# French Stewart
**French Stewart** (born 1964) is an American actor and voice actor, born Milton French Stewart, best known for playing the alien Harry Solomon on the NBC sitcom *3rd Rock from the Sun* (1996–2001) and the hot-tempered Chef Rudy on the CBS sitcom *Mom*.[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999) "French" is a family name used for generations; he is French number four.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829390)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964, Albuquerque, New Mexico; full name Milton French Stewart[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964) |
| Training | B.F.A. in Theatre Arts, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, 1985; seven years touring in regional theater[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964) |
| Signature role | Harry Solomon, the communications officer of the alien expedition, on *3rd Rock from the Sun* (NBC, 1996–2001, six seasons)[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999) |
| Awards | Three SAG ensemble nominations (1997–1999) for *3rd Rock*; Daytime Emmy nomination (2000) for *Hercules*; Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor (2010) for *Surveillance*[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/french-stewart/bio/3030508380/) |
| Theatre | Artist in residence for Justin Tanner at the Cast Theatre since 1989; L.A. Weekly award for *Pot Mom*[5](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/) |
| Notable films | *Stargate* (1994), *Leaving Las Vegas* (1995), *Love Stinks* (1999), *Dick* (1999), *Inspector Gadget 2* (2003), *Surveillance* (2008)[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart) |
| Recent work | Chef Rudy on *Mom*; Robert, an emotionally abusive father, in *Bob Trevino Likes It*[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999) • [7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/french-stewart-went-comedy-star-170000673.html) |
## Early life and training
Stewart was born in [Albuquerque, New Mexico](https://www.edgepedia.org/albuquerque-new-mexico); his mother was a homemaker and his stepfather worked in a technological laboratory.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829390) He graduated from Del Norte High School, attended West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M) in Canyon, Texas, for two semesters in 1982–1983, and earned a B.F.A. in theater arts from the [American Academy of Dramatic Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-academy-of-dramatic-arts) in 1985.[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11775/french-stewart) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964) • [6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart) After graduation he spent seven years touring in regional theater.[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829390)
**First jobs.** He earned his [Screen Actors Guild](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild) card playing [Yogi Bear](https://www.edgepedia.org/yogi-bear) on Hanna-Barbera's Shakey Quakey Tour, a job he lost for pulling off the bear head in front of a group of children.[8](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11775/french-stewart) • [4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/french-stewart/bio/3030508380/) His first booked screen role was the DJ Razor Dee on the second and final season of *The New WKRP in Cincinnati* (CBS, 1991–93).[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart)
## Los Angeles theater
**Cast Theatre.** Since 1989 Stewart has been an artist in residence for playwright-director Justin Tanner at the Cast Theatre in Hollywood, originating roles in *Zombie Attack* (which became L.A.'s longest running play), *Party Mix*, *Teen Girl*, *Happy Time X-Mas*, *Intervention*, and *Pot Mom*, for which he won an L.A. Weekly award.[5](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/) He has named *Pot Mom* as the Tanner play he connects with most.[9](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cast-craziness-french-stewarts-hard-hilarious-work-little-la-48886/)
His other stage credits include *Little Egypt* at the Matrix, *The Nerd* at the Colony, *Romeo and Juliet* at South Coast Repertory, and *King Lear*, *Richard II*, and *A Comedy of Errors* for the Grove Shakespeare Festival.[5](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/) At the Geffen Playhouse he appeared in *Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas* (2009), and he ran for a lengthy period in L.A. and Chicago opposite [Laurie Metcalf](https://www.edgepedia.org/laurie-metcalf) in Justin Tanner's *Voice Lessons*.[5](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/) • [7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/french-stewart-went-comedy-star-170000673.html) He also appeared as [Buster Keaton](https://www.edgepedia.org/buster-keaton) in the critically acclaimed *Stoneface*.[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999)
