Earl Boen (; August 8, 1941 – January 5, 2023) was an American actor. He is perhaps best known for portraying criminal psychiatrist Doctor Peter Silberman from the Terminator franchise.
Boen was also very active in the voice-over field, voicing characters such as Horace Bleakman in the Clifford the Big Red Dog television series, Police Chief Kanifky in Bonkers, the narrator and King Terenas Menethil II in World of Warcraft, Señor Senior Sr. in Kim Possible and LeChuck in the Monkey Island video game series.
Early life Earl Boen was born on August 8, 1941, in New York City.
Career Film and television In 1977, Boen made his television series debut in The Streets of San Francisco and feature film debut in Mr. Billion.
Some of Boen's subsequent television appearances include Hawaii Five-O, The Jeffersons, Judge Barnes on What's Happening! and District Attorney Hepburn on Kojak. Boen played the Harper family's pastor, the Rev. Lloyd Meechum in a recurring role on the 1980s sitcom Mama's Family. He also appeared as a clergyman in episodes of The Golden Girls, The Golden Palace, The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World, Seinfeld and Three's Company.
Boen appeared in two episodes of Matlock, and as Willie's boss in ALF. Boen played Jim Petersen, Angela Bower's boss on the show Who's The Boss?. He had a recurring role as Dr. Kramer in the 1990s Fox series Get a Life. Boen appeared (alongside Tom Jones) in an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1993 as a Princeton admissions agent.
In film, Boen was well-known for playing criminal psychiatrist Dr. Peter Silberman in The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003). Other films in which he appeared include The Main Event (1979), Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), 9 to 5 (1980), Soggy Bottom, U.S.A. (1981), The Man with Two Brains (1983), To Be or Not to Be (1983), Alien Nation (1988), Marked for Death (1990), Naked Gun : The Final Insult (1994), and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000).
Boen retired from screen acting in 2003, but continued his work as a voice actor in radio, television cartoons and video games.
Voice acting Boen had a voice role as Taurus in the direct to video G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987). He voiced Police Chief Kanifky in Bonkers, Horace Bleakman in the Clifford the Big Red Dog television series, and Señor Senior Sr. in Kim Possible. He also voiced the villainous pirate LeChuck from the Monkey Island series of adventure games. He also provided the introductions for World of Warcraft and its expansions, voiced Magtheridon in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and King Terenas Menethil II in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, including the cinematic trailer and ending cutscene for that expansion, which featured the iconic line "no king rules forever, my son."
He also voiced the omnipotent alien Nagilum in a second season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Boen voiced the dramatic thespian Edwin Blackgaard in Focus on the Family's "Adventures in Odyssey", as well as Edwin's nefarious twin brother Regis. He portrayed Sergei Gurlukovich in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, a role that he later reprised in the Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance rerelease and the official digital graphic novel. Other roles include Colossus in X-Men: Legends and a variety of characters across multiple Star Trek titles, including Bridge Commander and Armada II.
Boen's voice was heard on the Disneyland Railroad from 2002 until 2016 and on the Walt Disney World Railroad from 2002 until late 2010.
He continued in voice-over work until his full retirement from acting in 2017.
Personal life and death Boen married actress Carole Kean in 1970. She died on April 23, 2001, from ovarian cancer at the age of 58. Together they had a daughter. Boen married his second wife, Cathy, in 2008, they remained married until his death in 2023. Boen was the stepfather of Cathy's daughter Ruby and also had two grandchildren.
Boen was diagnosed with lung cancer in the fall of 2022. He died in Honolulu on January 5, 2023, at the age of 81.
