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Jeff Altman (born August 13, 1951, in Syracuse, New York) is an American stand-up comedian and actor best known for his recurring role as Hughie Hogg on The Dukes of Hazzard, his hosting stint on NBC's Pink Lady and Jeff (1980), and his prolific work as a guest on the David Letterman programs.1 In animation, he is the defining voice of Professor Dweeb across The Real Ghostbusters and its companion series Slimer!, appearing in more than a dozen episodes.
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Altman grew up in Syracuse, New York, the son of Arthur, a sales manager, and Genelle, a housewife. He attended Nottingham Senior High School, where he competed on the tennis team (third singles) and wrestled. He went on to earn a degree in social sciences from Johns Hopkins University in 1974.1
Altman launched his stand-up career in 1974 at the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, quickly establishing himself on the comedy circuit alongside contemporaries David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld.1 He has been cited as an early influence by Judd Apatow.1
His highest-profile television exposure came through a total of 45 appearances on Late Night with David Letterman and Late Show with David Letterman combined,1 a record that reflects Letterman's personal admiration for Altman's act.
On scripted television, Altman played Hughie Hogg, the scheming nephew of Boss Jefferson Davis Hogg, in a recurring role on CBS's The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 to 1985.1 In 1980 he co-hosted and starred in NBC's ill-fated variety series Pink Lady and Jeff alongside the Japanese pop duo Pink Lady. The show ran only six episodes and landed at number 35 on TV Guide's "50 Worst TV Shows of All Time" list,1 though Altman's own performance was widely viewed as the sole bright spot. During the same period he served as in-house comedian on the syndicated music program Solid Gold, creating recurring characters including Al Punker and Count Downula.1
Altman's film credits include American Hot Wax (1978), Easy Money (1983), Soul Man (1986), Highlander II: The Quickening (1991), and a voice role as Uncle Carl in the DreamWorks animated feature Bee Movie (2007).1 He also released the comedy album I'll Flip You Like A Cheese Omelette in 1989.1
Beyond performance, Altman worked as a commercial spokesman, representing Arby's, Tostitos, and Valvoline in the mid-1980s, and Budweiser by 1990.1
In animation, in addition to his Ghostbusters work, he voiced Dr. Gene Splicer in Tiny Toon Adventures.1
Altman joined The Real Ghostbusters as a guest voice actor, taking on multiple roles across several episodes in the later seasons (seasons 6-7) of the series. His most prominent recurring part was Professor Dweeb, an obsessive ghost-hunter and antagonist who became one of the series' signature supporting characters.
Episodes and roles:
| Episode | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| "Buster the Ghost" | Buster |
| "The Slob" | Sleaze |
| "Deja Boo" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Not Now, Slimer!" | Professor Dweeb |
Altman continued voicing Professor Dweeb extensively throughout Slimer!, the companion spin-off series. He also voiced a variety of additional one-off characters in several episodes.
| Episode | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| "Out with Grout" | Professor Dweeb, Bus Boy |
| "Doctor Dweeb, I Presume" | Professor Dweeb, Patient, Baby, Health Personnel |
| "Sweet Revenge" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Quickslimer Messenger Service" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Don't Tease the Sleaze" | Professor Dweeb, Sleaze |
| "Show Dog Showdown" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Slimer for Hire" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Cash or Slime" | Guard, Floorwalker |
| "Sticky Fingers" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Slimer's Silly Symphony" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Dr. Strangedog" | Dr. Strangedog, Blue Jay |
| "Movie Madness" | Professor Dweeb |
| "Slimer & the Beanstalk" | Professor Dweeb |
Altman made a guest voice appearance in Extreme Ghostbusters in the episode "In Your Dreams".
Altman is an accomplished drummer and a devoted admirer of the jazz percussionist Buddy Rich.1 He is also a skilled stage magician, with original effects included in the Tarbell Course in Magic.1 He married actress Leslie Ackerman in 1979; they have a daughter, Faith. He later married Bonnie Goldstein.1
Some content on this page was researched using the Ghostbusters Wiki on Fandom.
