Jason Alexander | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Alexander in 2009 | |
| Born | Jay Scott Greenspan (1959-09-23)September 23, 1959 (age 65) Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Celebrating the retirement of Cantor Jack ofParsippany–Troy Hills, New Jersey's Adath Shalom. | |
Jay Scott Greenspan[1][2][3] (born September 23, 1959),[2] known professionally asJason Alexander, is an American actor and comedian. Over the course of his career he has received anEmmy Award and aTony Award as well as nominations for fourGolden Globe Awards. He gained stardom for his role asGeorge Costanza in theNBCsitcomSeinfeld (1989–1998), for which he won aScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series and was nominated for seven consecutivePrimetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and fourGolden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actor in Television.
Alexander made hisBroadway debut originating the role of Joe inStephen Sondheim'sMerrily We Roll Along in 1981. He remained active on Broadway acting in the musicalsThe Rink in 1984 and theNeil Simon playBroadway Bound in 1986. He then starred inJerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, for which he won theTony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. His subsequent theatre roles include the touring production ofThe Producers from 2003 to 2004 and replacingLarry David in the original 2015 Broadway production ofFish in the Dark. He has also directed several plays such as the original 2023 Broadway production ofThe Cottage.
His film roles includePretty Woman (1990),Jacob's Ladder (1990),Coneheads (1992),The Paper (1994),Dunston Checks In (1996),Shallow Hal (2001), andHachi: A Dog's Tale (2009). He voiced thegargoyle Hugo in the Disney filmThe Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and the titular role inDuckman (1994–1997). For his role inDream On (1994) he was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
Greenspan was born on September 23, 1959, inNewark, New Jersey to a Jewish family, the son of Ruth Minnie (née Simon), a nurse and health care administrator, and Alexander B. Greenspan, an accounting manager. Greenspan later borrowed his father's first name to create his stage name, Jason Alexander.[1]
Alexander grew up inMaplewood andLivingston, New Jersey, and is a 1977 graduate ofLivingston High School.[4] Interested in magic from an early age, he initially hoped to be a magician, but while attending a magic camp was told that his hands were too small for card magic. He became interested in theater, eventually realizing, "Wait a minute—the whole thing's an illusion. Nothing up there is real" and that theater itself was "a magic trick". He then decided to pursue a theater career.[5]
After high school, he studied theater atBoston University. He wanted to pursue classical acting, but a professor redirected him toward comedy after noticing his physique, remarking, "I know your heart and soul areHamlet, but you will never play Hamlet."[6][7] Alexander left Boston University without a degree after his third year to take a full-time acting job in New York City. The university awarded him an honorary degree in 1995.
Alexander began his acting career on the New York stage and is an accomplished singer and dancer. Alexander made his film debut in 1981 in the summer campslasher filmThe Burning. OnBroadway he appeared inStephen Sondheim'sMerrily We Roll Along in 1981,Kander &Ebb'sThe Rink in 1984,Neil Simon'sBroadway Bound in 1986,Accomplice in 1990, andJerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, for which he garnered the 1989Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.Frank Rich ofThe New York Times wrote of his performance "Jason Alexander, the evening's delightful narrator, accomplishes the seemingly impossible: he banishes the memory ofZero Mostel from the role ofPseudolus inA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".[8]
In addition to his roles as an insensitive, money-hungry lawyer inPretty Woman in 1990, Alexander has appeared inJacob's Ladder in 1990,Coneheads in 1993,The Paper andNorth in 1994,The Last Supper in 1995,Dunston Checks In in 1996,Love! Valour! Compassion! in 1997,Denial in 1998, andLove and Action in Chicago in 1999. Alexander starred in several commercials during the 1980s. Among them were commercials forHershey's Kiss; Delta Goldpotato chips;Miller Lite beer;McDonald'sMcDLT hamburger;Pabst Blue Ribbon beer;Levi's 501 jeans;Sony Watchman TV; andWestern Union wire transfer.[9] BeforeSeinfeld, Alexander appeared in commercials for John Deere and McDonald's and in the short-livedCBS sitcomEverything's Relative (1987).
