Grew up on a dairy farm outside of Cleveland, in rural Elyria, OH.
Cliff was a 1966 graduate of Clearview High School in Lorain, OH, and
has been inducted into the CHS Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
He has established the Cliff Bemis Music Theatre Scholarship at
Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH, from which he graduated in 1970.
He is also the recipient of the 1998 Alumni Merit Award.
While in college, he was an active member in Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity, and was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary
Fraternity.
He built an extensive and varied career in Cleveland, OH, performing
musical theatre, opera, with the Cleveland Opera Co., as well as the
related fields of commercial acting which included jingle singing,
voice-overs, on-camera and industrial films.
He also narrated with the Cleveland Orchestra for their Young People's
Concerts.
Cliff was one of the original cast members of the musical "Jacques Brel
Is Alive And Well And Living in Paris," which played for over two years
on Playhouse Square in Cleveland. That show is widely recognized as the
show which helped save this historic theatre district.
For seven seasons, he was a regular guest artist at The Cleveland Play
House. He was also a regular singer of the National Anthem for the
Cleveland Indians, Browns, and Cavaliers, as well as the Cleveland
National Air Show.
In 1987, while performing on stage together at Kenley Players, Cliff
met and became friends with actor Robby Benson (star of "One on One,"
and the voice of the Beast in "Beauty and the Beast,") and his wife
actress/singer Karla DeVito. They encouraged Cliff to move to LA, which
he did, where he continued to build upon his career.
Cliff has appeared in over 70 different TV shows including "Law and
Order, SVU," "White Collar," "Arliss," "Married With Children,"
"Dallas," "Newhart," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Cheers," "Coach," and
"Murder She Wrote" to name a few, and was featured in the films "Pink
Cadillac" with Clint Eastwood, "Distinguished Gentlemen" with Eddie
Murphy, and "Naked Gun 2 1/2."
He co-starred in "Reunited," starring Julie Hagerty of "Airplane" fame,
starred opposite Lucie Arnaz in "Wonderful Town," and co-starred
opposite Gregory Harrison (Trapper John, MD.) and June Lockhart of
"Lassie" fame in the TV movie, "Au Pair II," shot on location in Prague
in the Czech Republic.
Cliff made his Hollywood Bowl debut, performing in the concert version
of the musical "Mame," starring Michelle Lee, John Schneider, Christine
Ebersole, Fred Willard, and Alan Thicke.
He originated the role of Ezekiel Foster/Mr. Snoring Man in Irving
Berlin's "White Christmas," in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit, two
years on Broadway and in 2011 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn,
NJ.
In the early 1990's, Cliff began his reign as the TV spokesperson for
the IHOP restaurant chain. For ten years "Cliff from IHOP" was
recognized all over the country, appearing in all of the TV ads, as
well as making personal appearances for IHOP all over the USA and
Canada, where he autographed over 75,000 "Cliff at IHOP" pictures.
A long time supporter of law enforcement, in particular the California
Highway Patrol, he is a Lifetime Member in the CHP 11-99 Foundation,
and an Honorary Member of the California Association of Highway
Patrolmen.
Also served on the Board of Directors for the Firefighters Quest for
Burn Survivors, and is an Honorary Deputy Sheriff in the Ventura County
Sheriff's Department.
For ten years, Cliff was also a volunteer during the Christmas holidays
at The White House, serving on a team which prepares this historic home
for the holidays, and met both Presidents and First Ladies Bush and
Clinton on several different occasions.
Cliff's musical interests have resulted in three recordings, including
a Christmas CD titled "Christmas Eve," featuring his vocal talents on
the traditional music of the season. He has also released three
instrumental CDs of favorite hymns titled "Hear My Prayer, Vol. I, II
and III."
He resides in NYC, where he continues his acting and singing career.
To find out more about Cliff and his family, adventures, and to
purchase his CDs, visit his Website at www.cliffbemis.com.
