H. Jon Benjamin

H. Jon Benjamin
Benjamin in 2022
Born	Harry Jon Benjamin (1966-05-23)May 23, 1966 Worcester, Massachusetts,U.S.
Education	Connecticut College(BA)
Occupations	Actor comedian writer producer musician
Years active	1987–present
Partner	Amy Beth Silver
Children	1

Harry Jon Benjamin(born May 23, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician.He is known for his voice roles in adult animated series, includingSterling ArcherinArcher,Bob BelcherinBob's Burgers,Ben inDr. Katz, Professional Therapist,Kevin inO'Grady,Satan inLucy, the Daughter of the Devil,and Coach McGuirk and Jason Penopolis inHome Movies,starring as the voice of Boy in the filmBoy Kills World(2023) and the video gameSuper Dragon Punch Force 3(2024). Benjamin was named 2014's male comedy performer of the year atVulture's TV Awards for his work inBob's BurgersandArcher.He also appeared in the 2001 satirical comedy filmWet Hot American Summer;its subsequent 2015 television series,Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp;and the final installment of the franchise, the 2017 miniseriesWet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later.

Early life

Benjamin was born on May 23, 1966, to a Jewish family inWorcester, Massachusetts.His father, Howard, was CEO of an electric company, and his mother, Shirley, was a former ballet dancer who taught dance at a studio.He graduated fromWorcester Academyin 1984 andConnecticut Collegein 1988.

Career

Benjamin's comedy career began inBoston,where he was in a comedy duo withSam Seder,then a member of Cross Comedy, a comedy team led byDavid Cross.For the first seven years of his career, Benjamin almost exclusively worked in groups rather than independently. Afterward, his independent work remained more experimental, rejecting traditional styles of stand-up comedy.

Benjamin's live projects include theMidnight Pajama Jam,a show performed in New York City withJon GlaserandTinkle,a show combining stand-up comedy and live music, co-hosted byTodd BarryandDavid Cross.AMidnight Pajama JamDVD is currentlyin production. Benjamin and Cross appear together on the albumInvite Them Up.

He was the guest onSpace Ghost Coast to Coastin its eighty-first episode, "King Dead" on December 17, 1999, whereZorakandMoltarkidnapped him. He has appeared in the television showCheap Seats,onESPN Classic,as "Gene Stapleton" and "Rabbi Marc Shalowitz". He co-starred inTodd Barry's short filmBorrowing Saffronand portrayed a talking can of vegetables with a shameful habit ofautofellatioin the filmWet Hot American Summer.He made short cameos inNot Another Teen Movieas the football trainer and on theFX Networkcomedy dramaRescue Meas thepimp"F-bomb" in season two. He can be seen inTurbocharge-the Unauthorized Story of the Cars,a comedy biopic about the '80s rock bandThe Cars,playing the role of Cars' managerElliot Robertsin his usual deadpan comedic delivery.

Benjamin has done extensive voice work in animated TV shows. His credits include starring roles in severalSoup2Nutscartoon shows, such asScience Court,Home Movies,O'Grady,Dr. Katz, Professional TherapistandAssy McGee.He co-createdFreak ShowwithDavid Cross.Benjamin starred as the Devil and multiple other roles inLucy, the Daughter of the Devil,which ran for one season onAdult Swimbeginning September 9, 2007. Benjamin plays a recurring character on thePBS KidsseriesWordGirland is the announcer forThe Sam Seder ShowandThe Majority Report.He did the voice of "Shelly", Sam Seder's accountant, onBreakroom Live with Maron & Seder.

Benjamin has made guest appearances in several animated shows. He was in theAqua Teen Hunger Forceepisodes "Bus of the Undead"and"The Last One"as Mothmonsterman, in" Broodwich "as Mr. Sticks, in" Bible Fruit "as Mortimer Mango and played the live-action role ofMaster Shakein "Last Last One Forever and Ever",credited as Capt. Turd Mahoy. He made a cameo appearance as a government agent in the filmAqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theatersalongside frequent collaboratorJon Glaser.He has appeared inFamily Guyas Carl, a movie trivia obsessedconvenience storeclerk who portrayedYodain theStar Warsparody episode "Something, Something, Something, Dark Side".

