Walt Flanagan
Encyclopedia
Walter Flanagan is an American actor, podcaster, songwriter, comic book artist and comic book store proprietor. Flanagan is a long-time friend of Kevin Smith
, and (according to Smith's book Silent Bob Speaks
) it was Flanagan who had turned Smith back onto comic books.
Flanagan is also co-host of the "Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!
" podcast with longtime friends Bryan Johnson
and Brian Quinn.
Flanagan is an honorary Australian.
s published by IDW
and written by Bryan Johnson
, as well as two for DC Comics:
Also, in Mallrats
, Jay makes the comment "Damn, that bastard's faster than Walt Flanagan's dog." This comment is expanded upon in the comic book prequel to Mallrats starring Jay and Silent Bob
, where they get Walt's dog high. When provoked, Krypto (the dog) hops the fence, and chases the stoner duo across Leonardo township (passing the YMCA where Julie Dwyer has just met her untimely demise).
According to the Mallrats commentary, Smith cites Flanagan as being the influence for the Brodie character, down to the Dixie Cup full of soda that the character carries with him everywhere as well as the October birth date. Walt also originated the character of Olaf, seen in Clerks as Silent Bob's cousin from Russia.
He was also referenced by name in issue #3 of the Green Arrow
story "Quiver", which Kevin Smith wrote.
, in Red Bank, New Jersey
. He and Johnson (who managed Smith's second store West Coast Stash located in L.A. until November 2007) also can be seen manning the "View Askew" booth at various comic conventions around the country.
Flanagan is also an avid feminist, repeatedly stating that no man should ever be trusted.
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
, and (according to Smith's book Silent Bob Speaks
Silent Bob Speaks
Silent Bob Speaks: The Collected Writings of Kevin Smith is a collection of essays written by screenwriter, director, and comic book author Kevin Smith. The collection comes from sources including Arena Magazine, Details, New Jersey Monthly, and Film Comment...
) it was Flanagan who had turned Smith back onto comic books.
Flanagan is also co-host of the "Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!
Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!
Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! is a weekly podcast that is released Fridays on the SModcast Podcast Network. It is hosted by View Askew Productions regulars and close friends of Kevin Smith, "Steve-Dave" Bryan Johnson, "Fanboy" Walt Flanagan, as well as the "dubious tech guy" Brian Quinn...
" podcast with longtime friends Bryan Johnson
Bryan Johnson (filmmaker)
Bryan Lee Johnson is a writer, actor, podcaster and director associated with Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse. He is best known by his local fame in New Jersey and appearances in Smith's New Jersey films as comic book fan Steve-Dave Pulasti. Because of his friendship with Smith, he was often...
and Brian Quinn.
Flanagan is an honorary Australian.
Filmography
- ClerksClerksClerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
(19941994 in film1994 was a significant year in film.The top grosser worldwide was The Lion King, which to date stands as the highest-grossing traditionally-animated film of all time...
): In Smith's debut movie, Flanagan was credited with four different roles (which made Kevin Smith, on the Clerks laserdisc commentary, refer to Flanagan as "The Lon Chaney, Sr.Lon Chaney, Sr.Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
of the [19]90's"). Among these were the egg-obsessed guidance counselor, the cigarette protester who bought the cigarettes immediately after the protest, the customer offended by the lewd "jizz mopper" discussion, and the customer to whom Randal said the resident cat's name was "Annoying Customer." He also designed the clown animation that made up the View Askew logo, and appeared in the Soul AsylumSoul AsylumSoul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
video for "Can't Even Tell", directed by Kevin Smith.
- MallratsMallratsMallrats is a 1995 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the second to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse series of interlocking films set mostly in New Jersey, although the movie was filmed in Eden Prairie Center and Osowski's Flea Market which are located in Minnesota...
(19951995 in film-Top grossing films:-Events:* March 22 - The Dogme 95 movement is officially announced in Paris by Danish directors Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg.* March 28 - Actress Julia Roberts and singer Lyle Lovett announce their plans for separation....
): Flanagan played perhaps his most well-known and most recurring role of Walt Grover the Fanboy. Fanboy is known for accompanying his friend Steve-Dave (Bryan JohnsonBryan Johnson (filmmaker)Bryan Lee Johnson is a writer, actor, podcaster and director associated with Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse. He is best known by his local fame in New Jersey and appearances in Smith's New Jersey films as comic book fan Steve-Dave Pulasti. Because of his friendship with Smith, he was often...
) at all times and stoogishly agreeing with everything he has to say with his trademark phrase "Tell 'em, Steve-Dave!" He also appears in an uncredited role as one of Mr. Svenning's (Michael RookerMichael RookerMichael Rooker is an American actor.-Early life:Rooker, who has eight brothers and sisters, was born in Jasper, Alabama and studied at the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, where he moved with his mother and siblings at the age of thirteen, after his parents divorced.-Movie career:He made his...
