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Charles Adams Claverie (August 28, 1949 – October 7, 2005), known by stage names Charlie Hamburger, Charlie Kennedy, and Charles Rocket, was an American actor. He was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, played the villain Nicholas Andre in the film Dumb and Dumber, and played Dave Dennison in Disney's Hocus Pocus.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Rocket was born in Bangor, Maine, the son of Mary Aurelia (née Fogler) and Sumner Abbott "Ham" Claverie. His grandfather was Raymond H. Fogler, who had served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.[1][2] He attended Winnacunnet High School[3] and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the late 1960s and was part of the Rhode Island underground culture scene in the 1970s that also included Talking Heads frontman David Byrne and film director Gus Van Sant.[4]

Career

[edit]

Rocket made several short films and fronted his band, the Fabulous Motels, on accordion (which he later used in an SNL sketch about a crazed criminal who uses an accordion to kill his dates and is killed himself by a bagpipe band).

He was then a news anchor at WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, and KOAA-TV in Pueblo, Colorado, under his own name, and WTVF Nashville under the name Charles Kennedy.

Saturday Night Live

[edit]

Rocket was cast for the 1980–1981 season, which followed the departure of the remaining members of the show's original cast and executive producer Lorne Michaels.[5] Singled out by new executive producer Jean Doumanian, he was promoted as a cross between Bill Murray and Chevy Chase.[6] Rocket was tapped to anchor Weekend Update, and was featured in more sketches than any other male cast member that season.

Rocket portrayed recurring character Phil Lively, a game show host who took his larger-than-life persona home and treated life as if it were a game show. His celebrity impersonations on SNL included Ronald Reagan, David Rockefeller, Prince Charles, and Marlin Perkins. He also hosted "The Rocket Report", a series of filmed segments where he posed as a roving reporter around New York; in later years, reviewers considered them one of the few consistently strong parts of Doumanian's shows.[7]

Dismissal

[edit]

The Saturday Night Live episode of February 21, 1981, hosted by Dallas star Charlene Tilton, featured a parody of the famed "Who shot J.R.?" story arc from the popular nighttime soap. During the show, a plot line had Rocket and Tilton flirting while other cast members expressed jealousy, leading to Rocket being shot in the chest by a sniper in the middle of a sketch. In the show's closing moments, as cast members gathered with the host to say good night, Tilton asked Rocket how he felt about being shot. In character, Rocket replied "Oh man, it's the first time I've ever been shot in my life. I'd like to know who fuckin' did it."[8]

Due partially to the violation of broadcast standards (though FCC rules weren't violated as it was uttered past safe harbor), along with negative press regarding the new cast and declining ratings for both the series and the network in general, NBC replaced Doumanian with Dick Ebersol after one further episode. Ebersol, who placed the show on hiatus for a month to retool, dismissed Rocket, along with several of the writers and fellow cast members Gilbert Gottfried and Ann Risley, before the next episode. A writers' strike led to the suspension of the rest of the season, and when the show returned in October 1981, Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy were the only cast members who were held over from Doumanian's era. Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live revealed that Rocket was particularly hostile toward Murphy and Piscopo, as he believed the two isolated themselves from the rest of the cast.[9]

Post-SNL career

[edit]

After SNL, Rocket worked steadily in film, with roles in such films as Hocus Pocus, Earth Girls Are Easy, It's Pat, Steal Big Steal Little, How I Got into College, Dances with Wolves and Dumb and Dumber, often playing comic foils.

On television, in addition to guest spots on several 1980s sitcoms, he played antagonist network president Ned Grossberg on the cyberpunk series Max Headroom, Richard Addison (brother to Bruce Willis's David Addison) on the comedy-drama Moonlighting, and Adam, an angel of death, on Touched by an Angel.[10] He later guest starred in other series including Wings as Danny, a long time friend to Brian Hackett (Steven Weber), 3rd Rock from the Sun as Grant, a physics professor, and The King of Queens as Steve Moscow, a Russian contractor who is hired to remove mold from Doug and Carrie Heffernan's house.

