Jonathan Adam Saunders Baruchel[1](/ˈbærəʃɛl/;[2]born April 9, 1982)[1]is a Canadian actor and director. He is best known for his voice role asHiccup Haddockin theHow to Train Your Dragonfranchise, and for his lead roles in the comediesFanboys(2009),She's Out of My League(2010), andThis Is the End(2013). Baruchel was the co-lead in the Disneyaction-fantasyfilmThe Sorcerer's Apprentice(2010). Films in which Baruchel has had a starring role have grossed over $1.28 billion at the worldwide box office as of 2024.[3]
Jay Baruchel | |
|---|---|
 Baruchel atJoint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst,2014 | |
| Born | Jonathan Adam Saunders Baruchel April 9, 1982 Ottawa, Ontario,Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Spouse |
Rebecca-Jo Dunham
(m.2019) |
| Partner | Alison Pill(2011–2013) |
Baruchel has also had supporting roles in comedy movies such asKnocked Up(2007),Tropic Thunder(2008),Goon(2011), andThe Art of the Steal(2013). In television, he had lead roles as Steven Karp inJudd Apatow's comedy seriesUndeclared(2001–2002) and Josh Greenberg in theFXXcomedy seriesMan Seeking Woman(2015–2017), both of which received praise from critics.[4][5]
Baruchel had a lead role asBlackBerryco-founderMike Lazaridisin the filmBlackBerry(2023). He has also had non-comedic lead roles in films such asGood Neighbours(2010),The Kindness of Strangers(2019), andHumane(2024), and supporting roles inMillion Dollar Baby(2004),Cosmopolis(2012), andRoboCop(2014). Baruchel has directed the filmsGoon: Last of the Enforcers(2017) andRandom Acts of Violence(2019), which he both acted in.
Early life
editBaruchel was born inOttawa,Ontario,[1][6]the son of Robyne (née Ropell), a freelance writer, and Serge Baruchel, anantiquesdealer.[7][8]He grew up in theNotre-Dame-de-Grâceneighbourhood ofMontréal,Quebec,[9]and has a younger sister.[10]His father was born inParis,France.[11]Baruchel is of one-quarter Jewish descent,[12]with the rest of his ancestry being French and Irish-Catholic.[12]He has stated that he believes his Irish roots are fromCounty Mayo.[13]
Career
edit
Baruchel got his first acting job when he was just 12. One of his first major acting roles was on the local television seriesMy Hometownin 1996. From 1997 to 1998, he co-hostedPopular Mechanics for KidswithElisha Cuthbert.After appearing briefly inCameron Crowe'sOscarwinning filmAlmost Famous,Baruchel won the role of Steven Karp onJudd Apatow's acclaimed yet short-lived television seriesUndeclared,where he starred alongsideSeth Rogen,Carla Gallo,Charlie Hunnam,andMonica Keena.He then appeared withJames Van Der BeekinRoger Avary'sThe Rules of Attraction.
In 2004, Baruchel played bo xing hopeful Danger Barch inClint Eastwood'sMillion Dollar Baby.Baruchel then starred inNemesis GameandFetching Cody,before appearing oppositeDon Johnsonon theWB'sJust Legalin 2005, and guest-starring on theCBSdramaNumb3rsin 2006.
Baruchel appeared in the filmsKnocked Up(which reunited him with Judd Apatow,Jason Segel,and Seth Rogen),I'm Reed Fish,Just Buried,and theBen Stiller-directedTropic Thunder,alongsideJack Black,Nick Nolte,Steve Coogan,andRobert Downey Jr.He co-starred withSeth Rogenin the 2007 trailer forJay and Seth versus the Apocalypse,created by Rogen andEvan Goldbergas a strategy to garner interest and funding for a similar, larger-scale project (later made in 2013 asThis Is the End). In 2008, he appeared inNick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.He also made a brief appearance inNight at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian.
