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| spouse = {{marriage|Daena Title|1982}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Daena Title|1982}}
| children = 2
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Stacy Title]] (cousin-in-law)
| relatives = [[Stacy Title]] (cousin-in-law)
| module = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= Jason Alexander thanks Cantor Jack for teaching him. (320kbps).ogg |title= Alexander's speaking voice |type= speech |description=Celebrating the recently retired Cantor Jack of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey's Adath Shalom. }}
| module = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= Jason Alexander thanks Cantor Jack for teaching him. (320kbps).ogg |title= Alexander's speaking voice |type= speech |description=Celebrating the retirement of Cantor Jack of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey's Adath Shalom. }}
}}
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Alexander was the national spokesman for the [[Scleroderma]] Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and assisting those who are afflicted.<ref>{{cite news | first=Gina | last=DiNunno | title=Jason Alexander Becomes Jenny Craig Spokesperson | date=January 6, 2010 | url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/jason-alexander-jenny-1013433/ | work=TV Guide | access-date=April 1, 2022 | archive-date=April 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402002028/https://www.tvguide.com/news/jason-alexander-jenny-1013433/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In summer 2005, he appeared with [[Lee Iacocca]] in ads for [[DaimlerChrysler]]. Iacocca did the ads as part of a way to raise money for [[Denise Faustman]]'s research on [[autoimmunity]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.faustmanlab.org/ |title=faustmanlab.org |publisher=faustmanlab.org |access-date=February 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329012104/http://www.faustmanlab.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Iacocca and Alexander both have loved ones whose lives have been adversely affected by autoimmunity.
Alexander was the national spokesman for the [[Scleroderma]] Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and assisting those who are afflicted.<ref>{{cite news | first=Gina | last=DiNunno | title=Jason Alexander Becomes Jenny Craig Spokesperson | date=January 6, 2010 | url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/jason-alexander-jenny-1013433/ | work=TV Guide | access-date=April 1, 2022 | archive-date=April 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402002028/https://www.tvguide.com/news/jason-alexander-jenny-1013433/ | url-status=live }}</ref> In summer 2005, he appeared with [[Lee Iacocca]] in ads for [[DaimlerChrysler]]. Iacocca did the ads as part of a way to raise money for [[Denise Faustman]]'s research on [[autoimmunity]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.faustmanlab.org/ |title=faustmanlab.org |publisher=faustmanlab.org |access-date=February 20, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329012104/http://www.faustmanlab.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Iacocca and Alexander both have loved ones whose lives have been adversely affected by autoimmunity.


More recently, Alexander has competed on televised poker shows and in various tournaments. He appeared twice on [[Bravo (US TV channel)|Bravo's]] ''[[Celebrity Poker Showdown]]'', winning the final table of the 8th season. Alexander won the $500,000 prize for the charity of his choice, The [[United Way of America]], to help benefit the New Orleans area. Alexander played in the [[2007 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's ''[[Poker After Dark]]'' in the "Celebrities and Mentors" episode, finishing in 6th place after being eliminated by professional poker player [[Gavin Smith (poker player)|Gavin Smith]]. He signed with [[PokerStars]], where he plays under the screen name "J. Alexander". In 2021, Alexander competed in a virtual National Poker Tournament, hosted by the [[Children's Tumor Foundation]], to raise money for [[Neurofibromatosis]] research.
Alexander competed on televised poker shows and in various tournaments. He appeared twice on [[Bravo (US TV channel)|Bravo's]] ''[[Celebrity Poker Showdown]]'', winning the final table of the 8th season. Alexander won the $500,000 prize for the charity of his choice, The [[United Way of America]], to help benefit the New Orleans area. Alexander played in the [[2007 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's ''[[Poker After Dark]]'' in the "Celebrities and Mentors" episode, finishing in 6th place after being eliminated by professional poker player [[Gavin Smith (poker player)|Gavin Smith]]. He signed with [[PokerStars]], where he plays under the screen name "J. Alexander". In 2021, Alexander competed in a virtual National Poker Tournament, hosted by the [[Children's Tumor Foundation]], to raise money for [[Neurofibromatosis]] research.


