Biography
Wesley & Kathy Coleman (Holly)
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Wesley Eure has an extensive background as an author, television writer, producer, performer, charity fundraiser, lecturer as well as a stage and television director.
Wesley is a veteran television star of two major network series, DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Michael Horton) and LAND OF THE LOST (Will Marshall), an author of five books, the creator of PBS’ animated show for preschoolers, DRAGON TALES, and he hosted Nickelodeon's popular game show, FINDERS KEEPERS.
Wesley is co-developer of PBS’ award-winning series DRAGON TALES, now in its seventh year and can be seen nationally every weekday. The show is an international hit appealing to preschoolers. It’s produced by The Children’s Television Network and Sony Pictures and has spawned over a hundred books, toys, cereals, DVDs, and even a live stage show.
SHOW AND TELL ME is another kid’s show Wesley created and is in development at PBS. The show is based on his highly sought after kids lecture series. His award-winning interactive Any One Can Write A Book is a favorite with middle schools and the Phoenix school district hired him for an entire week to present his spirited lectures.
Wesley created and directed the outrageous musical poolside fundraiser called LalaPOOLooza! It raised lots of money for seven Palm Springs Charities...Desert Women For Equality Free Mobile Mammogram Program, Shelter From The Storm, AIDS Assistance Program, Desert AIDS Project, Golden Rainbow Senior Center, The Desert Pride Center, and Gay Associated Youth. The show features over 85 performers and 100 volunteers! The Human Rights Commission of Palm Springs honored Wesley with a Human Rights Award and declared September 22, 2008 “LalaPOOLooza Day.”
Recently, Wesley was honored with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
Wesley was also presented with the Bob Hoven Spirit Humanitarian Award. He was Sainted by the outrageous fundraisers, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, as Saint Run Run Holly Go Lightly...the name is a tribute to the classic line he yelled on Land Of The Lost. He was also nominated for Best Daytime Series Actor from Radio-TV Mirror and Photoplay Awards. Wesley was also made “Lifetime Member” of The Desert Women For Equality "We Care" Free Mobile Mammogram Program.
Wesley also hosted an educational DVD called POWER OVER POISON to teach kids how to recognize what is poison and what is not; produced by the PBS station in Pittsburgh. It has been distributed nationwide to many preschools.
Wesley co-produced, with his production company (Cardboard Belt Productions), a new Stephen Schwartz musical titled SNAPSHOTS. Mr. Schwartz’s credits include WICKED, PIPIN, GODSPELL, THE BAKER'S WIFE and the Disney animated movies THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. The show workshopped recently in Seattle and Theatre Works in Mountain View, CA.. Wesley was thrilled to work with with the legendary Stephen Schwartz!
For eight years he starred in NBC-TV's Emmy-winning DAYS OF OUR LIVES, playing the role of Michael Horton, Jr. He was nominated for Photoplay's Best Daytime Series Actor. He is also the recipient of Radio-TV Mirror Awards and Photoplay Awards.
While one DAYS OF OUR LIVES, he also starred in Sid and Marty Kroft's popular children's adventure series, LAND OF THE LOST, which lead NBC-TV's Saturday morning line-up for three years. After all of his classical training Wesley is now known for the line, “Run Holly, run! There’s a dinosaur!”
For many years Wesley was the top fundraiser for the March of Dimes. He was one of the most sought-after hosts for Telethons and fundraising campaigns. His concern for those less fortunate, takes him around the country raising hundreds of thousands of dollars via telethons and benefits; particularly those benefiting children, such as the March of Dimes, Variety Club, and The Special Olympics.
Wesley hosted a fundraiser for The Palm Spring’s Pride Center called Wesley’s Wild and Wacky Game Night. The Desert Sun said, “The phrase heard all night was, 'Boy, I hope they do this again. It’s great.' and we concur!”
Wesley also helped with the start-up of "Project Angel Food," a non-profit organization that feeds homebound AIDS patients.
For three years Wesley hosted the huge AIDS fundraiser in San Diego for Auntie Helens thrift store and free laundry service for people with HIV/AIDS. Co-hosting with Wesley were Elvira (Cassandra Peterson), Peter Allen, and Hollywood reporter Bill Harris.
Wesley also hosted a fundraiser at Mission Hill Country Club in Ranch Mirage, CA for The Desert Pride Center and Desert Woman for Equality “We Care” Free Mammogram Program.
Wesley co-produced, wrote, and acted in FOX Television's hidden camera shows TOTALLY HIDDEN VIDEO and PAYBACK. He also wrote and directed SPY TV for NBC.
In Palm Springs, Wesley directed his outrageous campy vampire musical called BITE ME! The show was written by Wesley and his collaborator, Rob Bower, and produced at the nightclub Heaven; playing to large enthusiastic crowds. Discussions are currently underway to bring the show back. The show enjoyed a production in 2008 at the Triangle Theatre in Richmond, VA.
His company, GAMES AT SEA, created, produced and directed top quality on-board entertainment for cruise ships such as Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruise Line.