) assistants who places a podium in the wrong place on a stage. He was also given a credit for being a set production assistant on Mallrats. Also, when Jay and Silent Bob are running away from the mall-cop LaFours, they meet up with Brodie and T.S. who are in the food court and succeed in evading LaFours by ducking under their table. When Jay gets up, he laments: "Damn, that bastard's faster than Walt Flanagan's dog!" When Brodie and T.S. are at the swap meet and Brodie says, "People know me here. See," "Hey Walt!", "Brodie!".
- Chasing AmyChasing AmyChasing Amy is a 1997 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith. The central tension revolves around sexuality, sexual history, and evolving friendships. It is the third film in Smith's View Askewniverse series....
(19971997 in film-Events:* The original Star Wars trilogy's Special Editions are released.* Production begins on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.* Titanic becomes the first film to gross US$1,000,000,000 at the box office making it the highest grossing film in history until Avatar broke the record in 2010.*...
): Flanagan did not appear in the theatrical cut, but was in a deleted scene (again as Walt Grover the Fanboy) alongside Johnson's Steve-Dave. Despite this, his dog is yet again mentioned in one of the "Bluntman and Chronic" pages during the opening. In another deleted scene Banky (Jason Lee), and Holden (Ben Affleck) toss a trash can through the window of Steve-Dave's comic store, the check attached is for 3 times the cost of replacing the window. This was all for Steve-Dave and Walt The Fan Boy bashing Bluntman and Chronic.
- DogmaDogma (film)Dogma is a 1999 American adventure fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo,...
(19991999 in filmThe year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
): Flanagan appeared as Fanboy alongside Steve-Dave protesting the abortion clinic where Bethany works.
- VulgarVulgar (film)Vulgar is a 2000 film, produced by View Askew Productions and featuring a few actors from the View Askewniverse of Kevin Smith. The film is the tale of the mascot, featured in Clerks opening.-Plot:...
(20002000 in filmThe year 2000 in film involved some significant events.The top grosser worldwide was Mission: Impossible II. Domestically in North America, Gladiator won the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor ....
): He appeared in Bryan JohnsonBryan Johnson (filmmaker)Bryan Lee Johnson is a writer, actor, podcaster and director associated with Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse. He is best known by his local fame in New Jersey and appearances in Smith's New Jersey films as comic book fan Steve-Dave Pulasti. Because of his friendship with Smith, he was often...
's film VulgarVulgar (film)Vulgar is a 2000 film, produced by View Askew Productions and featuring a few actors from the View Askewniverse of Kevin Smith. The film is the tale of the mascot, featured in Clerks opening.-Plot:...
as a Caddy.
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 American action adventure comedy film written, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith as Silent Bob, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
(20012001 in filmThe year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...
): Fanboy and Steve-Dave appeared as two of the audience members who walk out and bash the Bluntman and ChronicBluntman and ChronicBluntman and Chronic are characters appearing in an fictional eponymous comic book series seen in the movies Chasing Amy and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Actual Bluntman and Chronic comic books based on the fictional movie comic book series were published after the release of Jay and Silent Bob...
movie.
- Clerks: The Animated SeriesClerks: The Animated SeriesClerks is an American animated sitcom based on Kevin Smith's 1994 comedy of the same name. It was developed for television by Smith, Smith's producing partner Scott Mosier and former Seinfeld writer David Mandel with character designs by Stephen Silver.-Cast:- Broadcast history :Only two episodes...
: Flanagan also made an appearance as Fanboy alongside Steve-Dave (played by Bryan Johnson) in three episodes of the Clerks cartoon, none of which were aired during the series original run.
- Clerks IIClerks IIClerks II is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, sequel to his 1994 film Clerks, and his sixth and latest feature film to be set in the View Askewniverse...
(20062006 in film- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2006...
): Flanagan appears as a customer, reprising one of his roles from Clerks.
- Down in the Boondocks (20082008 in filmThis is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
): Flanagan appears briefly in this short filmed by Miles Trahan.
Comic books
He has provided the art for two comic bookComic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s published by IDW
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
and written by Bryan Johnson
Bryan Johnson (filmmaker)
Bryan Lee Johnson is a writer, actor, podcaster and director associated with Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse. He is best known by his local fame in New Jersey and appearances in Smith's New Jersey films as comic book fan Steve-Dave Pulasti. Because of his friendship with Smith, he was often...
, as well as two for DC Comics:
- KarneyKarneyKarney is a horror comic book mini-series, written by Bryan Johnson, illustrated by Walt Flanagan and published by IDW Publishing in 2005.- Plot :...
(20052005 in comics- January :* January 3: Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, dies at age 87.-April:*April 13:**DC Comics announces the discontinuation of its Humanoids and 2000 A.D. titles....