Alexander is best known as one of the key cast members of the award-winning television sitcomSeinfeld, where he played the bumblingGeorge Costanza (Jerry Seinfeld's character's best friend since childhood). He was nominated for sevenPrimetime Emmy Awards and fourGolden Globe Awards for the role, but did not win any, mainly due to his co-starMichael Richards winning for his role asCosmo Kramer. He did, however, win the 1995Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.[10][11]
Concurrently with hisSeinfeld role, he had a part in the ABC sitcomDinosaurs as Al "Sexual" Harris (who frequently engaged insexual harassment) as well as other characters from 1991 to 1994. For his role in an episode ofDream On, Alexander was nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 1994. Alexander voiced the lead character in the animated seriesDuckman (1994–1997) and voicedCatbert, the evil director of human resources, in the short-lived animated seriesDilbert from 1999 to 2000, based on the then-popular comic strip.[12][13] In January 1995, he did a commercial forRold Gold pretzels to be broadcast during theSuper Bowl. The commercial depicts him withFrasier dog Eddie jumping out of an airplane with a parachute over the stadium. After the commercial, the audience is brought back to a supposedly live feed of the playing field hearing startled sports commentators as Alexander and the dog land in the field to wild applause.
Alexander appeared in the 1995 TV version of theBroadway musicalBye Bye Birdie, as Conrad Birdie's agent, Albert Peterson. He guest-starred in episode 8 of the 1996 variety showMuppets Tonight.[14] He voiced thegargoyle Hugo inDisney's 1996animated filmThe Hunchback of Notre Dame and its direct-to-video sequel,The Hunchback of Notre Dame II. Alexander voiced the characterAbis Mal in the 1994 filmThe Return of Jafar and the 1994-1995TV series based on the 1992 filmAladdin.
In 1997, he appeared inCinderella, a remake ofRodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, alongsideWhitney Houston,Brandy Norwood, andWhoopi Goldberg. His other Disney voice work includesHouse of Mouse in 2001 and the 2012 video gameKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.[15] He has dabbled in directing, starting with 1996'sFor Better or Worse and 1999'sJust Looking. In 1999, Alexander presided over theNew York Friars Club Roast event honoringJerry Stiller, who played his father onSeinfeld; it featured appearances byKevin James andPatton Oswalt, both Stiller's costars onThe King of Queens. Alexander appeared in the 1999Star Trek: Voyager episode "Think Tank" as Kurros, a genius alien trying to getSeven of Nine to serve on his ship.
Despite a successful career in film and stage, Alexander did not repeat hisSeinfeld-level of success in television. The year 2001 marked his appearance as inept womanizer Mauricio inShallow Hal and his first post-Seinfeld return to prime-time television: the heavily promoted but short-livedABC sitcomBob Patterson, which was canceled after five episodes. Alexander partially blames the show's failure on the country's mood after9/11.[16] Alexander made cameo appearances as himself in 2001 in the second season ofCurb Your Enthusiasm, and he appeared in the show's seventh season with his three principalSeinfeld co-stars.[17] He was featured in theFriends 2001 episode "The One Where Rosita Dies" as Earl, a suicidalsupply manager.Phoebe calls him trying to sell himtoner, learns about his problem, and tries to persuade him not to commit suicide. This is referenced in an episode ofMalcolm in the Middle where Alexander appears as Leonard, a neurotic and critical loner. He describes himself as "free" and says he makes money "selling toner over the phone". Later in the episode, he is repeatedly harassed by a man named George.
