Tim Matheson in person with a screening of Animal House

When two-time Emmy Award-nominated actor Tim Matheson starred in National Lampoon’s Animal House fraternity comedy as the smooth-talking lady’s-man, and gynecologist-in-training, none of its young actors were stars yet - among them Kevin Bacon, Peter Riegert, Tom Hulce, Karen Allen - except for 28-year-old John Belushi of SNL fame, and even he had not yet appeared in a feature film. But Tim Matheson was already a seasoned actor, having acted since age 13 in golden-age TV and movies. Otherwise only Donald Sutherland, playing a professor, was a major star. Directed by John Landis (The Blues Brothers) and inspired by its writers' and producers' true college fraternity experiences, the $3 million low-budget comedy, which launched the rebellious “gross-out” film genre, opened to mostly mixed reviews with the exception of Time and Roger Ebert. It went on to become the highest grossing comedy film of its era - and today has entered the annals of movie fame as one of the best comedies of all time.

Tim Matheson - also a director and producer for episodes in such hit series as Psych, Suits and White Collar - continues to be celebrated as a prodigious actor with two Prime Time Emmy Award nominations for his recurring role as Vice President John Hoynes in the hit TV series The West Wing. He has also co-starred in films from Magnum Force, Fletch and opposite Ryan Reynolds in Van Wilder to Steve Spielberg’s 1941; in 53 episodes of the recent hit series, Virgin River, and gave an uncanny performance as Ronald Reagan opposite Cynthia Nixon in the 2016 TV movie, Killing Reagan. Now Tim Matheson has penned his fascinating new memoir: Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches. (More Below)

Film: Animal House

When socially inept freshmen Larry Kroger (Tom Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen First) arrive at college, they struggle to find a fraternity that will accept them. Summarily rejected by the snotty Omega Theta Pi House, they wind up pledging to the notoriously rowdy Delta Tau Chi. Renamed “Flounder” and “Pinto,” there they find their frat brothers, among them Robert “Bluto” Blutarsky (John Belushi) and charming ladykiller Eric  “Otter” Stratton (Tim Matheson). The trouble is, the college's Dean Vernon Wormer (John Vernon) is determined to revoke the fraternity’s charter, enlisting the conformist Omegas to do the job. Ultimately expelled for their truly outrageous antics, the Deltas wreak havoc on the annual Homecoming parade. (Dir. John Landis, 1978, 109 min). 

Book: Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches

For the past seven decades, Tim Matheson has been an on-screen favorite in Hollywood. Now, in his richly illustrated debut memoir, Tim takes fans behind-the-scenes of his illustrious career, and reveals what it was like to learn from and work alongside the greats, including Lucille Ball, Dick Van Dyke, John Belushi, Steven Spielberg, Aaron Sorkin and more. Tim also talks about how he transitioned from acting to directing, the role in The West Wing that nabbed him two Emmy nominations–and so much more. Filled to the brim with both riveting stories of the ever-changing entertainment industry and illuminating insight via “film school boot camp” sidebars, readers everywhere are going to be “damn glad” they read this marvelous memoir.  

Tickets: $52 Public | $42 Members

Tickets include the film screening, a copy of his new memoir Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches, interview with Q&A, and gala book signing reception with live musical entertainment

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