Where Are They Now?
Hart Bochner (Director)
As a director, Bochner's single other experience was the 1996 Jon Lovitz comedy High School High. However, Bochner seems to always be solidly on the acting track (probably best known for his portrayal of "Ellis", the sleazebag, in Die Hard). Since directing PCU, Hart Bochner has had a few significant roles in Bulworth and Urban Legends: Final Cut.
Adam Leff and Zak Penn (Writers)
Both Penn and Leff graduated from Wesleyan University in 1990 (the college that PCU is loosely based off of), and both worked on the story to Last Action Hero in 1993. Adam Leff was one of the writers for 1996's Bio-Dome (as well as an Executive Producer title), and currently writes the "Intelligencer" column in Vanity Fair magazine. Zak Penn has since spread his interests around, writing (X2: X-Men United, Inspector Gadget), acting (Osmosis Jones), producing (Osmosis Jones), and directing (2004's John Doe). Zak Penn was kind enough to contact me and send me the original script to PCU, for which I am forever in his debt.
Jeremy Piven (Droz)
Since 1994, Piven has remained one of the best-kept comedic forces on both the big and small screens, popping up constantly yet never quite getting his due. Best friends with fellow actor John Cusack, Jeremy Piven has had roles in several Cusack films, including 1989's Say Anything..., 1997's Grosse Pointe Blank, and 2003's Runaway Jury. Other semi-famous movies he's acted in during the last decade have included Heat (1995), Kiss The Girls (1997), the unfortunately HORRIBLE Very Bad Things (1998, in which he re-teamed with PCU castmate Jon Favreau), and Black Hawk Down (2001). Piven also enjoyed a strong TV presence, with a four-year role on "Ellen" and his own (cancelled) series "Cupid" in 1998. Returning to his PCU roots, Piven took the other side of the college fence by starring as the prudish Dean in 2003's Old School. Jeremy Piven is set to star alongside of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards in Scary Movie 3.
Chris Young (Tom)
Since his PCU experience, Chris Young mainly relied on TV projects to further his career, including guest starring on "Ellen" and "Friends". His most recent projects have been providing the voice of Rob for The Brave Little Toaster video series, as well as producing and directing "The Adventures of A.R.K.", an animal/kids show.
Megan Ward (Katie)
Chances are you've seen Megan Ward in quite a few places, both TV and movies, and have said "Who IS that cutie?" Ironically, she was in a short-lived 1993 series called "Class of '96", which was filmed at the same university that PCU was filmed at. Her starring roles in TV since PCU have included "Party of Five" and the X-Files knock-off "Dark Skies". She's gone on in film to act in roles in The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Joe's Apartment (1996, one of my favorite cult flicks), and Tick Tock (2000). Lately, she was filming the NBC pilot "Mr. Ambassador" with Rupert Everett.
Jon Favreau (Gutter)
Like Harrison Ford following Star Wars, Jon Favreau is probably the most successful of any of the PCU graduates. You might remember him from a number of "Friends" episodes where he played one of Monica's love interests. He's had a steady stream of film roles (Batman Forever, Deep Impact, and the pretty-darn-good The Replacements), but his real success came from 1996's Swingers, a Tarantinoesque cult film that he wrote and starred in (also starring fellow PCU actor Alex Désert). In 1998 he reteamed up with PCU castmate Jeremy Piven to star in the stinky Very Bad Things, but scored a major coup with a choice role in the 2003 hit Daredevil. In 2001, Favreau wrote, directed AND starred in his unofficial follow-up to Swingers, called Made (also with Vince Vaughn). Jon Favreau also directed Will Farrell's Elf, and some episodes of "Undeclared" (a 2001 college series).
Alex Désert (Mullaney)
Désert's (his last name is pronounced "day-zair") biggest post-PCU clame to fame is probably a long-running stint as a blind man on TV's "Becker" (with Ted Danson). He's had a handful of other movie roles, including 1997's Playing God and 2000's High Fidelity. In 1996, he had a role in the cult flick Swingers, which starred PCU castmate Jon Favreau. On top of his acting career, Alex Desert is also the singer/songwriter for the ska band Hepcat.
