Jason Michael Lee(born April 25, 1970) is an American actor, filmmaker, photographer and formerprofessional skateboarder.He is known for playingEarl Hickeyin the television comedy seriesMy Name Is Earl,for which he was nominated forthe Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedyin 2005 and 2006. He is also known for his roles inKevin Smithfilms such asMallrats(1995),Chasing Amy(1997),Dogma(1999),Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back(2001),Jersey Girl(2004),Clerks II(2006),Cop Out(2010), andJay and Silent Bob Reboot(2019). Lee won theIndependent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Malefor his performance inChasing Amy.
Jason Lee | |
---|---|
![]() Lee at theAway and Backpremiere in 2015 | |
Born | Jason Michael Lee April 25, 1970 |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1980s–present |
Spouses | |
Partner | Beth Riesgraf(2001–2007) |
Children | 5 |
Sports career | |
Country | United States |
Sport | Skateboarding |
Turned pro | 1988 |
Retired | 1996 |
His other notable film roles include starring inMumford(1999),Almost Famous(2000),Heartbreakers(2001),Big Trouble(2002),Dreamcatcher(2003) andColumbus Circle(2011). His voice acting credits includeSyndromeinThe Incredibles(2004), Bones inMonster House(2006) and the title character inUnderdog(2007). Lee starred asDave Sevillein the live-action/animationAlvin and the Chipmunksfilms (2007–2015).
A former professional skateboarder, Lee is the co-founder and co-owner of Stereo Skateboards, founding the company in 1992 with fellow skateboarderChris "Dune" Pastras.[1]Since 1992, Stereo manufactures and distributesskateboard decks,equipment and apparel, as well as producingskate videos.[1]
Early life
editLee was born inSanta Ana, California,on April 25, 1970.[2]His father, Greg Lee, was a car dealership manager and his mother, Carol Lee, was a homemaker.[3][4]He has an older brother, James (b. 1968). Lee was raised inHuntington Beachand attendedOcean View High School.[5]A hyperactive and energetic child, Lee took up skateboarding after his mother bought him a skateboard with the hope that he would use it to burn off excessive energy.[citation needed]As he developed an interest on the art of skateboarding, Lee spent the majority of his time perfecting his craft, which would eventually lead to him dropping out of school in order to pursue a professional career.[6]
Career
editSkateboarding
editLee was a professional skateboarder in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In 1992, he founded Stereo Sound Agency, known as Stereo Skateboards, with fellow skater Chris "Dune" Pastras. In 2003, after it had been defunct for a few years, the pair successfully revived the company.[7][8]As of October 2013, Lee and Pastras remained on the professional "Classics" team roster.[9]
Lee was featured in the skateboarding promotional video,Video Days(1991), filmed for the skateboarding company Blind Skateboards.[10]In 2004, Lee's skateboarding was featured inWay Out East!,a film produced by Stereo Skateboards.[11][12]
In August 2012, Lee was also featured in a brief video on the skateboard websiteThe Berricsentitled "Jason Lee decided to come to the park."[13]
In August 2012, Lee participated in the ninth annual Stand-Up for Skateparks Event, which he chaired withTony Hawk.[14]The event is held annually by the Tony Hawk Charitable Foundation and seeks to "help create free, quality public skateparks for youth in low-income communities."[15]
In October that same year, a video was released by theKeep A Breast Foundation,featuring various skateboarding identities, including Lee, together with Pastras. The video, contributing to the Foundation's aim to prevent and raise awareness ofbreast cancer,promotes the "I Love Boobies"bracelet.It also features Clint Peterson (Stereo) and Giovanni Reda (WESC), who are both teammates of Lee.[16]
Lee later worked withTony Hawkwhen he lent his voice and likeness toTony Hawk's Project 8(2006) to become a playable character.[17]Lee then voiced Coach Frank, a character created during the development of Stereo, in the video gameSkate 3(2010).[18][19]
Professional skateboarder and owner of theGirlandLakai Limited Footwearskateboard brandsMike Carroll[20]has cited Lee as one of his skating influences.[21]
Lee has been particularly cited for his360 flips,which even the trick's inventor,Rodney Mullen,credits him with stylizing and popularizing.[22][23][24][25][26]
Acting
editAfter taking some minor acting roles in 1992–1994 (including the music video for theSonic Youthsingle "100%",a small part inMi Vida Loca,and a bit part as a dance instructor onChance and Things), Lee left professional skateboarding for a full-time acting career.[27]His first major film role was inKevin Smith'sMallrats,which became a cult hit.[27][28]This started a friendship that subsequently led to appearances in many of Smith's films, includingChasing Amy,Dogma,Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,Clerks II,Cop Out,andJay and Silent Bob Reboot.Lee won anIndependent Spirit Awardfor his role inChasing AmyasBanky Edwards.