He appeared in "One Night at Mercy", the first episode of the short-lived2002 revival ofThe Twilight Zone, playingDeath. He played the toymakerA.C. Gilbert in the 2002 filmThe Man Who Saved Christmas. He appeared inKentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) commercials in 2002, including one withBarry Bonds of theSan Francisco Giants and another withTrista Rehn ofThe Bachelorette. It was rumored that he quit doing these commercials due to KFC suppliers andslaughterhouses' allegedcruelty to animals, but he denied that in an interview withAdweek, saying, "That'sPETA bullcrap. I loved working for KFC. I was targeted by PETA to broker something between them. I think KFC really stepped up to the plate; unfortunately PETA did not." In 2007, Alexander appeared in a commercial for theASPCA that aired on cable TV stations.[18] In 2018, Alexander portrayedColonel Sanders in commercials forKFC, reprising his role from the 2002 campaign.[19]
In 2003, he was cast oppositeMartin Short in the Los Angeles production ofMel Brooks'sThe Producers.[20] He appeared withKelsey Grammer in the 2004musical adaptation ofCharles Dickens'sA Christmas Carol, asJacob Marley. He voiced Lil' Lightning in101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (2003), which went on to become one of his most signature roles. Alexander's second chance as a TV series lead, theCBS sitcomListen Up (2004–05), also fell short of a second season. Alexander was the principal executive producer of the series, based very loosely on the life of the popular sports-media personalityTony Kornheiser. He performed on theFamily Guy: Live in Vegas 2005 album. Alexander continued to appear in live stage shows, includingBarbra Streisand's memorable birthday party in 2005 for Stephen Sondheim at the Hollywood Bowl, where he performed selections fromSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street withAngela Lansbury.[21] He featured in the 2005Monk episode "Mr. Monk and the Other Detective" as Monk's rival,Marty Eels.
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In a 2006 appearance onJimmy Kimmel Live!, Alexander demonstrated several self-defense techniques. Also that year, he hosted thePBS "A Capitol Fourth" celebrations in Washington, D.C., singing, dancing, and playing tuned drums. Alexander was featured as a recurring cast member in the second season ofEverybody Hates Chris. He hosted theComedy Central Roast of William Shatner. He was the artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company in Los Angeles from 2007 until it went defunct in 2013,[22] where he previously directedSunday in the Park with George, and directed its 2007 revival ofDamn Yankees.[23] In 2007, Alexander was a guest star in the third episode of theimprov comedy seriesThank God You're Here.
He has been a frequent guest and panelist onBill Maher'sPolitically Incorrect in 1995, 1997 and 2000[24] andReal Time in 2006, 2009 and 2012;[25]Hollywood Squares in 1999, 2002 and 2004;[26] theLate Late Show in 2003, 2012, 2014 and 2015, withCraig Kilborn,Craig Ferguson, andJames Corden;[27][28][29]Late Show with David Letterman in 1989, 2000, and 2002;The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015;[30] andThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015.[31][32] In 2008, Alexander guest-starred in theseason four episode "Masterpiece" of theCBS showCriminal Minds as Professor Rothschild,[33][34] a well-educatedserial killer obsessed with theFibonacci sequence who sends the team into a race against time to save his last victims.[35] He returned in the same season to direct the episode "Conflicted", featuring the actorJackson Rathbone.
Alexander hosted the LOL Sudbury opening night gala inSudbury, Ontario, Canada in 2008, which was simulcast throughout Canada at 60 Cineplex theaters, a first for any comedy festival. He has lent his voice to several episodes of theTwilight Zone Radio Dramas. In 2008 and again in 2009, Alexander frontedJason Alexander's Comedy Spectacular, a routine exclusive to Australia. The show consists of stand-up and improvisation and incorporates Alexander's musical talent. He is backed up by several well-known Australian comedians. His first time performing a similar show of this nature was in 2006'sJason Alexander's Comedy Christmas. In February/March 2010, Alexander starred in his show,The Donny Clay Experience, at thePlanet Hollywood Resort inLas Vegas,Nevada. Donny Clay, whom he has portrayed in a tour of the United States and Orillia, Ontario, is aself-help guru in a similar mold to hisBob Patterson character. In 2009, he playedJoseph in theThomas Nelson audio Bible productionThe Word of Promise. The project featured a large ensemble of actors, includingJim Caviezel,Lou Gossett Jr.,John Rhys-Davies,Jon Voight,Gary Sinise,Christopher McDonald,Marisa Tomei, andJohn Schneider.[36][37] In 2009, Alexander had a small role in the filmHachi: A Dog's Tale as a train station manager.
He starred asCosmo in the 2011 live action filmA Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!. In 2011, Alexander was the guest star in an episode ofHarry's Law, playing a high school teacher bringing a wrongful dismissal suit.[38][39] In 2015, he replacedLarry David as the lead in David'sBroadway playFish in the Dark.[40] He co-starred oppositeSherie Rene Scott in the 2017 world premiere ofJohn Patrick Shanley'sThe Portuguese Kid at theManhattan Theatre Club.[41] In 2018, Alexander played Olix the bartender inThe Orville.[42][43] The same year, he portrayed Gene Lundy, a drama teacher, on two episodes ofYoung Sheldon. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, he reprised the role of Gene Lundy on one episode.