In 2010, Baruchel starred in the filmsThe Trotsky,DreamWorks'She's Out of My League(oppositeAlice Eve),[14]and the live-action Disney adaptation ofThe Sorcerer's Apprentice.He also voiced the starring role in the acclaimed animated feature,How to Train Your Dragon,a role he has subsequently continued throughout thefranchise,including its television series. Also in 2010, he played two supporting characters in the Canadian comedy seriesThe Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour.[15]He developed the screenplay forGoon,withEvan Goldberg,playing Johnny Klutz, a character of his own creation.[16]Goonco-starsSeann William Scottand fellow Canadian actorEugene Levy.[17]
Baruchel also appeared in the 2010AdidasOriginals ad campaign, "Cantina", in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup and in video clips for Canadian prog-rockers Rush's 2012–13 Clockwork Angels tour.
In July 2012, he appeared in the music video for the song "Toxsik Waltz" by rapperNecro.In the summer of 2013, he starred in the hit apocalyptic comedyThis Is the Endand in 2014, he appeared in theRoboCopremake and reprised his role as Hiccup inHow to Train Your Dragon 2.
In July 2014, it was announced that Baruchel would be starring in the FXX comedyMan Seeking Womanwhich premiered in January 2015.[18]He also appeared in the 2015 music video for the song "Every Little Means Trust" byIdlewild.[19]
Baruchel was also involved in writing the Chapterhouse comic book seriesCaptain Canuck.[20]
Baruchel wrote, directed, and starred in the 2017 sports comedy filmGoon: Last of the Enforcers,the sequel to the 2011 filmGoon.
In 2018, he made his debut as an author, withBorn Into It: A Fan's Life,released on Harper Collins. The book explored his love of theMontreal Canadienswith anecdotes, childhood memories, and heartfelt tales about his life as a fan of the team.
After the release ofHow to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,2019 saw Baruchel star in the Danish filmThe Kindness of Strangersand the Canadian horror filmRandom Acts of Violence,which was his second film as a director.[21]
In 2021, Baruchel hosted the original audiopodcastdocumentary series forAudible.ca,Highly Legal,that explored the political and economic history and aftermath of Canada's legalization ofmarijuana.[22]In the same year, Baruchel and his wife, Rebecca-Jo Dunham, both appeared in the music video for "Ouch", the lead single fromThe Tragically Hip's archival EPSaskadelphia.[23]He was also named host ofLOL: Last One Laughing Canada,which premiered on February 18, 2022 onAmazon Prime Video.[24]He appears in the seventh episode ofThe Kids in the Hallrevival.[25]
In 2022, Baruchel hosted theCraveoriginal seriesWe're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel),a six-episode docuseries about the end of the world that explored potential world-ending risks. Baruchel, as host, met with scientists and other experts to discuss the feasibility of the risks and the potential solutions and innovations to counter the issues.[26]
Baruchel had a lead role asBlackBerryco-founderMike Lazaridisin thebiographicalcomedy-dramafilmBlackBerry(2023), for which he won aCanadian Screen Award for Best Lead Performance in a Comedy Film.[27]
In November 2024, Baruchel joined the cast of the romcom filmMile End Kicks.[28]He is also set to playKen CarterinThe Stunt Driver,a comedy film about the Canadian stunt driver's exploits.[29]
Personal life
editBaruchel was engaged to actressAlison Pillfrom 2011 to 2013. He alluded to their break-up in aTwitterpost on February 16, 2013.[30]In May 2018, Baruchel announced his engagement to his girlfriend Rebecca-Jo Dunham.[31]They were married on September 21, 2019, in Portugal.[32]Baruchel has said that he is "probably agnostic".[33][34]
Baruchel has several tattoos: aCeltic cross(on his upper right arm) to honour his Irish heritage,[35]and a redmaple leafon his left pectoral.[36]
