Jay Johnston
Jay Johnston (born October 22, 1968) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his work as a writer and cast member on the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show with Bob and David and for playing the role of Officer Jay McPherson on The Sarah Silverman Program.
Jay Johnston | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 22, 1968 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Columbia College Chicago (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
Early life and education
Johnston was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting from Columbia College Chicago in 1993.[1]
Career
After graduating from college, Johnston later joined the Chicago Second City's touring comedy for a number of years and also performed in stage shows at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago.[2][3]
From 1995 to 1998, Johnston worked as a sketch actor and writer on all four seasons of Mr. Show with Bob and David.[4][5] After the conclusion of Mr. Show, Johnston had a recurring role on Arrested Development, as well as appearing in films such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Bicentennial Man.[4]
Johnston and fellow Mr. Show regulars Dino Stamatopoulos and Scott Adsit, were part of the creative team (voicing, writing, directing and producing) behind Adult Swim's stop-motion animation series Moral Orel, which ran from 2005 to 2008.[4][5]
Johnston starred on all three seasons of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program as "Officer Jay McPherson", the love interest of Sarah's sister Laura in the series. The series reunited Johnston with Mr. Show cast members Brian Posehn, Scott Aukerman, B. J. Porter, and Paul F. Tompkins.[5]
From 2011, Johnston had a recurring voice role as Jimmy Pesto, Sr. in the FOX animated series Bob's Burgers.[4]
In a March, 2021 a Twitter message by the FBI was seeking the identity of a man at the 2021 United States Capitol attack who bore a resemblance to Johnston, and whose friends identified as Johnston.[6] In a December 21, 2021 article by The Daily Beast, two of Johnston's friends said he admitted to being at the Capitol on January 6. After the FBI tweet and the news of his alleged participation, Johnston's friends and colleagues from Mr. Show with Bob and David reached out to Johnston, but received no response. As of December 2021, Johnston was fired from Bob's Burgers.[7] It is unclear if Johnston has been charged, arrested, or brought in for questioning.[8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Jack Frost | TV Weatherman | |
| 1999 | Bicentennial Man | Charles | |
| 2000 | The Independent | Soldier | |
| 2000 | Desperate but Not Serious | Mustachioed Cop | |
| 2001 | Not Another Teen Movie | Roadie | |
| 2001 | Hollywood Palms | Young Cop | |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | Agent | |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise | Rex | |
| 2003 | Brainwarp | Guy Suave | Direct-to-video |
| 2004 | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | Eyewitness News Member | |
| 2004 | Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | ||
| 2005 | Dirty Love | Waiter | |
| 2006 | Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Gang Member | |
| 2007 | Project Clear Visions: The Anthrax Conspiracy | Michael Patrick | |
| 2008 | The Wayside | Dad | |
| 2009 | Secret at Arrow Lake | Dr. William Hardin | |
| 2011 | Demoted | Kline | |
| 2015 | Hell and Back | Rick the Lost Soul | Voice |
| 2021 | Something About Her | George |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Ellen | Transition Guy | Episode: "Hello, I Must Be Going" |
| 1995–1998 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Various characters | 28 episodes; also writer |
| 1997 | Just Shoot Me! | Exterminator | Episode: "Lemon Wacky Hello" |
| 1997 | Alright Already | Overnight Parcel Guy | Episode: "Again with the Porno Video" |
| 1999 | Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments | Spock | Television film |
| 2000 | Tenacious D | FBI Agent | Episode: "Road Gig" |
| 2001 | DAG | Chainsaw | Episode: "Prom" |
| 2001 | Two Guys and a Girl | Cab Driver | Episode: "An Eye for a Finger" |
| 2001 | Spring Break Lawyer | Reporter | Television film |
