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H. Jon Benjamin | |
|---|---|
 Benjamin in 2022 | |
| Born | Harry Jon Benjamin (1966-05-23)May 23, 1966 (age 58) Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Education | Connecticut College (BA) |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1987–present |
| Partner | Amy Beth Silver |
| Children | 1 |
Harry Jon Benjamin[1] (born May 23, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician.[2] He is known for his voice roles in adult animated series, includingSterling Archer inArcher,Bob Belcher inBob's Burgers, Ben inDr. Katz, Professional Therapist, Kevin inO'Grady, Satan inLucy, the Daughter of the Devil, and Coach McGuirk and Jason Penopolis inHome Movies, starring as the voice of Boy in the filmBoy Kills World (2023) and the video gameSuper Dragon Punch Force 3 (2024). Benjamin was named 2014's male comedy performer of the year atVulture's TV Awards for his work inBob's Burgers andArcher. He also appeared in the 2001 satirical comedy filmWet Hot American Summer; its subsequent 2015 television series,Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp; and the final installment of the franchise, the 2017 miniseriesWet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later.[3]
Benjamin was born on May 23, 1966, to a Jewish family inWorcester, Massachusetts.[4][5] His father, Howard, was CEO of an electric company, and his mother, Shirley, was a former ballet dancer who taught dance at a studio.[6] He graduated fromWorcester Academy in 1984 andConnecticut College in 1988.[7]
Benjamin's comedy career began inBoston, where he was in a comedy duo withSam Seder, then a member of Cross Comedy, a comedy team led byDavid Cross. For the first seven years of his career, Benjamin almost exclusively worked in groups rather than independently. Afterward, his independent work remained more experimental, rejecting traditional styles of stand-up comedy.
Benjamin's live projects include theMidnight Pajama Jam, a show performed in New York City withJon Glaser andTinkle, a show combining stand-up comedy and live music, co-hosted byTodd Barry andDavid Cross. AMidnight Pajama Jam DVD is currently[when?] in production. Benjamin and Cross appear together on the albumInvite Them Up.
He was the guest onSpace Ghost Coast to Coast in its eighty-first episode, "King Dead" on December 17, 1999, whereZorak andMoltar kidnapped him. He has appeared in the television showCheap Seats, onESPN Classic, as "Gene Stapleton" and "Rabbi Marc Shalowitz". He co-starred inTodd Barry's short filmBorrowing Saffron and portrayed a talking can of vegetables with a shameful habit ofautofellatio in the filmWet Hot American Summer. He made short cameos inNot Another Teen Movie as the football trainer and on theFX Networkcomedy dramaRescue Me as thepimp "F-bomb" in season two. He can be seen inTurbocharge-the Unauthorized Story of the Cars, a comedy biopic about the '80s rock bandThe Cars, playing the role of Cars' managerElliot Roberts in his usual deadpan comedic delivery.[8]
Benjamin has done extensive voice work in animated TV shows. His credits include starring roles in severalSoup2Nuts cartoon shows, such asScience Court,Home Movies,O'Grady,Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist andAssy McGee. He co-createdFreak Show withDavid Cross. Benjamin starred as the Devil and multiple other roles inLucy, the Daughter of the Devil, which ran for one season onAdult Swim beginning September 9, 2007. Benjamin plays a recurring character on thePBS Kids seriesWordGirl and is the announcer forThe Sam Seder Show andThe Majority Report. He did the voice of "Shelly", Sam Seder's accountant, onBreakroom Live with Maron & Seder.
Benjamin has made guest appearances in several animated shows. He was in theAqua Teen Hunger Force episodes "Bus of the Undead" and "The Last One" as Mothmonsterman, in "Broodwich" as Mr. Sticks, in "Bible Fruit" as Mortimer Mango and played the live-action role ofMaster Shake in "Last Last One Forever and Ever", credited as Capt. Turd Mahoy. He made a cameo appearance as a government agent in the filmAqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters alongside frequent collaboratorJon Glaser. He has appeared inFamily Guy as Carl, a movie trivia obsessedconvenience store clerk who portrayedYoda in theStar Wars parody episode "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side".
Other appearances includeThe Venture Bros., in the episodes "Escape to the House of Mummies Part II", "I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills" and "The Better Man", in which he playedDr. Orpheus's master—who appears in the form ofCerberus,Catherine the Great's horse and, in "The Better Man", both Dr. Orpheus's ex-wife and a futureDean Venture, respectively. He appeared in theStella short "Bar", which can be found as aneaster egg on the Season 1 DVD. Benjamin appeared on theComedy Central sketch/variety showImportant Things with Demetri Martin.
