John Hostetter (October 6, 1946 – September 2, 2016) was an American actor and visual artist. He played John, the stage manager on the fictional FYI newsmagazine, on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown starring Candice Bergen; he appeared in 65 of the series's 247 episodes from 1988 to 1998.[1][2]

John Hostetter
Born(1946-10-06)October 6, 1946
DiedSeptember 2, 2016(2016-09-02) (aged 69)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • visual artist
Years active1971–2016
SpouseDel Louise Appleby (m. 1981)
Websitewww.johnhostetter.com Edit this at Wikidata

Early life

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Hostetter was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 6, 1946.[1] He was raised in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Eichelberger High School. He attended both Catawba College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte before completing his master's degree in acting at Cornell University.[1] Following college, Hostetter joined the National Shakespeare Company before relocating to California in 1971 to pursue acting.[1] In 1971, he co-starred with Christopher Reeve in a stage production of Samuel Beckett's play, Waiting for Godot.[3]

Career

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He appeared in more than 100 film and television roles throughout his professional career.[3] His televisions credits from the 1970s to 2000s include: Cagney & Lacey, Coach, The Golden Girls, Knight Rider, Matlock, Simon & Simon, NYPD Blue, JAG, Sheena, and T. J. Hooker.[1][3] His films included Into the Night (1985), Heartbreak Ridge (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), No Way Out (1987), Leonard Part 6 (1987), and Star Trek: Insurrection (1998).[1]

In 1985, Hostetter was cast as the voice of Bazooka on the popular animated series, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, which launched his voice acting career.[3] He reprised his role of Bazooka in the spin-off film, G.I. Joe: The Movie, which was released on VHS in 1987.[3] A decade later, Hostetter provided English-language voices for Hayao Miyazaki's anime feature, Princess Mononoke, released in 1997.[3] His voice credits also included video games, including Vampire Hunter D in 1999.[3]

Personal life

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In 2001, Hostetter and his wife, Del, moved to Florida where he worked as a visual artist.

