# Charlie Schlatter
**Charlie Schlatter** (born 1966) is an American actor and voice actor known for playing Dr. Jesse Travis on the CBS series *Diagnosis Murder* and for voicing [The Flash](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-flash) and the title character of *Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil* in animation. His career spans live-action films of the late 1980s, television through the 1990s, and a large body of voice work in cartoons and video games.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966, in Englewood, New Jersey[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/) |
| Training | BFA in musical theater from Ithaca College; played guitar, drums, and piano[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/) |
| Breakout year | Three 1988 films: *Bright Lights, Big City*, *18 Again!*, and *Heartbreak Hotel*[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter) |
| Signature TV role | Dr. Jesse Travis on *Diagnosis Murder*, 1995–2001, 137 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/) |
| Early TV lead | Ferris Bueller in the NBC sitcom *Ferris Bueller*, 1990–1991, 13 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/) |
| Notable voice roles | The Flash in DC animated projects; Kick Buttowski on Disney XD; Ben 10, The Loud House, Justice League Action[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/) • [4](https://considertalent.com/charlie-schlatter/) |
| Video games | Credited on 42 games, including *Mafia: Definitive Edition* and *Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater* (Raikov)[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/146563/charlie-schlatter/) |
## Early life and training
Schlatter was born in 1966 in [Englewood, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/englewood-new-jersey)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/). In junior high school he auditioned for the school production of *Oliver!* to impress a girl in his class, won the lead, and found he loved acting[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/). He attended [Ithaca College](https://www.edgepedia.org/ithaca-college), earning a BFA in musical theater, starred in numerous plays there, and spent his summers in summer stock, becoming a skilled musician on guitar, drums, and piano[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/). During a performance of [George Bernard Shaw](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-bernard-shaw)'s *Misalliance*, a casting director spotted him and asked him to audition for *Bright Lights, Big City*, playing the younger brother of Michael J. Fox's character; it was his first professional audition[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/).
## 1980s film work
Three Schlatter films appeared in 1988. In *Bright Lights, Big City* he played Michael's brother; in *18 Again!* he played the grandson whose body is taken over by [George Burns](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-burns)'s character; and in *Heartbreak Hotel* he was Johnny Wolfe, a teen who kidnaps [Elvis Presley](https://www.edgepedia.org/elvis-presley)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter). A big film career did not follow. He went to Australia for *The Delinquents* (1989), a 1950s-era teen movie co-starring [Kylie Minogue](https://www.edgepedia.org/kylie-minogue), but his U.S. film work afterward was sporadic, with appearances in *All American Murder* and *Ed* (1996)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter). He also appeared in the TV movies *Stormy Weathers* (ABC, 1992) opposite Cybill Shepherd and *Sunset Heat* (HBO, 1992) alongside Dennis Hopper[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/charlie-schlatter/).
## Television
**Ferris Bueller.** In 1990 Schlatter was cast as the title character in the NBC sitcom based on John Hughes's film, taking over a role made famous by [Matthew Broderick](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-broderick). The series lasted 13 episodes across 1990 and 1991[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/). Schlatter later said the pilot was the most-watched ever at the time, but judged that the show needed the approach of *Parker Lewis Can't Lose* and that its writers were not the right fit for the project[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/).
**Diagnosis Murder.** In 1995 Schlatter joined the CBS series *Diagnosis Murder* as Dr. Jesse Travis, the sidekick and comic relief to [Dick Van Dyke](https://www.edgepedia.org/dick-van-dyke)'s Dr. Mark Sloan, filling a spot vacated by [Scott Baio](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-baio)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter). He played the role for 137 episodes from 1995 to 2001 and reprised it in the 2002 TV movies *Diagnosis Murder: Town Without Pity* and *Diagnosis Murder: Without Warning*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter). He described the character as "basically me. He's very goofy," and recalled Van Dyke, at his audition, asking "Have we met before?"; Schlatter answered that if he had ever met Dick Van Dyke he would have remembered[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-07-tv-21989-story.html) • [3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/).