In 2009, Benjamin andDavid Cross created and wrote forPaid Programming, a live-action pilot forCartoon Network's late night programing block, Adult Swim.Paid Programming was not picked up for a full series and Benjamin referred to it as an "abject failure".[9]
Benjamin was featured in aSuper Bowl XLIIIBud Light commercial withConan O'Brien[10] and was responsible for the McCain Girls[11] videos on YouTube.[12] He voices Sterling Archer, a secret agent in theFX seriesArcher that first aired January 14, 2010.[13] He has appeared in several segments of the television showHuman Giant and had a cameo in theAmerican Dad! episode "License to Till" as a talking head of cabbage.
Benjamin starred in theComedy Central seriesJon Benjamin Has a Van, which he co-created with comedianLeo Allen.[14] The series debuted on May 14, 2011; a total of 10 episodes aired, the last on August 10, 2011.
Beginning in 2013, Benjamin's voice can be heard as the narrator of a series of TV commercials forCoke Zero, including some with tie-ins toESPN'sCollege Game Day program.[citation needed]
In 2014, Benjamin was named as the year's best male comedy performer for his work onBob's Burgers andArcher by the Vulture TV Awards, a digital expansion ofNew York magazine.[15]
In 2015, despite not knowing how to play any instrument, Benjamin released his first jazz album,Well, I Should Have....[16] Benjamin "played" piano and was joined by Scott Kreitzer on sax,David Finck on bass, and Jonathan Preitz on drums.[17]
Benjamin wrote a comedic autobiography,Failure is an Option: An Attempted Memoir, which was published byPenguin Random House in May 2018.[1] He also narrated theaudiobook.
Benjamin began appearing in commercials forArby'srestaurant chain in 2018 as their new spokesman.[18]
In March 2020, Benjamin was the voice ofSaddam Hussein inBlowback, a podcast about theIraq War created and hosted by Brendan James and Noah Kulwin.[19]
In 2024, Benjamin appears as the voice of a pigeon in the new Progressive Insurance commercials.
Benjamin was named "Harry" after his paternal grandfather, but his family has always called him by his middle name "Jon";[1] in his early years, he was unaware of his actual first name.[20] He has said that the inclusion of his first initial in the credits onDr. Katz, Professional Therapist was done without his consent by co-starLaura Silverman "just to make fun of me."[20]
Benjamin's longtime partner is set decorator Amy Beth Silver. They have a son and live inBrooklyn.[6]
Benjamin is an amateurornithologist.[21]
In January 2020, Benjamin endorsedBernie Sanders for president and narrated a series of videos on Sanders's health care proposals.[22] In September 2020, Benjamin voiced an animated version of himself to promote the launch video for theGravel Institute'sYouTube channel.[23]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Who's the Caboose? | Ken Fold | |
| 1998 | Next Stop Wonderland | Eric | |
| 2000 | Happy Accidents | Reveler #1 | |
| 2001 | Wet Hot American Summer | Can of Vegetables (voice) | |
| Not Another Teen Movie | Trainer | ||
| 2002 | Martin & Orloff | Keith | |
| Borrowing Saffron | Ron | Short film | |
| 2003 | Temptation | Kevin | |
| 2004 | New York Minute | Vendor | |
| 2007 | Puberty: The Movie | The Torah / Uncle Irving | |
| Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters | CIA Agent #1 (voice) | ||
| The Ten | Lying Rhyno (voice) | ||
| 2008 | The Toe Tactic | Police Officer | |
| A Bad Situationist | Isaiah | ||
| Turbocharge: The Unauthorized Story of the Cars | Dance Instructor | ||
| 2014 | 22 Jump Street | MCS Coach | Uncredited[24] |
| Jason Nash Is Married | Dennis | ||
| 2015 | Creative Control | Gary Gass | |
| Limbo | Jim | Short film | |
| Hell and Back | The Tree (voice) | ||
| 2022 | The Bob's Burgers Movie | Bob Belcher (voice) | |
| 2024 | Boy Kills World | Boy's Inner Voice (voice) | |
| Familiar Touch | Steve |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Understanding | Quark | Episode: "Uncertainty" |
| 1995–1999; 2002 | Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Ben, Various voices | 80 episodes Also writer |
| 1997 | The Chris Rock Show | Extra | 1 episode |
| The Jenny McCarthy Show | Various | 6 episodes | |
| 1997–2000 | Science Court | Prof. Nick Parsons (voice) | 29 episodes |
