David Athen Mendenhall (born June 13, 1971) is an American actor.[2] He is best known for his roles in the films Space Raiders, Over the Top,[3] The Transformers: The Movie and They Still Call Me Bruce.[4]

David Mendenhall
Born
David Athen Mendenhall[1]

(1971-06-13) June 13, 1971 (age 53)
Alma materCalifornia State University, San Bernardino
University of Southern California
Southwestern Law School
OccupationActor
Years active1980–present

Early life and acting career

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Mendenhall was born in Oceanside, California. He has a younger sister, Marissa. Mendenhall began his acting career at the age of four. In 1979, he auditioned for and won the role of Mike Webber on the soap opera General Hospital. He remained with the series until 1986. During that time, Mendenhall started acting in feature films. Mendenhall made his film debut in the 1983 space Western, Space Raiders, produced by Roger Corman. Notable television appearances during the 80s also included playing Elaine Nardo's son on Taxi on three episodes, and playing a 12-year-old drug dealer in “The Reporter”, a very special episode of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. The episode featured a guest appearance by then-First Lady Nancy Reagan.

At age 15, Mendenhall portrayed Sylvester Stallone’s son in the 1987 sport drama Over the Top, about a long haul truck driver who tries to win back his alienated son while becoming a champion arm wrestler. That same year, he appeared in the comedy Going Bananas with Dom DeLuise and Jimmie Walker. In 1989, Mendenhall worked on The Secret of the Ice Cave with Sally Kellerman, which was shot in Chile. All three movies were produced by Cannon Films. In 1989, Mendenhall starred opposite Christina Applegate in the drama Streets, once again working with Roger Corman, who produced. On television, Mendenhall had a recurring role for two seasons on the NBC drama Our House, starring Wilford Brimley.

Education and later work

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In 1994, Mendenhall enrolled in the theater arts program at California State University, San Bernardino.[citation needed] In 1996, he transferred to the University of Southern California and graduated magna cum laude in 1998 with a bachelor's degree.[citation needed] Later that year, Mendenhall attended Southwestern Law School, graduating in 2001.[citation needed]

Mendenhall has since worked at the legal departments of several entertainment companies, including NBCUniversal Television Group, and Buena Vista Home Entertainment.[citation needed] From 2007-08, he was the clearance coordinator for the NBC television program Deal or No Deal.[citation needed] Afterwards he worked in the prize department on GSN Live for the Game Show Network, and later as a prize producer for shows on NBC and Fox.[citation needed]

In 2012, he returned to acting with a brief role in Bobcat Goldthwait's God Bless America.[citation needed]

Awards

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Selected filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Last Song Bobby Pierce TV movie
1981 The Magic of David Copperfield IV: The Vanishing Airplane Young David Copperfield TV movie
1982 Puff and the Incredible Mr. Nobody Terry voice
The Smurfs Christmas Special William voice
Taxi Jason
1983 Space Raiders Peter
1979–1986 General Hospital Mike Webber
1983 Goodnight, Beantown Alex
Diff'rent Strokes Sidney
1984 Saturday Supercade Joey (Kangaroo segment)
Cabbage Patch Kids: First Christmas Cannon voice
1985 The Twilight Zone Richard "Dickie" Jordan Jr. "Examination Day"
Rainbow Brite Krys voice
Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer Krys voice
Galtar and the Golden Lance Zorn voice
The Berenstain Bears Brother Bear voice
G.I. Joe Fairmont Boy voice
CBS Storybreak Henry Green Chocolate Fever
It's Punky Brewster! Additional Voices voice
Night on the Galactic Railroad Giovanni 1986 dub
1986 Witchfire Hunter's Son
The Transformers: The Movie Daniel Witwicky voice
The Transformers season 3 and 4 Daniel Witwicky voice
Potato Head Kids Big Chip voice
The Centurions Randy Chang voice
Our House J.R. Dutton
1987 Over the Top Michael Hawk
Going Bananas Ben
They Still Call Me Bruce Billy White
Pound Puppies Oran Snow Puppies
1988 Family Medical Center Guest Star unknown episodes
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Additional Voices voice
The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Additional Voices The Creation
1989 The Secret of the Ice Cave Alex Ostrow
1990 Streets Sy
1997 Roseanne Clerk uncredited
2008 My Own Worst Enemy Paul Wallace
2009 The Forgotten Newsstand Clerk
2011 God Bless America Roxy's Father
A Gifted Man Peter Glenn
2014 A Help From Above Kerr

References

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  1. ^ "David Athen Mendenhall Profile". Martindale.com.
  2. ^ New York Times
  3. ^ New York Times
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times
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