In 2019, Alexander appeared onThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Asher Friedman, a blacklisted Broadway playwright who is an old friend of Midge Maisel's father Abe Weissman.[44] He won theDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for "The Bad Guys?" onBrainwashed By Toons (2020). In 2020, Alexander hosted theSaturday Night Seder, an online Passover Seder that featured many celebrities and benefited theCDC Foundation.
From February 2023 he co-presentedReally? No, Really?, a weekly podcast in which he, co-host Peter Tilden, and their guests attempt to find answers "to life’s most baffling, intriguing, confusing and annoying questions".[45] In July 2023, he made his Broadway directing debut with Sandy Rustin's comedyThe Cottage. The cast includesEric McCormack,Laura Bell Bundy andLilli Cooper.[46] In 2023, on the December 21 primetime CBS specialDick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic, Alexander performed two songs in conjunction with dance-performers and closed the show with a spoken tribute to Van Dyke.[47]
Alexander has been married to Daena E. Title, cousin of directorStacy Title, since May 31, 1982.[48][49][2] They have two sons, Gabriel[49][50] and Noah.[49]
Alexander performed amentalism and magic act atThe Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, from April 24 to 30, 2006, and he was later named The Academy of Magical Arts Parlor Magician of the Year for this act. He won the academy's Junior Achievement Award in 1989.[51]
Alexander was the national spokesman for theScleroderma Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and assisting those who are afflicted.[52] In summer 2005, he appeared withLee Iacocca in ads forDaimlerChrysler. Iacocca did the ads as part of a way to raise money forDenise Faustman's research onautoimmunity.[53] Iacocca and Alexander both have loved ones whose lives have been adversely affected by autoimmunity.
Alexander competed on televised poker shows and in various tournaments. He appeared twice onBravo'sCelebrity Poker Showdown, winning the final table of the 8th season. Alexander won the $500,000 prize for the charity of his choice, TheUnited Way of America, to help benefit the New Orleans area. Alexander played in the2007 World Series of Poker main event, but he was eliminated on the second day. He returned in 2009, making it to day 3 of the event and finishing in the top 30% of the field. Alexander has appeared on NBC'sPoker After Dark in the "Celebrities and Mentors" episode, finishing in 6th place after being eliminated by professional poker playerGavin Smith. He signed withPokerStars, where he plays under the screen name "J. Alexander". In 2021, Alexander competed in a virtual National Poker Tournament, hosted by theChildren's Tumor Foundation, to raise money forNeurofibromatosis research.
Alexander has been a prominent public supporter of theOneVoice initiative, which seeks out opinions from moderateIsraelis andPalestinians who want to achieve a mutual peace agreement, through what it states is the silent majority of Israelis and Palestinians. OnReal Time with Bill Maher, he said he had visitedIsrael many times and spoke about progress toward peace he had observed.
