Jump to content

H. Jon Benjamin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

H. Jon Benjamin
Benjamin in 2022
Born
Harry Jon Benjamin

(1966-05-23)May 23, 1966(age 58)
EducationConnecticut College(BA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
  • musician
Years active1987–present
PartnerAmy Beth Silver
Children1

Harry Jon Benjamin[1](born May 23, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician.[2]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.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Benjamin was born on May 23, 1966, to a Jewish family inWorcester, Massachusetts.[4][5]His father, Howard, was CEO of an electric company, and his mother, Shirley, was a former ballet dancer who taught dance at a studio.[6]He graduated fromWorcester Academyin 1984 andConnecticut Collegein 1988.[7]

Career

[edit]

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 currently[when?]in 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.[8]

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".[9]

Benjamin was featured in aSuper Bowl XLIIIBud Lightcommercial withConan O'Brien[10]and was responsible for the McCain Girls[11]videos on YouTube.[12]He voices Sterling Archer, a secret agent in theFXseriesArcherthat first aired January 14, 2010.[13]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.[14]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.[citation needed]

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.[15]

In 2015, despite not knowing how to play any instrument, Benjamin released his first jazz album,Well, I Should Have....[16]Benjamin "played" piano and was joined by Scott Kreitzer on sax,David Finckon bass, and Jonathan Preitz on drums.[17]

Benjamin wrote a comedic autobiography,Failure is an Option: An Attempted Memoir,which was published byPenguin Random Housein May 2018.[1]He also narrated theaudiobook.

Benjamin began appearing in commercials forArby'srestaurant chainin 2018 as their new spokesman.[18]

In March 2020, Benjamin was the voice ofSaddam HusseininBlowback,a podcast about theIraq Warcreated and hosted by Brendan James and Noah Kulwin.[19]

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

Personal life

[edit]

Benjamin was named "Harry" after his paternal grandfather, but his family has always called him by his middle name "Jon";[1]in his early years, he was unaware of his actual first name.[20]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."[20]

Benjamin's longtime partner is set decorator Amy Beth Silver. They have a son and live inBrooklyn.[6]

Benjamin is an amateurornithologist.[21]

In January 2020, Benjamin endorsedBernie Sandersfor president and narrated a series of videos on Sanders's health care proposals.[22]In September 2020, Benjamin voiced an animated version of himself to promote the launch video for theGravel Institute'sYouTubechannel.[23]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
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[24]
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 Steve

Television

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]

Notes

  1. ^abcBenjamin, H. Jon (2018).Failure Is an Option.Penguin Publishing Group.ISBN9781524742171.
  2. ^Comedian Jon Benjamin's Jazz Album is Full of 'Real Untapped Un-Talent',retrievedApril 3,2022
  3. ^Chaney, Jen (August 4, 2017)."A Solute to Mitch, the Can of Vegetables fromWet Hot American Summer".Vulture.RetrievedJanuary 7,2022.
  4. ^Rock 'n Roll Ghost."H. Jon Benjamin Talks FX's Archer Season Finale".Rocknrollghost. Archived fromthe originalon September 9, 2013.RetrievedApril 29,2014.
  5. ^"H. Jon Benjamin".Turner Classic Movies.RetrievedMay 30,2022.
  6. ^abSemon, Craig."Flipping barbs with Mass. native H. Jon Benjamin of 'Bob's Burgers'".The Patriot Ledger.RetrievedMay 30,2022.
  7. ^"Class Notes"ArchivedApril 25, 2012, at theWayback MachineTheWorcester AcademyHilltopper(Spring 2011) p.28
  8. ^"Welcome to Turbocharge The Movie".Turbochargethemovie. Archived fromthe originalon September 22, 2017.RetrievedJuly 26,2010.
  9. ^Heisler, Steve (February 4, 2011)."Random Roles H. Jon Benjamin".The A.V. Club.RetrievedFebruary 5,2011.
  10. ^"Super Bowl 43 ad: Budweiser Bud Light - Conan O'Brien 'Vroom Vroom Party Starter'"(Video).YouTube.RetrievedFebruary 15,2009.
  11. ^"McCaingirls's Channel".YouTube.March 14, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 15,2009.
  12. ^"Just because".SamSederShow.Archived fromthe originalon November 21, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 15,2009.
  13. ^"Archer reviews at".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 26,2010.
  14. ^"Interview with Jon Benjamin".SanDiego. Archived fromthe originalon June 12, 2011.RetrievedJune 9,2011.
  15. ^Seitz, Matt (June 17, 2014)."Vulture TV Awards: The Year's Best Male Comedy Performer Is H. Jon Benjamin".Vulture.New York.RetrievedJune 19,2014.
  16. ^Bradley, Laura (November 23, 2015)."Watch H. Jon Benjamin Record a Whole Jazz Album on the Piano Even Though He Can't Play the Piano".Slate.RetrievedNovember 28,2015.
  17. ^"H. Jon Benjamin Discusses Why He Recorded Jazz Album in Recently Surfaced Interview".Classicalite.January 20, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  18. ^"Arby's Wants You To Know It Does More Than Just Roast Beef".Forbes.September 10, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 27,2018.
  19. ^"Blowback".blowback.show.RetrievedNovember 1,2021.
  20. ^abThe Verge (July 5, 2013),On The Verge: interview with voice actor H Jon Benjamin (Archer, Bob's Burgers),retrievedMay 4,2019
  21. ^Bittel, Jason (April 14, 2021)."H. Jon Benjamin's 'Morning Bird Reports' Have Brought Joy to Many in Dark Times".Audubon.RetrievedJune 5,2021.
  22. ^Budryk, Zack (January 22, 2020)."Sanders campaign releases video series hosted by voice actor H. Jon Benjamin".The Hill.RetrievedJune 19,2020.
  23. ^Jackson, Gita (October 1, 2020)."The Gravel Institute Is Trying to Make PragerU, But Good".Vice News.RetrievedOctober 28,2020.
  24. ^McCarthy, Erin (June 13, 2014)."10 Things to Know About '22 Jump Street'".MentalFloss.RetrievedMarch 24,2016.
[edit]