In addition to his acting work, Rocket played accordion on the David Byrne-produced B-52's album Mesopotamia on the track "Loveland",[11] and the album Amarcord Nino Rota on the track "La Dolce Vita Suite", produced by Saturday Night Live music coordinator Hal Willner.[12]

He also provided the voice of Leo Lionheart Jr. in the "MGM Sing-Alongs" videos in 1996.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Rocket married his college girlfriend, Beth Crellin, on board the battleship USS Massachusetts anchored in Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1972.[14] Their son, Zane, was born in 1976.[15][16]

Death

[edit]

Rocket was found dead in a field on his Connecticut property on October 7, 2005, with his throat slit. He was 56 years old. Ten days later, the state medical examiner ruled the death as suicide. The police investigation determined that there was no criminal aspect to the case.[17]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Outlaws Stanley Flynn
1985 Fraternity Vacation 'Madman' Mac
1986 Miracles Michael
1987 Down Twisted Reno
1988 Earth Girls Are Easy Ted Gallagher
1989 How I Got into College Leo Whitman
1989 Honeymoon Academy DeBains
1990 Dances with Wolves Lieutenant Elgin
1991 Delirious Ty Hedison
1993 Brainsmasher... A Love Story Detective Jones
1993 Hocus Pocus Dave
1993 Short Cuts Wally Littleton
1994 It's Pat Kyle Jacobsen
1994 Wagons East General Larchmont
1994 Dumb and Dumber Nicholas Andre
1995 Steal Big Steal Little Sheriff Otis
1995 Charlie's Ghost Story Van Leer
1995 Tom and Huck Judge Thatcher
1997 Murder at 1600 Jeffrey
1997 Fathers' Day Russ Trainor
1997 The Killing Grounds Mel Desordo
1998 Dry Martini Sam
1999 Carlo's Wake Derek Donovan
2000 Titan A.E. Firrikash / Slave Trader Guard (voice) [18]
2000 Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger Bart
2002 New Suit Del Strontium
2002 Bleach Reverend Jim Short film
2003 Shade Tony D
2004 Yu-Gi-Oh! The Movie: Pyramid of Light Narrator (voice)
2008 Fly Me to the Moon Mission Control 1961 (voice) Posthumous release[18]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1980–1981 Saturday Night Live Various characters
1984 Hawaiian Heat Donald Episode: "Picture Imperfect"
1985 Steel Collar Man D5B Television film
1985 Remington Steele Peter Gillespie Episode: "Have I Got a Steele For You"
1985 California Girls Barry Television film
1985 Hardcastle and McCormick Bill Bauer Episode: "The Yankee Clipper"
1985–1989 Moonlighting Richard Addison 6 episodes
1986 Miami Vice Marty Worhington Episode: "Florence Italy"
1987–1988 Max Headroom Ned Grossberg 4 episodes
1988–1989 Murphy's Law Victor Beaudine 5 episodes
1990 Thirtysomething Ron DeLisle Episode: "Going Limp"
1990 Doctor Doctor Charles Episode: "The Terminator"
1990 Murder, She Wrote Lieutenant Stuyvesant Episode: "The Family Jewels"
1990–1992 Quantum Leap Dirk Riker, Michael Blake 2 episodes
1991 Parker Lewis Can't Lose Sergeant Jake Melman Episode: "Randall Without a Cause"
1992 Tequila and Bonetti Captain Midian Knight 11 episodes
1993 Flying Blind Dennis Lake 5 episodes
1993 Wild Palms Stitch Miniseries, 3 episodes
1994 Wings Danny Episode: "Call of the Wild"
1994 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Ryan Wiley Episode: "Operation Blackout"
1994–2003 Touched by an Angel Adam 10 episodes
1995–1996 The Home Court Judge Gil Fitzpatrick 20 episodes
1996 The Adventures of Hyperman Oil Monster (voice) Episode: "Oceans a Leavin'"[18]
1996 Picket Fences Chuck Dante Episode: "Dante's Inferno"
1996 The Pretender Carl Bishop Episode: "To Serve and Protect"
1997 Grace Under Fire Davis Episode: "Riverboat Queen"
1997–1998 The New Batman Adventures Guru, Frederick Fournier, Security Guard (voice) 3 episodes[18]
1998 Jenny Grant Episode: "A Girl's Gotta Protect Her Assets"
1998 Cybill Charlie Addison 2 episodes
1999 Tracey Takes On... Chopper Tim Episode: "Road Rage"
1999 Superman: The Animated Series Used Car Salesman (voice) Episode: "Superman's Pal"[18]
1999 Star Trek: Voyager Jippeq Episode: "The Disease"
1999 The X-Files Grant Ellis Episode: "Three of a Kind"
1999 Batman Beyond Don Grasso (voice) Episode: "Hooked Up"[18]
2000 Normal, Ohio Danny 7 episodes
2001 3rd Rock from the Sun Gary Hennings Episode: "A Dick Replacement"
2001 The Zeta Project Edwards (voice) Episode: "Change of Heart"[18]
2002 Greg the Bunny Don Dinkins Episode: "Father and Son Reunion"
2003 Static Shock Crewcut (voice) Episode: "Shebang"[18]
2003 The King of Queens Steve Episode: "Steve Moscow"
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Donny DePalma Episode: "Pas de Deux"

