Jim Rash | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Rash in 2013 | |
| Born | James Rash (1971-07-15)July 15, 1971 (age 54) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1995–present |
James Rash[1] (born July 15, 1971)[2] is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He playedDean Craig Pelton on theNBC sitcomCommunity (2009–2015), for which he was nominated for theCritics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012.
He co-wroteThe Descendants (2011) alongsideAlexander Payne andNat Faxon for which they received theAcademy Award,Independent Spirit Award andWriters Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. They were also nominated for theBAFTA Award,Golden Globe Award, andCritics' Choice Movie Award.[3] Rash has since, with Faxon, written and directed the comedy filmsThe Way, Way Back (2013), andDownhill (2020).
Rash grew up inCharlotte, North Carolina.[4] Both he and his sister were adopted.[5] He attendedCharlotte Latin School.[6] After graduating, he spent a post-graduate year at theLawrenceville School inLawrenceville, New Jersey.[6] He was a member ofThe Groundlings, aLos Angeles–based improv comedy group.[citation needed]
Rash played Mr. Grayson/Stitches in the 2005 filmSky High, Fenton onThat '70s Show,That '90s Show, and Andrew the "whore house guy" onReno 911!. He appeared in thefinal episode ofFriends, and played Head T.A. Philip inSlackers. From 2009 to 2015, Rash starred onCommunity asCraig Pelton, thedean of the community college in which the show takes place.
Rash and comedy partnerNat Faxon moved into screenwriting with a pilot in 2005 for a series entitledAdopted, which did not take off.[5][7] They wrote the screenplay forThe Descendants (2011), based on thenovel of the same name, which appeared on the 2008 edition of theBlack List (the most popular unproduced scripts in Hollywood at that time).[8] The film was released to critical acclaim,[3] receiving aGolden Globe nomination and winning theAcademy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Both Rash and Faxon co-wrote and co-directed the filmThe Way Way Back (2013), which received a standing ovation at its premiere at theSundance Film Festival.[9] Parts of the film are based on Rash's teenage life.[7] The ensemble comedy starredSteve Carell,Toni Collette,Allison Janney,Maya Rudolph, andSam Rockwell. The film was a commercial and critical success, earning aCritics' Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy nomination.
In 2020, Rash and Faxon reunited forDownhill, an adaptation of the filmForce Majeure (2014) by Swedish directorRuben Östlund. The film starredWill Ferrell andJulia Louis-Dreyfus. Rash and Faxon co-wrote the script withJesse Armstrong. The film debuted at theSundance Film Festival where it received mixed reviews, with critics' comparing the film to the original.
Rash has voiced theMarquess of Queensberry for all four seasons of theAdult Swim animated comedyMike Tyson Mysteries. From 2017 to 2021, he voicedGyro Gearloose in the reboot ofDuckTales.[10] In 2023, Rash voiced the Fixer, the enforcer for the Conglomerate and recurring character inMy Dad the Bounty Hunter.[11] He also voiced a video game announcer in the same series.[12]
Rash stated hecame out "well over 10-plus years ago" during an interview promotingBros in September 2022.[13]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Auto Motives | Accountant | |
| 2002 | Hiding in Walls | Jane's Assistant | |
| One Hour Photo | Amateur Porn Guy | ||
| Slackers | Head T.A. Philip | ||
| Minority Report | Technician | ||
| S1m0ne | Studio Executive | ||
| 2003 | Wrong Hollywood Number | Caller | Short film |
| George & Gracie | George | ||
| 2005 | Sky High | Mr. Grayson/Stitches | |
| 2007 | Smiley Face | Talent Agency Secretary | |