) - War of the Undead (20072007 in comics-January:*January 10: Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator released.*January 24: The Boys is canceled with issue #6.-February:*February 2: Newsarama reports that The Boys has been picked up by Dynamite Entertainment....
) - Batman: CacophonyBatman: CacophonyBatman: Cacophony is the title of a three-issue comic book limited series starring Batman. The series was written by Kevin Smith with art by Walt Flanagan, and ran from November 2008 through March 2009 due to delays with issue three.-History:...
limited series, written by Kevin SmithKevin SmithKevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
. - Batman: The Widening GyreBatman: The Widening GyreBatman: The Widening Gyre is the title of a 12-issue comic book limited series starring Batman. The series is being written by Kevin Smith and illustrated by Walt Flanagan. The first six issues were released August 2009 through July 2010; it is unknown when the remaining issues will be published...
First 6 parts of a twelve part series, with writer/friend Kevin SmithKevin SmithKevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
.
Awards & Recognition
- Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! is a weekly podcast that is released Fridays on the SModcast Podcast Network. It is hosted by View Askew Productions regulars and close friends of Kevin Smith, "Steve-Dave" Bryan Johnson, "Fanboy" Walt Flanagan, as well as the "dubious tech guy" Brian Quinn...
- iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
Top 25 Podcasts of 2010 - Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! is a weekly podcast that is released Fridays on the SModcast Podcast Network. It is hosted by View Askew Productions regulars and close friends of Kevin Smith, "Steve-Dave" Bryan Johnson, "Fanboy" Walt Flanagan, as well as the "dubious tech guy" Brian Quinn...
- Winner 2010 Podcast AwardsPodcast AwardsThe People's Choice Podcast Awards, better known as the Podcast Awards, are an annual set of awards given to the best podcasts as voted by the people...
- Category: People's Choice - Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!Tell 'Em Steve-Dave!Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! is a weekly podcast that is released Fridays on the SModcast Podcast Network. It is hosted by View Askew Productions regulars and close friends of Kevin Smith, "Steve-Dave" Bryan Johnson, "Fanboy" Walt Flanagan, as well as the "dubious tech guy" Brian Quinn...
- Winner 2010 Podcast AwardsPodcast AwardsThe People's Choice Podcast Awards, better known as the Podcast Awards, are an annual set of awards given to the best podcasts as voted by the people...
- Category: Comedy
Cultural references
Walt Flanagan has also been the subject of a few inside jokes in the Askewniverse movies. In Clerks and Mallrats, respectively, both Randal and Brodie tell bizarre stories of their cousin Walter. Seeing as Randal and Brodie are supposed to be cousins themselves according to Smith, one would only assume that they are speaking of the same cousin Walter.Also, in Mallrats
Mallrats
Mallrats is a 1995 film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It is the second to be set in Smith's View Askewniverse series of interlocking films set mostly in New Jersey, although the movie was filmed in Eden Prairie Center and Osowski's Flea Market which are located in Minnesota...
, Jay makes the comment "Damn, that bastard's faster than Walt Flanagan's dog." This comment is expanded upon in the comic book prequel to Mallrats starring Jay and Silent Bob
Jay and Silent Bob
Jay and Silent Bob are fictional characters portrayed by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith, respectively, in Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse, a fictional universe created and used in most films, comics and television by Smith, which began in Clerks....
, where they get Walt's dog high. When provoked, Krypto (the dog) hops the fence, and chases the stoner duo across Leonardo township (passing the YMCA where Julie Dwyer has just met her untimely demise).
According to the Mallrats commentary, Smith cites Flanagan as being the influence for the Brodie character, down to the Dixie Cup full of soda that the character carries with him everywhere as well as the October birth date. Walt also originated the character of Olaf, seen in Clerks as Silent Bob's cousin from Russia.
He was also referenced by name in issue #3 of the Green Arrow
Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in November 1941. His secret identity is Oliver Queen, billionaire and former mayor of fictional Star City...
story "Quiver", which Kevin Smith wrote.
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash
Flanagan currently manages Kevin Smith's comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob's Secret StashJay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash is a comic and novelty store owned by filmmaker Kevin Smith. Merchandise includes comic books, comic-related merchandise, and View Askew film-related items . Currently, the store can be found at 35 Broad Street in Red Bank, New Jersey...
, in Red Bank, New Jersey
Red Bank, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,844 people, 5,201 households, and 2,501 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,639.1 people per square mile . There were 5,450 housing units at an average density of 3,055.0 per square mile...
. He and Johnson (who managed Smith's second store West Coast Stash located in L.A. until November 2007) also can be seen manning the "View Askew" booth at various comic conventions around the country.
Personal life
He is married to Debra Flanagan and has two daughters.Flanagan is also an avid feminist, repeatedly stating that no man should ever be trusted.