On December 6, 2012 Alexander emceed his third[54] gala event for non-profit groupFriends of the Israel Defense Forces, a charity supporting theIsrael Defense Forces.[54] MusicianStevie Wonder canceled his performance at the event following a recommendation from the UN,[54] and a public petition fromBoycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) requesting that he not attend the event.[55][better source needed] Alexander, who was interviewed at the event by Jewish News Syndicate, stated he supported theOneVoice Movement, and acknowledged an occupation of Palestine and called for a two-state solution,[54] which was later criticized by Roz Rothstein, CEO of the pro-Israel education group StandWithUs.[54] When asked about the IDF, Alexander stated that they were humane and noble, stating "some of the finest, most humane, most admirable, most noble-serving soldiers that I've ever seen" and that "there can never be any doubt that I am also an advocate for Israel".[54] When asked about why he had repeatedly emceed the event, Alexander stated, "They don't understand first of all what [FIDF] is, and they see it as just a blanket support for Israeli military, and they don't understand how I can say that I'm an advocate for both sides. And given the fact that there are eyes on this event tonight, I thought it was important to get up and say, 'This is why I can advocate for this group and I can advocate for Israel, and I'm not blind to the fact that we're in conflict, and I hold everyone equally accountable, and I hold everyone equally to my heart.'"[54] On November 6, 2015 he again emceed an event atThe Beverly Hilton Hotel in California, which raised $31 million for "provid[ing] educational, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for IDF soldiers."[56]
Alexander is a supporter of theDemocratic Party.[57] Alexander supportssame-sex marriage[58] and anassault weapons ban.[59] In 2020, he campaigned for theTexas Democrats with formerSeinfeld colleaguesJulia Louis-Dreyfus and Larry David.[60] He endorsedBarack Obama in2012[61] andJoe Biden in2020.[57] Alexander has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration[62][57] and he has ridiculedDonald Trump over his dancing.[63] He has calledRepublican Party senatorTed Cruz a jerk from the "jerk store" in reference to a joke fromSeinfeld.[64]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Burning | Dave | ||
| 1986 | The Mosquito Coast | Clerk | ||
| Brighton Beach Memoirs | Pool Player | |||
| 1990 | Pretty Woman | Philip Stuckey | ||
| White Palace | Neil | |||
| Jacob's Ladder | Mr. Geary | |||
| 1992 | I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore | Bernie Fishbine | ||
| 1993 | Sexual Healing | Frank | Short subject | |
| Coneheads | Larry Farber | |||
| For Goodness Sake | VCR Customer | Short subject | ||
| 1994 | The Paper | Marion Sandusky | ||
| North | North's Father | |||
| The Return of Jafar | Abis Mal | Voice;direct-to-video | ||
| Blankman | Larry Stone | |||
| 1995 | For Better or Worse | Michael Makeshift | Also director | |
| The Last Supper | The Anti-Environmentalist | |||
| 1996 | Dunston Checks In | Robert Grant | ||
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Hugo | Voice | [65] | |
| 1997 | Love! Valour! Compassion! | Buzz Hauser | ||
| 1998 | Denial | Art Witz | ||
| 1999 | Madeline: Lost in Paris | Henri / Uncle Horst | Voice; direct-to-video | [65] |
| Love and Action in Chicago | Frank Bonner | |||
| Just Looking | Radio Announcer | Voice, uncredited; also director | ||
| 2000 | The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle | Boris Badenov | ||
| Let's Rap Fire Safety | Smoke Detector | Voice; short subject | [65] | |
| 2001 | The Trumpet of the Swan | Father | Voice | [65] |
| On Edge | Zamboni Phil | |||
| Shallow Hal | Mauricio Wilson | |||
| 2002 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame II | Hugo | Voice, direct-to-video | [65] |
| 2003 | 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure | Lil' Lightning | Voice, direct-to-video | [65] |
| 2006 | Ira & Abby | Dr. Morris Saperstein | ||
| Hood of Horror | British Record Mogul | |||
| How to Go Out on a Date in Queens | Johnny | |||
| Farce of the Penguins | Penguin on Belly | Voice, direct-to-video | ||
