Jason Matthew Biggs (born May 12, 1978) is an American actor. The accolades he has received include a Screen Actors Guild Award, alongside nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Satellite Award.
Jason Biggs | |
|---|---|
 Biggs at PaleyFest 2014 panel for Orange Is the New Black | |
| Born | Jason Matthew Biggs May 12, 1978 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
In film, Biggs is best known his lead role as Jim Levenstein in the American Pie film series (1999–2012). His other notable lead credits include Loser (2000), Saving Silverman (2001), Anything Else (2003), My Best Friend's Girl (2008), Life Happens (2011), Grassroots (2012), and Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023).
In television, Biggs is known for his lead roles as the voice of Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012–2014) and Larry Bloom in the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2014; 2017; 2019). His other television lead credits include Drexell's Class (1991–1992), Total Security (1997), Mad Love (2011), and Outmatched (2020). He had a supporting role on the soap opera As the World Turns (1994–1995). He hosted the Blue Ribbon Baking Championship on Netflix (2024).
Early life and education
editJason Matthew Biggs[1] was born on May 12, 1978,[2] in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, to Angela (née Zocco), a nurse, and Gary Louis Biggs, a shipping company manager.[3][4] His father is of English and Italian descent and his mother is of Sicilian descent. His last name is derived from his English ancestry.[3] He was raised Roman Catholic.[5]
Biggs grew up in Hasbrouck Heights and attended Hasbrouck Heights High School,[6][7] where he achieved success in tennis.[8] He attended New York University before transferring to Montclair State University, where he eventually dropped out.[9]
Career
edit
Biggs began acting at the age of five. In 1991, he made his television debut in the short-lived FOX series Drexell's Class.
In 1988, aged 10, he received his Screen Actors Guild card for appearing in a TV commercial for Pathmark. He later recalled in a 2015 interview in TV Guide, "I remember I had to eat a doughnut in one of the shots. Over and over again. Awesome."[10]
When Biggs was 12, he starred in a one-off HBO special, The Fotis Sevastakis Story, but due to licensing arguments, it was never aired. That same year, Biggs debuted on Broadway in Conversations with My Father with Judd Hirsch.[11] He then starred in the daytime soap opera As the World Turns, for which he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Best Younger Actor.[12]
Biggs attended New York University briefly from 1996 to 1997, but soon afterwards, he left to pursue acting. And soon he would be seen again in another short lived television series, 1997's Camp Stories. He starred in American Pie, which went on to become an international hit that has spawned three sequels (also starring Biggs) and four spinoffs (that did not star Biggs). He accepted starring roles in movies such as Loser in 2000, and others. He also starred (along with his Loser co-star Mena Suvari) in the music video for the song "Teenage Dirtbag" by American rock band Wheatus. In 2001, Biggs starred in the comedy Saving Silverman.
He appeared in the 2002 Broadway production of The Graduate as Benjamin Braddock alongside Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone. In 2003, Biggs appeared as Jerry Falk in the Woody Allen romantic comedy Anything Else. In the 2004–2005 season, Biggs portrayed an Orthodox Jew in Daniel Goldfarb's comedy, Modern Orthodox, staged at Dodger Stages theater in New York City. In 2006, Biggs was seen in the MTV reality show Blowin' Up with Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone which led to his participation in a hip-hop recording with Bay Area rapper E-40. Biggs returned to the stage in the fall of 2008 in Howard Korder's Boys' Life at New York City's Second Stage Theatre.
Biggs has appeared in several other films, including Eight Below and Over Her Dead Body. In 2010, Biggs made his literary debut by contributing "Scratch-and-Sniff", a poem about growing up in New Jersey, to the anthology What's Your Exit? A Literary Detour through New Jersey (Word Riot Press, 2010). In 2012, he contributed to the anthology Oy! Only Six? Why Not More: Six-Word Memoirs on Jewish Life with the self-ironic article "This is a Roman nose, OK?" (Biggs is not Jewish.) A year later, Larry Smith, the editor of the anthology, and creator of Six-Word Memoirs, would be the basis for Biggs's Orange Is the New Black character Larry Bloom. He departed the series in February 2015 after two seasons.[13]
Biggs reprised his role as Jim Levenstein in American Reunion, which was released on April 6, 2012. In the summer of 2012, Biggs took a job voicing Leonardo on Nickelodeon in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He left the series during its second season and was temporarily replaced by Dominic Catrambone.[14] Seth Green permanently took over the role from Biggs beginning in season 3, with Leonardo's voice change being explained in the show's universe, as it was due to his throat getting injured in a battle against Shredder.[15] Biggs also plays the cowbell in the supergroup Yukon Kornelius.[16]
It was announced in September 2014, that Biggs would star on Broadway in The Heidi Chronicles.[17] The play opened on March 19.