For several years, Wesley’s BLUES BROTHERS 2000 live stage show at Universal Studios Hollywood was rated the number one tour show at the park.
Wesley received top billing in Hanna-Barbera's delightful comedy, C.H.O.M.P.S., which also starred Valerie Bertinelli, Red Buttons, Jim Backus, Herimone Baddeley and Conrad Bain.
For you horror film fans, you will recognize him as the fiendish murderer in TOOL BOX MURDERS and the nasty guy who gets eaten by snakes in JENNIFER.
His children's novel, titled THE RED WINGS OF CHRISTMAS, published by Pelican, has been called "the new American classic" by CNN News and was optioned by Disney Studios for a full-length animated feature. Wesley had fun narrating the audio version of his book. The book is also available on Kindle.
Ron Paolillo richly illustrates THE RED WINGS OF CHRISTMAS. You will remember Ron as Arnold Horshack on the hit 1970’s TV series WELCOME BACK, KOTTER.
Wesley’s fifth book, titled A FISH OUT OF WATER, is his first preschooler book. It is the story of a bird and a fish that fall in love and make it work. Many schools use it to teach racial tolerance. The graduate art students at Meredith College in Raleigh, North Carolina illustrate it. His new book, THE WHALE THAT ATE THE STORM, will soon be released.
Knightsbridge Publishing released two of his humor books, FUN WITH FAX and ON-THE-WALL OFF-THE-WALL OFFICE HUMOR.
Never to do things in a small way, Wesley made his nightclub debut in his own major production act starring with Bill Cosby in the prestigious South Shore Room of Harrah's Lake Tahoe. Variety acclaimed his performance "...one of the finest talents to be seen in years...an excellent debut."
Wesley has starred on the stage, with his name above-the-title, in such classics as, BUS STOP, BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE, LOVE SEX AND THE I.R.S., and the musical I LOVE MY WIFE. The Times Picayune said of Wesley's BUS STOP...“Eure is extraordinary!” So successful was this production that Wesley recreated his character at the Carousel Theatre in Ohio and the Windmill Theatre in Arizona to again rave reviews!
Wesley also directed Ellen Cleghorne (Saturday Night Live) in her successful one woman show.
Always on a quest for adventure, a few years ago Wesley quit show business, grabbed a tent and a backpack then journeyed around the world with an eye on settling in Indonesia. His travels took him on great adventures through Europe, Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. After a long stay in India, he made his way to Bali by way of Bangladesh and Burma. Only through the insistence of Disney Studios, who wanted him to write the screenplay and songs to his novel, did he reluctantly return.
Hosting has always been a large part of Wesley's varied career. Channel 9 TV in Australia hired Wesley to be the permanent host of their TONIGHT SHOW, but after an unsuccessful ten-month immigration battle with Actor's Equity in Australia, he was forced to take his shrimp off the "barbie!"
Born on August 17th in Baton Rouge, Louisiana his childhood was spent in Hattiesburg, MS, where he dreamed of being in show business from the tender age of five.
From heavy drama in elementary school (he once starred as an oak tree) to real starring roles in high school; from backyard soap boxes to award-winning speech contests; from summer workshops at Southern Illinois and Northwestern Universities to the theatre arts department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Wesley meticulously prepared for his career.
His first break came when he was working part-time at a Vegas hotel selling paintings. He met Robert Goulet who, while he refused to purchase an original painted-on-velvet toreador, hired Wesley as a production assistant for the Goulet-Carol Lawrence summer tour.
The tour terminated in New York City. After a few short months of auditions and odd jobs (including computerized astrology predictions), Wesley became a member of the prestigious cast at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Conn.
Wesley joined such notables as Jane Alexander and Sada Thompson in THE TEMPEST, MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA, MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, and TWELFTH NIGHT, as well as many original works produced by the company.
At the Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania, he performed in West Side Story and then joined a musical comedy revue and traveled throughout the East Coast resort areas.
Wesley then made the big move to Los Angeles. Again, came the auditions and odd jobs (a bar-back at a German-Mexican bar with an "Oomph" band). Wesley was then hired to star in Kaye Ballard's projected new series, THE ORGANIC VEGETABLES. It was created and produced by the guys who did THE MONKEYS.
Subsequently, Wesley won the highly coveted job of replacing teen idol David Cassidy on THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. He recorded a song at Bobby Sherman's home studio and lip-synced it for ABC. This seemingly wonderful opportunity turned to disappointment when the show was canceled before the season started.
Mike Curb then selected Wesley to join three other guys in a new singing group he was producing for Motown.
His charisma and energy have made him a favorite guest star on the game show circuit. Wesley became a regular on such shows as PASSWORD and MATCH GAME as well as a variety of other game and talk shows.
When Sony Pictures was looking to create a new animated children’s show, an executive remembered his son loving one of Wesley’s children’s books and contacted him to create the series DRAGON TALES. His show treatment not only beat out SESAME STREET and THE MUPPETS, but it won a mega-million dollar grant from the federal government!
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Currently, Wesley is touring the country visiting nostalgia shows and conventions with other cast members from Land of the Lost!
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