## 3rd Rock from the Sun
In 1996 Stewart was cast as Harry Solomon, the communications officer of an expedition of extraterrestrials posing as a human family in Rutherford, Ohio.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart) • [10](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/3rd-rock-from-the-sun) Over its six-season run on NBC, Stewart earned a reputation as one of the show's most dependable sources of laughs, together with cast members [John Lithgow](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-lithgow), Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and [Kristen Johnston](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristen-johnston).[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart) A running gag had Harry, arms stiff as an antenna, suddenly announce "Incoming message from the Big Giant Head."[10](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/3rd-rock-from-the-sun) His portrayal, marked by a smiling squint and physical comedy, was reportedly based on a character study of silent film comedians.[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/french-stewart/bio/3030508380/) The role brought three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for outstanding ensemble performance in a comedy series, in 1997, 1998, and 1999.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964)
## Film and later television
Stewart's film work includes Lieutenant Ferretti in *Stargate* (1994), *Leaving Las Vegas* (1995), *McHale's Navy* (1997), the title role in *[Inspector Gadget 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/inspector-gadget-2)* (2003), and a dark turn as Jim Conrad in the [David Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-lynch)-produced *Surveillance* (2008), for which he received critical acclaim and won the Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2010 ceremony.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart) • [5](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/) • [4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/french-stewart/bio/3030508380/) As a voice actor he played Icarus in Disney's animated *[Hercules](https://www.edgepedia.org/hercules-1998-tv-series)* series, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2000, and Bob Allman in *God, the Devil and Bob*.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964)
Guest and recurring television roles have been extensive: *Seinfeld*, *The Larry Sanders Show*, *Just Shoot Me!*, *NewsRadio*, *Bones*, *The Closer*, *Castle*, *Pushing Daisies*, *Psych*, and a recurring Principal Cameron on *The Middle*.[5](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/) • [1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999) On *Community* he played Vinnie, a French Stewart impersonator.[11](https://actoragecheck.com/actor/French-Stewart/67711) From 2013 he appeared across multiple seasons of *Mom* as Chef Rudy, the restaurant's hot-tempered chef.[1](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999)
## Bob Trevino Likes It and recent work
In 2024 Stewart played Robert, an emotionally abusive father, in Tracie Laymon's debut feature *Bob Trevino Likes It*, a role that showed the actor, usually cast as likable characters, in a new light.[7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/french-stewart-went-comedy-star-170000673.html) The film closed out the SXSW Film Festival by winning both the Jury Prize and the Audience Award, and Stewart earned raves for the performance.[7](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/french-stewart-went-comedy-star-170000673.html) His other recent credits include *Queen Bees* (2021), *Will Trent* (2023, as Lenny Broussard), *Chicago Med* (as Frederick Lambert), and the 2025 action-comedy *[Killing Mary Sue](https://www.edgepedia.org/killing-mary-sue)* as Vladyslav Volkov.[12](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-59043/filmographie/) • [11](https://actoragecheck.com/actor/French-Stewart/67711)
## Personal life
Stewart married the actress Katherine La Nasa on May 19, 1998, and later married Vanessa Claire Stewart.[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964) • [13](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/french-stewart/) He has served as the official spokesperson for Clamato, a drink made of tomato juice and clam broth, and owns a substantial collection of silent films.[4](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/french-stewart/bio/3030508380/)
## References
1. [French Stewart, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3999)
2. [French Stewart, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0829390)
3. [Stewart, French 1964–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewart-french-1964)
4. [French Stewart Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/french-stewart/bio/3030508380/)
5. [French Stewart, Geffen Playhouse](https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/people/french-stewart/)
6. [French Stewart, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/french_stewart)
7. [How French Stewart Went From Comedy Star to 'TV Jail' to a Surprising Dramatic Turn in 'Bob Trevino Likes It', Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/french-stewart-went-comedy-star-170000673.html)
8. [French Stewart, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/11775/french-stewart)
9. [Cast Into Craziness, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/cast-craziness-french-stewarts-hard-hilarious-work-little-la-48886/)
10. [3rd Rock From the Sun, Television Academy Interviews](https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/shows/3rd-rock-from-the-sun)
11. [French Stewart Acting Credits, ActorAgeCheck](https://actoragecheck.com/actor/French-Stewart/67711)
12. [French Stewart : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-59043/filmographie/)
13. [French Stewart, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/french-stewart/)
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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 Sm to Su*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 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