2:20 am - 02/07/2013
See the Real Models for the Archer Characters
If you thought Chris Parnell was the model for his nebbish Archer character, Cyril, you’d be wrong. Cyril is actually the two-dimensional incarnation of well-hung Atlanta restaurateur Stuart Fierman, a friend of Archer executive producer Matt Thompson. In fact, when the producers first asked their animators to develop the show’s characters, they handed over pictures of a ragtag group of friends of the show and fellow animators that they wanted to use as physical guideposts: Lana is a Hooters waitress from whom Thompson once ordered hot wings, and Archer is, of course, a former model. Thompson gave us the inside story about each of the show’s muses and showed the real-life inspirations side by side with their ISIS doppelgängers.
CHARACTER: Sterling Archer, superspy
MODEL: Jason Fitzgerald, professional photographer/former model
VOICE ACTOR: H. Jon Benjamin
Out of all of our characters, Archer looks the least like the actor voicing him. H. Jon has some funny things to say about how people tell him that the show is ruined for them once they’ve seen his face.
Jason Fitzgerald has gotten the most mileage out of modeling for us. His friends even use his casting on the show as a pick-up line at bars. Archer makes the best wingman, even when he’s not there. Just knowing him is a panty-dropper. Jason was even asked to audition to play Archer for a convention once because he looks so much like him.
CHARACTER: Lana Kane, superspy and thorn in Archer’s side
BODY MODEL: Kynyetta Lester, beautiful wing-slinger
VOICE ACTOR: Aisha Tyler
Aisha Tyler is gorgeous, but she also is the busiest person I know. She could not fit us into her schedule until June 2014. So we had to cast someone else.
For [series creator] Adam Reed’s birthday a couple of years back, we went to a Monster Truck Rally because, why the hell not? Afterward, we went to Hooters to grab some wings, and our waitress Kynyetta was ... shapely. So we decided to do the office a favor and cast her as Lana’s body model. Now you know the real reason why Lana seems to somehow lose her top at some point every season.
CHARACTER: Malory Archer, head of ISIS and Archer’s mother
MODEL: Kathleen Cohen, local Atlanta actress
VOICE ACTOR: Jessica Walter
We did not use Jessica — first, because we didn’t want to bother her with having to pose for a bunch of pictures. Both Adam and I consider her something akin to acting royalty. We knew we were extremely lucky to have her, and we didn’t want to abuse her time. When the show launched, we really didn’t know her like we do now. Now we know she is not only extremely gracious with her time, but up for almost anything. In hindsight, I think she would have gotten a hoot out of posing.
Additionally, Malory does look similar to Jessica, but I think Malory is more extreme-looking. When you see Jessica, especially in person, you realize what a beautiful woman she is. We wanted Malory to look a little meaner and a little more pissed off.
CHARACTER: Cyril Figgis, ISIS comptroller and sometimes field agent
MODEL: Stuart Fierman, director of operations, Fifth Group Restaurants
VOICE ACTOR: Chris Parnell
Cyril and Chris Parnell look a lot alike, so most people assume he was the model. In truth, the model was a friend of mine who runs a group of great restaurants in Atlanta. The staffs of these restaurants are all hip to Stuart’s involvement and will frequently high-five him after an episode airs in which he bangs Lana.
One of the things Cyril is most known for is having a giant penis. This is a direct result of our experience taking photographs of Stuart. It is a wonder that either of them can walk around without tripping over themselves. My secret wish is to get Chris down to Atlanta and have dinner with him at one of Stuart’s restaurants. I want to see Stuart move his mouth while Chris talks.
CHARACTER: Pam Poovey, ISIS director of human resources
MODEL: Candi McElhannon, Atlanta antiques dealer
VOICE ACTOR: Amber Nash
Candi is super sweet and shares very few qualities with the foul-mouthed, hard livin’ Pam. When I picture Candi’s real-life mouth hole saying, “I’m so wet that I just drowned a toddler in my panties,” I feel a little guilty.
Candi and Amber live in the same neighborhood in Atlanta, so they run in to each other frequently. Usually at bars. One of them will leave shortly thereafter to protect the character's longevity in case of an attack. Kinda like the way the president and vice-president are not allowed to travel and stay together.
CHARACTER: Cheryl Tunt, Malory’s secretary and psychotic heiress
MODEL: Siobhan Price, writer/producer of Adult Swim–sponsored promotions
VOICE ACTOR: Judy Greer
Siobhan is friends with many people on our staff, having worked for Adult Swim in Atlanta. She is currently in production on a pilot she created for them, which is probably more exciting to her than being the face of a beautiful yet insane cartoon woman.
