Armin Shimerman | |
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Shimerman at the Star Trek convention, 2008
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Born |
Lakewood Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
November 5, 1949
Occupation | Actor, voice actor, author |
Years active | 1979–present |
Spouse(s) | Kitty Swink (m. 1981) |
Armin Shimerman (born November 5, 1949) is an American actor, voice actor and author. Shimerman is known for playing the Ferengi bartender Quark in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kramer's caddy Stan on Seinfeld, voicing Dr. Nefarious in the Ratchet & Clank series, and Andrew Ryan, one of the antagonists of BioShock. He played Dr. Potter in the 2011 movie adaptation of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged. He also voiced the Agori leader Raanu in Bionicle: The Legend Reborn. He is known for voicing General Skarr in The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy and Evil Con Carne.
Shimerman was born to a Jewish family in Lakewood, New Jersey, the son of Susan, an accountant, and Herbert Shimerman, a house painter. When Shimerman was 15, his family moved to Los Angeles, where his mother enrolled him in a drama group in an effort to expand his social circle. He played trumpet in the Santa Monica High School Band. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, then was selected to apprentice at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. He pursued a dramatic career in theater, eventually moving to New York. Returning to Los Angeles he received roles in two CBS series, launching his television acting career.