Gale Mayron (Cecilia)
Gale doesn't appear to have a lot of post-PCU acting roles, save a part in the 1995 TV movie Freaky Friday, and a guest appearance on "Ed".
Jake Beecham (Dave #1)
Jake had a couple small roles following PCU, in Natural Born Killers (1994) and the straight-to-video A Pig's Tale (1995).
Darin Heames (Dave #2)
Unlike his fellow Dave, Darin Heames seemed to enjoy moderate success on screen after PCU, including The Fear (1995), "Alien Nation: The Enemy Within" (1996), and S1m0ne (2002). He's also guest starred in roles on both "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and the first season of "24".
Matt Ross (Raji)
PCU was Ross' second acting role, as he went on to appear in numerous high-profile films such as Twelve Monkeys (1995), Face/Off (1997), Pushing Tin (1999), and American Psycho (2000). Matt Ross has appeared in brief roles in TV's "Oz", "Touched By An Angel", and "Third Watch".
Stivi Paskoski (Deege)
Paskoski's post-PCU presence (hehe... alliteration!) lies mainly in the TV realm, with appearances on "Law & Order" and "Third Watch" (which also guest starred Matt Ross aka "Raji" from PCU).
Jody Racicot (Pigman)
From the responses I've seen, Jody is the underdog favorite of PCU, with a host of rabid fans (male and female alike) following him. Racicot's certainly been busy in both film and TV, including roles in The Last Don (1997), The Tuxedo (2002), The Lizzy McGuire Movie (2003), "Witchblade", "Stargate SG-1", and "The X-Files".
Sarah Trigger (Samantha)
Sarah has appeared in a scattering of film roles since 1994, including Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead (1995), but her main focus has been in TV, where she's appeared in "EZ Streets", "Turks", "Chicago Hope", and "Family Law". Interestingly enough, IMDb notes that she performed stunts for 1996's The Phantom. Huh. Sarah Trigger is married to actor Jon Cryer.
David Spade (Rand)
Probably the most "famous" person to appear in PCU, Spade has enjoyed a lot of success previous to and following this film. My personal favorites following PCU include 1995's Tommy Boy (alongside Chris Farley), 1996's Black Sheep (also with Farley), and 2000's Disney animated flick The Emperor's New Groove. Spade starred on Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1996, in which he also helped write some of the skits. He's written some of the screenplays to his own vehicles, including Lost and Found (1999), Joe Dirt (2001) and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003). Among some of Spade's interesting trivia are that he dated Lara Flynn Boyle AND Kristy Swanson, he once worked as a skateboard shop employee (and was a skateboarder in 1987's Police Academy 4), and was charged by police in 2001 for reckless jet-skiing.
Thomas Mitchell (B.D.)
Since PCU, Thomas Mit chell can be seen in a number of low-profile releases, such as Getting Away With Murder (1996) and "Tracker". According to his interview, Mitchell has been fielding a number of oddball jobs, and plays guitar at various gigs.
Jake Busey (Mersh)
Oh, everyone knows Jake Busey, even if they can't quite place him correctly. It's probably because he's the son of famous freak actor Gary Busey, and looks a heck of a lot like him. Since his role as a stoner in PCU, Jake can be seen in such big flicks like Twister (1996), The Frighteners (1996), Starship Troopers (1997), and Identity (2003), to name a few. He's also guest starred in a couple TV roles on "Fastlane" and "The Twilight Zone".
Jessica Walter (President Garcia-Thompson)
Jessica's a long-running figure in the acting community, starting with a TV role back in 1962. Since her turn in PCU, Walter has been in Temptress (1994), Slums of Beverly Hills (1998), and "Arrested Development". At the time of filming PCU, she was 53 years old. She has won awards for her roles on Broadway and TV.
© 1997-2003 Justin Olivetti
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