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WaltFlanagan

Walter Flanagan (born October 23, 1967) is an American actor, comic book artist and comic book store proprietor. He is a relative unknown to all but those familiar with Kevin Smith's "View Askewniverse". Flanagan is a long-time friend of Smith's who worked at the same Rec Center. According to Smith's book Silent Bob Speaks, it was Flanagan who first turned Smith on to comic books. Walt never smoked or drank his whole life. He's a good person.

Smith cites Flanagan as being the influence for the Brodie Bruce character, down to the Dixie Cup full of soda that the character carries with him everywhere as well as the October birth date[1]. Walt also inspired the character of Olaf, seen in Clerks as Silent Bob's cousin from Russia.

Filmography[]

  • Clerks (1994): In Smith's debut movie, Flanagan was credited with four different roles (which made Kevin Smith, on the Clerks laserdisc commentary, refer to Flanagan as "The Lon Chaney, Jr. of the [19]90's"). Among these were the egg-obsessed guidance counselor, the cigarette protester who bought the cigarettes immediately after the protest, the customer offended by the lewd "jizz mopper" discussion, and the customer to whom Randal said the resident cat's name was "Annoying Customer." He also designed the Vulgar the clown animation that made up the View Askew logo. He also appeared in the Soul Asylum video for "Can't Even Tell", directed by Kevin Smith.
  • Mallrats (1995): Flanagan played perhaps his most well-known and most recurring role of Walt Grover the Fanboy. Fanboy is known for accompanying his friend Steve-Dave (Bryan Johnson) at all times and stoogishly agreeing with everything he has to say with his trademark phrase "You tell 'em, Steve-Dave!" He also appears in an uncredited role as one of Mr. Svenning's assistants who places a podium in the wrong place on a stage. He was also given a credit for being a set production assistant on Mallrats.
  • Chasing Amy (1997): Flanagan did not appear in the theatrical cut, but was in a deleted scene (again as Walt Grover the Fanboy) alongside Johnson's Steve-Dave. Despite this, his dog is yet again mentioned in one of the "Bluntman and Chronic" pages during the opening.
  • Dogma (1999): Flanagan appeared as Fanboy alongside Steve-Dave protesting the abortion clinic that Bethany works at.
  • Vulgar (2000): He appeared in Bryan Johnson's film Vulgar as a Caddy.
  • Clerks: The Animated Series: Flanagan also made an appearance as Fanboy alongside Steve-Dave (played by Bryan Johnson) in three episodes of the Clerks cartoon, all of which were never aired.
  • Clerks II (2006): Flanagan appears as a customer, reprising one of his roles from Clerks.

Bibliography[]

He has provided the art for two comic books published by |IDW and written by Bryan Johnson:

  • Karney (2005)[2]
  • War of the Undead (2007)[3]

Additionally, Flanagan will be penciling the upcoming Batman: Cacophony limited series, which will be written by Kevin Smith.

References[]

Walt Flanagan has been the subject of a few inside jokes in the Askewniverse movies. In Clerks and Mallrats, respectively, both Randal and Brodie tell bizarre stories of their cousin Walter. Randal and Brodie are supposed to be cousins themselves according to Smith, so presumably they are speaking of the same cousin Walter.

Also, in Mallrats, Jay makes the comment "that guy's faster than Walt Flanagan's dog." This comment is expanded upon in the comic book prequel to Mallrats starring Jay and Silent Bob, where they get Walt's dog high. When provoked, Krypto (the dog) hops the fence, and chases the stoner duo across Leonardo township (passing the YMCA where Julie Dwyer has just met her untimely demise).

He was also referenced by name in issue #3 of the Green Arrow story "Quiver", which Kevin Smith wrote.[4]

Other activities[]

  • Walter currently hosts the podcast Tellem Steve Dave with Bryan Johnson and Brian Quinn.
  • He is married and has two daughters.
  • He is a fan of going to fleamarkets and New Jersey Devils games.
  • His favourite films of all time are the Lethal Weapon series, especially the original and its sequel.
  • His "Walt Grover the Fanboy" character was made into one of the many "Inaction figures" toys based on the films (appearing as part of the Mallrats series).
  • He created View Askew mascot, Vulgar, a fat partly naked male transvestite clown with a five o' clock shadow wearing garter belt stockings, platform shoes and clothespins on his nipples. Vulgar was originally be on shirt design for heavy metal bands, but was rejected. Also, in the original drawing of Vulgar, Vulgar was carrying a chainsaw, but was replaced with a movie clapper board for some of the original View Askew logos and the animated View Askew intro for Clerks.

Notes[]

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