Most people recognize Diedrich Bader from The Drew Carey Show, where he shined as “man-child” Oswald Harvey. However, it’s far from the actor’s only role. Bader has a prolific career that stretches far and wide into voice acting.
Bader got his start as a guest star in various TV shows before landing his first significant gig in Danger Theater. While his leap to the big screen occurred in 1993’s The Beverly Hillbillies, the aforementioned Drew Carey Show earned him notoriety. Although Bader’s face isn’t unfamiliar across TV and movies, his voice-acting credits surpass his live-action roles.
Exploring Bader’s full filmography is no easy undertaking. However, to get you started, here are the 10 best Diedrich Bader movies and TV shows and where to stream them.
The Drew Carey Show
As the title not-so-subtly indicates, comedian Drew Carey is undoubtedly the star of The Drew Carey Show. However, like all good sitcoms, Carey has a small ensemble cast to bounce off of. One of them is Bader’s Oswald Harvey, the right-hand man of Drew Carey’s friend Lewis Kiniski (Ryan Stiles). Like all good double acts, Oswald is the dimwitted foil to Lewis’ “straight man” persona. Appearing in all nine seasons, The Drew Carey Show remains one of Bader’s longest-running roles. If you want a taste of Bader’s charisma and impeccable comedic timing, his role as Oswald Harvey is the place to start.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Batman: The Brave and the Bold is a DC Comics adaptation featuring some of Batman’s most iconic team-ups. Bader provides the voice of Batman, delivering a slightly campy performance fitting of The Brave and the Bold’s silver age vibe. Although Kevin Conroy remains a Batman icon, fans quickly took to Bader’s goofier portrayal of the hero. Bader took a similar approach to Batman in Harley Quinn, despite being a different incarnation of the Caped Crusader. While he shined in both versions, The Brave and the Bold better showcases Bader’s range.
American Housewife
Running for five seasons beginning in 2016, American Housewife chronicles the everyday struggles of Katie Otto (Katy Mixon), a modest housewife trying to fit in with her pretentious, class-climbing neighbors in Westport, Connecticut. Alongside her is Bader’s Greg Otto, her loving husband and devoted father of their three children. No stranger to sitcoms, Bader delivers a reliable performance as a quirky TV dad archetype of sorts. If anything, American Housewife suffers from not spending enough time with Greg and the rest of the cast.
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy centers on the unlikely friendship of its title characters: Billy (Richard Steven Horvitz) and Mandy (Grey DeLisle). Together, they get into all sorts of hijinks with the Grim Reaper (Greg Eagles). Strange? Absolutely. However, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy remains an award-winning staple of Cartoon Network’s early 2000s programming. Bader stars as Hoss Delgado, a recurring character who’s hard to overlook. As a monster-hunting spectral exterminator, Bader delivers his lines with a tropey action movie gruffness.
Veep
Veep is an award-winning series starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the fictional Vice President of the United States, Selina Meyer. Around her is a team of people working to leave their political mark but leaving a trail of dysfunction instead. Bader plays Bill Ericsson, known by some as “Bill the Knife.” He enters Veep in Season 3, tossing himself into the ring for the position of Selena’s campaign manager before ditching her for an opponent. Once again, Veep proves that Bader gets comedy. More importantly, Bader credited Julia Louis Dreyfus with turning his career around (Really Famous).
Surf’s Up
Ash Brannon and Chris Buck utilize a documentary style to parody surf documentaries using a cast of anthropomorphic birds in Surf’s Up (2007). The mockumentary follows penguin Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf) on his quest to take home the gold at a big surfing competition. His main competition is Bader’s Tank “The Shredder” Evans, a rival penguin with a physique befitting his name.
Transformers: Earthspark
Adding to the mighty Transformers franchise, Transformers: Earthspark seeks to connect with younger audiences and debuts the Terrans, the first Transformers actually born on Earth. Bader shines as the sinister Dr. Meridian, whose war injuries in the Autobot-Decepticon War spiraled him into villainy. Perhaps what’s most fun about Bader’s performance as Dr. Meridian is the menace. For an actor known for playing heroes like Batman and Booster Gold, Transformers: Earthspark allows him to flex his prowess as a villain.
Better Things
For five seasons, Pamela Adlon navigates the daily struggles of a divorced actress trying to manage work and raise her three very different daughters in Better Things. Again, Bader finds himself in a supporting role as Rich, Sam’s gay best friend. Although classified as a comedy-drama, Better Things is also grounded and, at times, even a little sad. As such, it presents Bader in one of his more unique roles.
Office Space
Mike Judge expertly satirizes the mundane day-to-day while working in a soul-sucking office job in Office Space (1999). While Ron Livingston’s Peter Gibbons and Jennifer Aniston's Joanna take center stage, Bader runs support with Lawrence, Peter’s mullet-rocking neighbor. Despite Bader’s relatively small part in the film, his deadpan delivery to the “What would you do with a million dollars?” question earned him a devoted fanbase.
Napoleon Dynamite
Best described as a quirky coming-of-age story, Napoleon Dynamite follows the high school dilemmas of a nerdy teenager (John Heder). Like Office Space, Bader plays a minor supporting role as Rex, the owner of Rex Kwon Do martial arts. Napoleon and his friend never quite get the “strength of a grizzly” or the “reflexes of a puma” at Rex Kwon Do. Instead, Rex’s self-defense teachings unravel into chaotic comedy, complete with a healthy dose of bullying. Not only is Bader’s character memorable, but he has some of the movie’s most quotable lines.
Where to watch the best Diedrich Bader movies and TV shows streaming online
Looking to delve deeper in Diedrich Bader’s massive filmography? Below, you can find where to stream some of his best movies and TV shows, from fan-favorite live-action appearances to well-loved voice acting roles.
