Jim Rash
James Rash (born July 15, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is widely known for his role as Dean Craig Pelton on the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015), for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012. In that same year, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and received a Golden Globe nomination for the film The Descendants.[1]
Jim Rash | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Rash in July 2013 | |
| Born | James Rash July 15, 1971 |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
Early life
Rash was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 15, 1971. Both he and his sister were adopted.[2] He attended Charlotte Latin School.[3] After graduating, he spent a post-graduate year at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.[3] He was a member of The Groundlings, the improv comedy group based in Los Angeles.
Career
Rash played Mr. Grayson/Stitches in the 2005 film Sky High, Fenton on That '70s Show,[4] and Andrew the "whore house guy" on Reno 911! He appeared in the final episode of Friends, and played Head T.A. Philip in Slackers. From 2009 to 2015, Rash starred on Community as Craig Pelton, the dean of the community college in which the show takes place.
Rash and comedy partner Nat Faxon moved into screenwriting with a pilot in 2005 for a series entitled Adopted, which did not take off.[2][5] They wrote the screenplay for The Descendants (2011), based on the novel of the same name, which appeared on the 2008 edition of the Black List (the most popular unproduced scripts in Hollywood at that time).[6] The film was released to critical acclaim,[1] receiving a Golden Globe nomination and winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. However, the final script for the "Descendants" was largely re-written by screenwriters and directors Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor. Payne would go on to direct the film. In an interview with the "Vulture", Payne discussed an agreement between Payne/Taylor and Rash/Faxon. During the awards circuit for "The Descendants", Rash/Faxon would deliver the acceptance speeches for all of the awards except the Academy Award; the Academy Award speech would be handled by Payne/Taylor.
Rash and Faxon then co-wrote and co-directed the film The Way Way Back (2013), which received a standing ovation at its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.[7] Parts of the film are based on Rash's teenage life.[5]
Since 2017, he has been the official voice actor for Donald Duck universe character Gyro Gearloose in the reboot of DuckTales.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Auto Motives | Accountant | |
| 2002 | Hiding in Walls | Jane's Assistant | |
| One Hour Photo | Amateur Porn Guy | ||
| Slackers | Head T.A. Philip | ||
| Minority Report | Technician | ||
| S1m0ne | Studio Executive | ||
| 2003 | Wrong Hollywood Number | Caller | Short film |
| George & Gracie | George | ||
| 2005 | Sky High | Mr. Grayson/Stitches | |
| 2007 | Smiley Face | Talent Agency Secretary | |
| Balls of Fury | Techie | ||
| 2008 | The Onion Movie | Bryce's Manager | |
| 2009 | The Slammin' Salmon | Disgruntled Businessman | |
| 2011 | The Descendants | N/A | Co-writer |
| 2013 | The Way Way Back | Lewis | Also co-writer, co-director and executive producer |
| 2014 | Yellowbird | Karl (voice)[8][9] | |
| 2015 | Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run | Cecil Turtle (voice) | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | Dean of M.I.T. | Cameo |
| 2017 | Thoroughbreds | N/A | Producer |
| Bernard and Huey | Bernard | ||
| 2019 | Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs | Prince Average (voice) | |
| 2020 | Downhill | N/A | Co-director and co-writer |
| Lazy Susan | Phil | ||
| TBA | Long Weekend |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Cybill | Production Assistant | Episode: "Local Hero" |
| 1997 | Tracey Takes On... | Pollster | Episode: "Movies" |
| 1997–1998 | The Naked Truth | Harris Van Doren | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Working | Carl | Episode: "Good Val Hunting" |
| 1999 | Becker | Eddie Blatt | Episode: "Becker the Elder" |
| Clueless | Bart | Episode: "Big Sissies" | |
| Katie Joplin | Mitchell Tuit | 7 episodes | |
| Thanks | Cotton | 6 episodes | |
| 2000 | The Hughleys | Census Guy | Episode: "Scary Hughleys" |
| 2001 | Loomis | Pilot | |
| The Practice | Quimby | Episode: "Vanished: Part 1" | |
| 2002 | Less Than Perfect | Rob McLyle | Episode: "Claude the Liar" |
| 2002–2006 | That '70s Show | Fenton | 6 episodes |
| 2003 | Alligator Point | Pilot | |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Todd Benton | Episode: "Random Acts of Violence" | |
| The Guardian | Court Therapist | Episode: "All the Rage" | |
| Baby Bob | Dougy | Episode: "Reality Bites" | |
| Coupling | Stalker | Episode: "Check/Mate" | |
| 2003–2009, 2020 | Reno 911! | Andrew | 15 episodes |
| 2004 | Friends | Nervous Passenger on Plane | Episode: "The Last One" |
| Grim & Evil | Various voices | Episode: "A Kick in the Asgard" | |
| NCIS | Dr. Joel Sanderson | Episode: "Left For Dead" | |
| 2005 | Will & Grace | Brent | Episode: "Love is in the Airplane" |
| Jake in Progress | Freddie Blake | Episode: "Rivals and Departures" | |
| Adopted | Pilot; co-creator and executive producer | ||
| 2006 | Saturday Night Live | Guest writer on episode "Dane Cook / The Killers" | |
| 2006–2007 | Help Me Help You | Jonathan | 14 episodes |
| 2008 | Hackett | Pilot | |
| Eli Stone | Bradley Kitsis | Episode: "I Want Your Sex" | |
| Samantha Who? | Artist | Episode: "The Gallery Show" | |
| 2009, 2016 | American Dad! | Bouncer / Puddin' (voices) | 2 episodes |