| 2007 | The Grand | Dr. Yakov Achmed | ||
| 2009 | Rock Slyde | Mailman Stan | ||
| Hachi: A Dog's Tale | Carl Bollins | |||
| 2010 | Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey | Major Moron | Voice | [65] |
| 2011 | The Voyages of Young Doctor Dolittle | Eugene | Voice; direct-to-video | |
| 2012 | Stars in Shorts | Sid Rosenthal | ||
| Delhi Safari | Male Flamingo, Hyena Cook | Voice; English dub | [65] | |
| 2014 | Lucky Stiff | Vinnie DiRuzzio | ||
| 2015 | Wild Card | Pinchus "Pinky" Zion | ||
| Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant | Mr. Gaye | |||
| 2016 | Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz | Mr. Bibb / TheNome King | Voice; direct-to-video | [65] |
| Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened | Himself | Documentary | ||
| 2020 | My Boyfriend's Meds | Dr. Sternbach | ||
| Faith Based | Nicky Steele | |||
| 2023 | Leo | Jayda's Dad | Voice | [66] |
| 2024 | Stealing Pulp Fiction | Dr. Mendelbaum | ||
| 2025 | The Electric State | Ted Finister |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Senior Trip | Pete | Television film | |
| 1984–1985 | E/R | Harold Stickley | 15 episodes | |
| 1986 | Rockabye | Lt. Ernest Foy | Television film | |
| 1987 | Everything's Relative | Julian Beeby | 10 episodes | |
| 1988 | Newhart | Ramming | Episode: "Courtin' Disaster" | |
| 1989–1998 | Seinfeld | George Costanza | Main role; 178 episodes | |
| 1992–1993 | Dinosaurs | Various voices | Recurring role; 7 episodes | |
| 1993 | Dream On | Randall Townsend | Episode: "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape" | |
| 1993–1998 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 1994–1997 | Duckman | Eric Duckman (voice) | Main role; 70 episodes | |
| 1994, 1998 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 1994 | Aladdin | Abis Mal (voice) | Recurring role; 14 episodes | |
| 1995 | Bye Bye Birdie | Albert Peterson | Television film | |
| 47th Primetime Emmy Awards | Himself (co-host) | Television special | ||
| 1996 | Muppets Tonight | Himself | Episode: "Jason Alexander" | |
| The Nanny | Jack | Episode: "The Tart with Heart" | ||
| Sesame Street | Himself | Episode 3557 | ||
| 1997 | Remember WENN | Alan Ballinger | Episode: "Nothing Up My Sleeve" | |
| Cinderella | Lionel | Television film | ||
| 1998–1999 | Hercules | Poseidon (voice) | Recurring role; 7 episodes | |
| 1999 | Jingle Bells | Elf | Voice; Television film | |
| Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments | CaptainJames T. Kirk | Television special | ||
| Star Trek: Voyager | Kurros | Episode: "Think Tank" | ||
| 1999–2000 | Dilbert | Catbert (voice) | Main role; 9 episodes | |
| 2001, 2009 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Himself | Recurring role; 5 episodes | |
| 2001 | Friends | Earl | Episode: "The One Where Rosita Dies" | |
| Bob Patterson | Bob Patterson | Main role; 10 episodes; also executive producer | ||
| The Legend of Tarzan | Zutho | Voice, episode: "Tarzan and the Face from the Past" | ||
| 2002 | Son of the Beach | Tex Finklestein | Episode: "Penetration Island" | |
| House of Mouse | Hugo | Voice; Episode: "Donald Wants to Fly" | ||
| The Twilight Zone | Death | Episode: "One Night at Mercy" | ||
| The Man Who Saved Christmas | A.C. Gilbert | Television film | ||
| 2003 | Malcolm in the Middle | Leonard | Episode: "Future Malcolm" | |
| 2004–2005 | Listen Up | Tony Kleinman | Main role; also producer | |
| 2004 | A Christmas Carol | Jacob Marley | Television film | |
| 2005 | Monk | Marty Eels | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Other Detective" | |
| 2006 | Odd Job Jack | Don | Voice; episode: "Twenty-One You're Dead" | |
| Campus Ladies | Professor | Episode: "A Very Special Episode" | ||
| 2006–2007 | Everybody Hates Chris | Principal Edwards | 2 episodes | |
| 2008 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Dr. Palmer | Episode: "One and a Half Men" | |
| Criminal Minds | Prof. Rothchild | Episode: "Masterpiece" | ||
| 2009 | Meteor | Dr. Chetwyn | 2 episodes | |
| 2010–2013 | Fish Hooks | Mr. Nibbles | Voice; 3 episodes | [65] |
| The Cleveland Show | Saul Friedman | Voice; 2 episodes | ||
| 2010, 2023 | American Dad! | Sal / Mr. Orlando | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 2011 | Glenn Martin, DDS | Brandon | Voice; episode: "GlenHog Day" | |