Lee graduated to leading man roles inHeartbreakers,Stealing Harvard,andA Guy Thing.[29][30][31]He has had supporting roles inVanilla Sky,Almost Famous,Dreamcatcher,Big Trouble,The Ballad of Jack and Rose,andMumford,as well as a minor role inEnemy of the State.Lee also voicedSyndromeinThe IncrediblesandJack-Jack Attack.He reprised the role as a "robot copy" of Syndrome inDisney Presents Pixar's The Incredibles in a Magic Kingdom Adventure.[32]Lee is also the voice of Underdog inUnderdogand portraysDave Sevillein the live-action/CGI filmsstarring Alvin and the Chipmunks.[33]
In 2005, Lee was offered the lead role in the television seriesMy Name Is Earl.[34]According to interviews on the first-season DVD, he passed on the series twice before finally agreeing to read for the pilot. In the series he stars asEarl Hickey.Lee received twoGolden Globenominations forBest Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedyin 2006 and 2007, as well as a nomination for theScreen Actors Guild Awardfor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series in2006.[35][36][37]NBC cancelledMy Name Is Earlafter four seasons.[38]
On June 22, 2010,Memphis Beatpremiered. Lee stars alongsideAlfre Woodard[39]and portrays Dwight Hendricks.[39]In October 2011, it was announced the series was not renewed for a third season. He guest-starred in 2010 and 2013 episodes ofRaising Hope,created byMy Name is Earlcreator and producerGreg Garcia.[40][41][42]
As of December 2011, Lee appeared inUp All Night,[43]but after its second season, it was officially cancelled on May 9, 2013. In June 2013,Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip(2015),a fourth and final film in theAlvin and the Chipmunksfranchise, was announced by20th Century Fox;its release date was December 18, 2015.[44]
Lee is in theAmazon Studios49-minute pilot ofCocked,where he plays the character of Grady Paxson, one of three men who run a family company, manufacturing guns. The show premiered on January 15, 2015, and also starsBrian Dennehy,Diora Baird,Dreama Walker,andSam Trammell.[45]On January 25, 2015,The Hallmark ChannelpremieredAway & Back,a Hallmark Hall of Fame film starring Lee,Maggie Elizabeth JonesandMinka Kelly.[46]
Photography
editLee began shooting photos regularly in the early 2000s, and became interested in instant photography.[47]He released his first photo book throughRefueled Magazine.It consists of "184 pages of Polaroid & Fuji Instant Film photographs from 2006-2016", printed in an edition of 500 copies.[48]In 2018 he publishedA Plain View,a photo book consisting of color 4×5 photographs from his exploration of rural and urban America.[49]From June to December 2019, his photographs of Oklahoma were exhibited in exhibitOK: Jason Lee PhotographsinPhilbrook Museum of Art.[50]These works are scheduled to be released as the bookOKin 2022.[51]In December 2020, British publishing house Stanley/Barker releasedIn the Gold Dust Rush,consisting of black and white photographs of rural America.[52]In 2021, Lee releasedGalveston,commissioned by the Galveston Historical Foundation.[51]He is inspired by work ofNew Topographicsmovement, notably byHenry Wessell.He photographs on film.[53]
Personal life
editLee married actress and photographerCarmen Llywelynin 1995. Theydivorcedin 2001. Llywelyn later said that his commitment toScientologywas the principal cause for theirseparation.[54]Llywelyn wrote that their relationship collapsed when she revealed to hertalent managerand fellow Scientologist, Gay Ribisi (mother of actorGiovanni Ribisiand actressMarissa Ribisi), that she had readA Piece of Blue Sky,a book about the reality of Scientology. Two days after her conversation with Ribisi, Llywelyn received a one-paragraph "disconnectionletter "from Lee and was labeled asuppressive person.[55][56]
Following his divorce from Llywelyn, Lee became engaged to actressBeth Riesgraf.Together, they have a son, Pilot Inspektor, born in 2003. Lee states their son's name was inspired by "He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot."by rock bandGrandaddy.[57]
Lee married Turkish model Ceren Alkaç inCaliforniain July 2008. A month later, Alkaç gave birth to a daughter named Casper.[57][58][59]The couple had their second child, a son named Sonny, in 2012.[60]Their third child, a daughter named Alberta 'Birdy' Lee, was born in 2017.[61]