| Balls of Fury | Techie | ||
| 2008 | The Onion Movie | Bryce's Manager | |
| 2009 | The Slammin' Salmon | Disgruntled Businessman | |
| 2011 | The Descendants | — | Co-writer |
| 2013 | The Way Way Back | Lewis | Also co-writer, co-director and executive producer |
| 2014 | Yellowbird | Karl | Voice[14][15][16] |
| 2015 | Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run | Cecil Turtle | Voice, direct-to-video[16] |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Professor Wilkes | Cameo |
| 2017 | Thoroughbreds | — | Producer |
| Bernard and Huey | Bernard | ||
| 2019 | Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs | Prince Average | Voice |
| 2020 | Downhill | — | Co-director and co-writer |
| Lazy Susan | Phil | ||
| 2021 | Long Weekend | Larry | |
| Home Sweet Home Alone | Bell Choir Leader | ||
| 2022 | Bros | Robert | |
| 2024 | Fly Me to the Moon | Lance Vespertine |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Cybill | Production Assistant | Episode: "Local Hero" |
| 1997 | Tracey Takes On... | Pollster | Episode: "Movies" |
| 1997–1998 | The Naked Truth | Harris Van Doren | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Working | Carl | Episode: "Good Val Hunting" |
| 1999 | Becker | Eddie Blatt | Episode: "Becker the Elder" |
| Clueless | Bart | Episode: "Big Sissies" | |
| Katie Joplin | Mitchell Tuit | 7 episodes | |
| Thanks | Cotton | 6 episodes | |
| 2000 | The Hughleys | Census Guy | Episode: "Scary Hughleys" |
| 2001 | Loomis | Derek | Pilot |
| The Practice | Quimby | Episode: "Vanished: Part 1" | |
| 2002 | Less Than Perfect | Rob McLyle | Episode: "Claude the Liar" |
| 2002–2006 | That '70s Show | Fenton | 6 episodes |
| 2003 | Alligator Point | Pilot | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Todd Benton | Episode: "Random Acts of Violence" | |
| The Guardian | Court Therapist | Episode: "All the Rage" | |
| Baby Bob | Dougy | Episode: "Reality Bites" | |
| Coupling | Stalker | Episode: "Check/Mate" | |
| 2003–2009, 2020 | Reno 911! | Andrew | 15 episodes |
| 2004 | Friends | Nervous Passenger on Plane | Episode: "The Last One" |
| Grim & Evil | Various | Voice, Episode: "A Kick in the Asgard" | |
| NCIS | Dr. Joel Sanderson | Episode: "Left For Dead" | |
| 2005 | Will & Grace | Brent | Episode: "Love is in the Airplane" |
| Jake in Progress | Freddie Blake | Episode: "Rivals and Departures" | |
| Adopted | Pilot; co-creator and executive producer | ||
| 2006 | Saturday Night Live | Guest writer on episode "Dane Cook /The Killers" | |
| 2006–2007 | Help Me Help You | Jonathan | 14 episodes |
| 2008 | Hackett | Pilot | |
| Eli Stone | Bradley Kitsis | Episode: "I Want Your Sex" | |
| Samantha Who? | Artist | Episode: "The Gallery Show" | |
| 2009, 2016 | American Dad! | Bouncer, Puddin' | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2009–2015 | Community | Dean Craig Pelton | 90 episodes; also wrote "Basic Human Anatomy" co-directed 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Open Books | Kyle | Pilot |
| 2011 | Worst. Prom. Ever. | Pizza Pete | Television film |
| 2011–2014 | The Soup | Various roles | 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | JR Kipple | Voice, episode: "The Night the Clown Cried II - Tears of Doom" |
| The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Pineapple Joe | Voice, episode: "Follow the Bouncing Orange" | |
| 2012–2013 | The Looney Tunes Show | Cecil Turtle | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2012–2015 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Principal Slimovitz | Voice, 34 episodes[16] |
| 2013–2014 | The Writers' Room | Himself (host) | 12 episodes; also producer |
| TripTank | Tony, Sir Ruthert, Cowboy Dad | Voice, 3 episodes[16] | |
