ames Widdoes

 o prepare for their roles in "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978), and despite being warned against mixing with the students, the cast of the Deltas (except John Belushi, who was in New York City working on "Saturday Night Live') accepted an invitation from some girls to a real frat party at the University of Oregon's SAE house. The real fraternity members treated them with hostility, and a brawl ensued, started by James Widdoes when he threw a cup of beer at some drunken football players. Widdoes ended up losing a few teeth, and Bruce McGill received a black eye. When Belushi returned to the set and learned of the fight, he had to be physically restrained from seeking revenge. Although accidental, this real-life incident proved emblematic of the members and character of Delta House.

According to Widdoes, none of the seven principal Delta actors (John Belushi, Tim Matheson, Peter Riegert, Tom Hulce, Stephen Furst, McGill, or Widdoes himself) had ever belonged to a college fraternity.

When the film was released, John Landis, Widdoes, and Karen Allen went on a national promotional tour. Universal Pictures spent about $4.5 million promoting the film at selected college campuses, and helped students organize their own toga parties. One such party at the University of Maryland attracted around 2,000 people, while students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison tried for a crowd of 10,000 people and a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Widdoes has since guest starred in many TV series episodes, most notably as the patriarch of the Pembroke family, Stan, in the 1984-1985 seasons of "Charles in Charge." He has also produced and/or directed many episodes for various television series. He directed several episodes of "Two and a Half Men" during the show's first six seasons and began directing the series regularly beginning with season seven. He directed all but two episodes of the series' final six seasons.

Happy Birthday, James Widdoes!