Baruchel is a supporter of Scottish football clubCelticsince the early 2000s; in 2016, he co-produced a documentary detailing his journey towards falling in love with the club.[37]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Running Home | Kid #2 | |
| Who Gets the House? | Jonathan | ||
| 2000 | Almost Famous | Vic Munoz | |
| 2002 | Edgar and Jane | N/A | Short film; Director, writer and producer only |
| The Rules of Attraction | Harry | ||
| 2003 | Nemesis Game | Jeremy Curran | |
| 2004 | Million Dollar Baby | Danger Barch | |
| 2005 | Fetching Cody | Art Frankel | |
| 2006 | I'm Reed Fish | Reed Fish | |
| 2007 | Knocked Up | Jay | |
| Jay and Seth versus the Apocalypse | Himself | Short film; Also writer | |
| Just Buried | Oliver Whynacht | ||
| 2008 | Real Time | Andy Hayes | |
| Tropic Thunder | Kevin Sandusky | ||
| Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist | Tal Hanson | ||
| 2009 | Fanboys | Windows | |
| Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian | Sailor Joey Motorola | ||
| The Trotsky | Leon | ||
| 2010 | She's Out of My League | Kirk Kettner | |
| How to Train Your Dragon | Hiccup (voice) | ||
| The Sorcerer's Apprentice | Dave Stutler | ||
| Good Neighbours | Victor | ||
| Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon | Hiccup (voice) | Short film | |
| 2011 | Goon | Pat | Writer; Also producer |
| Book of Dragons | Hiccup (voice) | Short film | |
| Gift of the Night Fury | |||
| 2012 | Cosmopolis | Shiner | |
| The Watchmaker | Tax man | Short film | |
| 2013 | This Is the End | Himself | Co-producer |
| The Art of the Steal | Francie | ||
| 2014 | RoboCop | Tom Pope | |
| Don Peyote | Bates | ||
| How to Train Your Dragon 2 | Hiccup (voice) | ||
| Dawn of the Dragon Racers | Short film | ||
| 2016 | Lovesick | Mark | |
| 2017 | Goon: Last of the Enforcers | Pat | Director; writer |
| 2019 | The Kindness of Strangers | John | |
| Random Acts of Violence | Ezra | Director; Also writer and producer | |
| How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Hiccup (voice) | ||
| 2023 | BlackBerry | Mike Lazaridis | |
| 2024 | Humane | Jared York | |
| TBA | Mile End Kicks[28] | TBA |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995, 1999–2000 | Are You Afraid of the Dark? | Joe / Alex / Ross Doyle / Jason Midas | 4 episodes |
| 1996–1998 | My Hometown | Thomas Thompson | Main role |
| 1997–2001 | Popular Mechanics for Kids | Himself | |
| 1998 | The Worst Witch | Bean Pole | Episode: "The Great Outdoors" |
| 2001–2002 | Undeclared | Steven Karp | Main role |
| 2002 | Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher | Jimmy Fleming | Television film |
| 2004 | The Stones | Winston Stone | 6 episodes |
| 2005–2006 | Just Legal | Skip Ross | 8 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Numb3rs | Oswald Kittner | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | The Drunk and On Drugs Happy Fun Time Hour | Private Prosciutto / Falcon | 2 episodes |
| 2012–2018 | DreamWorks Dragons | Hiccup (voice) | Main role |
| 2012 | Being Human | Stu | Episode: "When I Think About You I Shred Myself" |
| 2014 | Trailer Park Boys | N/A | Directed Episode: "Crawling Through the Shitpipe" |
| 2015–2017 | Man Seeking Woman[38] | Josh Greenberg | Main role |
| 2018 | Letterkenny | "Hard Right" Jay | 2 episodes |
| The Magic School Bus Rides Again | Dr. Tillage (voice) | Episode: "Ghost Farm" | |
| 2019 | The Moodys | Sean Moody Jr. | Main role |
| How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming | Hiccup (voice) | Short film | |
| 2019–20 | Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series | Fucknel
(voice) |
2 episodes |
| 2022 | LOL: Last One Laughing Canada | Host | |
| Son of a Critch | N/A | Director only | |
| The Kids in the Hall | Smoker | Episode 7 | |
| We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel) | Self | Main role | |
