Who is John Lovitz?
American actor and comedian Jonathan Michael ‘Jon’ Lovitz was born in Los Angeles, California USA, on 21 July 1957, meaning that Cancer’s his zodiac sign. He’s had roles in over 120 TV series and movies, but is perhaps still known best for playing the lead character Andy Kornbluth in the 1998 comedy movie “Happiness”, written and directed by Todd Solondz, and which also starred Jane Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It follows a group of strangers whose lives are about to intertwine, and the film won 12 of its 38 award nominations.
Education and early life
Jon was raised in Los Angeles alongside his sister Leslie, by their father Harold Lovitz and mother Barbara; his parents are Jewish, and his family immigrated to the US from Russia, Hungary and Romania; Jon’s grandfather Feivel Ianculovici moved to the US from Romania in 1914, and changed his name to Phillip Lovitz.
Jon was 13 when he watched the mockumentary comedy film “Take the Money and Run”, and at that point knew that he wanted to become a comedian; he was 16 when he watched the biographical movie “Lenny”, and then began performing comedy for his friends and family members.
He matriculated from a local high school in 1975 and then enrolled at University of California, Irvine at which he studied alongside famous American actress Lisa Valerie Kudrow’s brother David Kudrow; the two men backpacked across Europe together in 1978. Jon graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama in 1979, and then honed his acting skills at the Film Actors Workshop.
Roles in TV series
Jon’s debut TV series role was voicing various characters in the 1983 episode “The C-Team/The Chipettes” of the animated adventure comedy “Alvin & the Chipmunks”, and the remainder of the ‘80s saw him play and voice characters in three other series: the drama “The Paper Chase”, the comedy “Foley Square” and the animated action adventure “Captain Planet and the Planeteers” (voice role).
What marked the ‘90s for Jon was playing Max Lewis in 23 episodes (1997-1999) of the hit romantic comedy “NewsRadio”, which Paul Simms created, and which starred Andy Dick, Stephen Root and David Foley. It follows a group of people working at WNYX NewsRadio, the second most popular news radio station in New York State; the series aired from 1995 through 1999 and won one of its 15 award nominations.
From 1994 through 2001, Jon voiced the lead character Jay Sherman in all the 33 episodes of the animated comedy “The Critic”, and the following years saw him appear in an episode of the comedy “Son of the Beach”, the critically acclaimed romantic comedy “Friends” and the crime drama “Las Vegas”.
Yep, that's Jon Lovitz from his season 1 appearance. He also appeared in season 9! #GuesstheGuestStar
Posted by FRIENDS (TV Show) on Thursday, May 8, 2014
In 2012 and ‘13, he starred as Bobby Gold in the comedy “Mr. Box Office”, created by Byron Allen, and which also starred Bill Bellamy and Alex Thomas. It follows a film star who’s attacked a paparazzi, and now had to do community service.
From 1985 through 1922 voiced a number of characters in 91 episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy show “Saturday Night Live”, and then appeared intermittently in single episodes through 2020.
From 1991 through 2to the present, Jon voiced various characters in 20 episodes of the animated comedy “The Simpsons”.
Some of his most recent TV series roles have been in the 2021 episode “Blue Caller” of the comedy “The Potwins”, the 2022 episode “The Hack” of the comedy “Space Force” and the 2023 episode “Colin Jost/Kenya Barris/Tobe Nwigwe” of the musical comedy “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”; Jon’s currently shooting for upcoming TV series “Directors Commentary” and “Paper Empire”.
Roles in movies
Jon’s debut film role was playing Security Guard in the 1986 comedy “Hamburger: The Motion Picture”, and the same year saw him appear in the comedy “Last Resort”, the science fiction comedy “Shadoevision” and the romantic thriller comedy “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”. He attracted a lot of attention by playing Scotty Brennen in the evergreen 1988 fantasy comedy “Big”, which Penny Marshall directed, and which starred Elizabeth Perkins and Tom Hanks. It follows a boy who’s wished to become an adult, while his wish has now come true; the movie won 11 of its 25 award nominations, including two Oscar nominations for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hanks).