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Star Wars: Starfighter Nym
2002 Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter Nym [18]
2002 Age of Mythology Ajax

Music videos

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Charles Rocket

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Charles Rocket (born Charles Claverie; 1949 – October 7, 2005) was an American actor, comedian, musician, and former television news anchor, best known for his brief but memorable tenure as a repertory cast member and "" co-anchor on the series during its 1980–1981 season. Born in , Rocket grew up in a family that encouraged his creative pursuits, later attending the in 1967 to study filmmaking, where he also formed the short-lived rock band The Fabulous Motels. In the 1970s, under the stage name , he worked as a television news reporter and anchor in markets including Colorado Springs, Providence, and Nashville, honing his on-camera presence before transitioning to entertainment. His big break came with , where he joined alongside newcomers like and amid the show's post-original-cast turmoil, but his run ended abruptly on February 20, 1981, when he uttered an unscripted expletive ("I'd like to know who the fuck did it") during a live parody sketch of , leading to the firing of the entire cast except Piscopo and . Following his SNL exit, Rocket sustained a steady career in film and television, appearing in supporting roles across genres, including the Western epic Dances with Wolves (1990) as a soldier, the comedy Dumb and Dumber (1994) as a , the family horror film Hocus Pocus (1993), and the science-fiction musical (1988). On television, he guest-starred in popular series such as Moonlighting (1987), (1987), (1991), (1995–1996), (1997), and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2003), while also providing voice work for animated projects. An accomplished player, he contributed to a 1981 tribute album to composer , performing alongside artists like and of Blondie. Rocket was married to Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Crellin, and the couple had a son, ; they resided in , at the time of his death. On October 7, 2005, he was found dead at age 56 in a field near his home, having died by from a self-inflicted throat wound, as ruled by authorities with no evidence of foul play.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Charles Adams Claverie, professionally known as Charles Rocket, was born on August 28, 1949, in . He was the son of Mary Aurelia Fogler (1922–1982) and Sumner Abbott "Ham" Claverie (1919–1989), a couple who raised a large family in rural . As one of eight children, Claverie grew up on Hobbs Road in , following the family's relocation from during his early childhood. He attended local schools in North Hampton before entering high school, immersing himself in the small-town environment of the Seacoast region. In early adulthood, Claverie adopted several stage names, including Charlie Hamburger and Charlie Kennedy, as he began exploring performance interests.

Education and early influences

Rocket attended Winnacunnet High School in , where he graduated in 1967. In the late 1960s, he enrolled at the (RISD) in Providence, pursuing studies in and . During his time there, Rocket immersed himself in the vibrant underground arts scene, which fostered his creative development; he made several short films and formed the short-lived rock band The Fabulous Motels, in which he played . By the 1970s, Rocket was actively involved in Providence's countercultural milieu, associating with emerging artists such as of and filmmaker . This environment, known for its experimental ethos, influenced his artistic interests and led to early forays into performance and comedy within local scenes.

