Jim O'Heir
Jim O'Heir | |
|---|---|
 O'Heir at the 2012 Peabody Awards | |
| Born | James O'Heir (1962-02-04) February 4, 1962 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Actor/Comedian |
| Years active | 1987-present |
James O'Heir (born February 4, 1962) is an American actor and comedian best known for co-starring as Jerry Gergich on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation.
O'Heir first became active in Chicago theater and improv during the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the comedic theater troupe "White Noise", and appeared in such plays as The Book of Blanche, Stumpy's Gang and Ad-Nauseam with the group. O'Heir has appeared in several films and made guest appearances on such shows as Friends, Boston Legal, Malcolm in the Middle, Star Trek: Voyager, 3rd Rock from the Sun, ER, and Parenthood.
In 2000, he starred in a regular role in the Comedy Central series Strip Mall as Harvey Krudup, the unattractive husband of protagonist Tammi Tyler, who was played by Julie Brown. In 2009, O'Heir became a regular supporting cast member of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, playing Jerry Gergich.
Contents
1 Early life and education
2 Career
2.1 Theatre
2.2 Film
2.3 Television
3 Filmography
3.1 Film
3.2 Television
4 References
5 External links
Early life and education
O'Heir was born in Chicago, and is a graduate of the Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Illinois, and of Loyola University Chicago.[1]
Career
Theatre
O'Heir was active in the Chicago theater during the late 1980s and early 1990s, training and performing improvisational comedy at Chicago's Second City and as a member of the six-person sketch comedy troupe "White Noise", which formed in 1987.[2] The group wrote and produced comedic plays that often employed bizarre humor or black comedy.[3] Starting in November 1988, O'Heir appeared in White Noise's production of The Book of Blanche, about a woman who falls through a television screen and ends up in a fantasy world influenced by various television show genres.[4] In July 1989, O'Heir appeared in the Chicago premiere of the Tom Griffin play The Boys Next Door at the Edgewater Theatre Center. O'Heir played Norman Bulansky, a childlike middle-aged mentally handicapped man who works at a doughnut shop.[5]
Starting in 1990, O'Heir appeared in White Noise's Stumpy's Gang, a one-act black comedy play by Patrick Cannon.[6] The show played at Stage Left and Strawdog Theatres in Chicago, where it developed a cult following.[7] O'Heir played Frank Bubman, the janitor for a genetics laboratory whose job is to destroy the unsuccessful experiments, which are portrayed by puppets.[8] Frank secretly uses the experiments to stage private shows reminiscent of early television programs. Mary Shen Barnidge of the Chicago Reader said of his performance, "The grotesquely ursine Jim O'Heir adds a new dimension to the role of the enfant terrible with his uninhibited and enthusiastic portrayal of Frank, who will break your heart even as he turns your stomach."[8] Ernest Tucker of the Chicago Sun-Times described O'Heir's performance as very funny and "unforgettable",[3] and said he "held together this funny yet sick apocalyptic fantasy".[7]Stumpy's Gang closed in the fall of 1991.[7] Also with White Noise, O'Heir appeared in the play Ad-Nauseam, about a pair of writers who create an ad campaign about a character named Rim Shot, played by O'Heir. Rim Shot, dressed as a gladiator costume made up of bristle brushes and toilet detritus.[9]
O'Heir played the inmate Dale Harding in Dale Wasserman's stage adaption of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at The Theatre District in Hollywood, California.[when?]Backstage writer Terri Roberts said O'Heir stood out among the show's cast.[10]
Film
O'Heir appeared in the 1996 baseball comedy film Ed[11] and 1998 fantasy television film Harvey.[11] He also appeared in the 2007 family drama film Welcome to Paradise.[1] O'Heir played Hathaway in the 2016 film, Range 15.
