Kevin Murphy (actor)

Murphy was born and raised in the Chicago suburb of River Forest, Illinois. After graduating from the University of Utah with a BA in journalism, he attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying stage, film and television directing, and earned a Master of Arts degree. After graduation he worked on the staff of Madison PBS affiliate WHA-TV. Murphy's production work on Jim Mallon's 1987 horror film, Blood Hook, led to Murphy following Mallon to Minneapolis television station KTMA, where Mystery Science Theater 3000 began airing the following year. Kevin Murphy was a co-founder and co-owner of MST3K production company Best Brains, Inc. alongside Joel Hodgson, Jim Mallon and Trace Beaulieu. For eleven years, Murphy was a writer for the series, as well as an associate producer for eight years and then producer for three years. He also was executive producer of The Mystery Science Theater Hour alongside Mallon and Beaulieu. For nine of those years, Murphy also voiced and operated the robot Tom Servo, replacing original cast member J. Elvis Weinstein.