J. K. Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. K. Simmons
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Simmons in 2024
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| Born |
Jonathan Kimble Simmons
January 9, 1955 Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.
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| Education | University of Montana (BA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
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Works
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Performances |
| Spouse(s) |
Michelle Schumacher
(m. 1996) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
Jonathan Kimble Simmons (born January 9, 1955) is a famous American actor. He is known as one of the busiest character actors of his time. A character actor is someone who often plays unique or interesting supporting characters. Since starting his career in 1986, he has appeared in over 200 movies, TV shows, and plays.
Simmons won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a tough music teacher in the movie Whiplash (2014). He was nominated for a second Oscar for playing actor William Frawley in Being the Ricardos (2021). He has also won a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Many people know Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies (2002–2007). He played this role again in later Marvel movies and shows, including those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has also appeared in many other films, such as Juno (2007), La La Land (2016), and Justice League (2017).
On television, he played Dr. Emil Skoda in the Law & Order series and Assistant Police Chief Will Pope in The Closer. He is also famous for his voice acting. He has been the voice of the Yellow M&M in commercials since 1996. He also voiced characters in popular shows like The Legend of Korra and Gravity Falls, and in movies like Zootopia and Kung Fu Panda 3.
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Early Life and Education
J. K. Simmons was born on January 9, 1955, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. His mother, Patricia, was an administrator, and his father, Donald, was a music teacher. When Simmons was 10, his family moved to Worthington, Ohio. He went to high school there and was active in drama, football, and choir.
In 1973, his family moved to Missoula, Montana. His father became the director of the School of Music at the University of Montana. Simmons graduated from the same university in 1978 with a degree in music. After college, he moved to Seattle and joined the Seattle Repertory Theatre. He later moved to New York City to act on Broadway.
Acting Career
Simmons has had a long and successful career in theater, movies, television, and video games.
Stage and Television Roles
Simmons began his career in theater. On Broadway, he appeared in famous musicals like Guys and Dolls in 1992 and Peter Pan in 1991.
His television career took off in the 1990s. One of his most famous early TV roles was on the prison drama Oz, where he played a memorable inmate. He also played Dr. Emil Skoda, a police psychiatrist, on several versions of the show Law & Order. From 2005 to 2012, he played Assistant Police Chief Will Pope on the TNT series The Closer.
Famous Movie Roles
Simmons became widely recognized for playing J. Jonah Jameson, the loud newspaper editor in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies. He was so popular in the role that he was asked to play the character again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019.
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In 2014, Simmons received great praise for his role in the movie Whiplash. He played Terence Fletcher, a very demanding and harsh music instructor. His powerful performance won him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Critics and audiences loved his work in the film.
He has worked with director Jason Reitman on several movies, including Juno and Up in the Air. In 2017, he joined the DC Extended Universe as Commissioner James Gordon in the movie Justice League.
Voice Acting and Video Games
Simmons has a very recognizable voice, which has made him a popular voice actor. For decades, he has been the voice of the yellow M&M in commercials.
He has voiced characters in many animated shows and movies, including:
- Tenzin in The Legend of Korra
- Stanford "Ford" Pines in Gravity Falls
- Kai in Kung Fu Panda 3
- Mayor Leodore Lionheart in Zootopia
- Omni-Man in the animated series Invincible
He has also lent his voice to popular video games. He played the funny and energetic Aperture Science founder Cave Johnson in Portal 2 (2011). More recently, he voiced General Ketheric Thorm in the award-winning game Baldur's Gate 3 (2023). He also reprised his role as Omni-Man for the fighting game Mortal Kombat 1.
Personal Life
Simmons married film director Michelle Schumacher in 1996. They have two children, Olivia and Joe, who have also acted in some films. Simmons has said he supports their interest in acting.
He is a big fan of the Detroit Tigers baseball team. He is also a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes college football team because he grew up in Ohio.
Acting Credits and Awards
See also
In Spanish: J. K. Simmons para niños