Television
O'Heir has appeared in several television shows since the 1990s and 2000s, including 3rd Rock from the Sun, Malcolm in the Middle, Just Shoot Me, Star Trek: Voyager, Suite Life of Zack and Cody and ER.[11]
Starting in 2000, O'Heir starred in a regular role in the Comedy Central series Strip Mall as Harvey Krudup, the unattractive husband of protagonist Tammi Tyler, who was played by Julie Brown. The character is the owner of the Starbrite Cleaners business, and Tammi marries him under the false assumption that he is rich.[12][13] After learning Harvey is not wealthy, Tammi makes numerous attempts to have him murdered.[14]
In November 2003, he made a guest appearance in the tenth season episode of Friends, "The One With the Birth Mother", where he played the manager of an adoption agency.[11] On November 28, 2004, he appeared in the Boston Legal episode "Loose Lips", where he played a man fired from being a department store Santa Claus because he is a cross dresser.[15]
Starting in 2009, O'Heir became a regular supporting cast member of the NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation.[16][17][18] He originally auditioned for the role of Ron Swanson,[19] before being cast as Jerry Gergich, a clumsy employee at a local government parks department who is often routinely mocked by his fellow co-workers who also called him one of four names, Jerry, Larry, Terry, and Garry. Although the character has been featured in the series since the first episode, he started to become more fully developed and play larger roles in the episodes during the second season.[17][18] The episode "Park Safety", in which Jerry pretends to have been mugged in order to avoid being made fun of for an injury, was focused almost entirely around Jerry and drew positive reviews for O'Heir's comedic performance.[18][20]
In 2011, O'Heir made a guest appearance on the NBC comedy-drama series Parenthood as a bar owner.[21] In 2013, he guest-starred on Good Luck Charlie as a couch surgeon and the owner of a couch store, and later in the year he had a main role in the Ion Television movie My Santa,[22] as Jack, Santa's right-hand man. That same year, he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live as real-life Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who had recently been involved in a crack-smoking scandal. In 2016, he appeared as Sheriff Reynolds in two episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. In 2016, he voiced the character "Aiden" on Harvey Beaks, the grandfather of the titular character.
In 2017, O'Heir won a daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for The Bold and the Beautiful.
[23]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ed | Art | |
| 1998 | Spike | Michael | Short film |
| 1999 | H@ | Bank Manager (voice) | Short film |
| 2000 | In God We Trust | Foreman | Short film |
| 2006 | Accepted | Sherman Schrader II | |
| 2006 | Comedy Hell | Wilford | |
| 2007 | Welcome to Paradise | Fred Fargo | |
| 2011 | Grow Up Already | Dad | Short film |
| 2012 | Seeking a Friend for the End of the World | Sheriff | |
| 2013 | Mediating Kidnapper | Doug | Short film |
| 2013 | Armed Response | Norval | |
| 2013 | Boats | The Boss | Short film |
| 2014 | Life After Beth | Chip the Mailman | |
| 2014 | The Turtle's Head | Dr. Friel | Short film |
| 2015 | If I Could Tell You | Jim | Short film |
| 2015 | Road Hard | Mark Davis | |
| 2015 | Life in Color | Bill Winters | |
| 2015 | Bad Night | Bob | |
| 2015 | Spare Change | Don | |
| 2015 | Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves | Vance | |
| 2016 | Mind Over Mindy | Mr. Dick Wiener | |
| 2016 | Halloweed | Mayor Price | |
| 2016 | The Dust Storm | Steve Bundy | |
| 2016 | Middle Man | Lenny | |
| 2016 | Range 15 | Scientist Hathaway | |
| 2016 | Astronaut Camp | Harry | Short film |
| 2017 | Take Me | Stuart | |
| 2017 | Landline | Steve Gout | |
| 2017 | Logan Lucky | Cal | |
| 2018 | Dance Baby Dance | Mr. Dalrymple | |
| 2018 | Bad Times at the El Royale | Milton Wyrick | |
| 2018 | When Jeff Tried to Save the World | Carl | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Harvey | Duane Wilson | Television film |
| 1996 | The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best | Head Chef | Television film |
| 1996 | Party of Five | Plumber #1 | Episode: "Deal With It" |
| 1996 | ER | McKenna | Episode: "Last Call" |