In 2016, Lee revealed that he is no longer a Scientologist.[62][63]When asked byThe Guardianwhy he became a Scientologist he said, "Everybody wants answers, everybody wants to feel lessdepressedor lessanxiousor they want to try to understand some issue that they might have with themselves. "He added:" Ultimately, it was just not for me. That's it. I wasn't really involved going back many, many years now. "[64]
Lee currently resides inLos Angeles, Californiawith his family after living inDenton, Texasfor four years.[64]He is a 1/5th co-owner of the restaurantBarley and Board.[62][65]
Filmography
editFilm
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | Video Days | Himself | Blind Skateboards |
1993 | A Visual Sound | Stereo Skateboards | |
Mi Vida Loca | Teenage Drug Customer | Also known as My Crazy Life | |
1994 | Chance and Things | Dance Instructor on the Television | |
1995 | Mallrats | Brodie Bruce | |
1996 | Drawing Flies | Donner | |
Tincan Folklore | Himself | Stereo Skateboards | |
1997 | Chasing Amy | Banky Edwards | |
A Better Place | Dennis Pepper | ||
1998 | Kissing a Fool | Jay Murphy | |
American Cuisine | Loren Collins | ||
Enemy of the State | Daniel Zavitz | ||
1999 | Dogma | Azrael | |
Mumford | Skip Skipperton | ||
2000 | Almost Famous | Jeff Bebe | |
2001 | Heartbreakers | Jack Withrowe | |
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Brodie Bruce / Banky Edwards | ||
Vanilla Sky | Brian Shelby | ||
2002 | Big Trouble | Puggy | |
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator | Himself | Documentary | |
Stealing Harvard | John Plummer | ||
2003 | A Guy Thing | Paul Morse | |
Dreamcatcher | Beaver Clarendon | ||
I Love Your Work | Larry Hortense | ||
2004 | Oh, What a Lovely Tea Party | Himself | Documentary |
Jersey Girl | PR Exec #1 | ||
The Incredibles | Buddy Pine / Syndrome | Voice | |
2005 | Jack-Jack Attack | Voice,short film | |
The Ballad of Jack and Rose | Gray | ||
Drop Dead Sexy | Frank | ||
2006 | Clerks II | Lance Dowds | |
Rising Son: The Legend of Christian Hosoi | Himself | Documentary | |
Monster House | Bones | Voice | |
2007 | Underdog | Shoeshine / Underdog | |
The Man Who Souled the World | Himself | Documentary | |
Alvin and the Chipmunks | David "Dave" Seville | ||
2009 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel | ||
2010 | Cop Out | Roy | |
2011 | Noah's Ark: The New Beginning | Japheth | Voice |
The Other Side | Mortimer Flybait | ||
Columbus Circle | Charlie | ||
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked | David "Dave" Seville | ||
2014 | Behaving Badly | Father Krumins | |
Tell | Ray | ||
2015 | Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip | David "Dave" Seville | |
2017 | Growing Up Smith | Butch Brunner | |
2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Brodie Bruce | |
2020 | We Bare Bears: The Movie | Charlie | Voice |
2024 | The 4:30 Movie | Brian's dad | |
TBA | Diamond | Billy Curtis | Also producer and writer |
Television
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Weapons of Mass Distraction | Phillip Messenger | Television film |
2005–2009 | My Name Is Earl | Earl Hickey | 96 episodes |
2005 | Saturday Night Live | Host / various roles | 1 episode |
2006, 2016 | American Dad! | Officer Bays / Sam | Voice, 2 episodes |
2010–2011 | Memphis Beat | Dwight Hendricks | 20 episodes |
2011–2012 | Up All Night | Kevin | 7 episodes |
2010–2013 | Raising Hope | Smokey Floyd | 3 episodes |
2013 | Men at Work | Donnie | Episode: "Tyler the Pioneer" |
2014–2016 | Peter Rabbit | Additional voices | Voice, 28 episodes |
2015 | Cocked | Grady Paxson | Television film |
Away and Back | Jack Peterson | ||
2015–2019 | We Bare Bears | Charlie | Voice, 22 episodes |
2021 | The Harper House | Freddie Harper | Voice, 10 episodes |
2024 | Lego Pixar: BrickToons | Syndrome | Voice, Episode: "Pizza Night" |
Video games
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | The Incredibles | Buddy Pine / Syndrome | |
The Incredibles: When Danger Calls | |||
2006 | Tony Hawk's Project 8 | Himself | Alsomotion capture |
2007 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | David "Dave" Seville | |
2010 | Skate 3 | Coach Frank | |
2013 | Disney Infinity | Buddy Pine / Syndrome | |
2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | ||
2018 | Lego The Incredibles |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
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