Carel Struycken
Encyclopedia
Carel Struycken is a Dutch film, television, and stage actor. He is best known for playing Mr. Homn on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
and Lurch in the films The Addams Family
and Addams Family Values
. He is an exceptionally tall man at 2.13 metres (7 feet) and thus is often called upon to play character or comedic
roles in which height plays a major part.
, Netherlands
. When he was 4 years old his family moved to Curaçao
, an island in the Caribbean. At age 15, while living on the island of Curaçao, he composed several Caribbean waltz
es. At 16 he returned to his home country, where he finished secondary school. He graduated from the directing program at the film school in Amsterdam
. Following that, he spent a year at the American Film Institute
in Los Angeles
. In 1978 he was "discovered" as an actor.
Struycken is considered a giant
as the result of acromegaly
.
area. His brother Peter Struycken is a noted Dutch artist.
Struycken is a vegetarian
on ethical grounds.
, including the 1986 punk rock musical Population: 1
, which featured Tomata du Plenty
of The Screamers
and which was released on DVD in October 2008.
Struycken was "discovered" as an actor at the corner of Hollywood and Vine
in Los Angeles by a lady who had abandoned her car in the middle of the street, calling after him: "We need you for a movie!". The movie was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
.
The turning point in his acting career however was playing the antagonist Terak in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
, based on the Ewok
creatures from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
. Notably Struycken was featured as Mr. Homn on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
. He also co-starred as Fidel in the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick
and as Lurch in the The Addams Family films (see Filmography).
For his other exploits see the Filmography and Television series.
systems.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
and Lurch in the films The Addams Family
The Addams Family (film)
The Addams Family is a 1991 American black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon of the same name created by cartoonist Charles Addams....
and Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values is a 1993 sequel to the 1991 comedy The Addams Family. The film was written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and many cast members from the original returned for the sequel, including Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci...
. He is an exceptionally tall man at 2.13 metres (7 feet) and thus is often called upon to play character or comedic
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
roles in which height plays a major part.
Biography
Struycken was born in The HagueThe Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. When he was 4 years old his family moved to Curaçao
Curaçao
Curaçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, an island in the Caribbean. At age 15, while living on the island of Curaçao, he composed several Caribbean waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
es. At 16 he returned to his home country, where he finished secondary school. He graduated from the directing program at the film school in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. Following that, he spent a year at the American Film Institute
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. In 1978 he was "discovered" as an actor.
Struycken is considered a giant
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
as the result of acromegaly
Acromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
.
Personal life
Struycken is married to an American woman and has two children. He lives in the Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area. His brother Peter Struycken is a noted Dutch artist.
Struycken is a vegetarian
Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism encompasses the practice of following plant-based diets , with or without the inclusion of dairy products or eggs, and with the exclusion of meat...
on ethical grounds.
Career
Struycken collaborated on a number of projects with writer/director Rene DaalderRene Daalder
Rene Daalder is a Dutch writer and director. He lives in Los Angeles...
, including the 1986 punk rock musical Population: 1
Population: 1
Population: 1 is a 1986 punk rock musical film written and directed by Rene Daalder.The film stars Tomata du Plenty of the Screamers as a defense contractor who somehow becomes the sole survivor of a nuclear holocaust. In his solitude, he traces the history of U.S...
, which featured Tomata du Plenty
Tomata du Plenty
David Xavier Harrigan, aka Tomata du Plenty the singer of the late 1970s Los Angeles synthpunk band The Screamers. He was also founder of Seattle's counterculture troupe Ze Whiz Kidz...
of The Screamers
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
and which was released on DVD in October 2008.
Struycken was "discovered" as an actor at the corner of Hollywood and Vine
Hollywood and Vine
Hollywood and Vine, the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, became famous in the 1920s for its concentration of radio and movie-related businesses. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is centered on the intersection.Today, not many production...
in Los Angeles by a lady who had abandoned her car in the middle of the street, calling after him: "We need you for a movie!". The movie was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a 1978 American musical film. Its soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, features new versions of songs originally written and performed by The Beatles. The film draws primarily from two of their albums, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club...
.
The turning point in his acting career however was playing the antagonist Terak in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is a 1985 made-for-TV movie set in the Star Wars galaxy. A sequel to Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, it focuses on Cindel Towani, the little girl from the first film, who, after being orphaned, joins the Ewoks in protecting their village and defeating the evil...
, based on the Ewok
Ewok
Ewoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
creatures from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi is a 1983 American epic space opera film directed by Richard Marquand and written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan. It is the third film released in the Star Wars saga, and the sixth in terms of the series' internal chronology...
. Notably Struycken was featured as Mr. Homn on the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
. He also co-starred as Fidel in the 1987 film The Witches of Eastwick
The Witches of Eastwick (film)
The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 American horror comedy based on John Updike's novel of the same name. Directed by George Miller, the film stars Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer as the eponymous witches...
and as Lurch in the The Addams Family films (see Filmography).
For his other exploits see the Filmography and Television series.
Today
Struycken is interested in making projects that are a combination of media, like using the non-linear character of Internet with video and graphical elements. These are usually low budget productions. Struycken is also a keen and active photographer. A combination of these techniques can be seen here and here (in collaboration with Josh Korwin). Struycken has also helped in hardware and software development of virtual realityVirtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
systems.
Filmography
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandSgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (film)Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is a 1978 American musical film. Its soundtrack, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, features new versions of songs originally written and performed by The Beatles. The film draws primarily from two of their albums, 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club...
