25 Years of "Hey Dude"

[mickeymouseclubfan]

As many of you are aware, 2014 marked 25 years since the Nickelodeon Television Network debuted its first original scripted live-action situation comedy titled "Hey Dude," about the fictional Bar None Ranch owned by Ben Ernst (Dave Brisbin), a New York City accountant who spent the Summer living at the Dude Ranch with his young son, Ben, Jr. (Josh Tygiel), a.k.a. Buddy.

During its 5-season, 2-year run consisting of 65 half-hour episodes, "Hey Dude" featured no less than 9 regular cast members and was videotaped entirely on location at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.

In celebration of its 25th Anniversary last year, here's where the main cast members are up to now.

Dave Brisbin -- Married in real life since 1988 to Laura Innes, Dave Brisbin has been a successful character actor throughout his entire Showbiz career. Dave was born in New York City, New York on June 26, 1952 and has been in a variety of character roles, from a fictional newsman opposite Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump" to recurring guest appearances with wife Laura on "ER." Dave and Laura are the proud parents of 2 children--a biological son, Cal, age 25, and a teenage daughter, Mia, age 14, who Dave & Laura adopted when Mia was a Chinese infant at age 1. Dave and Laura live in Los Angeles, California.

Kelly Brown -- Now living in Montauk, New York, Kelly Brown is the successful owner of Kelly B.'s Boutique and mom to 2 young sons.

Geoff Coy -- Geoff Coy, who joined the cast in Summer 1990, was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a successful Pharmaceutical Rep based near Austin, Texas as of 2013 and a happily married father.

Jon Galkin -- Another later addition, Jonathan David Galkin was born in Providence, Rhode Island on April 4, 1972 and raised from infancy in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After Nickelodeon ceased production on "Hey Dude," Jon retired from acting and enrolled at New York University. He and wife Sara, who have been happily married since 2002, reside in New York City, New York and have at least 2 young children. Jon is the founder and owner of local record label DFA Records based in New York City. Jon is Jewish.

Debi Kalman -- Last year, Debi retired from her 2nd career as a Teacher in Clearwater, Florida, where she lives with her husband and children.

David Lascher -- The most successful alumni of "Hey Dude," David Scott Lascher was born in New York City, New York on April 27, 1972 and raised in nearby Scarsdale, New York, the eldest in a family of four born to Alan Lascher, an Attorney, and Amy Lascher, a Psychotherapist. David Lascher originally left "Hey Dude" in early 1990 to star in a sitcom opposite Robert Mitchum in the short-lived NBC sitcom "A Family for Joe." After NBC cancelled "Joe," David returned to "Hey Dude" and stayed til the show ceased production. He followed this with regular roles on such shows as the hit Disney sitcom "Blossom," along with the TV show version of the movie "Clueless" among other acting career choices--and served as a momentary '80s teen idol during his "Hey Dude" heyday. A few years after graduating high school in 1990 from Scarsdale High School, David, in 1995, married actress Jessica Watson; soon after that marriage ended in divorce, David met and fell in love with Jill London, his wife since 1999, with whom he has 4 young school-aged children of his own. His dad, Alan, died suddenly in 2006.

Christine Taylor -- Aside from becoming the real-life "Mrs. Ben Stiller," Christine Joan Taylor hasn't done much in the way of acting aside from playing Marcia in the "Brady Bunch" movie remake (and its sequel) as well as some independent films before all-but retiring from acting. Christine and Ben are the proud parents of I believe 2 young daughters and live in Los Angeles.

Joe Torres -- Not much is known about Joe, but rumors circulated in 2004, unconfirmed, that Joe died of kidney failure. Another rumor later surfaced that Joe was a Toyota Salesman in New Jersey, though that rumor later proved to be false.

Josh Tygiel -- Josh is a successful Portland, Oregon based Private Investigator who works for a local Private Investigation firm. Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, Josh wanted to be an actor in his youth and got his chance when Nickelodeon cast him out of at least 150 other children who auditioned for the role of Ben "Buddy" Ernst, Jr. on "Hey Dude." Josh is happily married with a young son in Portland.

[gidgetgrape]

Thanks for this write up! I loved "Hey Dude!" and had a big crush on David Lascher.