| 2009–2015 | Community | Dean Craig Pelton | 90 episodes; also wrote "Basic Human Anatomy" co-directed 2 episodes |
| 2010 | Open Books | Kyle | Pilot |
| 2011 | Worst. Prom. Ever. | Pizza Pete | Television film |
| 2011–2014 | The Soup | Various roles | 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | JR Kipple (voice) | Episode: "The Night the Clown Cried II - Tears of Doom" |
| The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange | Pineapple Joe (voice) | Episode: "Follow the Bouncing Orange" | |
| 2012–2013 | The Looney Tunes Show | Cecil Turtle (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2012–2015 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Principal Slimovitz (voice) | 34 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | The Writers' Room | Himself (host) | 12 episodes; also producer |
| TripTank | Various voices | 3 episodes | |
| 2013–2015 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Various roles | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2015 | Glee | Lee Paulblatt | 2 episodes |
| 2014–2020 | Mike Tyson Mysteries | Marquess of Queensberry (voice) | 70 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Jake and the Never Land Pirates | Sinker (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Rick and Morty | Glaxo Slimslom (voice) | Episode: "Big Trouble In Little Sanchez" |
| 2016 | Dr. Ken | Devon Drake | Episode: "Ken's an Expert Witness" |
| Lucifer | Richard Kester | Episode: "Et Tu, Doctor?" | |
| The Odd Couple | Joshua Norwall | Episode: "Chess Mates" | |
| Black-ish | Cody | Episode: "VIP" | |
| The Grinder | Bill Foosley | Episode: "The Retooling of Dean Sanderson" | |
| 2017 | Girlboss | Mobias | 4 episodes |
| SuperMansion | NASA Scientist (voice) | Episode: "Blazarmageddon" | |
| 2017–present | DuckTales | Gyro Gearloose (voice) | 12 episodes |
| 2017 | Animals. | Chuckles (voice) | Episode: "Cats Part I" |
| Nobodies | Himself | 5 episodes | |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm | Hotel Day Manager | Episode: "The Pickle Gambit" | |
| Beyond Stranger Things | Himself (host) | 7 episodes | |
| Superior Donuts | Mr. Mathers | Episode: "Error of Admission" | |
| 2018 | Blaze and the Monster Machines | Grandpa (voice) | Episode: "The Pickle Family Campout" |
| Great News | Fenton Pelt | 2 episodes | |
| Big City Greens | Ted (voice) | Episode: "Fill Bill/Critterball Crisis" | |
| The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants | Mr. Jerry Citizen (voice) | Episode: "Captain Underpants and the Jarring Jerkiness of the Judge J.O.R.T.S." | |
| Angie Tribeca | Philip Grammbbowski | Episode: "Trader Joes" | |
| 2018–2020 | Star Wars Resistance | Flix (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 2019–present | Harley Quinn | Edward Nygma/Riddler /Various roles | 7 episodes |
| 2020 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Dr. Jones | Episode: "Pimemento" |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Gold Derby TV Award | Best TV Ensemble | Community | Nominated |
| 2011 | Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| National Board of Review | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| 2012 | Writers Guild of America | Adapted Screenplay | Won | |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| USC Scripter Award | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Independent Spirit Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Golden Globe | Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| BAFTA Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Australian Film Institute | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Academy Award | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Gold Derby TV Award | Best TV Ensemble | Community | Won | |
| TV Guide Awards | Favorite Ensemble | Won | ||
| Critics' Choice Television Award | Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| PAAFTJ Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
| Best Cast in a Comedy Series | Won | |||
| 2013 | Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award | Feature Film | The Way Way Back | Won |
| US Feature | Won | |||
| Filmfest Hamburg | Art Cinema Award | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | Best Comedy | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards[10] | Best Comedy | Nominated | ||
| Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Informational Series Or Special | The Writers' Room | Nominated |
References
- Ebert, Roger (November 16, 2011). "The Descendants". The Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved March 15, 2012 – via rogerebert.com.
- Interview with Paul F. Tompkins, 'Speakeasy' Community's Jim Rash is TV Ugly - Speakeasy on YouTube
- Carter, Lance (November 19, 2010). "Q & A: Community's Jim Rash". Daily Actor. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
Two things sort of started me towards what I wanted to do. One was I went to a school called Charlotte Latin School, in Charlotte and after I graduated from there, I really wanted to go to Chapel Hill. And, I just — now the world will know — my grades weren't great. I'll confess that, and so I really wanted to – I went to a post-graduate year at a boarding school up in New Jersey called the Lawrenceville School.
- That '70s Show (TV Series 1998–2006), retrieved 2018-06-23
- Profile Archived 2014-10-21 at the Wayback Machine, charlotteobserver.com; accessed October 6, 2017.
- Brown, Lane (December 15, 2008). "The Black List 2008: The Full List". New York. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
- Labrecque, Jeff. "Sundance 2013: The Way, Way Back makes huge splash with nostalgic summer comedy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
- thewrap.com
- deadline.com
- "19TH ANNUAL CRITICS' CHOICE MOVIE AWARDS NOMINATIONS". Retrieved December 31, 2013.