| 2001 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Jeremy | Episode: "Shaq" |
| 2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Ed | Episode: "Reese Drives" |
| 2002 | Next! | Various | Pilot |
| 2004 | Sweetwater Tides | Abbott Lewison | Television film |
| 2004 | Last Laugh '04 | Pervert | |
| 2004–2013 | Arrested Development | Officer Taylor | 10 episodes |
| 2005 | Weekends at the D.L. | Bill Combs / Darnell Dickerson | 2 episodes |
| 2005–2008 | Moral Orel | Various voices | 30 episodes; also writer |
| 2006 | American Misfits | The Boss | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Lovespring International | Carl Jason | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Last Laugh '06 | Officer 'Shuggatitz' | Television film |
| 2007 | Human Giant | Whale Trainer | Episode: "Let's Go"; also consultant writer |
| 2007 | Bad Dad | Drunk Bad Dad | Episode #1.2 |
| 2007 | Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular | Mormon Guy | Television film |
| 2007–2010 | The Sarah Silverman Program | Officer Jay McPherson | 32 episodes |
| 2009 | Reno 911! | FBI Agent | Episode: "Viacom Grinch" |
| 2009 | Parks and Recreation | Ranger | Episode: "Hunting Trip" |
| 2010 | Community | Police Officer #2 | Episode: "The Science of Illusion" |
| 2010–2017 | Mary Shelley's Frankenhole | Various voices | 11 episodes |
| 2011 | Jon Benjamin Has a Van | Greg Devlin | Episode: "Little Little Italy" |
| 2011 | Nick Swardson's Pretend Time | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | Guy Suave: Homicidal Spy | Guy Suave | Television film |
| 2011–2021 | Bob's Burgers | Jimmy Pesto / Foodie (voice) | 43 episodes |
| 2012 | Anger Management | Rodney | Episode: "Charlie Tries to Prove Therapy Is Legit" |
| 2012 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | The Letterer | Episode: "Wasilla Hills Cop" |
| 2013 | Childrens Hospital | Capt. Beach-House | Episode: "Imaginary Friends" |
| 2013 | High School USA! | Officer Dumphy (voice) | 5 episodes |
| 2013–2019 | Mr. Pickles | Mr. Goodman / various voices | 30 episodes |
| 2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Repairman | Episode: "Ellie Kemper Wears a Purple Ruffled Sleeveless Top & Lavender Flats" |
| 2015 | Rick and Morty | Coldstone Creamery Employee (voice) | Episode: "A Rickle in Time" |
| 2015 | W/ Bob & David | Various roles | 4 episodes; also writer |
| 2016 | Modern Family | Carl | Episode: "Crazy Train" |
| 2016 | Hidden America with Jonah Ray | John | Episode: "Los Angeles: All That Glitters Is Not Gold" |
| 2016–2017 | Love | Pastor Lewis | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Animals | Ad Man 4 | Episode: "Humans" |
| 2018 | Take My Wife | Guy | Episode #2.3 |
| 2018 | The 5th Quarter | James Naismith | Episode: "Hashbrowns & Potaters" |
| 2019 | Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History | Various roles | Television film |
| 2019 | Dope State | Paul Standinghpin | |
| 2019–2021 | Momma Named Me Sheriff | Mr. Goodman / Buff Swede (voice) | 18 episodes |
| 2020 | Better Call Saul | Don Wachtell | Episode: "Wexler v. Goodman" |
References
- "Famous Columbia College Chicago Alumni". Ranker.com. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- Ben Kharakh’s Interview with Jay Johnston (Part 1) November 14, 2007
- Ben Kharakh’s Interview with Jay Johnston (Part 2) November 14, 2007
- Harris, Will. "The 'W/ Bob and David' Cast Tells Us Their Favorite Post-'Mr. Show' Roles". Thrillist.com. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- Evans, Bradford (2014-06-20). "Diving Deep Into the Legendary 'Mr. Show' Season 3 Writing Staff". Vulture.com. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
- @DontMissChurch (March 4, 2021). "'I'm no detective, but I do know Jay. He said he was there. And that's him in the picture. So...'" (Tweet). Retrieved January 6, 2022 – via Twitter.
- Suebsaeng, Asawin; Stern, Marlow; Rawnsley, Adam (17 December 2021). "Actor Jay Johnston Banned From 'Bob's Burgers' Over Capitol Riot". The Daily Beast.
- "'Bob's Burgers' Actor Jay Johnston Confessed He Was at the Capitol Riot, Says Director". The Daily Beast. December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
External links
- Jay Johnston at IMDb