While a normal actor in Hollywood would say that he or she or they have “made it” after winning an Oscar, an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Tony or maybe even a Razzy if they have a sense of humor, actor Jeff Daniels said that he had “made it” in the movie industry after scientists from the University of California Riverside (UCR) named a newly discovered tarantula killing parasite after him. They named it Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi.

In a press release, scientists at UCR said that they had discovered a new species of worm in a group called nematodes that kills tarantulas. They decided to name the worm after actor, musician and producer Jeff Daniels. They also said that the naming was unique as no other entertainer can claim to have this distinction.

Adler Dilman, the lead at the team that discovered the nematode said that Jeff Daniels character in the film “Arachnophobia” killed spiders and this was exactly what the nematode did. So, the University of California Riverside parasitologist and his team decided to honor Daniels by naming the parasite after him.

In remarks to UCR, American actor Jeff Daniels responded saying that his first thought was “Why?” had UCR named a nematode after him. He joked as he claimed that he wondered if the parasite had a resemblance to him.

Then he added that “honestly” he was honored by the homage paid to him and Arachnophobia and said that it made him smile. He added that of course, in Hollywood “you haven’t really made it until you’ve been recognized by those in the field of parasitology.”

Jeff Warren Daniels is a popular American actor and playwright as well as a musician. He has been nominated for Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony awards. He has won two Emmys. He has become the first Hollywood actor to have a real life tarantula (spider) killing parasite named after him, although in reel life he was himself was a spider killer in his role as Dr. Ross Jennings in the 1990 film Arachnophobia.

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