## Voice acting
Schlatter did not set out to become a voice actor. While on *Diagnosis Murder*, hiatus offers would have taken him out of town, and he wanted to stay home with his young children; a manager suggested voice-over, and he landed a STARZ campaign at his first agency meeting[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/). He credits the work's flexibility, a few hours in a recording studio versus a twelve-hour day on location, for the choice[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/).
His voice roles concentrate in animation and games. He became the voice of The Flash across numerous DC animated projects, including *Justice League Action* and the *Batman Unlimited* videos, and voiced Robin and [Damian Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/damian-wayne) in *LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite* (2013)[4](https://considertalent.com/charlie-schlatter/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter). He also voiced characters in *Ben 10*, *The Loud House*, *Phineas and Ferb*, *The Fairly OddParents*, and *Big Nate*[4](https://considertalent.com/charlie-schlatter/) • [8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/charlie-schlatter/credits/3030757809/).
The title role of [Disney XD](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-xd)'s *Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil* (2010–2012, 52 episodes) was harder to build than an action-hero voice. Schlatter does not do impressions; he based Kick's voice on [Clint Eastwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/clint-eastwood) and on a performer from the SNL-like series *Fridays*. The production had recorded an entire series with another actor, discarded it, and cast him instead[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/). He has said playing a daredevil came naturally: as a kid he lived on his bike imagining himself [Evel Knievel](https://www.edgepedia.org/evel-knievel)[9](https://whatsupusana.com/2012/04/influencer-insider-animated-actor-charlie-schlatter/).
In video games he is credited on 42 titles, including *Mafia: Definitive Edition* (2020), *Skylanders: Imaginators* (2016), *LEGO Dimensions* (2015), *The Wonderful 101* (2013, as Wonder-Red), and *Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater* (2025, as Raikov)[5](https://www.mobygames.com/person/146563/charlie-schlatter/).
## Health and advocacy
Schlatter was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2006 after a year of declining health; at diagnosis he was, in his words, 96 percent infected. He manages the disease with a daily oral treatment, which he compares to taking a pill that keeps him in the game[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/). After his theatrical agency dropped him from its roster, he ran a theater company and rebuilt his resume. His friend [Mindy Sterling](https://www.edgepedia.org/mindy-sterling) nominated him for the Man of the Year campaign, a leukemia fundraising effort, which he won by a wide margin, and he has since spoken publicly about the disease and raised money for research and resources[3](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/).
## Personal life
In 1994 Schlatter married his wife Colleen, who works as a publicist and life coach; they have three children and live in southern California[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/). He remains active at fan conventions, where his work across live-action television and superhero animation draws audiences from multiple generations[4](https://considertalent.com/charlie-schlatter/).
## References
1. [Charlie Schlatter, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0772116/)
2. [Charlie Schlatter Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/charlie_schlatter)
3. [Actor Charlie Schlatter on Work, Health, and Complacency, PremiumBeat (2018)](https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/interview-actor-charlie-schlatter/)
4. [Charlie Schlatter | Actor and Voice Artist, Consider Talent](https://considertalent.com/charlie-schlatter/)
5. [Charlie Schlatter, MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/person/146563/charlie-schlatter/)
6. [Charlie Schlatter – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/charlie-schlatter/)
7. [WITH AN EYE ON . . . : An impish Charlie Schlatter provides this season's Rx for "Diagnosis Murder," Los Angeles Times (1996)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-01-07-tv-21989-story.html)
8. [Charlie Schlatter List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/charlie-schlatter/credits/3030757809/)
9. [Influencer Insider: Animated Actor Charlie Schlatter, USANA (2012)](https://whatsupusana.com/2012/04/influencer-insider-animated-actor-charlie-schlatter/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sc to Sl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license