Revenge of the Nerdswas released in 1984, a year of sea change in Hollywood, as the city of Los Angeles hosted a memorable Summer Olympics, and non-traditional films were again in fashion after the end of the New Hollywood era. Director Jeff Kanew directed several such comedies in the 80s, but none more celebrated thanRevenge of theNerds —which had a script inspired by an article about the ‘nerds’ taking over Silicon Valley. During development, Kanew saw Ted McGinley and his chiseled features on the cover of USC Magazine, and knew he’d be the perfect collegiate alpha male and head bully to oppose his heroic cadre of pencil-pushing geeks.
On the nerd team, the casting of Lewis (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert (Anthony Edwards) proved central to the film’s success, as Carradine became iconic with his signature laugh and horn-rimmed spectacles, and Edwards provided the film’s soul as the ‘straight man’ of the duo. Rounding out the cast were a number of amazing actors including John Goodman and Bernie Casey, and the movie became an immediate success for 20th Century Fox, raking in $60 million at the gate (more than $175 million in today’s dollars).
In terms of the comedy itself, some of the humor hasn’t exactly aged well — as the film was released during a much less inclusive (and much more misogynist and homophobic) period for Hollywood. Still, the movie remains memorable, inspiring three more films in the franchise, and likely due for a reboot with rumors ofSeth MacFarlane’s attachment to the propertyas recently as 2020.
The following is a guide to the anti-heroes who brought this franchise to life.
Revenge of the Nerds
Donald Gibb as Frederick Aloysius “Ogre” Palowaski
The preeminent jock bully of all 1980s films,Ogregets his thrills from flaring his nostrils like a rhinoceros, throwing nerds through windows, and spitting beer in fountain-like displays to impress the sorority sisters of Pi Delta Pi.
Why Gibb was Perfect as Ogre
ActorDonald Gibbshowed an incredible penchant for physical comedy, giving one of the film’s funniest performances with only one real, oft-repeated line of dialogue — “NERDS!” Gibb’s imposing physical stature made him perfect as Ogre (not to mention his role as Ray Jackson inBloodsport) and we can only hope Ogre recovered from the shame of losing his fateful belching contest to Booger at the Homecoming Carnival.
Bernie Casey as U.N. Jefferson
As ifBernie Caseywasn’t already cool enough after his eight season NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers, he brought his silky-smooth demeanor to the silver screen in 70s blaxploitation films likeBlack GunnandCleopatra Jones.
Why Casey Was So Integral to the Movie
Casey’s most famous role came inNerds, as U.N. Jefferson, the president of the Tri-Lambda fraternity who takes a chance on the nerds after he hears about them pouring liquid heat into the Adams football squad’s jock-straps. U.N.’s fateful decision proves wise when the nerds win the Homecoming Carnival. Later, when the Alpha Betas trash the nerds' house, he rallies the Tri-Lambs' most imposing chapter to help enforce the reign of Lambda Lambda Lambda’s control of Adams College’s frat world.
Curtis Armstrong as Dudley “Booger” Dawson
Curtis Armstrongmade a name for himself as one of the 80s most loyal sidekicks, essentially reprising the same role inRisky Business,Better Off Dead, and as the lovably-repulsiveBoogerinNerds.
Why Booger Hasn’t Aged Well but Remains Hilarious
Booger uses his dried nasal mucus as a weapon of mass destruction, and is responsible for about 75% of the film’s politically incorrect —even downright criminal — behavior. Let’s just say they’d write his dialogue a bit differently if the film were made today. Still, we can’t help but love Booger after his nuclear burping and potent cannabis distribution helps the Tri-Lambs to oust the big men on campus. Armstrong remains a regular on the Comic-Con scene to this day, and has enjoyed a second-coming as a voice actor of late.
John Goodman as Coach Harris
John Goodmanhad some low-profile film roles in the early 80s before coming to wider prominence asCoach Harris, the mean-mugging lummox who coaches the Adams football team — making him the de facto leader of the Alpha Beta goon squad. Goodman’s three-year run that saw him inNerdsandRaising Arizonalaid the groundwork for him to become a household name as Dan Conner onRoseanne.
Why the Role Was Important for Goodman
Coach Harris could also be argued as the seed of Goodman’s most beloved role, Walter Sobchak inThe Big Lebowski, given the similar militant demeanor and spit-dribbling outbursts. Coach Harris will stop at nothing to make sure his boys succeed on the gridironandon campus, even if it calls for bullying his colleague Dean Ulich.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Trailer Sees John Goodman Reprising His Kong: Skull Island Role
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters trailer brings back John Goodman as Bill Randa from Kong: Skull Island.