(1978) - Go West, Young Man (1980)
- Die LaughingDie LaughingDie Laughing is the fourth stand-up comedy album by Doug Stanhope. Released in 2002 by Stand Up! Records.-Track listing:#"Stillborn Liver"- 2:05#"DUI/MADD"- 6:33#"Drugs Are for Kids"- 3:52#"Second Hand Bullshit"- 1:41#"Hair in My Food"- 3:16...
(1980) - The PreyThe Prey (1984 film)The Prey is a 1984 American horror film directed and written by Edwin Scott Brown and starring Steve Bond, Lori Lethin and Jackie Coogan.-Synopsis - from the back of the video cover:...
(1984) - Ewoks: The Battle for EndorEwoks: The Battle for EndorEwoks: The Battle for Endor is a 1985 made-for-TV movie set in the Star Wars galaxy. A sequel to Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure, it focuses on Cindel Towani, the little girl from the first film, who, after being orphaned, joins the Ewoks in protecting their village and defeating the evil...
(1985) (TV filmTelevision movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
) - The Witches of EastwickThe Witches of Eastwick (film)The Witches of Eastwick is a 1987 American horror comedy based on John Updike's novel of the same name. Directed by George Miller, the film stars Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Susan Sarandon, and Michelle Pfeiffer as the eponymous witches...
(1987) - Night of the Kickfighters (1988)
- FramedFramedAs a proper noun, Framed can refer to:*Framed, 1930 film starring Regis Toomey*Framed, 1947 film noir starring Glenn Ford*Framed, 1975 film starring Joe Don Baker...
(1990) (TV filmTelevision movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
) - Servants of Twilight (1991)
- The Addams FamilyThe Addams Family (film)The Addams Family is a 1991 American black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon of the same name created by cartoonist Charles Addams....
(1991) - Journey to the Center of the Earth (1993 film)Journey to the Center of the EarthA Journey to the Center of the Earth is a classic 1864 science fiction novel by Jules Verne. The story involves a German professor who believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the center of the Earth...
(1993) (TV filmTelevision movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
) - Addams Family ValuesAddams Family ValuesAddams Family Values is a 1993 sequel to the 1991 comedy The Addams Family. The film was written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and many cast members from the original returned for the sequel, including Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci...
(1993) - OblivionOblivion (film)Oblivion is a 1994 western science fiction dark comedy film by Full Moon Entertainment. Directed by Sam Irvin, the film stars Richard Joseph Paul, Andrew Divoff, George Takei, Julie Newmar, Musetta Vander, Isaac Hayes and Meg Foster....
(1994) - Out There (1995) (TV filmTelevision movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
) - Under the Hula Moon (1995)
- Oblivion 2: Backlash (1996)
- Men in BlackMen in Black (film)Men in Black is a 1997 science fiction comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith and Vincent D'Onofrio. The film was based on the Men in Black comic book series by Lowell Cunningham, originally published by Marvel Comics. The film featured the creature effects...
(1997) - I Woke Up Early The Day I DiedI Woke Up Early The Day I DiedI Woke Up Early The Day I Died is a camp comedy film written by Edward D. Wood, Jr.. The film, directed by Aris Iliopulos, stars Billy Zane, Tippi Hedren, Ron Perlman, and Christina Ricci, among many others.-Production:...
(1998) - Addams Family ReunionAddams Family ReunionAddams Family Reunion is a film released straight-to-video in 1998. It was also distributed to television by Fox Family. It is unrelated to the two Paramount films from 1991 and 1993. So far, the film is only available on VHS and has not had a DVD release. It was shot in Los Angeles, California...
(1998) (VideoVideoVideo is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
) - Enemy Action (1999)
- Tinnef (2000) (VideoVideoVideo is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
) - The Vampire Hunters Club (2001) (VideoVideoVideo is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
) - Science Fiction (2002 film) (2002)
- Fatal Kiss (2002) (TV filmTelevision movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
) - The War of the Starfighters (2003)
- The Fallen OnesThe Fallen OnesThe Fallen Ones is a Sci Fi Channel original movie from 2005.-Plot:The story involves an archaeologist uncovering, and ultimately fighting, one of the Nephilim. This creature is the offspring of a "fallen angel", named Ammon, that is trying to destroy the world by reviving its son after having him...
(2005) (TV filmTelevision movieA television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
) - Sinterklaas en het Geheim van het Grote Boek (2008)
Television series
- St. ElsewhereSt. ElsewhereSt. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series is set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston's South End neighborhood...
(1988), Season 6 episode "Fairytale Theater", as "The Giant" - Twin PeaksTwin PeaksTwin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
(1990–1991), as "The GiantThe Giant (Twin Peaks)The Giant is a character from the television series Twin Peaks, created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. He is played by Carel Struycken.The Giant appears to FBI agent Dale Cooper in visions, first right after Cooper has been shot in his hotel room...
" - Star Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next GenerationStar Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
(1987–1992), as "Mr. Homn" - Babylon 5Babylon 5Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
(1994), Season 2 episode "Soul MatesSoul Mates"Soul Mates" is a second season episode of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Londo Mollari brings his three wives, all of whom barely tolerate him, to the station for the purpose of divorcing two of them as part of a special boon granted by the Centauri Emperor...
", as "Trader" - Star Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: VoyagerStar Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
(1996), Season 2 episode "The Thaw", as "Spectre" - CharmedCharmedCharmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
(2002), Season 4 episode "Womb Raider", as "Tall Man" - My Name Is EarlMy Name Is EarlMy Name Is Earl is an American television comedy series created by Greg Garcia that was originally broadcast on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States...
(2006), Season 2 episode "Sticks & Stones", as "Paul" - Cold Case (2010), Season 7 episode 14 "Metamorphisis", as "Gargantuan"