===Political views===
===Political views===

Revision as of 12:37, 14 March 2024

This article is about the American actor. For other people named Jason Alexander, see Jason Alexander (disambiguation).

Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Alexander in 2009
Born
Jay Scott Greenspan

(1959-09-23) September 23, 1959 (age 65)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
EducationBoston University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • director
  • television presenter
  • podcaster
Years active1981–present
Spouse
Daena Title
​
(m. 1982)​
Children2
RelativesStacy Title (cousin-in-law)
Alexander's speaking voice
Celebrating the retirement of Cantor Jack of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey's Adath Shalom.

Jay Scott Greenspan[1][2][3] (born September 23, 1959),[2] known professionally as Jason Alexander, is an American actor and comedian. He played George Costanza in the television series Seinfeld from 1989 to 1998, for which he was nominated for seven consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.

Alexander made his Broadway debut originating the role of Joe in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along in 1981. He remained active on Broadway acting in the musicals The Rink in 1984, Personals in 1985, and the Neil Simon play Broadway Bound in 1986. He then starred in Jerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He appeared in the Los Angeles production of Mel Brooks' The Producers. He was the artistic director of "Reprise! Broadway's Best in Los Angeles", where he has directed musicals.

His film roles include Pretty Woman (1990), Coneheads (1993), North (1994), Denial (1998), Shallow Hal (2001), and Wild Card (2015). He also voiced the gargoyle Hugo in the Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) and the 2002 sequel. For his role in Dream On (1994) he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He also acted in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001, 2009), and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2019). He also voiced the titular character in Duckman (1994–1997).

Early life and education

Jason Alexander as a senior at Livingston High School in 1977.

Greenspan was born in Newark, 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 in Maplewood and Livingston, New Jersey, and is a 1977 graduate of Livingston 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 theatre at Boston 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 are Hamlet, 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.

Career

Alexander began his acting career on the New York stage and is an accomplished singer and dancer. On Broadway he appeared in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along in 1981, Kander & Ebb's The Rink in 1984, Neil Simon's Broadway Bound in 1986, Accomplice in 1990, and Jerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989, for which he garnered the 1989 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

Alexander made his film debut in 1981 in the summer camp slasher film The Burning. In addition to his roles as an insensitive, money-hungry lawyer in Pretty Woman in 1990 and as inept womanizer Mauricio in Shallow Hal in 2001, Alexander has appeared in Jacob's Ladder in 1990, The Last Supper in 1995, Dunston Checks In in 1996, Love! Valour! Compassion! in 1997, and Love and Action in Chicago in 1999.

Alexander starred in several commercials during the 1980s. Among them were commercials for Hershey's Kiss; Delta Gold potato chips; Miller Lite beer; McDonald's McDLT hamburger; Pabst Blue Ribbon beer; Levi's 501 jeans; Sony Watchman TV; and Western Union wire transfer.[8] Before Seinfeld, Alexander appeared in commercials for John Deere and McDonald's and in the short-lived CBS sitcom Everything's Relative (1987).

Alexander is best known as one of the key cast members of the award-winning television sitcom Seinfeld, where he played the bumbling George Costanza (Jerry Seinfeld's character's best friend since childhood). He was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards for the role, but did not win any, mainly due to his co-star Michael Richards winning for his role as Cosmo Kramer. He did, however, win the 1995 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series.[9][10]

Concurrently with his Seinfeld role, he had a part in the ABC sitcom Dinosaurs as Al "Sexual" Harris (who frequently engaged in sexual harassment) as well as other characters from 1991-1994. Alexander voiced the lead character in the animated series Duckman (1994–1997) and voiced Catbert, the evil director of human resources, in the short-lived animated series Dilbert from 1999-2000, based on the then-popular comic strip.[11][12] In January 1995, he did a commercial for Rold Gold pretzels to be broadcast during the Super Bowl. The commercial depicts him with Frasier 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 the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie, as Conrad Birdie's agent, Albert Peterson. He guest-starred in episode 8 of the 1996 variety show Muppets Tonight.[13] He voiced the gargoyle Hugo in Disney's 1996 animated film The Hunchback of Notre Dame and its direct-to-video sequel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II. Alexander voiced the character Abis Mal in the 1994 film The Return of Jafar and the 1994-1995 TV series based on the 1992 film Aladdin.