Filmography Live-action Film Year Title Role Notes 1977 Mr. Billion Colonel Winkle's Aide 1978 Eight Is Enough Unknown The Fifth Floor Phil 1979 Barnaby Jones Eddie The Main Event "Nose" Kline A Man Called Sloane Prentiss 1980 Battle Beyond the Stars Nester 1 9 to 5 Perkins 1981 I'm a Big Girl Now Dr. Michaels Soggy Bottom, U.S.A Owen 1982 King's Crossing Dr. Rivkin Barney Miller Warren Gimble The Powers of Matthew Star Mr. Hansley Madame's Place Judge Blake Three's Company Reverend Gilmore 1983 Amanda's Fred Cornwall Fantasy Island Henry The Man with Two Brains Dr. Felix Conrad Just Our Luck Judge To Be or Not to Be Dr. Boyarski 1984 The Terminator Dr. Peter Silberman 1985 Movers & Shakers Marshall 1987 Walk Like a Man Jack Mollins 1988 Alien Nation Duncan Crais Miracle Mile Drunk Man in Diner My Stepmother Is an Alien Reverend 1990 Marked for Death Dr. Stein 1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Dr. Peter Silberman 1994 Naked Gun : The Final Insult Dr. Stuart Eisendrath 1996 The Dentist Marvin Goldblum The Prince Mr. Howell 1997 Living in Peril Fingerprint Technician 1998 The Odd Couple II Fred 2000 Nutty Professor II: The Klumps Dr. Knoll 2002 Now You Know Grandpa 2003 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Dr. Peter Silberman Last on-screen appearance 2019 Terminator: Dark Fate Dr. Peter Silberman (archive footage, uncredited) Via footage from Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Television Year Title Role Notes 1971 Great Performances Le Bret Cyrano de Bergerac 1976 The Taming of the Shrew Pedant Television film 1977 The Streets of San Francisco Frank Jennings Episodes: "Monkey is Back" What's Happening! Judge Barnes Episode: "Rerun Gets Married" Kojak District Attorney Hepburn Episode: "The Queen of Hearts is Wild" Rafferty Vandler Episode: "Walking Wounded" Hawaii Five-O Denisovich Episode: "Deadly Doubles" Wonder Woman Chaka Episode: "Mind Stealers from Outer Space" 1978 Last of the Good Guys Ike Television film Police Woman Myron Episode: "Sweet Kathleen" Richie Brockelman, Private Eye Tausig Episode: "The Framing of Perfect Sydney" Lou Grant Vice-Cop Episode: "Hooker" The Paper Chase Nick Burch Episode: "Nancy" 1979 Last of the Good Guys Ike Television film Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Selmar the Telepath Episode: "Cosmic Whiz Kid" The Paul Williams Show Virgil Weeks The Jeffersons Nathan Weems Episode: "The Expectant Father" 1980 Angie Dr. Learner Episode: "Angie and Brad's Close Encounter" 1981 The Dukes of Hazzard Eustice Hastings Episode: "Along Came a Duke" Soap Dr. Drell Season 4, Episode 12 Family Ties House Guest 'Ed Barker' Episode: "4 Rms Ocn Vu" 1981–1982 It's a Living Dennis Hubner Unknown episodes 1981–1983 Benson Kocholnik, Mr. Tucker Unknown episodes 1982 M*A*S*H Major Robert Hatch Episode: "Heroes" 1983–1990 Mama's Family Reverend Meechum Recurring role 1984–1986 Punky Brewster Oliver Green Episodes: "Dog Dough Afternoon", "Changes, part 5" 1985 Growing Pains Dr. Marlens Episode: "Standardized Test" 1986 Annihilator Sid Television film 1987–1988 The Law & Harry McGraw Howard 16 episodes 1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation Nagilum Episode: "Where Silence Has Lease" 1988–1993 L.A. Law Judge Walter L. Swanson 8 episodes 1990 Tales from the Crypt Mr. Clayton Episode: "Dead Right" Empty Nest Lou Episode: "Harry's Excellent Adventure" 1990, 1992 The Golden Girls Reverend 2 episodes 1991 Seinfeld Eulogist Episode: "The Pony Remark" Family Matters Dr. Goodrich Episode: "Words Hurt" 1993 The Golden Palace Priest Episode: "One Angry Stan" 1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Dr. Heller Episode: "Madame Ex" 1996 Within the Rock Michael Isaacs Television film Ellen Hubert Warwell Episode: "The Tape" 2000 Ali: An American Hero Howard Cosell Television film 2001 The Jennie Project Reverend Palliser Television film The West Wing Paulson Episode: "Manchester" 2003 The Practice Dr. David Broadman Episode: "Burnout"
