Jim Rash
Rash in July 2013
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • filmmaker
Years active1995–present

Jim Rash is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker.[1] He portrayed the role of 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.

He co-wrote The Descendants (2011) alongside Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon for which they received the Academy Award, Independent Spirit Award and Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. They also were nominated for the BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award.[2] Rash has since with Faxon, written and directed the comedy films The Way, Way Back (2013), and Downhill (2020).

Early life

Both Rash and his sister were adopted.[3] He attended Charlotte Latin School.[4] After graduating, he spent a post-graduate year at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.[4] 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,[5][unreliable source] That '90s Show, 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.[3][6] 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).[7] The film was released to critical acclaim,[2] receiving a Golden Globe nomination and winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Both Rash and Faxon 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.[8] Parts of the film are based on Rash's teenage life.[6] The ensemble comedy starred Steve Carell, Toni Colette, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, and Sam Rockwell. The film was a commercial and critical success earning a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy nomination.

In 2020, Rash and Faxon reunited for Downhill, an adaptation of the film Force Majeure (2014) by Swedish director Ruben Östlund. The film starred Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Rash and Faxon co-wrote the script with Jesse Armstrong. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival where it received mixed reviews, with critics' comparing the film to the original.

Rash has voiced the Marquess of Queensbury for all four seasons of the Adult Swim animated comedy Mike Tyson Mysteries. Since 2017, he has been the voice actor for Donald Duck universe character Gyro Gearloose in the reboot of DuckTales.[citation needed] In 2023, Rash voiced the Fixer, the enforcer for the Conglomerate and recurring character in My Dad the Bounty Hunter.[9] He also voiced a video game announcer in the same series.[10]

Personal life

Rash stated he came out "well over 10-plus years ago" during an interview promoting Bros in September 2022.[11]

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 — Co-writer
2013 The Way Way Back Lewis Also co-writer, co-director and executive producer
2014 Yellowbird Karl[12][13] Voice
2015 Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run Cecil Turtle Voice, direct-to-video
2016 Captain America: Civil War Dean of M.I.T. Cameo
2017 Thoroughbreds — Producer
Bernard and Huey Bernard
2019 Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs Prince Average Voice
2020 Downhill — Co-director and co-writer
Lazy Susan Phil
2021 Long Weekend Larry
Home Sweet Home Alone Bell Choir Leader
2022 Bros Robert
2024 Project Artemis TBA Post-production

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 Derek 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 Voice, 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' Voice, 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 Voice, 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, Main role
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"
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"
2017–2021 DuckTales Gyro Gearloose Voice, 14 episodes
2017, 2021 Vampirina Mr. Thornberg Voice, 2 episodes
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"
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, Jor-El, Metallo, Mayor of Gotham City, various Voice, 14 episodes
2020 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Dr. Jones Episode: "Pimemento"
Archibald's Next Big Thing Fritz Episode: "The Royal Strutters/Impromptu Cruise"
2020–2021 American Housewife Walker Montgomery 6 episodes
2021 Solar Opposites Keith Voice, episode: "The Solar Opposites Almost Get an Xbox"
Impeachment: American Crime Story Ken Bacon 4 episodes
Tacoma FD CEO Frank Drake Episode: "Fire at the Fire Station"
2022 The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window Flight Attendant Episode: "Episode 8"
Out of Office Edward Television film
2023 That '90s Show Fenton Episode: "Kids in America"
My Dad the Bounty Hunter Fixer, various Voice; recurring role
Velma Mayor Dave Voice, 4 episodes
The Ghost and Molly McGee JR Voice, episode: "Dance Dad Revolution"
Krapopolis Dionysus Voice, episode "Woods-Stock"
2025 Ironheart Dean of M.I.T. Upcoming series

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
2011 Academy Award Best Adapted Screenplay The Descendants Won
2011 BAFTA Award Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2011 Golden Globe Award Best Screenplay Nominated
2011 Independent Spirit Award Best Screenplay Won
2011 Writers Guild of America Award Best Adapted Screenplay Won
2011 Critics' Choice Movie Award Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2012 Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Community Nominated
2014 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Informational Series or Special The Writers Room Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Today in History". The Associated Press. July 15, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Ebert, Roger (November 16, 2011). "The Descendants". The Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved March 15, 2012 – via rogerebert.com.
  3. ^ a b Interview with Paul F. Tompkins, 'Speakeasy' Community's Jim Rash is TV Ugly - Speakeasy on YouTube
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ That '70s Show (TV Series 1998–2006), retrieved June 23, 2018
  6. ^ a b Profile Archived October 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, charlotteobserver.com; accessed October 6, 2017.
  7. ^ Brown, Lane (December 15, 2008). "The Black List 2008: The Full List". New York. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  8. ^ Labrecque, Jeff. "Sundance 2013: The Way, Way Back makes huge splash with nostalgic summer comedy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
  9. ^ Oddo, Marco Vito (November 16, 2022). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Trailer Makes Catching Space Criminals a Family Business". Collider. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023)". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  11. ^ Betancourt, Manuel (September 29, 2022). "Will Bros convince Hollywood to embrace LGBTQ+ stories? Jim Rash has some thoughts". AV Club. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  12. ^ thewrap.com
  13. ^ deadline.com

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