Some of Jon’s following notable performances were in the 1992 adventure family comedy “Mom and Dad Save the World”, the 1993 action crime comedy “Loaded Weapon 1” and the 1993 science fiction comedy “Coneheads”. What marked the decade for him was perhaps portraying Jimmie Moore in the 1998 romantic musical comedy “The Wedding Singer”, directed by Frank Coraci, and which starred Christine Taylor, Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. It follows singer Robbie and waitress Julia who’ve fallen in love, even though they’re both engaged to other people; the movie won five of its 12 award nominations.
Jon appeared in a couple of hit movies in the 2000s, including the 2001 action adventure comedy “Rat Race”, the 2005 musical crime comedy “The Producers”, and the 2007 romantic comedy “I Could Never Be Your Woman”.
In 2014, he played Frank Miller in the romantic comedy “Coffee Shop”, directed by Dave Alan Johnson, and which starred Laura Vandervoort, Cory M. Grant and Rachel Hendrix; it follows the owner of a coffee shop as she’s trying to save her business from closing.
Some of Jon’s most recent film roles have been in the action adventure “Love on the Rock”, the family fantasy comedy “Lacy’s Christmas Do-Over” and another family comedy “Ace & the Christmas Miracle”, all released in 2021; he’s currently shooting for the upcoming films “The Line Up”, “Christmas For Ever” and “Lost & Found in Cleveland”.
Other credits
Jon both wrote and produced the 1992 comedy film “The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz Special”, and the 2013 comedy series “Lovitz or Leavitz with Jon Lovitz”.
He received special thanks for the TV special “1990 Johnnie Walker National Comedy Search” and the 2013 documentary comedy film “Ian Bagg: Getting to F**king Know You”.
Some of Jon’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “The Rich Eisen Show”, “The ‘80s: Top Ten”, and “The Masked Singer”.
Awards and nominations
Jon’s won one of his five award nominations: a 1998 National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble, for his and his colleagues’ performance in “Happiness”.
He was also nominated for two Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program in 1986 and 1987, for “Saturday Night Live”, a 1993 American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for “A League of Their Own”, and a 2013 Behind the Voice Actors Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film, for “Hotel Transylvania” (shared with colleagues).
Love life and relationships
There are a couple of women whom Jon’s dated, that his fans know about. Back in 1996, he spent a couple of months dating American model and actress Brandi Angela Brandt, who’s perhaps still known best for having been Playboy Playmate of the Month in October 1987.
Jon dated Ava Fabian in 1999; she’s a famous American model and actress, and was Playboy Playmate of the Month in August 1986.
He spent a couple of months dating Janice Dickinson in 2004; she’s an American model and businesswoman, and is known for being recognized as one of the first supermodels.
Since 2015, Jon’s been in a relationship with Jessica Lowndes, a Canadian actress and singer who’s 31 years his junior; it’s rumored that the two might marry soon, but this hasn’t been confirmed.
Jon’s yet to mention other women whom he’s been with, he’s in a long-term relationship with Jessica Lowndes as of May 2023, but has never married and doesn’t have children.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Jon blames American comedian Andrew Roane Dick for the death of their friend Philip Edward Hartman, who was a successful Canadian-American actor, comedian and graphic designer; Andrew gave cocaine to Philip’s wife Brynn in 1997, even though he knew that she was a recovering addict. Brynn thus began using again, and killed Philip and herself on 28 May 1998. Jon and Andrew starred alongside in the show “NewsRadio”, and Jon accused him in front of their colleagues of being responsible for Philip and Brynn’s deaths, but eventually apologized; the two men got into a fight at a comedy club in June 2007, with Jon smashing Dick’s head into the bar.
The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club was opened in Universal Studios Hollywood in 2009; its name was changed to Jon Lovitz Comedy Club & Podcast Theatre on 29 May 2011.
Jon’s best friends are famous American actors Adam Sandler and Sean Penn, while he was also a close friend of the late American actress Carole Penny Marshall, who passed away aged 75 on 17 December 2018.
Two of Jon’s favorite actors are the late Leslie Nielsen and Robin Williams, and some of his favorite movies include “The Naked Gun”, “Patch Adams” and “Good Morning, Vietnam”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Jon’s age is 65. He has brown eyes and grey hair, is 5ft 10ins (1.78m) tall and weighs around 170lbs (77kgs).
Jon’s net worth’s been estimated at over $12 million, as of May 2023.