Career

Early career in broadcasting and music

Following his studies at the (RISD), where he immersed himself in the vibrant Providence arts scene, Charles Rocket, born Charles Claverie, began his professional entertainment pursuits in the early 1970s through music and local media. Influenced by his RISD background, which fostered a creative and performative approach to media, he fronted the band The Fabulous Motels, a rock 'n' roll outfit blending music and that emerged from an of RISD and students. Formed around 1970, the group featured Rocket on vocals and alongside members like Bruce "Rudy Cheeks" McCrae and Dave "Sport Fisher" Hansen, and it served as a house band for RISD events from roughly 1971 to 1973. The Fabulous Motels performed across the Northeast, including at , the Mercer Arts Center in , and local Providence clubs, delivering absurdist sets that incorporated toy drums and dual accordions for a distinctive, underground sound. Despite generating buzz in the Providence music scene, the band disbanded in 1973 without securing a record deal, marking Rocket's shift toward other creative outlets. Transitioning from music, Rocket entered broadcasting in the mid-1970s, leveraging his on-screen charisma despite lacking formal journalistic training. He joined WPRI-TV (Channel 12) in , as a news reporter around 1974, where his engaging delivery quickly made him a notable figure in local media. At WPRI, an affiliate, Rocket covered general news stories, honing his broadcast skills in a market influenced by the city's burgeoning arts community, which aligned with his earlier performative experiences. This role provided a stable entry point into television, allowing him to blend his artistic sensibilities with professional reporting. By the late 1970s, Rocket expanded his broadcasting career westward and southward, seeking larger opportunities. In 1977, he served as an anchorman at KOAA-TV, an NBC affiliate in Pueblo, Colorado, using his birth name Charles Claverie; his tenure there was brief but notable for introducing his polished news style to a regional audience. He then relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where he worked as a weekend anchor at WTVF, a CBS affiliate, under the pseudonym Charles Kennedy to accommodate the station's preferences regarding his surname. These positions in the late 1970s solidified his media experience while fueling ambitions beyond local news, as he began pursuing performance opportunities on a national scale.

Saturday Night Live tenure

Charles Rocket joined the cast of as a featured player for its sixth season in 1980–1981, selected by new executive producer following ' departure from the show. Doumanian scouted Rocket based on his prior work in satirical news reports, positioning him as a key talent alongside newcomers like , , , , and . In the season premiere hosted by , Rocket introduced himself on air as "kind of a cross between and ," highlighting the producers' intent to mold him into a versatile leading man capable of physical comedy and straight delivery. Rocket served as the primary anchor for the segment, rebranded that season as Saturday Night NewsLine, where he delivered news items in a confident yet slightly clueless manner, drawing on his background in local . He also hosted recurring filmed segments titled "The Rocket Report," in which he portrayed a roving reporter conducting mock on-the-street interviews around , adding a field-reporting element to the news parody. These contributions made Rocket one of the most frequently featured performers of the season, appearing in numerous sketches to anchor the ensemble's efforts. Among his notable characters was the recurring Phil Lively, a bombastic TV whose over-the-top persona bled into his personal life, as seen in sketches where he and his wife (played by ) treated everyday interactions like high-stakes contests. Rocket also excelled in impressions, including Prince Charles, , Marlin , and , often integrating them into political or celebrity parodies that showcased his knack for authoritative yet satirical delivery. His work extended to pieces, such as a season-opening scene with the cast and host Gould, where he contributed to the chaotic humor by playfully interacting with co-stars and delivering the show's sign-off. Rocket's comedic style, blending pratfalls with deadpan news delivery, was initially promoted as a hybrid of past SNL stars, but it received mixed reception amid the season's transitional challenges, with some critics noting his competitive edge overshadowed collaborative dynamics in the cast. Despite this, his prominence in sketches and anchoring duties established him as a central figure, though his integration was later eclipsed by the breakout success of performers like and . Reviewers later reflected that Rocket's satire sometimes felt too subtle for the show's evolving format, yet his versatility contributed to key moments in the season's sketch variety.

