Stephen Furst (8 May 1954 - 16 June 2017) was an American actor and director. He played Vir Cotto in all five seasons of Babylon 5 and in the TV-movie Thirdspace. He also directed some of the episodes.
Born in Norfolk Virginia, Furst graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in theater. Looking for work as an actor, he came to the attention of the producers of Animal House when he took to putting his picture and resume in pizza boxes while working as a deliveryman, and was cast in the role of Flounder.
In 1994, Furst was hired to play the role of Vir Cotto. Between the third and fourth seasons of the series, Furst - who had been earlier diagnosed with type II diabetes - was hospitalized after an infection set in. He nearly lost the foot to the infection. After being released from the hospital, Furst began dieting and exercising, losing about 80 pounds. Upon his return to the fourth season of the series, the wardrobe people found all his costumes were now too large for him. Furst would later write Confessions of a Couch Potato about his weight loss and diabetes. [1]
Furst died on June 16, 2017 at the age of 63 due to complications from diabetes.[2]
Directing Credits
Babylon 5 TV Series
- The Illusion of Truth (17 February 1997)
- The Deconstruction of Falling Stars (17 February 1997)
- The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father (15 April 1998)
Crusade
- Appearances and Other Deceits (28 July 1999)
- Each Night I Dream of Home (1 September 1999)
External links
- Stephen Furst at the Internet Movie Database
- Stephen Furst His official website