Voice-over roles Film Year Title Role Notes 1987 G.I. Joe: The Movie Taurus Direct-to-video 1995 Gordy Minnesota Red 1996 Dot and Spot's Magical Christmas Santa 2001 The Majestic Newsreel Announcer 2002 The Wild Thornberrys Movie Gorilla 2003 Porco Rosso Additional voices English dub 2004 Clifford's Really Big Movie Horace Bleakman 2005 The Toy Warrior Additional voices
Television Year Title Role Notes 1988 A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Mr. Gordon, The Ghost of Chef Pierre Goulash Episode: "Robopup" 1988–1989 Fantastic Max Additional voices 3 episodes 1989 The Further Adventures of SuperTed 13 episodes 1989 X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men Magneto TV pilot; credited as Earl Bowen 1989–1990 Paddington Bear Additional voices 2 episodes 1991 The Pirates of Dark Water Lugg Brother #1 3 episodes 1991 3×3 Eyes Benares English dub 1992–1993 The Addams Family Additional voices 21 episodes 1993 SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron Jack, King Episode: "The Pastmaster Always Rings Twice" 1993 Problem Child Additional voices 1993–1994 Bonkers Police Chief Kanifky 37 episodes 1986–1994 ABC Weekend Special Monostatos, General Massey 2 episodes 1993–1995 Batman: The Animated Series Rhino 2 episodes 1993 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Ed Episode: "The Alma Matter" 1994–1995 Skeleton Warriors 11 episodes 1995 Animaniacs Zeus Episode: "Hercules Unwound" 1995–1997 Pinky and the Brain Earth, Moon, Santa Claus 2 episodes 1995 What-a-Mess Additional voices 3 episodes 1995 Capitol Critters Additional voices Episode: "The Bug House" 1996–1997 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Dr. Forbes, Kyle, Stage Coach Guard 3 episodes 1996 Wing Commander Academy Commander Episode: "Red and Blue" 1996 Bruno the Kid Additional voices 1997 Extreme Ghostbusters Ep. "Casting the Runes" 1996–1998 The Fantastic Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor Additional voices 26 episodes 1997 The New Adventures of Zorro Captain Montecero Episode: "To Catch a Fox" 1997–1998 Spider-Man: The Animated Series Red Skull, Beyonder 8 episodes 1997 The New Batman Adventures Rhino Episode: "Double Talk" 1998 The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Vice President Obsequious Episode: "Spooker of the House/Furgo" 1998–2002 Dexter's Laboratory General, Commander Chief, Man #2 2 episodes 1999 Cow and Chicken Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Mr. Rossl Episode: "I.M. Weasel: Revolutionary Weasel" 2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Nick Episode: "Holiday Time" 2000–2002 Clifford the Big Red Dog Horace Bleakman 6 episodes 2001 The Zeta Project Event Judge Episode: "Remote Control" 2001–2004 Grim & Evil Doctor, TV Narrator, Monster, Mr. Hobson 2 episodes 2001 Johnny Bravo Santa Claus, Jay the Bear, Norman Episode: "A Johnny Bravo Christmas" 2002 Time Squad William Howard Taft, Frankenstein Episode: "White House Weirdness" 2002–2006 Kim Possible Señor Senior Sr. 4 episodes; role shared with Ricardo Montalbán 2002 Justice League Simon Stagg Episode: "Metamorphosis" 2003 Evil Con Carne Vlad Episode: "Boskov's Day Out" 2004 Megas XLR Emperor, Subject Episode: "Coop D'Etat"
Video games