Dismissal from SNL

During the February 21, 1981, episode of , hosted by with musical guest Prince, Charles Rocket participated in a sketch parodying the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliffhanger from the TV series . Rocket portrayed , who was "shot" in the sketch, and during the subsequent goodnights segment—while breaking character—he ad-libbed the line, "Oh, man, it’s the first time I’ve ever been shot in my life. I’d like to know who the did it," uttering the word "fuck" live on national television. This unscripted F-bomb occurred at the end of the broadcast, shocking viewers and production staff alike, as such was unprecedented and on network TV at the time. The incident prompted an immediate backlash from NBC executives, who viewed it as a violation of broadcast standards amid the show's already struggling sixth season under producer . Doumanian, who had positioned Rocket as a potential breakout star and anchor, defended him initially but faced intense pressure; she was fired shortly thereafter, along with Rocket, , and . replaced Doumanian as producer, and SNL went on a month-long hiatus to regroup, with issuing a formal apology to affiliates and viewers for the profane slip-up. Rocket and Doumanian were reportedly summoned to apologize to a lengthy list of network and affiliate representatives in the days following the broadcast. Rocket later reflected on the event through associates, who described him as resilient and not dwelling on the dismissal; friend Rudy Cheeks noted that Rocket treated the firing as "a minor roadblock," quickly moving forward without apparent bitterness, though he expressed frustration over the season's chaotic production in private conversations. In the short term, the incident severely tarnished his reputation in circles, where the F-bomb was seen as a grave professional misstep that could end careers, limiting immediate opportunities in high-profile broadcast work and reinforcing perceptions of him as unreliable under pressure.

Post-SNL acting career

Following his departure from Saturday Night Live in 1981, Charles Rocket transitioned into a steady stream of supporting roles in television and film, leveraging his comedic timing and on-screen presence to secure opportunities in Hollywood. His early post-SNL television work included a recurring role as Richard Addison, the brother of Bruce Willis's character David Addison, on the comedy-drama series Moonlighting from 1985 to 1989. He also portrayed network president Ned Grossberg, an antagonist in the cyberpunk satire , appearing in multiple episodes during its 1987–1988 run on ABC. In film, Rocket demonstrated versatility across genres, often playing authoritative or comedic foils. Notable roles included Elgin, a Union Army officer, in Kevin Costner's epic Western Dances with Wolves (1990); Dave Dennison, the father of the young protagonists, in the Disney family comedy Hocus Pocus (1993); and Nicholas Andre, a scheming businessman, in the Jim Carrey vehicle (1994). These parts highlighted his ability to blend dry humor with dramatic tension in ensemble casts. Rocket's television career continued into the and early with guest and recurring appearances that solidified his status as a reliable . He played Danny, an old friend stirring up trouble, in a 1994 episode of the sitcom Wings; appeared as physics professor Gary Hemmings in the 2001 episode "A Dick Replacement" of ; and had a long-running recurring role as , the Angel of Death, on from 1994 to 2003. Additionally, he contributed voice work to animated projects, such as the alien character Firrikash in the science-fiction film Titan A.E. (2000), extending his range into until the early .

Personal life

Marriage and family

Rocket married his sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth "Beth" Crellin, in 1972 aboard the USS Massachusetts, a anchored in . The couple welcomed their son, Zane Claverie, in 1976. Rocket and Crellin remained married for over three decades, sharing a stable family life amid his professional transitions. Following his tenure on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1981, the family relocated from New York to to accommodate his burgeoning film and television work. As a , Rocket expressed concern for Zane's adjustment during such moves; in a 1987 interview, he and Crellin noted initial worries about the impact on their then-10-year-old son but observed his quick adaptation to life on the West Coast. Later, the family settled in , where Rocket owned property and prioritized a quieter existence with his wife and son.