Death

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Hostetter died after a long battle with cancer in Port Orange, Florida, on September 2, 2016, aged 69, a month shy of his 70th birthday.[1] He was cremated and his ashes were sprinkled into the Atlantic Ocean.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 The In-Laws Workman
1980 Heart Beat Poet
1981 Knightriders Tuck
1982 Aladdin and the Magic Lamp The Genie of the Lamp English Version, Voice
1983 The Dragon That Wasn't (Or Was He?) Yost, Mr. Waddle, Ram Shop Owner, Officer Fuzznose English Version, Voice, Uncredited
1984 Katy Caterpillar Ferdinand Q. Frog, Chameleon B, Bee A English Version, Voice
Best Defense Quirk, Dynatechincs
1985 Into the Night Aerospace Engineer
1986 A Winner Never Quits Sergeant TV movie
Castle in the Sky Boss Disney English Version, Voice
Heartbreak Ridge Officer Reese
1987 The Betty Ford Story News Director TV movie
The Stepford Children Mr. Moreland TV movie
G.I. Joe: The Movie Bazooka Voice, Video
Beverly Hills Cop II Stiles
Aria Elvis Impersonator (segment "Rigoletto")
No Way Out C.I.D. Man
Leonard Part 6 Adams
1989 Kiki's Delivery Service Fukuo, Dirigible Captain Disney English Version, Voice
1991 The People Under The Stairs Veteran Cop
1992 Class Act Football Coach
1993 Wilder Napalm Matt, Singing Firemen
1994 Every Breath Man #2
Love Affair Ben
1996 Our Son, the Matchmaker John Adams TV movie
Black Mask Voice
1997 Princess Mononoke English Version, Voice
Twilight of the Dark Master Police Inspector Kumazawa English Version, Voice
1998 Star Trek: Insurrection Bolian Officer
2000 Time Share Sam TV movie
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust Polk Voice
2001 Murder, She Wrote: The Last Free Man Cornelius Ashland TV movie
2002 Kermit's Swamp Years Hugo Krassman Direct-to-Video
2006 The Hawk Is Dying Nebbish Professor (final film role)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 CHiPs Manager Episode: "Silent Partner"
Knight Rider Police Officer Episode: "Trust Doesn't Rust"
1983 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Episode: "Saved by the Bells"
1984 Hotel Department of Justice Agent Episode: "Passages"
Hardcastle and McCormick Police Officer Brimson Episode: "Outlaw Champion"
The New Mike Hammer Jenkins Episode: "Cold Target"
T.J. Hooker Bus Driver Episode: "Grand Theft Auto"
1985 Simon & Simon Police Sgt. Episode: "Enter the Jaguar"
Hill Street Blues Nizer Episode: "In the Belly of the Bus"
The Golden Girls The Policeman Episode: "On Golden Girls"
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Bazooka (voice) 16 episodes
Moonlighting Jim King Episode: "'Twas the Episode Before Christmas"
1986 Remington Steele Minister Episode: "Bonds of Steele"
The Transformers Ramhorn (voice) 4 episodes
Hunter Passenger / Bartender 2 episodes
1984–1987 Family Ties Stage Manager / The Heckler 2 episodes
1983–1987 Dallas Paul Derber 2 episodes
1987 Newhart Mr. Flutterman Episode: "Support Your Local Shifflet"
1988 Frank's Place The Haystackers Episode: "Night Business"
1986–1988 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Johnny/Mr. Harmon 2 episodes
1988 Cagney & Lacey Stan Wodjeski Episode: "Land of the Free"
Falcon Crest Agent Rand Episode: "Tuscany Venus"
1989 Coach Man Episode: "Gambling for Meat"
Quantum Leap Burt Episode: "Double Identity - November 8, 1965"
L.A. Law William Forester Episode: "Captain Hurt"
1987–1990 Matlock Whitehall / Engineer 3 episodes
1990 Equal Justice Bartender Episode: "Cop's Story"
Jake and The Fatman Bruno Episode: "I Know That You Know"
Father Dowling Mysteries Wilson Episode: "The Christmas Mystery"
1991 The Flash Mills Episode: "Be My Baby"
1988–1991 Who's The Boss Satch 2 episodes
1991 Top of the Heap Newscaster Episode: "Stocks and Bondages"
MacGyver Sgt. Rudley 2 episodes
1985–1991 Knots Landing Chief of Detectives / Officer Zellitch 2 episodes
1993 FBI: The Untold Stories Episode: "Dapper Dew"
NYPD Blue Chef Episode: "Brown Appetit"
1994 Tekkaman Blade II Honda (voice) 4 episodes
1997 Suddenly Susan Stage Manager Episode: "The Ways and Means"
Spicy City Jake (voice) 2 episodes
1988–1997 Murphy Brown John 65 episodes
1998 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Episode: "The Wall / The Chalkboard / The Getaway / The Prescription / Summer Camp"
ER The Younger Mr. Newton Episode: "Shades of Gray"
From the Earth to the Moon Ralph Cooper Episode: "We Interrupt This Program"
JAG Mike Brookhurst Episode: "The Martin Baker Fan Club"
1999 Wasteland Professor Episode: "Indian Summer"
Spawn Additional voices 6 episodes
2000 7th Heaven Horserider Episode: "Say A Little Prayer for Me"
Arli$$ Episode: "The Sum of the Parts"
2002 Sheena Col. Quentin Massey Episode: "Maltaka Flies"

Discography

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John Hostetter can be heard on lead vocals and harmonica on a song by Bruno Blum titled "Bruno Blum Bruno Blum Bruno Blum", which was recorded in Los Angeles in August 1996.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Barnes, Mike (September 7, 2016). "John Hostetter, Actor on 'Murphy Brown', Dies at 69". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  2. ^ Brill, Karen (September 8, 2016). "Murphy Brown Actor John Hostetter Dead at 69". Vulture.com. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Pedersen, Erik (September 7, 2016). "John Hostetter Dies: 'Murphy Brown' Alum & Veteran Character Actor Was 69". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 8, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
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