Larry B. Scott as Lamar Latrelle
Lamar Latrelle’s presence inNerdsis complicated. On the one hand, the incredibly homophobic stereotypes show just how backwards the 80s era in Hollywood was. On the other hand, Lamar was the first openly gay movie characters that many people had ever seen in 1984. Add to that the nerds' acceptance of Lamar into their ranks despite his sexual orientation (except Booger, of course), and his presence in the film has a silver lining, highlighting the way those on the sidelines often find solidarity with one another.
Why The Lamar Character Has Some Redeeming Qualities
Scott actually gives a pretty incredible performance in the movie — despite some extremely cringe-worthy moments. In the end, Lamar saves the day with his rapping and pop-locking dance moves at the Homecoming talent show. If the character were re-imagined for a reboot, he would be written much more sensitively, and a writer and director like Jordan Peele or Taika Waititi could do just that.
Timothy Busfield as Arnold Poindexter
The nerdiest of all the Tri-Lambs is oneArnold Poindexter, played by journeyman actorTim Busfield, who makes up for his allergies and social deficiencies through his impeccable violin recitals.
Why Poindexter is So Lovable
Ok, maybe he wasn’t the greatest violinist, but Arnold makes up for it by becoming one of Adams College’s most sought after bachelors when he dons a mohawk and shreds the electric violin for the nerds' performance of “They’re So Incredible”. The literally incredible song rounds out a surprisingly impressive soundtrack for the film, which includes Talking Heads and Queen.
Julie Montgomery as Betty Childs
PoorJulie Montgomerybore the brunt ofRevenge of the Nerdsinsanely misogynistic content, including a much-derided scene where she’s the victim of a deceptive sexual assault.
How Julie Montgomery Transcends the Movie’s Misogyny
Aside from being subject to the abhorrent scenes made during a male-dominated era in Hollywood, Montgomery holds her own asBetty Childs, head of the Pi Delta Pi sorority and the Adams football team’s cheerleading squad. Betty also has the film’sbiggest character arc, which sways from Alpha Beta spy to nerd-loving Tri-Lamb associate, when she falls for Lewis Skolnick and spurns uber-Alpha Stan Gable.
Ted McGinley as Stanley Harvey “Stan” Gable
Ted McGinleyplays Stan Gable inNerds, head of the Alpha-Beta fraternity. He makes it his mission to antagonize the tri-lamb nerd fraternity as he believes that the nerds are a threat to the jock way of life. He’s also poor old Betty’s terrible boyfriend.
McGinley’s Unique Acting Journey Brought Him to TV
After his memorable role asStan Gable, McGinley became famous as the actor who embodied ‘jumping the shark’, as he appeared on major TV series in their latter years, including as Jefferson D’Arcy onMarried…with Children. McGinley was at his finest inRevenge of the Nerds, as his WASPy looks and toxic masculinity made him perfect in the role.
Married…with Children: Where the Cast Is Today
Let’s take a look at the most recent projects of the cast of this beloved American sitcom.
Anthony Edwards as Gilbert Lowe
Anthony EdwardsisRevenge of the Nerds’conscience asGilbert Lowe, the bookish computer savant who broke his leg playing chess. He’s also the only Tri-Lamb who is more concerned with finding love than getting laid. In a two-year span, Edwards played Gilbert to perfection, then became a household name for his role as Goose inTop Gun.
Why Gilbert is the Sweetest Nerd
Gilbert gets all the film’s greatest blushes for his tender love affair with fellow nerd Judy (Michelle Meyrink). Edwards became a huge TV star a decade later during his long run as Dr. Mark Greene onER, and his good-natured characters carry over into real life, as Edwards founded 1/6 — a support group for male survivors of sexual abuse.
Robert Carradine as Lewis Skolnick
It’s might be surprising that one of the world’s most famous comedy nerds hails from one of America’s most-respected acting families, but that’s exactly the case forRobert Carradine. Carradine followed in his older brother David’s acting footsteps, appearing on the latter’s famous TV seriesKung Fu, before carving out his own niche with his performance asLewis Skolnick.
Why Lewis is the Perfect Leader for the Nerds
Skolnick is the complete nerd package, with his buck teeth, pocket protector, and a laugh that sounds like he was choking on a meatball. While Lewis' exploits are among the worst-aging bits in the film, his leadership is inspiring, never more so than his famous speech at the end of the film — when he proudly proclaims: “I’m a nerd”.
Stream On Starz+