| 2013–2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Glee | Lee Paulblatt | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2020 | Mike Tyson Mysteries | Marquess of Queensberry | Main voice role[16] |
| 2015–2016 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Sinker | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Rick and Morty | Glaxo Slimslom | Voice, episode: "Big Trouble In Little Sanchez" |
| 2016 | Dr. Ken | Devon Drake | Episode: "Ken's an Expert Witness" |
| Lucifer | Richard Kester | Episode: "Et Tu, Doctor?" | |
| The Odd Couple | Joshua Norwall | Episode: "Chess Nuts" | |
| The Grinder | Bill Foosley | Episode: "The Retooling of Dean Sanderson" | |
| Black-ish | Cody | Episode: "VIP" | |
| 2017 | Girlboss | Mobias | 4 episodes |
| SuperMansion | NASA Scientist | Voice, episode: "Blazarmageddon" | |
| Animals. | Chuckles | Voice, episode: "Cats Part I"[16] | |
| Nobodies | Himself | 5 episodes | |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Hotel Day Manager | Episode: "The Pickle Gambit" | |
| Beyond Stranger Things | Himself (host) | 7 episodes | |
| Superior Donuts | Mr. Mathers | Episode: "Error of Admission" | |
| 2017–2021 | DuckTales | Gyro Gearloose,Bulby,Gizmoduck Armor | Voice, 14 episodes[16] |
| 2017, 2021 | Vampirina | Mr. Thornberg | Voice, 2 episodes[16] |
| 2018-2024 | Blaze and the Monster Machines | Grandpa Pickle | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Great News | Fenton Pelt | 2 episodes |
| Big City Greens | Ted | Voice, episode: "Fill Bill"[16] | |
| The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants | Mr. Jerry Citizen | Voice, episode: "Captain Underpants and the Jarring Jerkiness of the Judge J.O.R.T.S."[16] | |
| Angie Tribeca | Philip Grammbbowski | Episode: "Trader Joes" | |
| 2018–2020 | Star Wars Resistance | Flix, Pirate | Voice, 13 episodes[16] |
| 2019–present | Harley Quinn | Edward Nygma/Riddler, various voices | Voice, 14 episodes[16] |
| 2020 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Dr. Darren Watkins | Episode: "Pimemento"[17] |
| Archibald's Next Big Thing | Fritz | Episode: "The Royal Strutters/Impromptu Cruise" | |
| 2020–2021 | American Housewife | Walker Montgomery | 6 episodes |
| 2021 | Solar Opposites | Keith | Voice, episode: "The Solar Opposites Almost Get an Xbox" |
| Impeachment: American Crime Story | Ken Bacon | 4 episodes | |
| Tacoma FD | CEO Frank Drake | Episode: "Fire at the Fire Station" | |
| 2022 | The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window | Flight Attendant | Episode: "Episode 8" |
| Out of Office | Edward | Television film | |
| 2023 | That '90s Show | Fenton | 2 episodes |
| My Dad the Bounty Hunter | Fixer, various voices | Voice; recurring role[16] | |
| The Ghost and Molly McGee | JR | Voice, episode: "Dance Dad Revolution"[16] | |
| 2023–present | Krapopolis | Dionysus | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 2023-2024 | Velma | Mayor Dave | Voice, 6 episodes[16] |
| 2024 | Kite Man: Hell Yeah! | Edward Nygma / Riddler | Voice, episode: "Pilot, Hell Yeah!" |
| Loot | Emil | 12 episodes | |
| 2025 | Ironheart | Professor Wilkes | Episode: "Take Me Home"[18] |
| Abbott Elementary | Thomas | 2 episodes | |
| Chibiverse | Gyro Gearloose | Voice, episode: "Mabel's Dream Date" | |
| TBA | President Curtis | Voice, upcoming series |
Two things sort of started me towards what I wanted to do. One was I went to a school called Charlotte Latin School, in Charlotte and after I graduated from there, I really wanted to go to Chapel Hill. And, I just — now the world will know — my grades weren't great. I'll confess that, and so I really wanted to – I went to a post-graduate year at a boarding school up in New Jersey called the Lawrenceville School.