| Franklin & Bash | Carter Lang | Episode: "Big Fish" | ||
| Harry's Law | Richard Cross | Episode: "Bad to Worse" | ||
| China, IL | Harold | Voice; 2 episodes | ||
| A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner! | Human Cosmo | Television film | ||
| 2011–2012 | Dora the Explorer | Owl | Voice; 3 episodes | [65] |
| 2012 | Two and a Half Men | Dr. Goodman | Episode: "The Straw in My Donut Hole" | |
| Clipaholics | Narrator | Voice; main role | ||
| 2013 | Community | Mountain Man | Episode: "Intro to Felt Surrogacy" | |
| 2014 | Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee | George Costanza | Episode: "George Costanza: The Over-Cheer" | |
| Kirstie | Stanford Temple | Episode: "Maddie's Agent" | ||
| Comedy Bang! Bang! | Inspector Gantlet | Episode: "Jenna Fischer Wears a Floral Blouse & Black Heels" | ||
| How Murray Saved Christmas | Doc Holiday | Voice; Television film | ||
| 2014–2017 | The Tom and Jerry Show | Rick (voice) | Voice; 11 episodes | [65] |
| 2015 | Big Time in Hollywood, FL | Himself | Episode: "The Hand That Feeds" | |
| Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero | Coach Wallace | Voice; episode: "Ultrahyperball" | [65] | |
| Drunk History | William "Boss" Tweed | Episode: "Journalism" | ||
| League of Legends with Videogamedunkey | Himself | Episode: "Brucer Zin Zow" | ||
| 2015–2016 | The Grinder | Cliff Bemis | 4 episodes | |
| TripTank | Various voices | 6 episodes | [65] | |
| 2016 | The Mark Lembeck Technique | Mark Lembeck | Pilot | |
| 2017 | Animals. | Algae | Voice, episode: "Rats" | [65] |
| The Simpsons | Bourbon Verlander | Voice; episode: "The Caper Chase" | ||
| Hit the Road | Ken Swallow | Main role; also co-creator, writer and executive producer | ||
| 2017–2018 | Kody Kapow | Goji | Voice; recurring role | |
| 2017, 2019 | Robot Chicken | Krampus | Voice; 2 episodes | |
| 2018–2022 | Young Sheldon | Gene Lundy | 5 episodes | |
| 2018 | Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | Himself | Documentary | |
| 2018–2019 | The Orville | Olix | 2 episodes | |
| 2019 | The Bug Diaries | Cicada | Voice; episode: "Worm's New Digs" | |
| Richard Lovely | Mr. Mouse | Voice; Pilot | ||
| Pinky Malinky | Mayor Hop | Voice; recurring role | [65] | |
| Mad About You | Himself | Episode: "Real Estate for Beginners" | ||
| 2019–present | Harley Quinn | Sy Borgman | Voice, 13 episodes | [65] |
| 2019–2022 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Asher Friedman | 4 episodes | |
| 2021 | The Conners | Pastor Phil | 2 episodes | |
| The Problem with Jon Stewart | Jeff Bezos | Episode: "Working-Class Economy" | ||
| 2022 | Out of Office | Eliza's Dad | Television film | |
| 2022–2024 | Star Trek: Prodigy | Doctor Noum | Voice; 23 episodes | |
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | Maurice Cheeks | Episode: "VI" | |
| 2024 | Rock, Paper, Scissors | Jonathan Fartjoke | Voice; Episode: "Potato/The Fart Joke Debate" | |
| Y llegaron de noche | Carl Laemmle | 4 episodes |
| Year | Title | Artist | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "Celebrity" | Brad Paisley | Himself | [85] |
| 2007 | "Online" | Geek; also director | ||
| 2012 | "Trying Not to Love You" | Nickelback | Bud | |
| 2021 | "Cinderella Medley" | Todrick Hall &Brandy | Lionel | [86] |
| Year | Title | Voice role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Disney's Animated Storybook: The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Hugo | [65] |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy Turvy Games | Hugo | [65] | |
| 2012 | Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | Hugo | [65] |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Seinfeld | Episode: "The Good Samaritan" |
| 2006 | Campus Ladies | Episode: "A Very Special Episode" |
| 2007–2008 | Everybody Hates Chris | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Criminal Minds | Episode: "Conflicted" |
| 2010 | 'Til Death | Episode: "Snore Loser" |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | Episode: "Last Dance" |
| Mike & Molly | Episode: "Vince Takes a Bath" | |
| 2023 | Young Sheldon | Episode: "A Frat Party, a Sleepover and the Mother of All Blisters" |