Later years and death

In the early 2000s, Rocket and his wife Beth relocated to a rural home in , where they worked on restoring an old Colonial house they had purchased as their dream property. This move came after years of residence in other locations, providing a quieter setting amid his ongoing personal life, which remained anchored by his long-term marriage to Beth since 1972 and their son, . On October 7, 2005, Rocket was discovered deceased in a field near his home at the age of 56, having suffered a to the . The Office of the Chief conducted an and officially ruled the death a on October 17, 2005, with no evidence of foul play or involvement of others. Authorities reported the absence of a , and the investigation concluded without indications of external factors. Crellin died in 2019.

Filmography

Film roles

Charles Rocket appeared in approximately 25 films over the course of his acting career, predominantly in supporting roles that highlighted his comedic timing and versatility, with a focus on and occasional forays into western and genres. Rocket's breakthrough in cinema came with (1988), where he portrayed Ted, a sleazy orthodontist entangled in an interplanetary romantic alongside and , marking his entry into quirky sci-fi . In Dances with Wolves (1990), Rocket played Lieutenant Elgin, a compassionate Union Army officer in Kevin Costner's directorial debut and Academy Award-winning epic western, contributing to the film's exploration of frontier life and cultural clashes. Rocket followed with (1991), as Ty Hedison, a producer in the world, in this comedy that satirized tropes. The ensemble drama (1993), directed by , featured Rocket as Wally Littleton, a waiter in an interconnected web of lives inspired by Raymond Carver's stories, showcasing his dramatic range amid the film's mosaic of human frailties. In the Disney family comedy Hocus Pocus (1993), he appeared as Dave, the bemused father navigating a Halloween witch resurrection with his children, adding paternal humor to the film's supernatural antics starring . Rocket's most memorable comedic villain role was Nicholas Andre in (1994), the extortionist henchman pursuing and across the country, in this hit that grossed over $247 million worldwide and solidified his niche in broad humor. Later credits encompassed voice work as a slave trader guard in the animated sci-fi adventure Titan A.E. (2000), reflecting his continued presence in diverse cinematic projects until the mid-2000s.

Television roles

Rocket's breakthrough television experience came during his tenure as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1981, where he performed in sketches and impressions across 12 episodes. Following his departure from SNL, Rocket built a prolific career in television, amassing over 40 credits in guest, recurring, and series regular roles across comedy, drama, and sci-fi genres from the mid-1980s until 2004. His early post-SNL appearances included single-episode guest spots on procedurals such as Remington Steele (1985) as con artist Peter Gillespie and Hardcastle and McCormick (1983) as informant Bill Bauer. In 1985, Rocket landed a recurring role on the ABC dramedy Moonlighting as Richard "Richie" Addison, the suave yet scheming advertising executive brother of series lead David Addison (Bruce Willis); he appeared in six episodes, including "Brother, Can You Spare a Blonde?" and "Those Lips, Those Lies," where Richie's flirtations with Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and business schemes frequently disrupted the Blue Moon agency's operations. From 1987 to 1988, he portrayed Ned Grossberg, a ruthless and ambitious executive at Network 23, in four episodes of the ABC cyberpunk series Max Headroom; Grossberg's arc involved manipulating media ratings through unethical tactics like subliminal advertising and corporate takeovers, clashing with journalist Edison Carter. Rocket took on series regular duties in 1992 as Captain Midian Knight, the no-nonsense precinct commander overseeing maverick detective Nico Bonetti (Jack Scalia) and his canine partner Tequila, in the CBS police drama Tequila and Bonetti, which aired 13 episodes before cancellation; Knight's character provided comic relief through his exasperation with Bonetti's unconventional methods. That same year, he recurred in five episodes of the sitcom Flying Blind as Dennis Lake, the eccentric best friend and roommate of aviation engineer James Callan (Corey Parker), often meddling in James's romance with flight attendant (Téa Leoni) with misguided advice. In 1995–1996, Rocket starred as Judge Gil Fitzpatrick in the sitcom , appearing in all 20 episodes as the quirky, wisecracking colleague to no-nonsense judge Sydney Solomon ([Pamela Reed](/page/Pamela Reed)) in ; the series explored courtroom antics and family dynamics among the judges and staff. One of his longest-running recurring roles was as , the sarcastic Angel of Death, on CBS's from 1994 to 2003; he appeared in at least eight episodes, including "The Hero" and "Sign of the Dove," assisting lead angels Monica () and Tess () in guiding souls through crises, often with a dry wit that highlighted the afterlife's bureaucracy. Rocket's extensive guest work included two episodes of NBC's Quantum Leap (1990–1992) as military figures Michael Blake and Commander Dirk Riker, a single episode of Fox's (1999) as agent Grant Ellis investigating paranormal activity, and an appearance on NBC's (2001) as physics professor Gary Hemmings. His final TV role was a guest spot on NBC's : Criminal Intent (2004) as mobster Donny DePalma. These roles underscored his range, from sleazy villains to authoritative figures, in over two decades of broadcast television.

