Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Miles Archer

(18,837 posts)
Sat Jun 17, 2017, 10:26 PM Jun 2017

R.I.P. Stephen "Flounder from Animal House" Furst, 63

(CNN)Stephen Furst, the actor who played the hapless, beanie-wearing frat boy Flounder in the 1978 movie "Animal House," has died at age 63, his son, Nathan Furst, told CNN on Saturday.

"It was from complications from diabetes," Nathan Furst said. "Over the last several years it was getting worse a little bit. Sort of the typical things that tend to happen when you have diabetes a long time."

Furst appeared on TV in "St. Elsewhere" and "Babylon 5," but he was best remembered for his role as the innocent freshman Kent Dorfman in "National Lampoon's Animal House," which ushered in a brand of raunchy comedy.

His character was rejected by other fraternities at the fictional Faber College but got into the hard-partying, rule-breaking frat nicknamed Animal House. Bluto -- the house wild man played by John Belushi in his own breakout role -- gave Dorfman the nickname Flounder. A series of mishaps and humiliations followed.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/17/entertainment/stephen-furst-obit/index.html

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
R.I.P. Stephen "Flounder from Animal House" Furst, 63 (Original Post) Miles Archer Jun 2017 OP
Loved him as Vir Cotto. Eugene Jun 2017 #1
Likewise. Hong Kong Cavalier Jun 2017 #7
A wonderful character - well played ThoughtCriminal Jun 2017 #13
"A series of mishaps and humiliations followed." paleotn Jun 2017 #2
Later in life he slung beer under the stage name.. denbot Jun 2017 #16
According to BHDem53 Jun 2017 #19
He went on to become Philadelphia's District Attorney discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2017 #22
Wow. I am getting old. That was a movie from my salad days! RIP Mr. Durst. nt tblue37 Jun 2017 #3
What's that on chest your mister? hibbing Jun 2017 #4
"You guys playin' cards?" n/t DefenseLawyer Jun 2017 #5
RIP Vir 47of74 Jun 2017 #6
"Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son..." ADX Jun 2017 #8
This clip never gets old. Dulcinea Jun 2017 #20
"I can't believe I threw up on Dean Wormer's desk!" Initech Jun 2017 #27
Rest in peace shenmue Jun 2017 #9
"Can I have 10,000 marbles please?" Initech Jun 2017 #10
That's his real life wife he's asking. Kaleva Jun 2017 #12
No shit! Initech Jun 2017 #17
I won tickets to see Animal House from a Los Angeles radio station... GReedDiamond Jun 2017 #11
I remember watching Blues Brothers In Ludington MI when it came out elmac Jun 2017 #15
Oh, man such an underrated actor. He was brilliant especially as Vir Catmusicfan Jun 2017 #14
People told me that "Animal House" was a really funny comedy. FuzzyRabbit Jun 2017 #18
Same here. I went to a small liberal arts college in KY yellowdogintexas Jun 2017 #29
Saw him in St. Elsewhere Doug the Dem Jun 2017 #21
RIP Stephen discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2017 #23
May he rest in peace Gothmog Jun 2017 #24
I love his "this is gonna be great" line in Animal House..... a kennedy Jun 2017 #25
VCU grad underpants Jun 2017 #26
brilliant... Blue_Tires Jun 2017 #28

Hong Kong Cavalier

(4,572 posts)
7. Likewise.
Sat Jun 17, 2017, 11:17 PM
Jun 2017

He was a bright star on that show. Then again, the writing was pretty decent and a lot of the characters had some magnificent lines.

What's really depressing is watching an episode and realizing that half of the cast has passed on.

paleotn

(17,881 posts)
2. "A series of mishaps and humiliations followed."
Sat Jun 17, 2017, 10:52 PM
Jun 2017

Well, that's one way of putting it.

Rest in peace, Flounder. What I still want to know is what in the hell ever happened to D-Day?

Initech

(100,038 posts)
27. "I can't believe I threw up on Dean Wormer's desk!"
Sun Jun 18, 2017, 12:41 PM
Jun 2017

"Face it, Kent, you threw up *ON* Dean Wormer!"

Initech

(100,038 posts)
17. No shit!
Sun Jun 18, 2017, 12:42 AM
Jun 2017

Wow, you learn something new every day. I've seen that movie a hundred times and I didn't know that.

GReedDiamond

(5,310 posts)
11. I won tickets to see Animal House from a Los Angeles radio station...
Sat Jun 17, 2017, 11:31 PM
Jun 2017

...when it was first released.

Great, hilarious movie. I still watch it when I see it on the satellite. That, and the Blues Brothers - always watch the both of em whenever I happen to see them on.

RIP Stephen, thanks for the laughs!

 

elmac

(4,642 posts)
15. I remember watching Blues Brothers In Ludington MI when it came out
Sun Jun 18, 2017, 12:09 AM
Jun 2017

was on a double date, those were the days!

FuzzyRabbit

(1,967 posts)
18. People told me that "Animal House" was a really funny comedy.
Sun Jun 18, 2017, 12:48 AM
Jun 2017

Last edited Sun Jun 18, 2017, 01:51 AM - Edit history (1)

Well, I went to college at a small university, similar to Faber, starting in 1964. To me "Animal House" was more than a terrific comedy, it was also a documentary. Except for the Deathmobile, we did all those things, and more. The FBI was even called in to investigate a prank one time. Nowadays we would all be arrested.

RIP Stephen, and thanks for the laughs.

yellowdogintexas

(22,231 posts)
29. Same here. I went to a small liberal arts college in KY
Tue Jun 20, 2017, 12:56 PM
Jun 2017

We went to see it with a friend who had graduated from Oberlin. We were sitting there pointing out who we remembered from school that most matched the characters. Our friend was flabbergasted that we could actually do that. Oberlin would never have that sort of shenanigans

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»R.I.P. Stephen "Flounder ...