In 1997, he played in the remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, alongside Whitney Houston, Brandi, and Whoopi Goldberg. His other Disney voice work includes House of Mouse in 2001 and the 2012 video game Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.[14]

He has dabbled in directing, starting with 1996's For Better or Worse and 1999's Just Looking.

In 1999, Alexander presided over the New York Friars Club Roast event honoring Jerry Stiller, who played his father on Seinfeld; it featured appearances by Kevin James and Patton Oswalt, both Stiller's costars on The King of Queens. Alexander appeared in the 1999 Star Trek: Voyager episode "Think Tank" as Kurros, a genius alien trying to get Seven of Nine to serve on his ship.

Despite a successful career in film and stage, Alexander did not repeat his Seinfeld-level of success in television. The year 2001 marked his first post-Seinfeld return to prime-time television: the heavily promoted but short-lived ABC sitcom Bob Patterson, which was canceled after five episodes. Alexander partially blames the show's failure on the country's mood after 9/11.[15] Alexander made cameo appearances as himself in 2001 in the second season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, and he appeared in the show's seventh season with his three principal Seinfeld co-stars.[16] He was featured in the Friends 2001 episode "The One Where Rosita Dies" as Earl, a suicidal supply manager. Phoebe calls him trying to sell him toner, learns about his problem, and tries to persuade him not to commit suicide. This is referenced in an episode of Malcolm 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-lived 2002 revival of The Twilight Zone, playing Death. He played the toymaker A.C. Gilbert in the 2002 film The Man Who Saved Christmas. He appeared in Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) commercials in 2002, including one with Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and another with Trista Rehn of The Bachelorette. It was rumored that he quit doing these commercials due to KFC suppliers and slaughterhouses' alleged cruelty to animals, but he denied that in the August 2, 2006, issue of Adweek, saying, "That's PETA 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 the ASPCA that aired on cable TV stations.[17] In 2018, Alexander became one of several celebrities to play Colonel Sanders in commercials for KFC, reprising his role from the 2002 campaign.[18]

In 2003, he was cast opposite Martin Short in the Los Angeles production of Mel Brooks's The Producers.[19] He appeared with Kelsey Grammer in the 2004 musical adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, as Jacob Marley. Alexander's second chance as a TV series lead, the CBS sitcom Listen 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 personality Tony Kornheiser. Alexander appeared on the Family Guy: Live in Vegas 2005 album and sang a verse in a song.

Alexander continued to appear in live stage shows, including Barbra Streisand's memorable birthday party in 2005 for Sondheim at the Hollywood Bowl, where he performed selections from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street with Angela Lansbury.[20] He featured in the 2005 Monk episode "Mr. Monk and the Other Detective" as Monk's rival, Marty Eels.

Alexander in 2006

On the June 26, 2006, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Alexander demonstrated several self-defense techniques[citation needed]. He hosted the July 4, 2006, PBS "A Capitol Fourth" celebrations in Washington, D.C., singing, dancing, and playing tuned drums. In 2006, Alexander signed on to feature as a regular cast member in the second season of Everybody Hates Chris. He hosted the Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner on August 13, 2006 (first airdate: August 20, 2006).

He was the artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company in Los Angeles from 2007 until it went defunct in 2013,[21] where he previously directed Sunday in the Park with George, and directed its 2007 revival of Damn Yankees.[22] In 2007, Alexander was a guest star in the third episode of the improv comedy series Thank God You're Here.

