Jamie Kennedy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamie Kennedy
Kennedy in 2024
Born	James Harvey Kennedy (1970-05-25) May 25, 1970 (age 55) Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian screenwriter producer
Years active	1989–present

James Harvey Kennedy (born May 25, 1970) is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for playing Randy Meeks in the Scream movies. He is also known for his comedy and for creating his own TV shows.

Kennedy has acted in many movies. He played the funny movie expert Randy Meeks in Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), and had a short appearance in Scream 3 (2000). He also starred in comedies like Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) and Son of the Mask (2005). Some of his other movies include Romeo + Juliet (1996), Enemy of the State (1998), and Max Keeble's Big Move (2001).

On television, Kennedy had his own sketch comedy show called The Jamie Kennedy Experiment from 2002 to 2004. He played Professor Eli James in the TV series Ghost Whisperer from 2008 to 2010. He has also done voice acting for cartoons like The Cleveland Show and the Nickelodeon show Fanboy & Chum Chum.

Early Life and School

Kennedy was born on May 25, 1970, in Upper Darby Township, a town near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a Catholic family. He went to Monsignor Bonner High School and graduated in 1988. After high school, he moved to Hollywood to start his acting career.

Career Journey

Kennedy at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con

When Kennedy first moved to Los Angeles, he started as an extra in movies. This means he was in the background of scenes without any lines.

He struggled for a few years to find an agent. He even worked at a Red Lobster restaurant. He tried out for more than 80 commercials but didn't get any parts. He then worked as a telemarketer, selling things over the phone, and found out he was good at it. This gave him an idea: if he could sell products, he could sell himself as an actor.

Kennedy created a fake screen agent named "Marty Power." He used this fake identity to call real agents and managers. His plan worked, and he started getting acting jobs.

Rise to Fame

Kennedy became well-known in the late 1990s for his role as Randy Meeks in the Scream movies. His character was a fan favorite.

Later, he starred in Son of the Mask. The movie was not popular with critics, and some of them were very harsh. This experience led him to make a documentary called Heckler. The film explores how comedians and other performers deal with negative comments from audiences and critics.

Kennedy also started a production company called Wannabe Producers. Through his company, he created and produced TV shows like The Jamie Kennedy Experiment and Living with Fran. He also wrote and starred in the movie Malibu's Most Wanted.

Stand-Up Comedy and TV Shows

Kennedy in 2012

Kennedy is also a stand-up comedian. His TV show, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, was a big hit when it first aired in 2002. On the show, he would wear disguises and play pranks on people.

From 2008 to 2010, he played Professor Eli James on the TV show Ghost Whisperer. He also did voice work for many cartoons. He was the voice of Kyle in Fanboy & Chum Chum on Nicktoons.

In 2015, he appeared in the movie Tremors 5: Bloodlines as Travis Welker. He returned for the next film in the series, Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell, in 2018.

In 2020, Kennedy acted in the movie Roe v. Wade, where he played a historical figure named Larry Lader. Kennedy said he took the role because it was a serious, dramatic part, which was different from the comedy roles he usually gets.

Personal Life

Kennedy with then-girlfriend Jennifer Love Hewitt at the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards

Kennedy was in a relationship with actress Jennifer Love Hewitt from March 2009 to March 2010. They worked together on the show Ghost Whisperer.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of the movies and TV shows Jamie Kennedy has been in.

Film

• Romeo + Juliet (1996) as Sampson
• Scream (1996) as Randy Meeks
• Scream 2 (1997) as Randy Meeks
• Enemy of the State (1998) as NSA Agent Jamie
• Three Kings (1999) as Walter Wogaman
• Scream 3 (2000) as Randy Meeks (in a short video)
• Max Keeble's Big Move (2001) as Evil Ice Cream Man
• Malibu's Most Wanted (2003) as Brad 'B-Rad' Gluckman
• Son of the Mask (2005) as Tim Avery / The Mask
• Kickin' It Old Skool (2007) as Justin Schumacher
• Good Deeds (2012) as Mark Freeze
• Tremors 5: Bloodlines (2015) as Travis B. Welker
• Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell (2018) as Travis B. Welker
• Trick (2019) as Dr. Steven

Television

• Ellen (1995) as Tad
• The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (2002–2004) as Himself
• King of the Hill (2003–2004) as Various voices
• Criminal Minds (2007; 2017) as Floyd Feylinn Ferell
• Ghost Whisperer (2008–2010) as Professor Eli James
• The Cleveland Show (2009–2013) as Federline Jones (voice)
• Fanboy & Chum Chum (2009–2014) as Kyle (voice)
• Heartbeat (2016) as Dr. Callahan
• Lucifer (2017) as Andy Kleinburg

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jamie Kennedy para niños