| 1996 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | Walt | Episode: "Gobble, Gobble, Dick, Dick" |
| 1996 | Pearl | Delivery Guy | Episode: "Christmas Daze" |
| 1997 | Ellen | Kelsy | Episode: "G.I. Ellen" |
| 1997, 2002 | Just Shoot Me! | Howie / Big Dan | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Step by Step | Tom Garilick | Episode: "Pain in the Class" |
| 1998 | Mr. Murder | Swimmer's Father | Television |
| 1998 | The Drew Carey Show | The Maintenance Guy / Man in the Moon | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Love Boat: The Next Wave | Vince Deering | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1999 | Working | Fryer Lawrence | Episode: "Romeo and Julie" |
| 1999 | Diagnosis: Murder | Howard Weber | Episode: "Voices Carry" |
| 1999 | Ally McBeal | Steve Mallory | Episode: "Saving Santa" |
| 2000 | Martial Law | Dr. Cheery Tooth | Episode: "Freefall" |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Voyager | Husband | Episode: "Critical Care" |
| 2000 | Popular | Warner | Episode: "Are You There God? It's Me Ann-Margret" |
| 2000 | The Norm Show | Mr. Wooten | Episode: "Norm vs. Schoolin" |
| 2000–2001 | Strip Mall | Harv Krudup | 22 episodes |
| 2001 | Malcolm in the Middle | Roy | Episode: "Book Club" |
| 2001 | The Huntress | Businessman | Episode: "The Hunted/Vegas: Part 2" |
| 2001 | Dharma & Greg | Chief R J Anderson | Episode: "Educating Dharma: Part 1" |
| 2002 | George Lopez | Reggie / Pete | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Grounded for Life | Harry | Episode: "Your Father Should Know: Part 1" |
| 2004 | Friends | Adoption Agency Worker | Episode: "The One with the Birth Mother" |
| 2004 | American Dreams | Big Arnie | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Ned Ryan | Episode: "Maternal Instincts" |
| 2004 | Boston Legal | Gil Furnald | Episode: "Loose Lips" |
| 2005 | Less than Perfect | Russell | Episode: "I Just Don't Like Her" |
| 2005 | Jane Doe: Vanishing Act | Air Traffic Controller | Television film |
| 2005 | Without a Trace | Mr. Ricker | Episode: "End Game" |
| 2006 | Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door | Reverend Mayfield | Television film |
| 2006 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Maynard's Dad | Episode: "Neither a Borrower Nor a Speller Bee" |
| 2006 | Desperate Housewives | Sam Killian | Episode: "I Know Things Now" |
| 2006 | Monk | Park Ranger | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Big Game" |
| 2007 | State of Mind | Administrator | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 2007 | Saving Grace | Mitch Duncan | Episode: "A Language of Angels" |
| 2007 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Detective | Episode: "The Therapists" |
| 2008 | Swingtown | Mr. Stone | Episode: "Friends with Benefits" |
| 2008 | Raising the Bar | D.A. Thomas Sheridan | Episode: "Guatemala Gulfstream" |
| 2009 | Safe Harbor | Mr. Cook | Television film |
| 2009 | Castle | Hal Rossi | Episode: "The Double Down" |
| 2009–2015 | Parks and Recreation | Jerry Gergich | 122 episodes |
| 2011 | Parenthood | Pete | Episode: "Qualities and Difficulties" |
| 2011 | Rizzoli & Isles | Dr. Little | Episode: "Don't Hate the Player" |
| 2012 | CollegeHumor Originals | John Adams | Episode: "Declaration of Email Signatures" |
| 2012 | The Mentalist | Norris | Episode: "The Crimson Ticket" |
| 2012 | The House on South Bronson | Jim | Episode: "Mansitting" |
| 2013 | Vegas | Bank Manager | Episode: "Scoundrels" |
| 2013 | Good Luck Charlie | Alan | Episode: "Teddy's New Beau" |
| 2013 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Doctor | Episode: "The Gang Gets Quarantined" |
| 2013 | My Santa | Jack | Television film |
| 2013 | Non-Stop | Howard | Television film |
| 2013 | The Wrong Woman | Ed | Television film |
| 2014 | Math Bites | Celebrity Guy / Singing Flower Head | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Geek Cred | New Guy | Episode: "Detective Comics Store" |
| 2014 | Switched at Birth | Chuck Conroy | Episode: "It Isn't What You Think" |
| 2014 | Fatal Acquittal | Greyson | Television film |
| 2015 | Hot in Cleveland | Ross | Episode: "Kitchen Nightmare" |
| 2015 | I Didn't Do It | Principal McLean | Episode: "Cheer Up Girls" |
| 2015 | Austin & Ally | Santa | Episode: "Santas & Surprises" |
| 2016 | These People | Tom | Episode: "Dad" |
| 2016 | Kidnapping Lizzie: Nightmare Visions | Detective Williams | Television film |
