Very few cartoon characters spring forth from their creators' minds without some sort of real-life inspiration. That was certainly the case for producer Matt Thompson and the other creators of "Archer," which I'm going to go ahead and call the funniest show on TV. (Executive decision.) Thompson took a rag-tag group of friends, models, and Hooters waitresses (seriously), took their pictures, and gave them to animators to use as guideposts for Lana, Sterling, Malory, and others. He shared the photos with Vulture today. They're creepy, and very cool.
My personal favorite is the backstory of Krieger, the possible "genetic clone of Adolf Hitler" and mad scientist of ISIS. Thompson says that his facial double is actually a good friend of series creator Adam Reed: "If you are in Austin, Texas, and heaven forbid you are in a car wreck, you may be taken to the emergency room only to look up and see someone who looks just like Dr. Krieger taking care of you. The model for Dr. Krieger is Dr. Brieger, longtime friend of Adam Reed and current ER doctor. They went to college together at UNC Chapel Hill. I am not sure what happened there to make Adam want to turn Ben’s avatar into one of the creepiest (Nazi?) characters on television, but there it is."
Sterling Archer is Jason Fitzgerald, professional model:
Malory Archer is Kathleen Cohen, Atlanta-based actress:
Lana Kane is Kynyetta Lester, Atlanta waitress:
Cheryl Tunt is Siobhan Price, Adult Swim employee:
Dr. Krieger is Dr. Ben Brieger, E.R. doctor:
Ray Gillette is Lucky Yates, actual voice of Krieger:
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