| 2023 | Son of a Critch | Scott Howell | Episode "Pope Visit" |
| 2023–present | FUBAR | Carter Perlmutter | Main role |
Music videos
edit| Year | Band | Song | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Alexisonfire | "Sweet Dreams of Otherness" | Director | [39][40] |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | US Comedy Arts Festival | Best Actor Award | I'm Reed Fish | Won | |
| 2010 | Canadian Comedy Awards | Best Performance by a Male – Film | The Trotsky | Won | [41] |
| 2011 | Annie Awards | Best Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production | How to Train Your Dragon | Won | |
| Genie Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role | The Trotsky | Nominated | ||
| Jutra Awards | Best Actor (Meilleur Acteur) | Won | |||
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Best Actor in a Canadian Film | Nominated | |||
| 2013 | Canadian Screen Awards | Adapted Screenplay(shared withEvan Goldberg) | Goon | Nominated | |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film | Nominated | |||
| 2014 | Canadian Screen Awards | Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role | The Art of the Steal | Nominated | |
| MTV Movie Awards | Best Musical Moment | This Is the End | Won | ||
| 2019 | ACTRA Award | Award of Excellence | N/A | Won | [42] |
| Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program | Dragons: Race to the Edge:Season 6 | Won | ||
| 2024 | Canadian Screen Awards | Best Lead Performance in a Comedy Film | BlackBerry | Won | [27] |
| Canadian Screen Awards | Performance in a guest role in a comedy series | Son of a Critch | Nominated |
References
edit- ^abc"Jay Baruchel".TVGuide.Archived fromthe originalon September 13, 2015.
- ^"Craig Ferguson Teaches Scottish Slang to Jay Baruchel | Vanity Fair".February 21, 2019 – via youtube.
- ^"Jay Baruchel - Box Office".The Numbers.RetrievedJuly 2,2024.
- ^"Undeclared".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 2,2024.
- ^"Man Seeking Woman: Season 1".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedJuly 2,2024.
- ^Vlessing, Etan (October 19, 2015)."Jay Baruchel Makes Televised Voting Pitch as Justin Trudeau Wins Canadian Election".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 15,2015.
...the Ottawa-born Baruchel..
- ^"Quick Study".People.November 12, 2001.RetrievedMarch 12,2010.
- ^Rich, Katey (March 10, 2010)."Interview: Jay Baruchel On Why He Won't Do Nude Scenes".Cinemablend.Archived fromthe originalon June 20, 2021.RetrievedMarch 13,2010.
- ^"JAY BARUCHEL: CANADA'S PROUDEST SON".RetrievedSeptember 14,2009.
- ^"Jay Baruchel Biography".Yahoo!Movies.RetrievedNovember 10,2007.
- ^Arthur, Bruce (March 17, 2017)."Baruchel fights the good fight in Goon sequel: Arthur".The Toronto Star.
- ^abSimonpillai, Radheyan (May 13, 2010)."Jay Baruchel is the Trotsky".NOW Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon October 15, 2012.RetrievedMay 13,2010.
The funny thing is, Baruchel is only a quarter Jewish... His background is also French and Irish-Catholic... He may be hard to identify ethnically...
- ^"Celebrity Interview: Jay Baruchel".Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2012.RetrievedMarch 7,2010.
- ^INTERVIEW: Jay Baruchel On She's Out Of My League – Rip It Up MagazineArchivedMarch 8, 2012, at theWayback MachineRetrieved September 15, 2010
- ^"The Boys are back and on drugs"ArchivedSeptember 15, 2010, at theWayback Machine.The Globe and Mail,July 12, 2010.
- ^Kit, Borys."Uni stumbles onto Jay Baruchel's 'Klutz'"The Hollywood ReporterMarch 11, 2009
- ^McClintock, Pamela (October 27, 2010)."Eugene Levy joins 'Goon' squad, Variety".
- ^"FXX Orders 'Man Seeking Woman' Starring Jay Baruchel".Variety.July 2, 2014.RetrievedJuly 2,2014.
- ^Lester, Paul (April 9, 2015)."Jay Baruchel Meets Idlewild:'You Saved My Life'".The Guardian.RetrievedAugust 9,2015.