| 2016 | Veep | Mr. Brookheimer | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
| 2016 | Harvey Beaks | Aiden (voice) | Episode: "The New Bugaboo/The Case of the Missing Pancake" |
| 2016-19 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Matt Cannistra | 6 episodes |
| 2016 | Dr. Havoc's Diary | General Plague (voice) | Web series |
| 2016 | Another Period | Attorney | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | This Isn't Working | Mr. Golden | Episode: "A Very Special Episode" |
| 2016 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Sheriff Reynolds | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Edgar Allan Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party | Constable Jim | Mini-series |
| 2017 | Speechless | Stu | Episode: "H-e-r-Hero" |
| 2017 | Mommy, I Didn't Do It | Ed | Television film |
| 2017 | The Thundermans | Farmer Ted | Episode: "Date of Emergency" |
| 2017 | Superior Donuts | Gary | Episode: "Man Without a Health Plan" |
| 2017 | A Moving Romance | Neil Wilson | Television film |
| 2017 | Bill Nye Saves the World | Rabies | Episode: "Do Some Shots, Save the World" |
| 2017 | The Mayor | Ross Gibbage | Episode: "Buyer's Remorse" |
| 2018 | Alone Together | Warren | Episode: "Pilot" |
References
^ ab Clark, Mike (April 16, 2008). "High School Spotlight: TF South". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 64..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ Davidson, Phil (October 1, 2013). "Talking to Jim O'Heir About Playing Jerry on 'Parks and Recreation'". Splitsider. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
^ ab Tucker, Ernest (September 28, 1993). "White Noise Tale a Muted Effort". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 37.
^ Hevrdejs, Judy (November 11, 1988). "'Book of Blanche' A Wacky Subscription". Chicago Tribune. p. CN2.
^ Christiansen, Rrichard (July 20, 1989). "A drab 'Boys' seems to sour from the outset". Chicago Tribune. p. C22.
^ Hilsman, Hoyt (November 2, 1994). "Stumpy's Gang (Zephyr Theatre, West Hollywood; 75 seats; $ 15 top)". Daily Variety.
^ abc Tucker, Ernest (August 20, 1993). "White Noise Will Go on 'Ad-Nauseam'". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 27.
^ ab Barnidge, Mary Shen (May 10, 1990). "Stumpy's Gang...A Comic Mutilation". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
^ Smith, Sid (September 2, 1993). "'Ad-Nauseam' comedy runs out of steam". Chicago Tribune. p. 10F.
^ Roberts, Terri (June 16, 2005). "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at The Theatre District". Back Stage West. p. 17.
^ abcd Starr, Michael (November 3, 2003). "Starr Report". The New York Post. p. 85.
^ Kuklenski, Valerie (July 25, 2000). "'Strip' Tease; Julie Brown Kids the Valley...All in Fun". Los Angeles Daily News.
^ Gallo, Phil (June 19, 2000). "Strip Mall". Variety. p. 35.
^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2003). The complete directory to prime time network and cable TV shows, 1946-present. Ballantine Books. p. 1142. ISBN 0-345-45542-8.
^ Starr, Michael (November 29, 2004). "Starr Report". The New York Post. p. 89.
^ Ryan, Maureen (March 15, 2010). "News bits on 'Bones,' 'Battlestar' alumni and 'Archer'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
^ ab Weiner, Jonah (2009-12-02). "You really should be watching NBC's Parks and Recreation". Slate. Archived from the original on 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
^ abc Sepinwall, Alan (March 19, 2010). "Parks and Recreation, 'Park Safety': Andy Samberg, park ranger". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
^ Lehman, Daniel (March 8, 2012). "John Lutz and Jim O'Heir Play the Punching Bags on NBC Sitcoms". Backstage. Retrieved Aug 17, 2012.
^ Gonzalez, Sandra (March 19, 2010). "'Parks and Recreation' recap: Let's hear it for the schlemiel and schlemazel". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 22, 2010.
^ Sepinwall, Alan (March 2, 2011). "Review: 'Parenthood' - 'Qualities and Difficulties': The play's the thing". HitFix. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
^ Pennington, Gail (November 27, 2013). "Snowed under: Christmas comes early, often on TV". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
^ Desta, Yohana (May 1, 2017). "Parks and Rec Punching Bag Jim O'Heir Is Now an Emmy Winner". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jim O'Heir. |
Jim O'Heir on IMDb
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Jim O'Heir at TV.com
