Jeff East

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Jeff East : biography

October 27, 1957 –

Jeff East (born October 27, 1957) is an American actor. Beginning his professional acting career at the age of fourteen, East is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Huckleberry Finn in the United Artists feature films Tom Sawyer (1973) and Huckleberry Finn (1974), as well as for his portrayal of a teenage Clark Kent in the Warner Bros. feature film Superman (1978).

Career

East’s feature film credits include Flight of the Wolf (1974), Summer Of Fear aka "Stranger In Our House" (1978), Mary and Joseph: A Story of Faith (1979), Klondike Fever (1980), Deadly Blessing (1981), Up the Creek (1984), Dream West (1986), Pumpkinhead (1988), Another Chance (1989), and Deadly Exposure (1993).

East also starred in the 1983 TV movie The Day After. His TV guest appearances include M*A*S*H, Otherworld, and Shades of L.A..

Superman

Unbeknownst to East, his Superman dialogue was dubbed over by Christopher Reeve, a situation which he admits led to some tension between the two actors. The only time his real voice is heard in the film is when he yells "Whoooohooooooo" when narrowly speeding past a train.

Personal life

In 1987, East became involved in real estate development with his father. In February 2004, he moved back to Kansas City to take over his father’s commercial real estate company.

East has been married twice. His first marriage was to Lori Gates, producing two children, Alexander Gates East (born 1984) and Madison Gates East (born 1987). His second marriage was short-lived and produced no children.

East currently resides in the Kansas City area. He was a producer/director working on films in 2008 and 2009.

Early life

East was born Jeffrey Franklin East on October 27, 1957 in Kansas City, Missouri to parents Ira and Joanne East. His father worked in real estate and his mother was a home-maker. East grew up with three siblings; an older sister named Anne (b. 1950), an older brother named Ronald (b. 1953) and a twin sister named Jane who was born approximately five minutes after Jeff.