|Incomplete, never released
|-
|1988
|''[[Casual Sex?]]''
|Joey
|
|-
|1991
|''[[High Strung (1991 film)|High Strung]]''
|Thane Furrows
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Nothing to Lose (1997 film)|Nothing to Lose]]''
|Security Guard Baxter
|[[Cameo appearance|Cameo]]
|-
|rowspan=2|2002
|''[[Kung Pow! Enter the Fist]]''
|The Chosen One
|
|-
|''[[Santa vs. the Snowman 3D]]''
|Sno' Hellton
|rowspan=2|Voice only
|-
|2006
|''[[Barnyard (film)|Barnyard]]''
|Snotty Boy / Pizza Twin #2 / Mr. Beady / Snotty Boy's Father
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Creator
! Director
! Executive<br />Producer
! Writer
! Notes
|-
|1990–1994
|''[[In Living Color]]''
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{No}}
|{{Yes}}
|Started in 1992<ref>{{Cite web|title=TIMELINE|url=https://www.oedework.com/timeline|access-date=November 30, 2020|website=oedetainment|language=en|archive-date=December 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202132710/https://www.oedework.com/timeline|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|1997
|''[[The O Show]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|TV movie
|-
|1999–present
|''[[Thumbs!]]''
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2002–2006
|''[[The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius|The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]''
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Writer, Time is Money
|-
|2007–2011
|''[[Back at the Barnyard]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2010–2013
|''[[Planet Sheen]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|}

'''Acting roles'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1983
|''[[Star Search]]''
|Contestant
|
|-
|1987–1988
|''Comedy Club (1987–1988)''
|Himself
|
|-
|1989
|''[[Full House]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Star Search"
|-
|1997
|''[[The O Show]]''
|Himself
|TV movie
|-
|1999–present
|''[[Thumbs!]]''
|Multiple
|Voice only
|-
|2007–2011
|''[[Back at the Barnyard]]''
|Snotty Boy, Mr. Beady, Additional voices
|Voice only
|-
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0644203/?ref=m_nv_sr_1 Steve Oedekerk] on [[Internet Movie Database]]
*[https://www.imdb.com/company/co0009845/ O Entertainment] on [[Internet Movie Database]]
*https://www.oedework.com/

{{Steve Oedekerk}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oedekerk, Steve}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American people of Afrikaner descent]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:American people of Frisian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American people of South African descent]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:Film producers from California]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:American writers of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Comedians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Film directors from California]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:Nickelodeon Animation Studio people]]
[[Category:Showrunners of animated shows]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from California]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California) alumni]]

Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Steve Oedekerk