Tim Matheson is a household name for two very different reasons: the smooth-talking Otter in Animal House and the conflicted Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing. His six-decade career, which now includes a starring role on Netflix’s Virgin River and a 2024 memoir, makes him one of Hollywood’s most durable actors.

4 related posts

Born: December 31, 1947 ·
Age: 76 ·
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) ·
Net Worth: Approximately $10 million ·
Spouse: Megan Matheson (m. 2018) ·
Children: 3

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
  • Born 1947, began acting as a child in 1961 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
  • Breakout role in Animal House (1978) (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
  • Current role in Virgin River (2019‑present) (Tuko (news aggregate))
4What’s next

Nine biographical data points, one pattern: Matheson’s career has moved from child actor to adult leading man without a single long hiatus.

The table below compiles the key verified specs on his life and career.

Category Value
Full Name Timothy Lewis Matheson
Date of Birth December 31, 1947
Place of Birth Glendale, California, USA
Occupation Actor, Director, Producer, Author
Years Active 1961–present
Spouse Megan Matheson (m. 2018)
Children 3 (Molly, Emma, Cooper)
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) – reported inconsistently
Net Worth Approximately $10 million (estimated)

The pattern: Most of these details come from Wikipedia and IMDb, both high-authority sources, but the net worth and height estimates vary enough to raise a yellow flag.

What is Tim Matheson most famous for?

His role as Eric “Otter” Stratton in Animal House

  • He played the charismatic, rule‑breaking Otter in National Lampoon’s Animal House, a role that made him a household name. The film grossed over $141 million on a $3 million budget (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
The upshot

That one role is still the most‑searched query about Matheson, according to Google “People also ask” data. It defined his public identity for the next four decades.

Other notable film and TV roles

  • He portrayed Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing, earning two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
  • He appeared in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) as the feckless cousin Dale.
  • Currently he stars as Dr. Vernon “Doc” Mullins on Virgin River, a role he has played since 2019 (Briefly (entertainment site)).

The implication: Matheson’s filmography spans more than five decades, but the same two projects dominate his fame: a 1978 frat comedy and a 2000s political drama. The Virgin River audience is younger and may not know the older work—a generational gap that his memoir tries to bridge.

What is Tim Matheson doing now?

Current acting and directing projects

  • He continues to play Doc Mullins in the Netflix drama Virgin River, which recently entered its sixth season (Briefly (entertainment site)).
  • He has directed episodes of several television series, including The Last Ship and Burden of Truth (TV Guide (TV listings authority)).

His memoir Damn Glad to Meet You

  • In 2024 he published the memoir, which covers his childhood, his rise in Hollywood, and his friendships with actors such as Kurt Russell (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
Why this matters

The memoir gives Matheson a platform to shape his own narrative after decades of being defined by two classic roles. For fans of Virgin River who know only the grandfatherly doctor, the book offers a surprising look at the wild younger years.

The trade-off: The memoir’s release in 2024 coincided with a spike in search interest around “Tim Matheson book” and “Tim Matheson memoir,” but actual sales data is not publicly available.

Are Kurt Russell and Tim Matheson friends?

Their long friendship

  • Matheson and Kurt Russell have been close friends since childhood. They grew up together in Southern California and both started acting as children in the 1960s (Tuko (news aggregate)).

Shared projects

  • They co‑starred in the 1975 TV movie The Deadly Tower (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
  • Matheson has spoken in interviews about their friendship, including during the press tour for Damn Glad to Meet You (Life of Dad (fatherhood blog)).

“Kurt and I have been friends since we were kids. We used to go to the same acting classes. He’s still one of my closest friends.”

Tim Matheson, as paraphrased in multiple interviews (Life of Dad (fatherhood blog))

The implication: The friendship is one of Hollywood’s quietest long‑term bonds. Neither actor seems to use it for publicity, which makes it feel more genuine than many show‑business relationships.

Who is Tim Matheson’s wife today?

Megan Matheson

  • He married Elizabeth Marighetto (known as Megan Matheson) in March 2018 (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
  • She is his third wife. They have not had children together.

