Stephen Furst

Stephen Furst (born Steven Nelson Feuerstein on 8 May 1954) is an American actor and film and television director. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, he is best known for his roles as Flounder in the feature film Animal House (1978), as Gonzer in the feature film Up the Creek (1984), as Dr. Elliot Axelrod in the television series St. Elsewhere (1983–1988), and as Vir Cotto in the science fiction television series Babylon 5 (1993–1998). In 1972, Furst's father died from diabetes complications. Years later, Furst was diagnosed with type II diabetes. One of his sisters, Marsha, died from kidney disease as a result of adult-onset diabetes. After almost needing to have his left foot amputated due to diabetes complications in 1996, Furst lost nearly 80 lb (36 kg) in the time between the third and fourth seasons of Babylon 5. When filming started for the fourth season, the show's producers found that all of the costumes were now too large for him. His weight loss is easily visible in the later... full article at wikipedia