Thanks, Matt Frewer!

I've waited too long to express my appreciation for a number of people.  Adam West and Carrie Fisher as two examples.  We lost them before I got around to letting them know I respected and appreciated them. I don't want that to happen again, so today I'd like to talk about the amazing and talented Matt Frewer.

Matt Frewer is an American-Canadian actor whose work I've very much appreciated.  Whether it was a bit part he played in Monty Python's short film The Crimson Permanent Assurance back in 1983, his voice-over work in a number of movies, or Max Headroom (the role he's perhaps best known for), I've always enjoyed seeing him work.  His work always seems dead-on and effortless.

Probably the best testament to Frewer's abilities is the fact that he's been a part of many popular films and television shows over the last 30 years.  You'll find him (or his distinctive voice) in The Fourth Protocol, the sitcom "Doctor, Doctor" (which I really loved), Star Trek: The Next Generation (as a time-traveling con-man), Batman: The Animated Series, Disney's Hercules movie, and more recently the BBC sci-fi series Orphan Black.  He even played Sherlock Holmes at one point.

I've never been fortunate enough to meet Mr. Frewer in person.  I hope that someday I do.  I could be very wrong, but I think we would get along well.  He seems like a very intelligent, down-to-earth guy with a great sense of humor and a touch of humility.  Even at the height of his popularity as Max Headroom (one of the icons of the 1980's for those too young to have been there), he never seemed to be taking himself, his popularity, or the role too seriously.  

The work of Mr. Frewer's that I'm perhaps most impressed with is his role as television reporter Edison Carter in the science-fiction series Max Headroom: 20 Minutes Into the Future in which he plays two versions of the same man.  One is Edison Carter, the tenacious and popular television news reporter. The other is Max Headroom, a computer-generated, virtual version of Carter who lives inside the Network 23 television network's computer system (and can appear on any television in the world).  Max was the comic relief to Edison Carter's often deadly-serious reporter.  At the same time, Frewer was able to portray Carter is an affable, caring, insightful guy with a good sense of humor.  It took no imagination to recognize Frewer's dual roles (Max and Carter) as two distinct personalities with a shared past.  (As Max himself once called it during an episode, "Two minds, but with one single memory.")

Thank you, Matt, for all of the great work you've done.  I still enjoy watching and re-watching the work you've done, and suspect I always will.  I will often watch movies and television shows that aren't "my thing" just because I see your name in the credits.  I wish you a very long life, continued success in your career, lots of happiness, and nothing but the best.  I look forward to seeing you in your next role.