Other appearances includeThe Venture Bros.,in the episodes "Escape to the House of Mummies Part II","I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills"and"The Better Man",in which he playedDr. Orpheus's master—who appears in the form ofCerberus,Catherine the Great's horse and, in "The Better Man",both Dr. Orpheus's ex-wife and a futureDean Venture,respectively. He appeared in theStellashort "Bar", which can be found as aneaster eggon the Season 1 DVD. Benjamin appeared on theComedy Centralsketch/variety showImportant Things with Demetri Martin.

In 2009, Benjamin andDavid Crosscreated and wrote forPaid Programming,a live-action pilot forCartoon Network'slate night programing block, Adult Swim.Paid Programmingwas not picked up for a full series and Benjamin referred to it as an "abject failure".

Benjamin was featured in aSuper Bowl XLIIIBud Lightcommercial withConan O'Brienand was responsible for the McCain Girlsvideos on YouTube.He voices Sterling Archer, a secret agent in theFXseriesArcherthat first aired January 14, 2010.He has appeared in several segments of the television showHuman Giantand had a cameo in theAmerican Dad!episode "License to Till" as a talking head of cabbage.

Benjamin starred in theComedy CentralseriesJon Benjamin Has a Van,which he co-created with comedianLeo Allen.The series debuted on May 14, 2011; a total of 10 episodes aired, the last on August 10, 2011.

Beginning in 2013, Benjamin's voice can be heard as the narrator of a series of TV commercials forCoke Zero,including some with tie-ins toESPN'sCollege Game Dayprogram.

In 2014, Benjamin was named as the year's best male comedy performer for his work onBob's BurgersandArcherby the Vulture TV Awards, a digital expansion ofNew Yorkmagazine.

In 2015, despite not knowing how to play any instrument, Benjamin released his first jazz album,Well, I Should Have....Benjamin "played" piano and was joined by Scott Kreitzer on sax,David Finckon bass, and Jonathan Preitz on drums.

Benjamin wrote a comedic autobiography,Failure is an Option: An Attempted Memoir,which was published byPenguin Random Housein May 2018.He also narrated theaudiobook.

Benjamin began appearing in commercials forArby'srestaurant chainin 2018 as their new spokesman.

In March 2020, Benjamin was the voice ofSaddam HusseininBlowback,a podcast about theIraq Warcreated and hosted by Brendan James and Noah Kulwin.

In 2024, Benjamin appears as the voice of a pigeon in the new Progressive Insurance commercials.

Personal life

Benjamin was named "Harry" after his paternal grandfather, but his family has always called him by his middle name "Jon";in his early years, he was unaware of his actual first name.He has said that the inclusion of his first initial in the credits onDr. Katz, Professional Therapistwas done without his consent by co-starLaura Silverman"just to make fun of me."

Benjamin's longtime partner is set decorator Amy Beth Silver. They have a son and live inBrooklyn.

Benjamin is an amateurornithologist.

In January 2020, Benjamin endorsedBernie Sandersfor president and narrated a series of videos on Sanders's health care proposals.In September 2020, Benjamin voiced an animated version of himself to promote the launch video for theGravel Institute'sYouTubechannel.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	Who's the Caboose?	Ken Fold
1998	Next Stop Wonderland	Eric
2000	Happy Accidents	Reveler #1
2001	Wet Hot American Summer	Can of Vegetables (voice)
	Not Another Teen Movie	Trainer
2002	Martin & Orloff	Keith
	Borrowing Saffron	Ron	Short film
2003	Temptation	Kevin
2004	New York Minute	Vendor
2007	Puberty: The Movie	The Torah / Uncle Irving
	Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters	CIA Agent #1 (voice)
	The Ten	Lying Rhyno (voice)
2008	The Toe Tactic	Police Officer
	A Bad Situationist	Isaiah
	Turbocharge: The Unauthorized Story of the Cars	Dance Instructor
2014	22 Jump Street	MCS Coach	Uncredited
	Jason Nash Is Married	Dennis
2015	Creative Control	Gary Gass
	Limbo	Jim	Short film
	Hell and Back	The Tree (voice)
2022	The Bob's Burgers Movie	Bob Belcher(voice)
2024	Boy Kills World	Boy's Inner Voice (voice)
	Familiar Touch

