Fred Savage

Frederick Aaron Savage (born July 9, 1976) is an American actor and director. He is best known for his role as Kevin Arnold in the American television series The Wonder Years (1988–1993). He has earned several awards and nominations, such as People's Choice Awards and Young Artist Awards. He is also known for playing the Grandson in The Princess Bride, and voiced the title protagonist in Oswald. Savage has worked as a director, and in 2005 later starred in the television sitcom Crumbs. Savage returned to acting in the television series The Grinder, as well as the Netflix series Friends from College. He was fired from a The Wonder Years reboot in 2022 after the revelation of various misconduct allegations.

Early life and education Savage was born in Chicago, to Joanne and Lewis Savage, who was an industrial real estate broker and consultant. Savage grew up in Glencoe, Illinois, before moving to Southern California. His younger brother is actor Ben Savage and his younger sister is actress/musician Kala Savage. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Latvia. He was raised in Reform Judaism.

Career

Acting Savage's first screen performance was in the television show Morningstar/Eveningstar, at the age of nine. He then appeared onscreen in The Boy Who Could Fly, Dinosaurs!, and several television shows, including The Twilight Zone and Crime Story before gaining national attention as the grandson in the 1987 film The Princess Bride opposite Peter Falk.

In 1988, Savage starred in his most well-known role as Kevin Arnold on the comedy-drama television series The Wonder Years, which earned him two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy and two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. At the age of thirteen, he was the youngest actor ever to receive these honors. He remained on the show until it ended in 1993. During this period, he appeared in several films, most notably Vice Versa (1988), and also starred in Little Monsters and The Wizard. After The Wonder Years ended, Savage returned to high school at age 17, and later attended Stanford. His first television role after high school was the NBC sitcom Working, which Savage starred in for its two-season run. Savage also had a series of guest and supporting roles in the late 1990s and the 2000s such as on the show Boy Meets World, (which starred his younger brother Ben Savage), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Legend of Prince Valiant, and the film Austin Powers in Goldmember as The Mole.

Savage has lent his voice to several animated projects, including Family Guy, Kim Possible, Justice League Unlimited, Oswald, and Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen. His two lead roles since The Wonder Years were on the short-lived sitcoms Working and Crumbs. He ranked at #27 on VH1's 100 Greatest Kid Stars.

In July 2008, Savage guest-starred in the web series The Rascal on Crackle.

In 2015, Savage returned to acting with the Fox series The Grinder. Producer Nick Stoller approached Savage about playing the role of Stewart on The Grinder.

In 2017, he joined the cast of the Netflix series Friends from College as Max Adler, a gay literary agent.

Directing and producing In 1999, Savage began his directing career in which he helmed episodes of over a dozen television series. Savage's first directing credit was on the short-lived NBC sitcom Working which also starred Savage. Following Working, Savage began observing production on the Disney Channel show Even Stevens to further learn the craft of directing.

In March 2018, a costume designer on The Grinder accused Savage of assault and intimidation and filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging assault, battery, and gender discrimination. Savage denied the allegations. Fox later stated that an investigation cleared the actor of any wrongdoing.

On May 6, 2022, Savage was fired as executive producer and director of The Wonder Years reboot after an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct. While Savage stated that "some of the claims were untrue", he also stated that he was going to work on changing any perceived negative behavior.

Personal life Fred Savage married his childhood friend Jennifer Lynn Stone on August 7, 2004. They have three children.

Filmography Film + List of Fred Savage film credits Year Title Functioned as Notes Actor Director Role 1986 The Boy Who Could Fly Louis Michaelson Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actor – Motion Picture 1987 Dinosaurs! Phillip The Princess Bride The Grandson Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture 1988 Vice Versa Charlie Seymour / Marshall Seymour Saturn Award for Best Young Performer 1989 Little Monsters Brian Stevenson The Wizard Corey Woods Nominated – Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor – Motion Picture 1997 A Guy Walks Into a Bar Josh Cohen Short film 1998 Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story Himself (Narrator) 2002 The Rules of Attraction "A Junkie Named Marc" Austin Powers in Goldmember Number Three / Mole 2004 The Last Run Steven Goodson Welcome to Mooseport Bullard 2007 Daddy Day Camp Feature film directorial debutNominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 2018 Super Troopers 2 Himself Cameo in post-film scene Once Upon a Deadpool The Grandson / Himself PG-13 cut of Deadpool 2

