You wouldn’t believe this, but Tim Matheson, the man who made Otter such an iconic character in the 1978 classic Animal House, almost didn’t get the role. “They wouldn’t even let me audition,” Tim, who was known back then for his roles in Bonanza and Three for the Road, tells Closer in an exclusive interview. “They said, ‘He’s too much of a cowboy or surfer type. He doesn’t fit the preppy mold.’”
But Tim wasn’t about to let that stop him. Determined to prove them wrong, he dove headfirst into improv with The Groundlings, a move that eventually led to a last-minute audition. “By the time we were done, the director and producers were in stitches,” recalls Tim, now 77. “It was a low-budget flick, but I knew it had the potential to change everything for me—and it did.”
These days, Tim is lighting up screens as Doc Mullins in Netflix’s Virgin River, which just returned for its sixth season. He’s also sharing his remarkable journey in a memoir titled Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches. In it, he reflects on his storied career and the invaluable lessons he’s picked up along the way. “I was lucky enough to work alongside legends like Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda,” he says. “I wanted to share what they taught me—not just about acting, but about life itself.”
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Why Did You Decide to Write a Memoir Now?
Tim explains, “I realized I was in the perfect position to witness some truly extraordinary people and share the lessons they imparted. Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, Jackie Gleason, Debbie Reynolds—these were icons who came up through vaudeville. They were special, and I didn’t want their wisdom to be lost to time. It’s my responsibility to pass it on.”
How Did Acting Become Your Passion?
Tim shares a deeply personal story about his childhood. “My parents were going through a divorce, and on some level, I blamed myself. It made me angry, especially toward kids who had stable, loving families. But when I discovered acting in sixth grade, everything changed. It gave me an outlet to let go of that anger and just have fun. From that moment on, I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and I was lucky enough to make it happen.”
Early Days with Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda
One of Tim’s earliest big breaks came with Yours, Mine and Ours, starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda. “Lucy was incredibly supportive, generous, and helpful,” he recalls. “She was tough but fair. She wasn’t just teaching me how to do comedy; she was showing me how to prepare for a scene. She also taught me that this is a tough business, and you can’t let it get to you emotionally.”
Henry Fonda: A True Hollywood Legend
When it came to Henry Fonda, Tim says, “He was one of the greatest actors Hollywood has ever seen. His approach was simple and honest. He found the essence of his characters within himself and let that shine through naturally. It’s something I’ve seen in other greats, like Clint Eastwood. The key is to make the characters real without overacting.”
Transitioning from Child Actor to Adult Star
Tim acknowledges the challenges of growing up in Hollywood. “I was fortunate because I wasn’t really a child star. When you are, your career often ends once you outgrow that phase. You have to start all over again, like Jay North did with Dennis the Menace. For me, it was about constantly adapting and learning new skills. At 15, I got into voice acting, and from 19 to 25, I was playing cowboy roles. It was all about staying relevant.”
Did You Know Animal House Would Be a Classic?
Tim admits, “Not at all. This was John Belushi’s first movie, and the script was so daring. We pushed boundaries with themes like sexism, racism, and misogyny, crossing those lines intentionally to highlight the prejudices of our time. Looking back, it was groundbreaking.”
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John Belushi: The Heart of Animal House
“John Belushi was the heart and soul of the project,” Tim says. “He was incredibly open, supportive, and anything but a diva. He grounded everything. The director, John Landis, wanted strong actors around Belushi because he believed that would elevate the comedy. And he was absolutely right.”
Favorite Co-stars Through the Years
Tim has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, and he’s quick to name a few favorites. “Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks in To Be or Not to Be—that was a dream project. Anne was one of the greatest actresses of all time, and Mel is a legend. Jennifer Jason Lee in Buried Alive and Cynthia Nixon in Killing Reagan were also incredible experiences. I’ve been so lucky to work with such talented people.”