Previous marriages

  • First marriage: Jennifer Leak (1968–1971) (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
  • Second marriage: Megan Murphy (1985–2010; IMDb lists 2012 as the divorce year) (IMDb (film database)).
The catch

The divorce date from Murphy is one of the few factual discrepancies in Matheson’s biography. Wikipedia says 2010; IMDb says 2012. Neither source has been corrected, and the exact date of the end of that marriage is not publicly documented.

The pattern: Matheson’s marital timeline shows two long marriages (24 years to Murphy, now 6+ years to Megan) separated by a short first marriage. His current wife stays largely out of the spotlight, which matches his own preference for privacy outside of work.

Who is Tim Matheson related to?

Family members

  • His father was a pilot; his mother a homemaker (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
  • He has no known celebrity relatives. He is not related to any other famous Mathesons.

Children

  • He has three children from his second marriage to Megan Murphy: Molly, Emma, and Cooper (Briefly (entertainment site); IMDb (film database)).

“Fatherhood is the most important thing in my life. Everything else is secondary.”

Tim Matheson, in an interview (Life of Dad (fatherhood blog))

The pattern: Matheson keeps his family private, and the children’s names are not widely searched. This contrasts with many celebrities who promote their children; Matheson clearly prefers to keep his professional and personal lives separate.

Timeline

  • 1947 – Born in Glendale, California.
  • 1961 – Began acting as a child, guest roles on TV shows.
  • 1968 – Married Jennifer Leak (divorced 1971).
  • 1978 – Starred as Eric “Otter” Stratton in Animal House.
  • 1985 – Married Megan Murphy (divorced 2010/2012).
  • 1999–2006 – Played Vice President John Hoynes on The West Wing.
  • 2018 – Married Megan Matheson.
  • 2019–present – Stars as Doc Mullins in Virgin River.
  • 2024 – Published memoir Damn Glad to Meet You.

The pattern: The timeline shows clear peaks: a breakout role at 30, a prestige TV run at 50, and a streaming‑era revival at 70. This is a rare trajectory—most actors peak once and then fade.

Clarity

Confirmed facts

  • Tim Matheson was born December 31, 1947.
  • He played Eric Stratton in Animal House.
  • He is married to Megan Matheson (since 2018).
  • He has three children.
  • He stars in Virgin River.
  • He published a memoir in 2024.

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth figure (estimates vary from $7M to $10M).
  • Precise height (reported as 5 ft 10 in and 6 ft 2 in).
  • Exact divorce year from Megan Murphy (2010 vs. 2012).
  • Current earnings breakdown between acting, directing, and memoir.
  • Whether he will direct again in the near future.

Related reading: **James Garner: Life, Career, Illness, and Friendships**

Additional sources

facebook.com

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What is Tim Matheson’s most famous role?

His most famous role is Eric “Otter” Stratton in National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978).

Is Tim Matheson still acting?

Yes, he currently stars as Doc Mullins in the Netflix series Virgin River.

How old is Tim Matheson?

Born December 31, 1947, he is 76 years old as of 2024.

How tall is Tim Matheson?

Commonly listed as 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m), but some sources give 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).

Who is Tim Matheson married to?

He married Megan Matheson (Elizabeth Marighetto) in March 2018.

Does Tim Matheson have children?

Yes, three children: Molly, Emma, and Cooper.

What is Tim Matheson’s net worth?

Estimated at approximately $10 million, though some estimates are lower.

What is Tim Matheson’s book about?

His 2024 memoir Damn Glad to Meet You covers his childhood, career, and friendships.

Tim Matheson has managed something rare: a 60‑year career with three distinct acts—child actor, film star, streaming regular—without falling into the traps that derail many former child stars. For the average fan who knows him only as Doc Mullins, the memoir offers a chance to discover the Otter years. For those who remember Animal House, the Virgin River role is a warm surprise. Matheson’s trajectory—from 1960s child star to 2024 memoirist—proves that durability in Hollywood is rarer than a single blockbuster.