Phill Lewis

Not to be confused with Phil Lewis.
Phill Lewis

Lewis signing autographs during the filming of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody in 2007
Born Phillip Akon Lewis
(1968-09-04) September 4, 1968
Uganda
Nationality American
Occupation Actor, comedian, television director
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Megan Benton Lewis
Children 2
Parent(s)

Phillip Akon "Phill" Lewis (born September 4, 1968) is an American actor, director and comedian. He is best known for his role as Mr. Moseby on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck. Lewis also played T.C. on The Wayans Bros., "Crazy" Hooch on Scrubs, and had a recurring role as Roy on Yes, Dear and has played small parts in more than a dozen films. He also appeared in episodes of Lizzie McGuire as Principal Tweedy and in Friends as Chandler's boss. Lewis is married to Megan Benton Lewis.

Early life

Lewis was born in Uganda, East Africa[1] on September 4, 1968.[1][2] At the time, his father, former U.S. Ambassador Delano Lewis, was serving as the Peace Corps' associate director and country director for Nigeria and Uganda.[2][3][4][5]

Career

Lewis was cast in the title role of the short-lived 1991 situation comedy, Teech. The show was cancelled after four episodes. He appeared in guest parts on various television series including Pacific Blue, JAG, Ally McBeal, Joan of Arcadia, Brothers & Sisters, 8 Simple Rules, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Friends and How I Met Your Mother. Lewis has also had recurring roles on A Different World, The Wayans Bros., Lizzie McGuire, Yes, Dear, Scrubs, and Raising Hope.

Lewis co-starred in the Disney Channel original series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as Mr. Moseby. In 2008, he had reprised the role on a spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, where he plays the manager of The S.S. Tipton. He has appeared as a guest star on Disney Channel's That's So Raven and Phineas and Ferb and also in one of the channel's original films, Dadnapped. On the children's show Special Agent Oso he has a recurring role as the voice of Agent Wolfie.

As a television director, he directed several episodes of The Suite Life on Deck, first making his directorial debut with the The Suite Life of Zack & Cody episode "I Want My Mummy" (2007). He has since gone on to direct episodes of the Disney Channel sitcoms A.N.T. Farm, Austin & Ally, Good Luck Charlie, Kickin' It and Jessie starring his former Suite Life on Deck co-star Debby Ryan. His other television directing credits include Malibu Country, Mike & Molly, 2 Broke Girls, The Soul Man, Sullivan & Son, Melissa & Joey, Young & Hungry and The Odd Couple. He directed the live episode of Undateable in 2015 that secured a third season for the series.

In addition to his television work, Lewis has appeared in several films. He made his film debut as Dennis in the 1989 dark comedy Heathers. He has appeared in smaller roles in more than a dozen films, including City Slickers (1991), Bowfinger (1999), I Spy (2002), Surviving Christmas (2004), Kicking & Screaming (2005), and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 (2011).

Lewis appeared in an episode of Jessie on March 27, 2015, as Mr. Moseby (character that appeared in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and The Suite Life on Deck). He also appeared as this character on That's So Raven.

1991 car crash

In late December 1991, Lewis was arrested after he crashed his car, head on, into a car driven by 21-year-old Isabel Duarte, in Potomac, Maryland. Duarte, a resident of nearby Bethesda, later died from her injuries. Lewis was charged with drunk driving.[6][7][8]

In 1993, Lewis was convicted of manslaughter with a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated in Montgomery County, Maryland Circuit Court. The court sentenced Lewis to five years in prison, but suspended four, citing Lewis' work after his arrest with a prison-based theater troupe which performed in jails, schools and churches, to highlight the consequences of drug abuse. Lewis was also ordered to serve two years' probation after his release and to perform 350 hours of community service.[6][7][8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Heathers Dennis
1989 How I Got Into College Herman
1991 City Slickers Dr. Steven Jessup
1991 Brother Future TJ
1992 Aces: Iron Eagle III Tee Vee Alternative title: Iron Eagle III
1999 Bowfinger Actor at Audition
2000 What Planet Are You From? Other MD
2002 I Spy Jerry
2004 Elvis Has Left the Building Charlie
2004 Surviving Christmas Levine the Lawyer
2005 Kicking & Screaming John Ryan
2009 Dadnapped Maurice
2011 The Suite Life Movie Marion Moseby Television movie
2011 Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 Mr. McKibble Video
2014 Wish I Was Here Nerd