| 1998 | Sex and the City | Jeff | Episode: "Bay of Married Pigs" |
| Upright Citizens Brigade | Various | 10 episodes | |
| 1999 | Dick and Paula Celebrity Special | Various | 2 episodes Also writer |
| Space Ghost Coast to Coast | Himself | Episode: "King Dead" | |
| 1999–2004 | Home Movies | Coach John McGuirk, Jason Penopolis, Various voices | 52 episodes Also writer and producer |
| 2001–2009 | Aqua Teen Hunger Force | Various voices | 5 episodes |
| 2002 | Saddle Rash | Gummy, Tommy Morgan (voices) | Pilot Also writer |
| 2003 | Hey Monie! | Self-defense instructor | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Pilot Season | Ken Fold | 2 episodes |
| Say Uncle | Jonny | Failed pilot | |
| 2004–2006 | Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker | Rabbi Marc Shalowitz, Gene Stapleton | 4 episodes |
| O'Grady | Kevin Harnisch, Iris, Philip (voices) | 19 episodes | |
| 2005 | Rescue Me | Gary | Episode: "Rebirth" |
| 2005–2006 | Sunday Pants | Bob the Log | Travel Logs shorts |
| 2005–2007 | Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil | Satan, Special Father #1 (voices) | 11 episodes Also writer |
| 2006 | Freak Show | Tuck, Various voices | 7 episodes Also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
| 2006–2008 | Assy McGee | The Mayor, Various voices | 19 episodes Also writer and consulting producer |
| 2006–2012 | The Venture Bros. | The Master (voice) | 4 episodes |
| 2006–present | Family Guy | Carl Graves, Bob Belcher, Various voices | 27 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Human Giant | Various | 4 episodes Also consultant writer |
| 2007–2015 | WordGirl | Reginald the Jewelry Store Clerk, InvisiBill, Additional Voices | 31 episodes |
| 2009 | Michael & Michael Have Issues | Larry | Episode: "Frog Box" |
| Paid Programming | Various | Pilot Co-creator, writer and executive producer | |
| Parks and Recreation | Scott Braddock | Episode: "Kaboom" | |
| Titan Maximum | Tap Banister (voice) | Episode: "Dirty Lansbury" | |
| 2009–2010 | Important Things with Demetri Martin | Various | 7 episodes Also writer and co-producer |
| 2009–2023 | Archer | Sterling Archer (voice) | 145 episodes |
| 2011 | Jon Benjamin Has a Van | Host | 10 episodes Also co-creator, writer and executive producer |
| Soul Quest Overdrive | Mortimer (voice) | 6 episodes Also co-creator and co-writer | |
| American Dad! | Talking Cabbage (voice) | Episode: "License to Till" | |
| 2011–present | Bob's Burgers | Bob Belcher,Jimmy Pesto Jr., Various voices | Main role |
| 2012 | Suburgatory | Tabitha | Episode: "Ryan's Song" |
| Ugly Americans | Dick Maggotbone (voice) | Episode: "Mark Loves Dick" | |
| 2013 | Nathan for You | Himself | Episode: "Yogurt Shop/Pizzeria" |
| 2014–2021 | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Ben, Scientist, Defendant, Blank Void | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Conan | Sterling Archer (voice) | Episode: "677" |
| Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Can of Vegetables, Mitch | 4 episodes | |
| The Jim Gaffigan Show | Kevin | Episode: "The Bible Story" | |
| The Adventures of Puss in Boots | Baltasar (voice) | Episode: "Luck" | |
| All Hail King Julien | Fred (voice) | 5 episodes | |
| 2015–2017 | Master of None | Benjamin | 4 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | People of Earth | Officer Glimmer | 8 episodes |
| 2017 | Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Can of Vegetables, Mitch | 5 episodes |
| Difficult People | Brian | Episode: "Fuzz Buddies" | |
| 2018 | The Who Was? Show | Narrator (voice) | 13 episodes |
| The Simpsons | Bob Belcher (voice) | Episode: "My Way or the Highway to Heaven" | |
| 2019 | Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas | Batman | Episode: "Inequality Problems" |
| Star Trek: Short Treks | Edward Larkin | Episode: "The Trouble with Edward" | |
| 2020–2022 | Central Park | Mayor Whitney Whitebottom (voice) | 7 episodes |
| 2021–2023 | Teenage Euthanasia | Various voices | Episode: "Adventures in Beetle Sitting" |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Destiny 2 | Radio voice, Scabretti |
| 2022 | Destiny 2: The Witch Queen | Scabretti |
| 2024 | Super Dragon Punch Force 3 | Boy's Inner Voice (voice) |
Notes
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
