This charming, boyish actor has turned in a number of well-received performances on both the small and big screens. Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Newbern began acting a child in community theater productions. By age 14, he had won a scholarship to the Minneapolis Children's Theater, where he worked for several summers. During his senior year in high school, Newbern landed his first TV role, a bit part as a Union soldier who deserts, in the CBS miniseries "The Blue and the Gray" (1982). He attended Northwestern University (where he met his future wife, actress Marietta DePrima) and spent a summer at RADA. After graduating, he moved to L.A. to pursue an acting career.Almost immediately, Newbern landed the occasional role of Payne, the son of Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) on the CBS sitcom "Designing Women". He went on to star as twins opposite Elisabeth Shue in the TV-movie "Double Switch" (ABC, 1987) landed a regular berth as the yuppie co-worker of Sandra Bullock's "Working Girl" (NBC, 1990). In 1994, Newbern was one of the sons of Hal Linden and Suzanne Pleshette who move in with the folks in the short-lived CBS sitcom "The Boys Are Back". Other credits include "Poochinski" (NBC, 1990), "Judith Krantz's 'Torch Song'" (ABC, 1993), and playing Robert Culp's son in "I Spy Returns" (CBS, 1994).
At the same time, Newbern was keeping busy in films, He debuted in supporting roles in the teen films "My Little Girl" and "Adventures in Babysitting" (both 1987). In the latter, he was reteamed with Elisabeth Shue as a college student who comes to her rescue. After another supporting role, as a wise-cracking valet, in the weak comedy "Switching Channels" (1988), Newbern began landing leading roles in the comedies "It Takes Two" and "Paramedics" (both 1988).
But his first real notice came with "Father of the Bride" (1991), as Kimberly Williams' fiance and the prospective son-in-law of Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. He reprised the role in the imaginatively-titled "Father of the Bride Part II" in 1995. The following year, he had the meaty role as the drug-dealing grandson of Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine) in Robert Harling's "The Evening Star" and was a gay man visiting with friends in the satirical comedy "Far Harbor/Mr. Spreckman's Boat".
Newbern and Kimberly Williams were also teamed in a series of TV commercials for Hallmark greeting cards that played off their screen roles as newlyweds.
Profession(s):
Actor, voice actor
Sometimes Credited As:
2007 Co-starred in the horror film, "Crazy Eights"
2005 Had a recurring role on the Fox series, "Reunion"
2002 Had a recurring role as Owen Frank on the NBC drama "Providence"
2001 - 2006 Voiced Superman on the Cartoon Network series' "Justice League" and "Justice League Unlimited"
2000 Cast in the HBO movie, "If These Walls Could Talk 2"
2000 Cast as a regular in the TNT series "Bull"
1998 Portrayed Astronaut Stu Roosa in the HBO miniseries, "From the Earth to the Moon"
1998 Cast in a recurring role on "Friends" (NBC) as Rachel and Monica's neighbour
1997 Had a recurring role on "Chicago Hope" (CBS) as Dr. Scott Frank
1996 Appeared opposite "Bride" co-star Kimberly Williams in a series of TV commercials for Hallmark greeting cards
1995 Reprised role of Bryan in "Father of the Bride Part II"
1995 Had recurring role on the short-lived CBS drama series "Courthouse"
1994 Had featured role in the CBS sitcom "The Boys Are Back"
1991 Voiced the character of Ren on the Fox animated series "Dark Water"
1991 Cast as Bryan, the groom, in the remake of "Father of the Bride"
1991 - 1993 Reprised the voice of Ren on the ABC animated series "The Pirates of Dark Water"
1990 TV series debut as regular, co-starred with Sandra Bullock in the NBC sitcom "Working Girl"
1988 First feature starring role, "It Takes Two"
1987 TV-movie debut, had starring role in "Double Switch"; appeared opposite Elisabeth Shue
1987 Film debut, in "Adventures in Babysitting"; again appeared opposite Elisabeth Shue
1986 Moved to Los Angeles
1986 Began appearing as Payne, the son of Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) on the CBS series "Designing Women"
1978 Won scholarship to Minneapolis Children's Theater
1976 Made acting debut in community theater at age 12