He has been a frequent guest and panelist on Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect in 1995, 1997 and 2000[23] and Real Time in 2006, 2009 and 2012;[24] Hollywood Squares in 1999, 2002 and 2004;[25] the Late Late Show in 2003, 2012, 2014 and 2015, with both Craig Kilborn, Craig Ferguson, and James Corden;[26][27][28] Late Show with David Letterman in 1989, 2000, and 2002; The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2015;[29] and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2015.[30][31]

In 2008, Alexander guest-starred in the season four episode "Masterpiece" of the CBS show Criminal Minds as Professor Rothschild,[32][33] a well-educated serial killer obsessed with the Fibonacci sequence who sends the team into a race against time to save his last victims.[34] He returned in the same season to direct the episode "Conflicted", featuring the actor Jackson Rathbone.

Alexander hosted the LOL Sudbury opening night gala in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada on May 29, 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 the Twilight Zone Radio Dramas.

In 2008 and again in 2009, Alexander fronted Jason 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's Jason Alexander's Comedy Christmas. In February/March 2010, Alexander starred in his show, The Donny Clay Experience, at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Donny Clay, whom he has portrayed in a tour of the United States and Orillia, Ontario, is a self-help guru in a similar mold to his Bob Patterson character.

In 2009, he played Joseph in the Thomas Nelson audio Bible production The Word of Promise. The project featured a large ensemble of actors, including Jim Caviezel, Lou Gossett Jr., John Rhys-Davies, Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, Christopher McDonald, Marisa Tomei, and John Schneider.[35][36]

In 2009, Alexander had a small role in the film Hachi: A Dog's Tale as a train station manager. He starred as Cosmo in the 2011 live action film A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!. In 2011, Alexander was the guest star in an episode of Harry's Law, playing a high school teacher bringing a wrongful dismissal suit.[37][38]

Alexander with Alan F. Horn in May 2010

In 2015, he replaced Larry David as the lead in David's Broadway play Fish in the Dark. He co-starred opposite Sherie Rene Scott in the September 2017 world premiere of John Patrick Shanley's The Portuguese Kid at the Manhattan Theatre Club.[39]

In 2018, Alexander played Olix the bartender in The Orville.[40][41] The same year, he portrayed Gene Lundy, a drama teacher, on two episodes of Young Sheldon. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, he reprised the role of Gene Lundy on one episode.

In 2019, Alexander appeared on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as Asher Friedman, a blacklisted Broadway playwright who is an old friend of Midge Maisel's father Abe Weissman.[42] He won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for "The Bad Guys?" on Brainwashed By Toons (2020). In 2020, Alexander hosted the Saturday Night Seder, an online Passover Seder that featured many celebrities and benefited the CDC Foundation.

File:Jason Alexander CBS 2023 406x246.jpg
Alexander performs at the December 2023 CBS tribute to Dick Van Dyke.

From February 2023 he co-presented Really? No, Really?, a weekly podcast in which he, co-host Peter Tilden, and their guests will attempt to find answers "to life’s most baffling, intriguing, confusing and annoying questions".[43] In July 2023, he made his Broadway directing debut with Sandy Rustin's comedy The Cottage. The cast includes Eric McCormack, Laura Bell Bundy and Lilli Cooper.[44]

In 2023, on the December 21 primetime CBS special Dick 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.[45]

Personal life

Alexander has been married to Daena E. Title, cousin of director Stacy Title, since May 31, 1982.[46][47][2] They have two sons, Gabriel[47][48] and Noah.[47]

Alexander performed a mentalism and magic act at The 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.[49]

In March 2023, Alexander announced he would be leaving Twitter in response to Elon Musk announcing that people with "legacy" blue checks would have the check marks removed if they refused to pay for them.[50][51] Alexander later joined the social media platform Spoutible.[52]