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Hill Street Blues Parker Episode: "Amazing Grace"
1986 227 Ken Episode: "Come Into Parlor"
1987–1988 The Bronx Zoo Schuyler Tate 2 episodes
1987 Starman J.B. Episode: "The Test"
1987 Amen Marvin Episode: "Deacon on the Line"
1987 Frank's Place Homer 2 episodes
1988 Sonny Spoon Aaron Fortune Episode: "Crimes Below the Waist"
1988–1989 A Different World Sam Lee 4 episodes
1989 TV 101 Noah Hawkins Episode: "Kangaroo Gate"
1990 Charles in Charge Bernie Episode: "Buddy Flips a Disc"
1991 Teech Teech Gibson 12 episodes
1994 Hardball Arnold Nixon 9 episodes
1994 Living Single J.T. Episode: "U.N.I.T.Y."
1995 Sister, Sister Mr. Berry Episode: "Field Trip"
1995–1998 The Wayans Bros. T.C. 20 episodes
1996 Married... with Children George Episode: "Enemies"
1997–1998 Sparks Detective Floyd Pitts 3 episodes
1997 The Drew Carey Show Mike Episode: "Drew vs. Mimi: Part 2"
1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Mr. Platt Episode: "Beauty and the Beasts"
1998 Boy Meets World Clifton McNair 2 episodes
1999 Party of Five Detective Danner Episode: "Witness for the Persecution"
1999 Chicago Hope Detective Davis 2 episodes
2000–2001 Family Law Lawyer 3 episodes
2000 JAG Petty Officer Scalline Episode: "Drop Zone"
2000 Ally McBeal D.A. Kessler Episode: "I Will Survive"
2001–2002 Lizzie McGuire Principal Tweedy 3 episodes
2001 Dharma & Greg Mr. Walden Episode: "With a Little Help from My Friend"
2001–2006 Yes, Dear Roy 10 episodes
2003 Friends Steve 3 episodes
2003 Joan of Arcadia Naval Officer God Episode: "The Boat"
2004 8 Simple Rules Cop Episode: "Consequences"
2005–2009 Scrubs Hooch 5 episodes
2005–2008 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Marion Moseby 87 episodes
2005–2014 American Dad! Duper 4 episodes
2006 That's So Raven Marion Moseby Episode: "Checkin' Out"
2007 Kim Possible Coco Banana 2 episodes
2007 Brothers & Sisters Dr. Peter Edwards Episode: "An American Family"
2007 How I Met Your Mother Loan Officer Episode: "Dowisetrepla"
2008–2011 The Suite Life on Deck Marion Moseby 58 episodes
2009–2012 Special Agent Oso Special Agent Wolfie 22 episodes
2009 Wizards of Waverly Place Marion Moseby Episode: "Cast Away (To Another Show)"
2009 Hannah Montana Marion Moseby Episode: "Super(sticious) Girl"
2010 The Big C Pool man 2 episodes
2010 Phineas and Ferb Hawaiian hotel manager Episode: "Phineas and Ferb Hawaiian Vacation"
2011 Raising Hope Donovan 2 episodes
2011 Good Luck Charlie Johnny's dad Episode: "Bye Bye Video Diary"
2015 Jessie Marion Moseby Episode: "Karate Kid-tastrophe"
2015 Your Family or Mine Award Presenter Episode: "The Speech"
2015 Undateable Phil Episode: "An Angry Judge Walks Into A Bar"

References

  1. 1 2 Phill Lewis Biography (1968). Accessed 2012-12-12.
  2. 1 2 Photos, Bio and News for Phill Lewis. TVGuide.com. Accessed 2012-12-12.
  3. Peace Corps Online Delano E. Lewis, country director for the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda from 1966 to 1969. Accessed 2012-12-12.
  4. Phill Lewis; D.C. Actor Has the Lead In CBS's Teech  The Washington Post  HighBeam Research. Accessed 2012-12-12.
  5. Berg, Jeff (February 2007). "Ambassador at Large". Desert Exposure (Silver City, New Mexico: Continental Divide Publishing). Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Phill Lewis Sentenced in Fatal Crash, Jet Magazine, February 8, 1993, p. 37. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  7. 1 2 Teech' star convicted of vehicular manslaughter, Entertainment News, TV News, Media Variety. Accessed 2012-12-12.
  8. 1 2 Phill Lewis Gets Year In Jail For Drunken Driving Death Orlando Sentinel, 23 January 1993. Retrieved 29 January 2014.

External links

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