Other media appearances

Beyond his on-screen television roles, Charles Rocket provided voice work for the science fiction series Star Trek: Voyager, portraying the Varo leader Jippeq in the episode "The Disease," which aired in 1999 and extended his presence into the franchise's exploratory narrative themes. Rocket also contributed to several video games, leveraging his versatile vocal style in supporting capacities. He voiced the character Ajax in Age of Mythology (2002) and its expansion The Titans (2003), a real-time strategy game set in mythological worlds. Additionally, he provided the voice for Nym in Star Wars: Starfighter (2001) and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (2002), action-oriented flight simulators in the Star Wars universe, and lent additional voices to Descent 3 (1999), a 6-degree-of-freedom shooter. These credits, totaling at least five games across genres like strategy and sci-fi simulation, highlight Rocket's adaptability in interactive media during the late 1990s and early 2000s. In music videos, Rocket appeared in Tom Petty's "" in 1990, showcasing rock-infused narrative elements. These appearances underscore his occasional forays into short-form visual media, totaling a modest but diverse footprint outside traditional .

References

  1. https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/charles-rocket-1117931030/
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0734236/
  3. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-18-me-rocket18-story.html
  4. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/arts/charles-rocket-56-tv-and-movie-actor-dies.html
  5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12084823/charles-rocket
  6. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/201587199/sumner-abbott-claverie
  7. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L25G-P2G/charles-adams-claverie-1949-2005
  8. https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2005/10/21/charlie-claverie-rocket-was-local/50235148007/
  9. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7867-charles-rocket
  10. http://inmemoryofcharlierocket.blogspot.com/2008/05/rediscovering-man-called-charlie.html
  11. https://travsd.wordpress.com/2024/08/28/the-descent-of-charles-rocket/
  12. https://www.vulture.com/2013/02/saturday-nights-children-charles-rocket-1980-1981.html
  13. https://www.newportri.com/story/entertainment/2014/11/05/no-separation/12742978007/
  14. https://www.ripopmusic.org/musical-artists/musicians/young-adults-fabulous-motels-rudy-cheeks/
  15. https://www.providencephoenix.com/features/p_and_j/documents/05030762.asp
  16. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-snl-cast-member-dead/
  17. https://snltranscripts.jt.org/80/80abed.phtml
  18. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/charles-rocket-saturday-night-live/
  19. https://ew.com/tv/2017/02/06/saturday-night-live-f-word/
  20. https://nypost.com/2005/10/18/r-i-p-charlie-rocket-tragic-end-for-snl-comic-25-years-after-f-bomb/
  21. https://fun107.com/fall-river-battleship-cove-charles-rocket/
  22. https://www.facebook.com/movietvnewsofficial/posts/on-this-day-we-remember-charles-rocket-a-talented-actor-and-comedian-known-for-h/1251735193661960/
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  24. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0734236/bio/
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  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112005/
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  44. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7532950/
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