Charity

Alexander was the national spokesman for the Scleroderma Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to raising awareness of the disease and assisting those who are afflicted.[53] In summer 2005, he appeared with Lee Iacocca in ads for DaimlerChrysler. Iacocca did the ads as part of a way to raise money for Denise Faustman's research on autoimmunity.[54] 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 on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown, winning the final table of the 8th season. Alexander won the $500,000 prize for the charity of his choice, The United Way of America, to help benefit the New Orleans area. Alexander played in the 2007 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's Poker After Dark in the "Celebrities and Mentors" episode, finishing in 6th place after being eliminated by professional poker player Gavin Smith. He signed with PokerStars, where he plays under the screen name "J. Alexander". In 2021, Alexander competed in a virtual National Poker Tournament, hosted by the Children's Tumor Foundation, to raise money for Neurofibromatosis research.

Political views

Alexander has been a prominent public supporter of the OneVoice initiative, which seeks out opinions from moderate Israelis and Palestinians who want to achieve a mutual peace agreement. On Real Time with Bill Maher, he said he had visited Israel many times and spoke about progress toward peace he had observed.

Alexander is a supporter of the Democratic Party.[55] Alexander supports same-sex marriage[56] and an assault weapons ban.[57] In 2020, he campaigned for the Texas Democrats with former Seinfeld colleagues Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Larry David.[58] He endorsed Barack Obama in 2012[59] and Joe Biden in 2020.[55] Alexander has been an outspoken critic of the Trump administration[60][55] and he has ridiculed Donald Trump over his dancing.[61] He has called Republican Party senator Ted Cruz a jerk from the "jerk store" in reference to a joke from Seinfeld.[62]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
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 film
Coneheads Larry Farber
For Goodness Sake VCR Customer Short film
1994 The Paper Marion Sandusky
North North's Father
The Return of Jafar Abis Mal Voice, direct-to-video
Blankman Mr. 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[63]
1997 Love! Valour! Compassion! Buzz Hauser
1998 Denial Art Witz
1999 Madeline: Lost in Paris Henri / Uncle Horst Voice, direct-to-video[63]
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 film[63]
2001 The Trumpet of the Swan Father Voice[63]
On Edge Zamboni Phil
Shallow Hal Mauricio Wilson
2002 The Hunchback of Notre Dame II Hugo Voice, direct-to-video[63]
2003 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Lil' Lightning Voice, direct-to-video[63]
2006 Ira and 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
2010 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Major Moron Voice[63]
2011 The Voyages of Young Doctor Dolittle Eugene Voice, direct-to-video
2012 Stars in Shorts Sid Rosenthal
2012 Delhi Safari Male Flamingo, Hyena Cook Voice, English dub[63]
2014 Lucky Stiff Vinnie DiRuzzio
2015 Wild Card Pinky
Larry Gaye: Renegade Male Flight Attendant Larry's Dad
2016 Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz Mr. Bibb / The Nome King Voice, direct-to-video[63]
2020 My Boyfriend's Meds Dr. Sternbach
Faith Based Nicky Steele
2023 Leo Jayda's dad Voice[64]
2024 The Electric State TBA Post-production
TBA The Gettysburg Address Noah Brooks Voice, documentary

Television

Year Title Role Notes
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
1992–1993 Dinosaurs Various voices Recurring role
1993 Dream On Randall Townsend Episode: "Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape"
1994–1997 Duckman Eric Duckman Voice, main role
1994, 1998 The Larry Sanders Show Himself 2 episodes
1994 Aladdin Abis Mal Voice, recurring role
1995 Bye Bye Birdie Albert Peterson Television film
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
1998 Saturday Night Live Titey Voice, episode: "Steve Buscemi/Third Eye Blind"
1999 Jingle Bells Elf Voice, television film
Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments Captain James T. Kirk
Star Trek: Voyager Kurros Episode: "Think Tank"
1999–2000 Dilbert Catbert Voice, main role
2001, 2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Himself Recurring role
2001 Friends Earl Episode: "The One Where Rosita Dies"
Bob Patterson Bob Patterson Main role; 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"
2006–2007 Everybody Hates Chris Principal Edwards 2 episodes
2006 Campus Ladies Professor Episode: "A Very Special Episode"
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[63]
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[63]
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, recurring role (season 1–2)[63]
2015 Big Time in Hollywood, FL Himself Episode: "The Hand That Feeds"
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Coach Wallace Voice, episode: "Ultrahyperball"[63]
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[63]
2016 The Mark Lembeck Technique Mark Lembeck Pilot
Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened Himself Documentary
2017 Animals. Algae Voice, episode: "Rats"[63]
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–present 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[63]
2019–present Harley Quinn Sy Borgman Voice, 13 episodes[63]
2019–2022 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Asher Friedman 4 episodes
2019 Mad About You Himself Episode: "Real Estate for Beginners"
2021 The Conners Pastor Phil 2 episodes
2022 Out of Office Television film
Star Trek: Prodigy Doctor Noum Voice, 7 episodes
2023 History of the World, Part II Maurice Cheeks Episode: "VI"

