Ted Raimi Biography (2)
Raimi is widely known to television audiences for his three seasons as communications officer Timothy O'Neill in the sci-fi series seaQuest DSV. With an aptitude for dialects sharpened by his days as a high school deejay and ham radio operator, he quickly adapted to his role as the shy and serious submarine lieutenant who was fluent in six foreign languages.
At age 32, Raimi has already amassed an impressive list of feature film and television credits, with performances ranging from a CIA computer expert in the Harrison Ford suspense-thrillers Clear and Present Danger and Patriot Games, to the crazed psychotic killer in Ivan Nagy's horror film Skinner.
Born and raised in Detroit, MI, Raimi is the younger brother of renowned action filmmaker Sam Raimi. His father, who owned a successful furniture business, and his mother, the proprietor of a well-known chain of lingerie stores, were less than overjoyed when Ted announced at age 17 that he wanted to become an actor. Convinced his son would quickly become discouraged by the realities of show business, Ted's father agreed to support him for a year in New York on the condition that he do nothing but act. After a long and frustrating struggle to find work, Raimi was finally cast in a super low-budget film thriller just as his year was about to end.
Having convinced his father he was serious about acting, Ted returned to Detroit and enrolled in community college. Over the next several years, he attended Michigan State, New York University and finally, the University of Detroit to study drama, indulging his wanderlust in between academic stints.
Raimi moved to Los Angeles in 1988 and with the help of a friend, landed an audition with Wes Craven within days of his arrival. The introduction led to a small role in Craven's chilling feature Shocker with Mitch Pileggi. Ted's work in television began with a couple of guest appearances on the NBC comedy Alf and he has since guest-starred in such acclaimed series as Twin Peaks, Alien Nation, American Gothic and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.
Raimi's additional feature film credits include Hard Target, Postcards from the Edge, Born Yesterday, Candyman, Army of Darkness, Lunatics: A Love Story and Darkman. The accomplished young actor has also performed extensively on stage in such productions as Friends at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles; Romeo and Juliet with the Washington Park Players in New York; The End of the World and Close Ties at the Actors Alliance in Detroit; and Cradle Song, Wild Honey and The Foreigner at The Theatre Company in Detroit.
Ted is also an accomplished writer and musician. He co-wrote the script for a second season episode of seaQuest DSV entitled Lostland, and plays piano, trumpet and blues harmonica. Raimi currently makes his home in Los Angeles.
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