Jeff Altman
Encyclopedia
Jeff Altman is an American
stand-up
comedian
who has appeared as a guest on Late Show with David Letterman
40 times, most recently on October 7, 2011. He has also had numerous acting roles in movies
and television
such as Dr. Gene Splicer in Tiny Toon Adventures
, and is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Hughie Hogg
, the nephew of Jefferson Davis Hogg, on the popular television series The Dukes of Hazzard
.
Altman had a starring role as the host of the short-lived NBC
variety show
Pink Lady and Jeff in 1980. Later in the decade, he became the in-house comedian of Solid Gold
, where his characters included Al Punker, fast-talking proprietor of "Al Punker's Music Barn," the "music vampire Count Downula," and the ex-boxer Leonard Moon, the last of whom would admit that he "don't have the brains of a ice cube" and claim, "I am the Solid Gold music critic. Tonight, my subject is music."
Altman has also directed many sitcoms and in the middle 1980s, he was the spokesman for Arby's
restaurants. He also has been the (uncredited) host of the defensive driving
course available through Blockbuster Video.
Altman was also on the NBC
series Nurses
in the first season (1991–1992). He was written out as the show was re-worked for its second season.
A regular feature of his stand-up act included a comical impression of his father. He continued to find his Nixon impression humorous well into the Eighties.
, New York
. At Nottingham Senior High School in Syracuse, he played third singles on the school's tennis team. He graduated from the Johns Hopkins University
in the early 1970s, showcasing his early show biz flair to the fellow members of the Tau Epsilon Phi
fraternity. Altman is a drummer, and a long time fan of Buddy Rich
, whom he once enticed to appear at Hopkins for one of his classes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stand-up
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
who has appeared as a guest on Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
40 times, most recently on October 7, 2011. He has also had numerous acting roles in movies
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
such as Dr. Gene Splicer in Tiny Toon Adventures
Tiny Toon Adventures
Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures, usually referred to as Tiny Toon Adventures or simply Tiny Toons, is an American animated television series created by Tom Ruegger and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. It began production as a result of Warner Bros....
, and is perhaps best known for his recurring role as Hughie Hogg
Hughie Hogg
Played by comedian Jeff Altman, Hughie Hogg is a fictional character on the American television series The Dukes of Hazzard.Hughie was Boss Hogg's equally crooked nephew. Hughie also wore an all-white suit, but unlike Boss Hogg had a slender build...
, the nephew of Jefferson Davis Hogg, on the popular television series The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
.
Altman had a starring role as the host of the short-lived NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
Pink Lady and Jeff in 1980. Later in the decade, he became the in-house comedian of Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
, where his characters included Al Punker, fast-talking proprietor of "Al Punker's Music Barn," the "music vampire Count Downula," and the ex-boxer Leonard Moon, the last of whom would admit that he "don't have the brains of a ice cube" and claim, "I am the Solid Gold music critic. Tonight, my subject is music."
Altman has also directed many sitcoms and in the middle 1980s, he was the spokesman for Arby's
Arby's
Arby's is a fast food restaurant chain in the United States and Canada. Roark Capital Group owns 81.5% of the company, with Wendy's Company owning the other 18.5%. It is primarily known for selling roast beef sandwiches and curly fries. The Arby's menu also includes chicken sandwiches, appetizers,...
restaurants. He also has been the (uncredited) host of the defensive driving
Defensive driving
The standard Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations, ANSI/ASSE Z15.1, defines defensive driving as "driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the conditions around you and the actions of others." This definition is taken from the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course...
course available through Blockbuster Video.
Altman was also on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Nurses
Nurses (TV series)
Nurses is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 1991 to 1994, developed and produced by Susan Harris as a spin-off of Empty Nest .-Synopsis:...
in the first season (1991–1992). He was written out as the show was re-worked for its second season.
A regular feature of his stand-up act included a comical impression of his father. He continued to find his Nixon impression humorous well into the Eighties.
Personal life
Altman was born in SyracuseSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. At Nottingham Senior High School in Syracuse, he played third singles on the school's tennis team. He graduated from the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in the early 1970s, showcasing his early show biz flair to the fellow members of the Tau Epsilon Phi
Tau Epsilon Phi
Tau Epsilon Phi is an American fraternity with 14 active chapters, chiefly located at universities and colleges on the East Coast of the United States...
fraternity. Altman is a drummer, and a long time fan of Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
, whom he once enticed to appear at Hopkins for one of his classes.