Music videos

Year Title Role Ref.
2007 "Celebrity" Performer [65]
2007 "Online" Director
2012 "Trying Not to Love You" Bud the Coffee Foam Artist

Video games

Year Title Voice role
1996 Disney's Animated Storybook: The Hunchback of Notre Dame Hugo
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy Turvy Games Hugo[63]
2012 Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Hugo[63]

Theme parks

Year Title Role Notes
1998 It's Tough to be a Bug Weevil Kneevil

Director

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"

Stage

Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1981 Merrily We Roll Along Joe Neil Simon Theatre [66]
1982 Forbidden Broadway Performer Stage 72
1984 The Rink Lino/Lenny/Punk/Uncle Fausto Al Hirschfeld Theatre
1985–1986 Personals Louis/Others Minetta Lane Theatre
1986–1988 Broadway Bound Stanley Broadhurst Theatre
1989–1990 Jerome Robbins' Broadway Narrator Imperial Theatre
1990 Accomplice Performer Richard Rodgers Theater
Light Up the Sky Sidney Black Union Square Theatre
2000 Defiled Harry Mendelssohn Geffen Playhouse
2003–2004 The Producers Max Bialystock National Tour
2006 The God of Hell Director
Geffen Playhouse
2008 The Odd Couple Oscar Madison Stage Reading
2013 Finding Neverland Charles Frohman Workshop [67]
Broadway Bound Director
Odyssey Theatre 		[66]
2015 Fish in the Dark Norman Drexel Cort Theatre
2017 The Portuguese Kid Barry Dragonetti Manhattan Theatre Club
2019 The Last Five Years Director
Syracuse Stage 		[68]
2023 The Cottage Director
Helen Hayes Theater, Broadway 		[69]

Awards and nominations

Tony Awards

Year Category Performance Result Ref.
1989 Best Actor in a Musical Jerome Robbins' Broadway Won [70]

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Category Project Episode Result Ref.
1992 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld "The Note" + "The Tape" Nominated [71]
1993 "The Contest" + "The Outing" Nominated
1994 "The Hamptons" + "The Opposite" Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Dream On "Oral Sex, Lies, and Videotape" Nominated
1995 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Seinfeld "The Gymnast" + "The Race" Nominated
1996 "The Pool Guy" + "The Invitations" Nominated
1997 "The Comeback" Nominated
1998 "The Strike" Nominated

Daytime Emmy Awards

Year Category Project Result Ref.
2020 Outstanding Original Song Brainwashed By Toons Won [71]
Outstanding Writing for a Special Class Program Nominated

Golden Globe Awards

Year Award Performance Result Ref.
1993 Best Supporting Actor – Television Seinfeld Nominated [71]
1994 Nominated
1995 Nominated
1998 Nominated

Screen Actors Guild Award

Year Award Performance Result Ref.
1995 Ensemble in a Comedy Series Seinfeld Won [71]
1995 Male Actor in a Comedy Series Won
1996 Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
1996 Male Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1997 Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
1997 Male Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1998 Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
1998 Male Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
1999 Nominated

References

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