Television + List of Fred Savage television credits Year Title Functioned as Notes Actor Director Producer Role 1986 The Twilight Zone Jeff Mattingly Episode: "What Are Friends For?/Aqua Vita" 1986–1987 Morningstar/Eveningstar Alan Bishop 7 episodes 1987 Convicted: A Mother's Story Matthew Nickerson Television film Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater Mowser Episode: "Phantom of the Theater" 1988 ABC Weekend Special: Runaway Ralph Garfield Television film Run Till You Fall David Reuben Television film 1988–1993 The Wonder Years Kevin Arnold Lead role; 115 episodesPeople's Choice Award for Favorite TV Performer(1989–90)Viewers for Quality Television Award Award for Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series(1989–90)Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Television Series(1988–89)Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy(1989–90)Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series(1989–90) 1990 When You Remember Me Mike Mills Television film Saturday Night Live Himself Host; episode: "Fred Savage/Technotronic" 1991 Christmas on Division Street Trevor Atwood Television film 1992 Seinfeld Himself Episode: "The Trip" 1996 No One Would Tell Bobby Tennison Television film How Do You Spell God? Himself (Narrator) Television film 1997 The Outer Limits Danny Martin Episode: "Last Supper" 1997–1999 Working Matt Peyser Lead role; 39 episodes 1998 Boy Meets World Stuart Episode: "Everybody Loves Stuart" 1999–2000 Boy Meets World 2 episodes 2001 All About Us 2 episodes 2001–2002 Even Stevens 2 episodes 2001–2003 Oswald Oswald Voice, 25 episodes Nick Jr. Himself (Host) Host from September 3, 2001 – August 29, 2003 2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Michael Gardner Episode: "Futility" 2003–2005 That's So Raven 2 episodes 2004 Justice League Unlimited Hank Hall / Hawk Voice, episode: "Hawk and Dove" Drake & Josh 1 episode 2004–2005 Unfabulous 5 episodes 2004–2006 Phil of the Future 9 episodesNominated – Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program(Episode: "Not So Great Great Great Grandpa") 2004–2007 Kim Possible Wego Voice, 2 episodes Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide 6 episodes 2005 Kitchen Confidential 1 episode Zoey 101 2 episodes What I Like About You 1 episode 2006 Crumbs Mitch Crumb Lead role; 13 episodes Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen Rusty Voice, TV special 2007 Cavemen 1 episode Hannah Montana 1 episode 2007–2008 Doozers 4 episodes Wizards of Waverly Place 3 episodesNominated – Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program(Episode "The Crazy 10 Minute Sale") 2007–2009 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 19 episodes 2008 Ugly Betty 1 episode Worst Week 1 episode 2009 Family Guy Himself Voice, episode: "Fox-y Lady" Zeke and Luther Pilot episodeNominated – Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Children's Program(Episode "Pilot") Ruby & the Rockits 1 episode 2009–2010 Greek 2 episodes Party Down 9 episodes; executive producer 2010 Sons of Tucson 1 episode Big Time Rush 2 episodes Blue Mountain State 2 episodes 2010–2013 Generator Rex Noah Nixon Voice, 22 episodes 2010–2020 Modern Family 14 episodes 2011 Gigantic 2 episodes Breaking In 1 episode Perfect Couples 2 episodes Franklin & Bash 1 episode Friends with Benefits 1 episode Mr. Sunshine Himself Episode: "Celebrity Tennis" Happy Endings Himself 3 episodes 2011–2012 How to Be a Gentleman 2 episodes 2011–2016 2 Broke Girls 20 episodes 2012 Whitney 1 episode Best Friends Forever 6 episodes; executive producer 2013 The Michael J. Fox Show 1 episode The Crazy Ones 2 episodes 2014 Super Fun Night 1 episode Growing Up Fisher 1 episode Friends with Better Lives 4 episodes Playing House 2 episodes Bad Teacher 1 episode Garfunkel and Oates 8 episodes; executive producer 2014 Marry Me 1 episode 2014–2016 BoJack Horseman Goober / Richie Osborne Voice, 2 episodes 2014–2019 The Goldbergs 2 episodes 2015 Sin City Saints 2 episodes 2015–2016 The Grinder Stewart Sanderson Lead role; 22 episodesNominated – Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series Casual 3 episodes 2017 Fresh Off the Boat 1 episode 2017–2019 Friends from College Max Adler Main cast; 2 seasons 2019–2020 Single Parents 4 episodes 2020 Black-ish 3 episodes Indebted 1 episode Home Movie: The Princess Bride The Grandson Episode: "Chapter One: As You Wish" Dash & Lily 4 episodes 2021–2022 The Wonder Years 4 episodes 2022 The Afterparty Vaughn Episode: "Danner" 2024 Three Women Rody 2 episodes