- ^"Jay Baruchel plans bold new adventures for Captain Canuck".Toronto Star.June 23, 2017.
- ^Miska, Brad (August 15, 2018)."Jay Baruchel Hits the Road for a Horror Comic-Con in 'Random Acts of Violence'".Bloody Disgusting!.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 22,2019.
- ^Ahearn, Victoria (August 11, 2021)."Jay Baruchel talks cannabis legalization in Canadian Audible original 'Highly Legal'".CP24. Canadian Press.RetrievedSeptember 12,2021.
- ^Daniel Kreps,"See the Tragically Hip’s ‘Twin Peaks’-Inspired Video for ‘Ouch’".Rolling Stone,June 3, 2021.
- ^"Amazon Prime Video Announces Jay Baruchel as Host of the Canadian Edition of the Global Amazon Original Hit Format LOL: Last One Laughing Canada".Amazon Press Room.April 13, 2021.RetrievedApril 14,2022.[permanent dead link]
- ^"It's Head-Crushing Time! Prime Video Announces the Premiere Date and Trailer Release for Canadian Amazon Original Series The Kids in the Hall".newswire.ca.April 13, 2022.RetrievedApril 13,2022.
- ^Rachel Ho,"Hot Docs Review: 'We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel)' Is a Lighthearted Look at the Impending Apocalypse".Exclaim!,May 2, 2022.
- ^abEtan Vlessing,"‘BlackBerry,’ ‘Little Bird’ Dominate Canadian Screen Awards".The Hollywood Reporter,May 31, 2024.
- ^abRitman, Alex (November 5, 2024)."AFM: 'Blackberry' Star Jay Baruchel Joins Cast of XYZ's Rom-Com 'Mile End Kicks' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.RetrievedNovember 6,2024.
- ^Grobar, Matt (November 14, 2024)."Jay Baruchel Reteaming With 'Goon's Michael Dowse On Comedy 'The Stunt Driver'".Deadline.RetrievedNovember 16,2024.
- ^"Alison Pill, Jay Baruchel Call Off Engagement".usmagazine.March 5, 2013.RetrievedJuly 16,2015.
- ^Loschiavo, Taline (May 29, 2018)."Jay Baruchel is Engaged".etalk.Archivedfrom the original on February 22, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 22,2019.
- ^Clarendon, Dan (September 22, 2019)."Jay Baruchel Marries Rebecca-Jo Dunham in Portugal".US Magazine.RetrievedDecember 10,2019.
- ^McLeod, Andre (2008)."Jay Baruchel: Breaking Out".Complex.RetrievedMarch 12,2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Montreal actor improvising his way to the top".Canada.January 3, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon May 29, 2008.RetrievedMarch 20,2010.
- ^"Celebrity Interview: Jay Baruchel".TV3.April 7, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2012.RetrievedJuly 15,2010.
- ^Wheeler, Brad (September 19, 2014)."Fiercely Canadian Jay Baruchel wears his maple leaf on his sleeve".The Globe and Mail.RetrievedNovember 6,2024.
- ^"How To Train Your Dragon star Jay Baruchel on his new movies, his love of Glasgow and why he's a Celtic fan".glasgowlive.co.uk.February 5, 2019.RetrievedMarch 18,2023.
- ^Variety Staff (July 2, 2014)."FXX Orders 'Man Seeking Woman' Starring Jay Baruchel".Variety.RetrievedJuly 16,2015.
- ^Alexisonfire – Sweet Dreams of Otherness (Official Video),March 10, 2022,retrievedJune 23,2022
- ^"Alexisonfire Shares New Single" Sweet Dreams Of Otherness "– New Album Incoming".Ghost Cult Magazine.March 10, 2022.RetrievedJune 23,2022.
- ^"Canadian Comedy Awards".NOW Toronto Magazine – Think Free.October 19, 2010.RetrievedJanuary 1,2017.
- ^"Jay Baruchel gets award of excellence from Canada's performers' union, ACTRA".ctvnews.ca.January 14, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on January 16, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 22,2019.
External links
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