In December 2014, The Hollywood Reporter announced Biggs was cast to star in the comedy Amateur Night. Biggs plays a well-meaning expectant father who unwittingly accepts a job chauffeuring prostitutes (Janet Montgomery, Ashley Tisdale) around Los Angeles. Jenny Mollen, who is Biggs' wife in real life, appears as his wife in the film.[18]
In 2023, Biggs starred as Rob Sanders in the Netflix Christmas-themed film Best. Christmas. Ever. alongside Brandy, Heather Graham and Matt Cedeño.[19]
Personal life
editBiggs grew up Catholic.[5][20][21]
In January 2008, he became engaged to his My Best Friend's Girl co-star, actress Jenny Mollen; they married on April 23, 2008.[22][unreliable source?] They have a son, Sid, who was born on February 15, 2014.[23] Their second son, Lazlo, was born on October 2, 2017.[24][25] Biggs and Mollen sold their house in Los Angeles, California, which was situated near the Sunset Strip, in 2015[26] and moved to Manhattan, New York City. The family resides in the West Village, as of 2017.[27]
From 2012 to 2014, Biggs regularly caused controversy with his posts on Twitter, including sexual jokes about Ann Romney and Janna Ryan in response to the 2012 Republican National Convention,[28] joking about the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in 2014,[29] joking about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down later that year,[30] and mocking the death of The Bachelorette contestant Eric Hill.[31][32] In a 2012 interview, Biggs stated that he has "a very fucked up sense of humor" and said he enjoyed the ability to "surprise people on a daily basis" on Twitter because his real personality is so different from those of the characters he usually plays.[33] He apologized for and deleted his tweet about Malaysian Flight 17; in a later interview he said that it had led to death threats against him.[34]
In 2023, Biggs and his wife Mollen both signed the "No Hostage Left Behind Letter", an open letter to US President Joe Biden calling for the release of all hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel.[35]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel | Boy | |
| The Boy Who Cried Bitch | Robert | ||
| 1997 | Camp Stories | Abby | |
| 1999 | American Pie | Jim Levenstein | |
| Detroit Rock City | Student/Guy in Red Track Suit | uncredited | |
| 2000 | Boys and Girls | Hunter/Steve | |
| Loser | Paul Tannek | ||
| 2001 | Saving Silverman | Darren Silverman | |
| American Pie 2 | Jim Levenstein | ||
| Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Himself | Cameo | |
| Prozac Nation | Rafe | ||
| 2003 | American Wedding | Jim Levenstein | |
| Anything Else | Jerry Falk | ||
| 2004 | Jersey Girl | Arthur Brickman | |
| 2005 | Guy X | Corporal Rudy Spruance | |
| 2006 | Farce of the Penguins | Insecure Penguin | Voice |
| Eight Below | Charlie Cooper | ||
| Wedding Daze | Anderson | ||
| 2007 | The Glitch | Alan | Short film |
| 2008 | Over Her Dead Body | Dan Sianidis | |
| My Best Friend's Girl | Dustin | ||
| Lower Learning | Tom Willoman | ||
| 2009 | Kidnapping Caitlynn | Max | Short film |
| 2010 | Remember Me | Jim Levenstein | Archive footage; uncredited |
| The Third Rule | Don | Short film | |
| 2011 | Life Happens | Sergei | |
| Grassroots | Phil Campbell | ||
| 2012 | American Reunion | Jim Levenstein | Also executive producer |
| 2016 | Amateur Night | Guy Carter | |
| 2017 | Who We Are Now | Vince | |
| 2018 | Dear Dictator | Mr. Spines | |
| 2019 | Jay and Silent Bob Reboot | Himself | |
| 2020 | The Subject | Phil Waterhouse | |
| 2021 | Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage | Himself | Documentary; Archive footage; uncredited |
| 2023 | Best. Christmas. Ever. | Rob Sanders | |
| 2024 | The 4:30 Movie | Construction Worker | |
| 2025 | Getaway[36] | Kevin Stanwell | also director; filming |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Fotis Sevastakis Story | Television film; Unaired | |
| 1991–1992 | Drexell's Class | Willie Trancas | Main role; 14 episodes |
| 1994–1995 | As the World Turns | Pete Wendall | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 1997 | Total Security | Robbie Rosenfeld | Main role; 13 episodes (7 unaired) |
| 2001 | The Andy Dick Show | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Off Centre | Rick Steve | Episode: "The Good, the Bad and the Lazy" |
| 2004 | Frasier | Dr. Hauck | Episode: "Goodnight, Seattle: Part 2" |
| Sesame Street | Himself | Episode: "Baby Bear Tries to Make Curly Sleep" | |
| 2005 | Will & Grace | Baby Glenn | Episode: "The Hole Truth" |
| 2006 | Blowin' Up | Himself | Episode: "The Break-Up" |
| 2007 | I'm in Hell | Nick | Television film; Also producer |
| 2009 | Happiness Isn't Everything | Jason Hamburger | CBS pilot; Also producer |
