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Casper Van Dien
Casper Van Dien (3x4).jpg
Van Dien in 2013
Born
Casper Robert Van Dien Jr.

(1968-12-18) December 18, 1968 (age 56)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1984–present
Spouse(s)
Carrie Mitchum
(m. 1993; div. 1997)
Catherine Oxenberg
(m. 1999; div. 2015)
Jennifer Wenger
(m. 2018)
Children 4, including Grace Van Dien

Casper Robert Van Dien Jr. (born December 18, 1968) is an American actor. He is famous for playing Johnny Rico in the 1997 science-fiction action movie Starship Troopers. He has also acted in many TV shows and movies. These include TV movies and films released straight to video. He even returned as Johnny Rico in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, a sequel to the first movie.

Discovering Casper Van Dien: Early Life and Family History

Van Dien was born in Milton, Florida. His mother, Diane, was a nursery school teacher. His father, Casper Robert Van Dien Sr., was a U.S. Navy Commander and a fighter pilot.

His family has a long history of serving in the military. His grandfather was a Marine during World War II. Van Dien's family came from the Netherlands a long time ago. They settled in the New York area. He also has Swedish, French, and English family roots.

The street where Van Dien grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, called Van Dien Avenue, was named after his great-great-great-grandfather. Later, his family moved back to Florida. He went to the Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg. He graduated as 3rd in command. After high school, Van Dien studied at Florida State University.

Casper Van Dien's Acting Journey: From TV to Sci-Fi Stardom

After moving to Los Angeles, Van Dien got small parts in many TV shows and movies. He had early roles as Ty Moody on the TV show One Life to Live. He also appeared in the drama Beverly Hills, 90210. To improve his acting, Van Dien took a small role in the video game Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom.

In 1996, Van Dien played King Tal in Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus. This was a sequel to the 1982 movie The Beastmaster. Van Dien also starred in the 1997 movie James Dean: Race with Destiny. This film was about the famous actor James Dean.

His big break came when he played Johnny Rico in the 1997 science fiction action film Starship Troopers. Because of his success in Starship Troopers, he was cast as Tarzan in Tarzan and the Lost City (1998). Van Dien then played Brom von Brunt in Tim Burton's 1999 movie Sleepy Hollow. This movie was a new version of a classic story.

In 2008, Van Dien returned to play Rico in Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. This was a direct-to-video sequel to the first Starship Troopers movie.

Van Dien also took over the role of Johnny Cage for the second season of the YouTube web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy. In 2022, Van Dien played Samuel Hyst in the series Salvage Marines. He was also a producer for this show. He said this role was similar to playing Johnny Rico.

Casper Van Dien's Family Life

From 1993 to 1997, Van Dien was married to Carrie Mitchum. They have two children together. One of their children is the actress Grace Van Dien (born in 1996).

In 1999, Van Dien met actress Catherine Oxenberg. They worked together on a TV movie and a thriller film. They got married on May 8, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2005, the couple had their own reality series called I Married a Princess. This show aired on TV channels in the United States and other countries. Catherine Oxenberg's mother is Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. Van Dien and Oxenberg have two daughters together. In 2015, they divorced. Van Dien and Oxenberg were also ambassadors for the non-profit group Childhelp.

Van Dien married Jennifer Wenger in June 2018.

Filmography: Movies

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Night Eyes 4: Fatal Passion Roy
1997 Casper: A Spirited Beginning Bystander Direct-to-video
Starship Troopers Johnny Rico
1998 Tarzan and the Lost City Tarzan / John Clayton II
Casper Meets Wendy Crewcut Hunk Direct-to-video
1999 The Omega Code Gillen Lane
Sleepy Hollow Brom Van Brunt
2000 Sanctimony Tom Gerrick
2002 The Rules of Attraction Patrick Bateman Deleted scene
2004 Dracula 3000 Captain Abraham Van Helsing Direct-to-video
2008 Starship Troopers 3: Marauder Colonel Johnny Rico Direct-to-video
2009 Through the Air to Calais or the Wonderful Cruise of Blanchard's Balloon John Jeffries Short film, also executive producer
2011 Born to Ride Mike Callahan
2012 Shiver Sebastian Delgado
Malibu Days Short film
The Pact Bill Creek
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Sequels James K. Polk Short film
noobz Himself Also co-producer
Christmas Twister Ethan
Starship Troopers: Invasion N/A Direct-to-video, executive producer
2013 500 MPH Storm Nathan Sims
Assumed Killer Sam Morrow Also co-producer
Higher Mission John Perryman
2014 Sleeping Beauty King David Direct-to-video, also director
2015 Avengers Grimm Rumpelstiltskin Direct-to-video
June Dave Anderson Also co-executive producer
2016 Army Dog Tom Holloway Also producer
Showdown in Manila Charlie Benz
Storage Locker 181 Dayton
Isra 88 Harold Richards
2017 Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine Saber Raine
All About the Money Kurt Pomeroy Also producer
Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars Colonel Johnny Rico (voice) Direct-to-video, also executive producer
2018 Last Seen in Idaho Brock Also co-producer
Darkness Reigns Himself
Dead Water John Livingston
Deadpool The Musical 2 - Ultimate Disney Parody Cyclops Short fan film
Alpha Wolf Jack Lupo
2019 Alita: Battle Angel Amok
Madness in the Method Tim
Chokehold Javier
2020 Acquitted by Faith Benjamin Stills
The Warrant Virgil St. Denis / The Saint
The Road to Camp Miracle Ernest Robertson Short film
Roped Robert Peterson
Lady Driver Elliot Lansing
G-Loc Decker
The 2nd Melvin "The Driver" Sampras
One Nation Under God Kingsley
2021 Real Talk Rick the Republican
Shooting Paul Ben
Serena's Game Ben
2022 A Tale of Two Guns Abel Cruz
Assailant Michael
Mad Heidi President Meili
The Most Dangerous Game Baron Von Wolf
Battle of Saipan Vic
County Line: No Fear Zed Dalton
2023 Daughter Father
The Flood
Monsters of California Myers

