- Born
- Birth nameSteven Robert Guttenberg
- Height5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- Steve Guttenberg was born on August 24, 1958 to Ann Newman and Stanley Guttenberg in Boropark, Brooklyn.The family moved from Brooklyn, to Queens, and then to N. Massapequa, where Steve graduated Plainedge High School in 1976. He studied acting both on Long Island and in N.Y.City, moving to L.A. to pursue a film career. His work has ranged from broad comedy to suspense and drama, including number one box office hits and The AFI's chosen 100. Guttenberg made his acting debut in The Boys From Brazil with Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck. From that recognition, he attracted a variety of leading roles including the film classic Diner(1983), which was chosen by Vanity Fair as the Best Film of the Last Thirty Years, and the broad comedy, Police Academy(1984) which continues to be one of the highest earning film franchises ever. in 1985 Guttenberg's fame increased with Cocoon, a life affirming film of the highest order. The science fiction genre continued with Short Circuit(1986), John Badham's ground breaking artificial intelligence film. Steve worked opposite Isabelle Hupert in Curtis Hansen's Bedroom Window(1986), the heralded Hitchcockian thriller, In 1987, Disney released Three Men and a Baby, Leonard Nimoys popular movie about bachelors raising a child. The film went on to announce itself as the number one grossing film of the year ,and provided a successful sequel. On the legitimate stage, Guttenberg appeared in The Boys Next Door(1993) in London's West End, Prelude to a Kiss (1995) on Broadway, and Furthest From The Sun (2000) at the june Lune Theatre in Minneapolis animist recently playing Henry Percy in (20150 The Hudson Warehouse Theatre's production of Henry IV. He has produced an Emmy nominated television special, Gangs, performed in the original Miracle On Ice, and also ABC's The Day After, still one of the most watched television events of this century. Steve has written The Guttenberg Bible, a comedic account of his first ten years in the film industry, and The Kids from DISCO, a superhero children's book relating a story about his nieces and nephews. He guested on Veronica Mars, Party Down, Community and Law and Order,(as every N.Y. actor should). Guttenberg has the record for most original films to go to franchises in film history, and appearing in the most films in The Screen Actors Guild from 1980-1990 tying Gene Hackman. He received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and continues to learn and study his beloved craft. In 2016 Emily Smith and he became happily engaged.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- SpousesEmily Smith(January 19, 2019 - present)Denise Bixler(September 30, 1988 - 1992) (divorced)
- Parents
- Loud, jolly voice
- Often plays a single father
- Turned down the role of Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters (1984) in favor of playing Carey Mahoney in: Police Academy (1984), Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) and Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987).
- Turned down the role of Josh Baskin in Big (1988), which eventually went to Tom Hanks.
- Started the Guttenhouse Project, which provides housing in south Los Angeles for at-risk foster care youth when they turn 18 and have nowhere else to go. Has also organized a campaign to provides glasses for poor children whose families cannot afford eye care.
- Spent a week volunteering at the Houston Astrodome after Hurricane Katrina hit.
- Turned down the lead in Sharknado (2013), which he regretted upon seeing how the movie had become a cult hit. He later accepted a role in Syfy's Lavalantula (2015) and appeared in the Sharknado installment Sharknado 4: The Fourth Awakens (2016).
- [addressing the rumours of a Police Academy/Mahoney spin-off film] Definitely. It's coming. People will look down at the idea, but they're in the same business of making money too. The Police Academy (1984) films gave me so much opportunity, and I've got nothing but a good attitude towards them. I sure hope they do it. If the script's right - I'm definitely in. You never know, I may direct.
- I just want to do good stories. That's the trap. When people say, "Oh, I don't want to do this again" -- well, if they're good at it, why not do it? I don't care about switching from comedy to drama -- I just like to be able to jump from work to work. I just like to be doing good work -- that's all I want to do. I just want to work.
- [on Charles Bubba Smith's death] Bubba was my friend. His generosity was much larger than his physical stature. Only his gift for caring about his friends and family could compare with his achievements on the football field, film and television. He also laughed like no other.
- If you're an underdog, mentally disabled, physically disabled, if you don't fit in, if you're not as pretty as the others, you can still be a hero.
- [1985] If there's a role for a spear carrier, and it's in a good film, I'll do it. I'd rather have two lines in a good movie than the lead in a piece of doody.
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