Cheryl Tunt is a nut job in a lot of respects, but the one kink people mostly associate with her is her love of choke sex. And unfortunately it is this question that is most frequently posed to Siobhan: “Cheryl likes autoerotic asphyxiation. How about you?” Again, this brings about feelings of guilt on our part.
Ray, Krieger + two more @ the source.
Disappointed? We need an Archer tag tbh.
CHARACTER: Sterling Archer, superspy
MODEL: Jason Fitzgerald, professional photographer/former model
VOICE ACTOR: H. Jon Benjamin
Out of all of our characters, Archer looks the least like the actor voicing him. H. Jon has some funny things to say about how people tell him that the show is ruined for them once they’ve seen his face.
Jason Fitzgerald has gotten the most mileage out of modeling for us. His friends even use his casting on the show as a pick-up line at bars. Archer makes the best wingman, even when he’s not there. Just knowing him is a panty-dropper. Jason was even asked to audition to play Archer for a convention once because he looks so much like him.
CHARACTER: Lana Kane, superspy and thorn in Archer’s side
BODY MODEL: Kynyetta Lester, beautiful wing-slinger
VOICE ACTOR: Aisha Tyler
Aisha Tyler is gorgeous, but she also is the busiest person I know. She could not fit us into her schedule until June 2014. So we had to cast someone else.
For [series creator] Adam Reed’s birthday a couple of years back, we went to a Monster Truck Rally because, why the hell not? Afterward, we went to Hooters to grab some wings, and our waitress Kynyetta was ... shapely. So we decided to do the office a favor and cast her as Lana’s body model. Now you know the real reason why Lana seems to somehow lose her top at some point every season.
CHARACTER: Malory Archer, head of ISIS and Archer’s mother
MODEL: Kathleen Cohen, local Atlanta actress
VOICE ACTOR: Jessica Walter
We did not use Jessica — first, because we didn’t want to bother her with having to pose for a bunch of pictures. Both Adam and I consider her something akin to acting royalty. We knew we were extremely lucky to have her, and we didn’t want to abuse her time. When the show launched, we really didn’t know her like we do now. Now we know she is not only extremely gracious with her time, but up for almost anything. In hindsight, I think she would have gotten a hoot out of posing.
Additionally, Malory does look similar to Jessica, but I think Malory is more extreme-looking. When you see Jessica, especially in person, you realize what a beautiful woman she is. We wanted Malory to look a little meaner and a little more pissed off.
CHARACTER: Cyril Figgis, ISIS comptroller and sometimes field agent
MODEL: Stuart Fierman, director of operations, Fifth Group Restaurants
VOICE ACTOR: Chris Parnell
Cyril and Chris Parnell look a lot alike, so most people assume he was the model. In truth, the model was a friend of mine who runs a group of great restaurants in Atlanta. The staffs of these restaurants are all hip to Stuart’s involvement and will frequently high-five him after an episode airs in which he bangs Lana.
One of the things Cyril is most known for is having a giant penis. This is a direct result of our experience taking photographs of Stuart. It is a wonder that either of them can walk around without tripping over themselves. My secret wish is to get Chris down to Atlanta and have dinner with him at one of Stuart’s restaurants. I want to see Stuart move his mouth while Chris talks.
CHARACTER: Pam Poovey, ISIS director of human resources
MODEL: Candi McElhannon, Atlanta antiques dealer
VOICE ACTOR: Amber Nash
Candi is super sweet and shares very few qualities with the foul-mouthed, hard livin’ Pam. When I picture Candi’s real-life mouth hole saying, “I’m so wet that I just drowned a toddler in my panties,” I feel a little guilty.
Candi and Amber live in the same neighborhood in Atlanta, so they run in to each other frequently. Usually at bars. One of them will leave shortly thereafter to protect the character's longevity in case of an attack. Kinda like the way the president and vice-president are not allowed to travel and stay together.
CHARACTER: Cheryl Tunt, Malory’s secretary and psychotic heiress
MODEL: Siobhan Price, writer/producer of Adult Swim–sponsored promotions
VOICE ACTOR: Judy Greer
Siobhan is friends with many people on our staff, having worked for Adult Swim in Atlanta. She is currently in production on a pilot she created for them, which is probably more exciting to her than being the face of a beautiful yet insane cartoon woman.
Cheryl Tunt is a nut job in a lot of respects, but the one kink people mostly associate with her is her love of choke sex. And unfortunately it is this question that is most frequently posed to Siobhan: “Cheryl likes autoerotic asphyxiation. How about you?” Again, this brings about feelings of guilt on our part.
Ray, Krieger + two more @ the source.
Disappointed? We need an Archer tag tbh.