Filmography: Television Roles

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Menu for Murder Lifeguard TV movie
1991 Saved by the Bell Student Uncredited; episode: "Pipe Dreams"
Dangerous Women Brad Morris Recurring
1992 Freshman Dorm Zack Taylor 5 episodes
Life Goes On Unknown Episode: "Udder Madness"
1993–1994 One Life to Live Tyler "Ty" Moody TV series
1994 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Jesse Episode: "Cattle Drive: Part 1 & 2"
Beverly Hills, 90210 Griffin Stone 7 episodes
1995 P. C. H. Randy TV movie
Silk Stalkings Roger Barrows Episode: "I Know What Scares You"
Married... with Children Eric Waters Episode: "Blonde and Blonder"
1996 Backroads to Vegas Adam TV movie
Lethal Orbit Tom Corbett
Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus King Tal
The Colony Sawyer
1997 The Outer Limits Jake Miller Episode: "Heart's Desire"
NightScream Teddy Johnson / Ray Ordwell Jr. TV movie
James Dean: Race with Destiny James Dean
1998 Modern Vampires Dallas TV movie, also producer
On the Border Jake Barnes TV movie
1999 Shark Attack Steven McKray
The Collectors A.K.
Thrill Seekers Tom Merrick
2000 Partners Axel
Python Bart Parker
Road Rage Jim Travis
Cutaway Delmira
2000–2001 Titans Chandler Williams 14 episodes
2001 Chasing Destiny Bobby Moritz TV movie
Under Heavy Fire Captain Ramsey
The Tracker Connor Spears
Danger Beneath the Sea Miles Sheffield
2002 The Vector File Gerry
2003 Big Spender Eddie Burton
Windfall "Ace" Logan
2004 Skeleton Man Oberron
Dracula 3000 Abraham Van Helsing
What the Bleep Do We Know!? Romantic Moritz Documentary; uncredited
Rock Me, Baby Michael Episode: "Love at First Flight"
2005 I Married a Princess Himself Also producer
Hollywood Flies Zach TV movie
Maiden Voyage Kyle Considine
Personal Effects Chris Locke
The Fallen Ones Matt Fletcher
Officer Down Philip Hallows
Premonition Jack Barnes
2006 Meltdown Tom
The Curse of King Tut's Tomb Danny Freemont
Slayer "Hawk"
2006–2007 Watch Over Me Andre Forester 64 episodes
2008 Aces 'N' Eights Luke Rivers TV movie
Mask of the Ninja Jack Barrett
2008, 2009 Monk Steven Albright 2 episodes
2009 One Hot Summer Luther Simmonds TV movie
2010 Turbulent Skies Tom
Laugh Track Mash-ups James Episode: "Coopin' with Mr. Levy"
The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation Randy McGovern TV movie
2012 Lake Effects Ash Henson
Fugitive at 17 Spencer Oliphant
Femme Fatales Joe Hallenbeck Episode: "One Man's Death"
Baby's First Christmas Kyle TV movie
2015 Fire Twister Scott
Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf Ray
Patient Killer Jason TV movie; also director
2017 Hawaii Five-0 Roger Niles Episode: "Na La Ilio" (Dog Days)
2018–present All American Harold Adams 10 episodes
2022–present Salvage Marines Samuel Hyst
TBA Stripped Chris Cameron 6 episodes

Filmography: Web Series and Video Games

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Mortal Kombat: Legacy Johnny Cage 5 episodes
2015 Interns of F.I.E.L.D. Hawk Guy 2 episodes
2015–2016 Con Man Waiter (cameo) 6 episodes
2016 Crunch Time Casper Van Dien 3 episodes
2017 Super Power Beat Down - Boba Fett vs Star-Lord Hal Jordan / Green Lantern Fan film
2018 Deadpool The Musical 2 - Ultimate Disney Parody! Cyclops
2021 Batman: Dying Is Easy James Gordon Fan film

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom Confed Redshirt #3
2005 Starship Troopers: The Video Game General Johnny Rico (voice)
2024 Starship Troopers: Extermination General Johnny Rico (voice)

See also

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