| 2011 | Mad Love | Ben Parr | Main role; 13 episodes; Also producer |
| 2012–2014 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Leonardo / Rat Man Freak (voice) | Main role (season 1–2) Episode: "Of Rats and Men" (Rat Man Freak voice) |
| 2012–2013 | The Good Wife | Dylan Stack | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | 8 Out of 10 Cats | Himself | Episode: "Episode #14.2" |
| 2013–2014; 2017; 2019 | Orange Is the New Black | Larry Bloom | Main role (season 1–2), guest (season 5), recurring (season 7) 30 episodes |
| 2014 | Hollywood Game Night | Himself | Episode: "Game Night: Behind Bars" |
| Deadbeat | Reed Kelly | Episode: "Out-Of-Body Issues" | |
| 2016 | Nightcap | Himself | Episode: "Mean Guest" |
| 2017 | The Good Fight | Dylan Stack | Episode: "Chaos" |
| Angry Angel | Himself | Television film | |
| 2018 | The Wendy Williams Show | Himself (Host) | Episode: "Brian Balthazar; Jason Biggs" |
| 2019 | The Bachelorette | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "Week 3" |
| 2020 | Outmatched | Mike | Main role; 10 episodes |
| The Masked Singer | Guest panelist | Episode: "The Playoffs: Group A" | |
| 2021 | Cherries Wild | Himself (host) | Main role |
| Jason Biggs' Cash At Your Door | Himself (host) | Main role | |
| 2022 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Det. Andy Parlato-Goldstein | 2 episodes |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Teenage Dirtbag" | Wheatus | Nerd |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series | As the World Turns | Nominated |
| Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Male Newcomer | Nominated | ||
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Actor – Newcomer | American Pie | Nominated |
| MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Comedic Performance | Nominated | ||
| Breakthrough Male Performance | Nominated | |||
| Teen Choice Awards | Film – Choice Actor | Nominated | ||
| Film – Choice Chemistry | Nominated | |||
| Film – Wipeout Scene of the Summer | Loser | Nominated | ||
| Young Hollywood Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | American Pie | Won | |
| 2002 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Kiss (shared with Seann William Scott) | American Pie 2 | Won |
| Best Line | Nominated | |||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor – Comedy | Nominated | ||
| 2004 | Choice Movie Hissy Fit | American Wedding | Nominated | |
| Choice Movie Liplock (shared with Alyson Hannigan) | Nominated | |||
| 2005 | Taormina International Film Festival | Best Actor | Guy X | Won |
| 2012 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor – Comedy | American Reunion | Nominated |
| 2014 | Satellite Awards | Best Cast – Television Series | Orange is the New Black | Nominated |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Won | |
| 2020 | Breckenridge Festival of Film | Best Actor[37] | The Subject | Won |
| San Antonio Film Festival | Best Actor | Won | ||
| Loudoun Arts Film Festival | Best Actor[38] | Won |
Theater
edit| Year | Title | Role | Theatre | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–93 | Conversations with My Father | Young Joey | Royale Theatre | |
| 2002 | The Graduate | Benjamin Braddock | Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre | |
| 2004–05 | Modern Orthodox | Dodger Stages Theatre | ||
| 2008 | Boys' Life | Second Stage Theater | ||
| 2015 | The Heidi Chronicles | Scoop Rosenbaum | Music Box Theatre |
References
edit- ^ Mosiello, Laura; Reynolds, Susan (February 18, 2009). The Portable Italian Mamma: Guilt, Pasta, and When Are You Giving Me Grandchildren?. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-4405-2039-6.
- ^ Mike Rose, cleveland com (May 12, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for May 12, 2023 includes celebrities Emilio Estevez, Emily VanCamp". cleveland. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Kevin Pollak interview: KPCS Jason Biggs #145. kevinpollakschatshow. YouTube. (32 minute mark)
- ^ "Assunta "Susan" (Furno) BIGGS". NorthJersey.com. July 11, 2010
- ^ a b Pfefferman, Naomi (August 9, 2001). "A Nice Not-Jewish Boy". Jewish Journal. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ McKinley, Jesse. "THEATER; Bye, Bye 'American Pie'; Mrs. Robinson Is Calling", The New York Times, March 31, 2002. Accessed March 3, 2008. "Unlike that character, Mr. Biggs was proving to be a pretty normal teenager, playing high school tennis and holding a series of menial jobs (flower delivery boy, sandwich maker, guitarist in think big, food and beverage manager at the Sherman theatre, kitchen staff at a hospital). In 1996, he graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School and started at New York University, where he enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences."