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1994	Understanding	Quark	Episode: "Uncertainty"
1995–1999; 2002	Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist	Ben, Various voices	80 episodes Also writer
1997	The Chris Rock Show	Extra	1 episode
	The Jenny McCarthy Show	Various	6 episodes
1997–2000	Science Court	Prof. Nick Parsons (voice)	29 episodes
1998	Sex and the City	Jeff	Episode: "Bay of Married Pigs"
	Upright Citizens Brigade	Various	10 episodes
1999	Dick and Paula Celebrity Special	Various	2 episodes Also writer
	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Himself	Episode: "King Dead"
1999–2004	Home Movies	Coach John McGuirk, Jason Penopolis, Various voices	52 episodes Also writer and producer
2001–2009	Aqua Teen Hunger Force	Various voices	5 episodes
2002	Saddle Rash	Gummy, Tommy Morgan (voices)	Pilot Also writer
2003	Hey Monie!	Self-defense instructor	1 episode
2004	Pilot Season	Ken Fold	2 episodes
	Say Uncle	Jonny	Failed pilot
2004–2006	Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker	Rabbi Marc Shalowitz, Gene Stapleton	4 episodes
	O'Grady	Kevin Harnisch, Iris, Philip (voices)	19 episodes
2005	Rescue Me	Gary	Episode: "Rebirth"
2005–2006	Sunday Pants	Bob the Log	Travel Logsshorts
2005–2007	Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil	Satan,Special Father #1 (voices)	11 episodes Also writer
2006	Freak Show	Tuck, Various voices	7 episodes Also co-creator, writer and executive producer
2006–2008	Assy McGee	The Mayor, Various voices	19 episodes Also writer and consulting producer
2006–2012	The Venture Bros.	The Master (voice)	4 episodes
2006–present	Family Guy	Carl Graves, Bob Belcher, Various voices	27 episodes
2007–2008	Human Giant	Various	4 episodes Also consultant writer
2007–2015	WordGirl	Reginald the Jewelry Store Clerk, InvisiBill, Additional Voices	31 episodes
2009	Michael & Michael Have Issues	Larry	Episode: "Frog Box"
	Paid Programming	Various	Pilot Co-creator, writer and executive producer
	Parks and Recreation	Scott Braddock	Episode: "Kaboom"
	Titan Maximum	Tap Banister (voice)	Episode: "Dirty Lansbury"
2009–2010	Important Things with Demetri Martin	Various	7 episodes Also writer and co-producer
2009–2023	Archer	Sterling Archer(voice)	145 episodes
2011	Jon Benjamin Has a Van	Host	10 episodes Also co-creator, writer and executive producer
	Soul Quest Overdrive	Mortimer (voice)	6 episodes Also co-creator and co-writer
	American Dad!	Talking Cabbage (voice)	Episode: "License to Till"
2011–present	Bob's Burgers	Bob Belcher,Jimmy Pesto Jr.,Various voices	Main role
2012	Suburgatory	Tabitha	Episode: "Ryan's Song"
	Ugly Americans	Dick Maggotbone (voice)	Episode: "Mark Loves Dick"
2013	Nathan for You	Himself	Episode: "Yogurt Shop/Pizzeria"
2014–2021	Last Week Tonight with John Oliver	Ben, Scientist, Defendant, Blank Void	4 episodes
2015	Conan	Sterling Archer (voice)	Episode: "677"
	Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp	Can of Vegetables, Mitch	4 episodes
	The Jim Gaffigan Show	Kevin	Episode: "The Bible Story"
	The Adventures of Puss in Boots	Baltasar (voice)	Episode: "Luck"
	All Hail King Julien	Fred (voice)	5 episodes
2015–2017	Master of None	Benjamin	4 episodes
2016–2017	People of Earth	Officer Glimmer	8 episodes
2017	Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later	Can of Vegetables, Mitch	5 episodes
	Difficult People	Brian	Episode: "Fuzz Buddies"
2018	The Who Was? Show	Narrator (voice)	13 episodes
	The Simpsons	Bob Belcher (voice)	Episode: "My Way or the Highway to Heaven"
2019	Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas	Batman	Episode: "Inequality Problems"
	Star Trek: Short Treks	Edward Larkin	Episode: "The Trouble with Edward"
2020–2022	Central Park	Mayor Whitney Whitebottom (voice)	7 episodes
2021–2023	Teenage Euthanasia	Various voices	Episode: "Adventures in Beetle Sitting"

Video games

Year	Title	Role
2017	Destiny 2	Radio voice, Scabretti
2022	Destiny 2: The Witch Queen	Scabretti
2024	Super Dragon Punch Force 3	Boy's Inner Voice (voice)

References

Notes

External links

• H. Jon BenjaminatIMDb