Joe Fleishaker


Joseph Isaac Fleishaker was an American character actor who is known for his appearances in low-budget cult and horror comedy movies. In particular, those produced by New York-based independent film company Troma Entertainment, who have billed Fleishaker as "Troma's biggest action star", humorously alluding to his morbid obesity, which surpassed five hundred pounds.

Biography

Fleishaker was first cast in Troma's 1988 action-comedy Troma's War as an extra, where he played a member of a violent terrorist sect. Lloyd Kaufman, the film's director, was amused by Fleishaker's screen presence as an obese guerrilla soldier and ended up giving him more screen time throughout the film. Following Troma's War, Fleishaker struck up an ongoing partnership with Troma, having acted in every Kaufman-directed film from 1989 to 2006. These parts have ranged from background parts and short cameos to much larger supporting roles, such as The Toxic Avenger's sidekick Lardass in Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV.
Outside of their films, Fleishaker became well-known to Troma fans for his numerous appearances in the company's many promotional videos and shorts, where he assumed the role of Troma co-president Michael Herz, who typically prefers to stay out of the public eye. Fleishaker's appearances as Herz were so frequent that many fans have continued to mistake him for the real Michael Herz.
In addition to his work with Troma, Fleishaker appeared at least twelve times as a bit player on Late Night/Late Show with David Letterman during the 1990s, acting in various comedy sketches.
In July 2012, Fleishaker was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed as suffering from kidney, heart and lung failure, weighing nearly. He was later transferred to a physical rehabilitation center where he eventually lost 160 pounds though he still could not retain the ability to walk. On June 3, 2014, a GoFundMe account was opened in Fleishaker's name, aiming to raise $50,000 to help cover his ongoing medical costs and continued treatment. The fundraiser failed, raising only $961 since the fundraiser opened.
Fleishaker died on May 25, 2016, at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx of a possible heart attack.

Filmography

  • Mr. Melvin as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
  • Lloyd-K
  • 2 Girls, 1 Duck as Himself
  • Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High AKA Volume 2 as Lauren 6 months later
  • Sharknado 3 as movie patron who was decapitated by shark
  • Trashtastic as Joe
  • I Spill Your Guts as Dave the Landlord
  • Troma Digital Studios: A Lesson in BrownRay as Michael Herz
  • Poultry in Motion: Truth is Stranger Than Chicken as Himself
  • Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead as Jared
  • Make Your Own Damn Movie! as Himself
  • Tales from the Crapper as Michael Herz/500 Pound Candygramm
  • UnConventional as Himself
  • Parts of the Family as Fat Guy Watching Television
  • Zombiegeddon as Caller #1
  • Apocalypse Soon: The Making of 'Citizen Toxie' as Himself
  • Captain Bill and the Rockin' Buccaneers as Mr. McDoohan
  • Farts of Darkness: The Making of Terror Firmer as Himself
  • Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV as Chester/Lardass
  • Terror Firmer as Jacob Gelman
  • Tromeo and Juliet as 1-900-HOT-HUNK
  • The Troma System as Himself
  • Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. as Josephs
  • The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
  • The Toxic Avenger Part II as Apocalypse Inc. Executive
  • Troma's War as Specially Trained Terrorist

    TV shows

  • Troma's Edge TV as Michael Herz/Lord Fartacus
  • Late Night/Late Show with David Letterman - Himself/Various characters
  • The Tromaville Café as Michael Herz/God
  • Up All Night as Troma Actor Whose Arm Is Ripped Off
  • Beyond Vaudeville as Himself - Guest