- ^ "Jason Biggs is Hot" Archived January 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. TeenHollywood.com, October 13, 2000
- ^ Della Cava, Marco R. (July 25, 2000). "Acting dreams no longer 'Pie' in the sky Huggable Jason Biggs is on a roll after losing his cinematic virginity". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013.
- ^ Handler, Cindy Schweich. "Jason Biggs is a proud son of North Jersey". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
- ^ Moynihan, Rob (January 19, 2015). "How I Got My SAG-AFTRA Card", TV Guide. p. 8
- ^ Biggs, Jason (August 1, 2012). "Jason Biggs on Judd Hirsch in 'Conversations With My Father'". Backstage.
- ^ "As the World Stops Turning: Soap Actors Turned Super Stars". ABC News. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ "Jason Biggs not returning for Orange Is the New Black season 3". Entertainment Weekly. February 22, 2015.
- ^ "Jason Biggs replaced by Seth Green as voice of Leonardo on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon series". Metro.co.uk. June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
Rumours have been circulating in recent weeks as to Biggs' future in the hit animated franchise, with Dominic Catrambone voicing the character in recent episodes.
- ^ "Nickelodeon Renews 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' for Season 4 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. June 17, 2014.
- ^ "Picture Show: Yukon Kornelius w/ Al Schnier, Sebastian Bach, Dee Snider, Jason Biggs, Warren DeMartini & More @ FestEVOL 2013". Hidden Track. March 22, 2013.
- ^ Michael Gioia (September 11, 2014). "Elisabeth Moss, Bryce Pinkham, Jason Biggs Set for Broadway Revival of Wendy Wasserstein's The Heidi Chronicles".
- ^ Kit, Borys (December 5, 2014). "Jason Biggs, Ashley Tisdale Starring in Indie Comedy 'Drive, She Said' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ "Every Original Movie Coming to Netflix in 2023". Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ Pfefferman, Naomi (August 9, 2001). "A Nice Not-Jewish Boy". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
- ^ "Clown prince". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
- ^ "Jason Biggs: Bio" Archived September 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. BuddyTV. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
- ^ "Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen Welcome Son Sid". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ "Jenny Mollen on Instagram: "Lazlo Biggs coming in hot! #babybiggs"".
- ^ "Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen Welcome Son Lazlo". PEOPLE.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ "Jason Biggs Sells Former House Above Sunset Strip". July 7, 2015.
- ^ "Jason Biggs Bought This $7 Million Manhattan Home". November 2017.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (September 5, 2012). "Nickelodeon Apologizes for Jason Biggs' 'Vulgar' RNC Tweets". The Hollywood Reporter
- ^ Selby, Jenn (March 11, 2014). "Jason Biggs criticised for Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 joke made days after aircraft carrying 239 reported missing". The Independent
- ^ Sieczkowski, Cavan (July 17, 2014). "Jason Biggs Tweets Malaysia Airlines Joke After Crash". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Marcus, Stephanie (May 20, 2014). "Jason Biggs Mocks Dead 'Bachelorette' Contestant Eric Hill", The Huffington Post
- ^ Malec, Brett (May 20, 2014). "Jason Biggs Mocks Dead Bachelorette Contestant Eric Hill: See His Controversial Tweets". E! Online
- ^ Ryan, Mike (April 2, 2012). "Jason Biggs, 'American Reunion' Star, On Nude Scenes, Self-Pleasuring And His Insane Twitter Account". Huffington Post.
- ^ Hoffman, Barbara (February 22, 2015). "Jason Biggs talks Twitter woes and his 'Bachelor' obsession". New York Post.
- ^ Culture, Ryan Smith Senior Pop; Reporter, Entertainment (October 24, 2023). "Full List of celebrities demanding release of all Hamas hostages". Newsweek. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ Jason Biggs Making Directorial Debut With Action Comedy ‘Getaway’; Will Star Opposite Meaghan Rath, Arturo Castro, Justin H. Min & Anna Konkle
- ^ "Festival 2020 — Breck Film". Eclipse Theater. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "OFFICIAL SELECTION - Loudoun Arts Film Festival - 2020". This Business of Autism. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
External links
edit
- Jason Biggs on Twitter
- Jason Biggs at IMDb
- Jason Biggs at AllMovie
- Jason Biggs on WISH-TV
