The Faces of Archer

October 18, 2013 7:10 AM

While many of the characters on Archer may appear to be based on their voice actors, in reality, the models used were often people known or met in unexpected ways by the producers. Here are the actual models and the stories behind how they got involved. [previously]
posted by quin (19 comments total)

Holy crap, I've seen Lucky Yates but had no idea he was the model for Ray. It's so obvious once you see it.

My favorite behind-the-scenes character origin for Frisky Dingo and Archer is Mr. Ford's:

"When we were making Frisky Dingo, we made it out of this tiny brick house in a neighborhood in East Atlanta, and he was our neighbor. We moved in, nobody was living there, it was just computers, and we would all show up at 9 o’clock in the morning, eight white guys. We’d park in the driveway, in the yard, go in there, close the door all day, and all leave at 6 o’clock. And he was head of the neighborhood watch, so after about two weeks of this, somebody was pounding on the door, which was like this iron grate, and he was like, “What the hell is going on in here? Are you all cooking meth?” And we’re like, “Oh, no. No sir! Please come in; we make cartoons.” And he said, “What in the hell is this?” He wasn’t super-stoked on us illegally running a business out of the house across the street, so we asked if he’d like to be in an episode, and he became, basically, the Pam of Frisky Dingo, that everyone wanted to see more of." - source

posted by jason_steakums at 7:58 AM on October 18, 2013 [2 favorites]

It must be a little awkward, being the model for Cheryl.
posted by zippy at 8:14 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]

Anyone who can stream radio right now may want to tune in to Q like, NOW, as Aisha Taylor is on today. Live stream. Q site for today's show.
posted by maudlin at 8:15 AM on October 18, 2013

Cyril is actually the two-dimensional incarnation of well-hung Atlanta restaurateur Stuart Fierman, a friend of Archer executive producer Matt Thompson




what
posted by louche mustachio at 8:16 AM on October 18, 2013

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.




WHAT
posted by louche mustachio at 8:18 AM on October 18, 2013

Running joke, Cyriil is supposed to be comically well endowed ( "I'm thinking about penle reduction surgery...")
posted by The Whelk at 8:18 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

louche mustachio: "what"

I've always been a discreet person -- comes with the job, you understand -- but let me just say that there is a certain amount of.... embellishment to that description of Stuart. I don't want to give away too much, but his buffet turned out to be closer to tapas.
posted by Malory Archer at 8:19 AM on October 18, 2013 [37 favorites]

You spent that fiver very well.
posted by louche mustachio at 8:30 AM on October 18, 2013 [10 favorites]

Every time something awesome from the ATL shows up on the Blue, I get a little more homesick !
posted by Kitteh at 8:44 AM on October 18, 2013

I've said something similar on this on the subject before, but if your doctor looks like Krieger, run.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:57 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]

This is fascinating. For some reason I always assumed Jon Hamm was at least the inspiration for Sterling Archer. It never occurred to me that they'd need to use a full body model. Sadly, I'm now going to be looking at Archer with slightly less awe. Slightly.
posted by fuse theorem at 9:30 AM on October 18, 2013

I'm surprised by Malory's and Cyril's models--I always thought the characters looked quite a bit like Jessica Walter and Chris Parnell.
posted by mondo dentro at 10:10 AM on October 18, 2013 [3 favorites]

It's surprising that Lana isn't just based on Aisha Tyler considering that she's pretty attractive, as Lana is supposed to be.
posted by glaucon at 10:24 AM on October 18, 2013 [2 favorites]

Well, that's disappointingly yucky. I'll have to try to forget about that before the next season starts.

Bleah. Pity to have such dumb writing about such a brilliant show.
posted by mochapickle at 10:29 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

This is fascinating. For some reason I always assumed Jon Hamm was at least the inspiration for Sterling Archer. It never occurred to me that they'd need to use a full body model. Sadly, I'm now going to be looking at Archer with slightly less awe. Slightly.

And before seeing this I'd assumed Dylan McDermott.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:47 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

Aw, no Woodhouse.
posted by ifjuly at 10:55 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've said something similar on this on the subject before, but if your doctor looks like Krieger, run.

That's a given.. But the fact there is an actual ER doc out there treating people that looks like Krieger, we'll.. Imagine waking up in a hospital to that. That it could really happen.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 11:08 AM on October 18, 2013 [1 favorite]

I knew I should have done an FPP of this. I posted this in a comment back in July, the last time we had an Archer thread.
posted by w0mbat at 11:22 AM on October 18, 2013

I'm going to have to pay much closer attention to the crowd as I go out, since a number of them apparently live within a few miles of me.
posted by kjs3 at 3:10 PM on October 18, 2013