Jason Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jason Alexander
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Alexander in 2009
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| Born |
Jay Scott Greenspan
September 23, 1959 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Years active | 1981–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Daena Title
(m. 1982) |
| Children | 2 |
Jay Scott Greenspan (born September 23, 1959), known by his stage name Jason Alexander, is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for playing George Costanza in the popular TV show Seinfeld. This role made him a star and won him a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Alexander has also won a Tony Award for his work on Broadway. He has acted in many movies, including Pretty Woman (1990) and Shallow Hal (2001). He was also the voice of Hugo the gargoyle in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996).
Contents
Early Life and School
Jason Alexander was born Jay Scott Greenspan in Newark, New Jersey. His parents were Ruth, a nurse, and Alexander B. Greenspan, an accountant. He created his stage name by using his father's first name.
Alexander grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Livingston High School in 1977. As a kid, he loved magic and wanted to be a magician. But he was told his hands were too small for card tricks. This led him to discover theater, which he called "a magic trick" itself.
He went to Boston University to study acting. A professor noticed he was funny and suggested he focus on comedy. Alexander left college in his third year for an acting job in New York City. In 1995, the university gave him an honorary degree.
Career
Broadway and Early Roles
Alexander started his career on the stage in New York. He is a talented singer and dancer. His first movie role was in the 1981 horror film The Burning.
He appeared in several Broadway shows. These included Merrily We Roll Along in 1981 and Broadway Bound in 1986. In 1989, he won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in Jerome Robbins' Broadway. A famous critic from The New York Times said his performance was "delightful."
During the 1980s, he also appeared in many TV commercials. He advertised for brands like McDonald's, Levi's jeans, and Sony.
Stardom with Seinfeld
Alexander became a household name playing George Costanza on the TV show Seinfeld. The show ran from 1989 to 1998. George was the funny and often clumsy best friend of Jerry Seinfeld's character.
For his role as George, Alexander was nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards. He also won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 1995. The show was a huge success and is still popular today.
Voice Acting and Other TV Shows
While on Seinfeld, Alexander also did voice work. He was the voice of the main character in the cartoon Duckman from 1994 to 1997. He also voiced characters in the ABC show Dinosaurs.
He voiced the gargoyle Hugo in Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996). He also appeared in the TV movie musical Cinderella (1997) with Whitney Houston and Brandy Norwood.
In 1999, he guest-starred on Star Trek: Voyager as an alien genius named Kurros.
After Seinfeld
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After Seinfeld ended, Alexander continued to act in movies, TV, and theater. He starred in the ABC sitcom Bob Patterson in 2001. He also had a memorable role in the movie Shallow Hal (2001).
He made guest appearances on many popular shows. These include Friends, Malcolm in the Middle, and Monk. In 2006, he was a recurring character on Everybody Hates Chris.
Alexander returned to the stage in a Los Angeles production of The Producers in 2003. He has also directed several plays and TV episodes.
Recent Work
Alexander has stayed busy in recent years. In 2015, he took over for Larry David in the Broadway play Fish in the Dark. He has also appeared in shows like Young Sheldon and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
He continues to do voice work, including for the animated series Harley Quinn. In 2023, he directed the Broadway comedy The Cottage. He also co-hosts a weekly podcast called Really? No, Really?.
Personal Life
Alexander married Daena E. Title in 1982. They have two sons, Gabriel and Noah.
Besides acting, Alexander is a skilled magician. He has performed at The Magic Castle in Hollywood. In 2006, he was named Parlor Magician of the Year by The Academy of Magical Arts.
Charity Work
Alexander has supported many charities. He was a spokesman for the Scleroderma Foundation, which helps people with a rare disease.
He has also played in celebrity poker tournaments to raise money for good causes. In one tournament, he won $500,000 for The United Way of America. He used the money to help people in the New Orleans area.
Political Views
Alexander is a supporter of the Democratic Party. He has spoken about his political views on shows like Real Time with Bill Maher. He supports finding a peaceful solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
He has also used his fame to encourage people to vote. In 2020, he joined his Seinfeld co-stars to support candidates in Texas.
Selected Filmography
Film
- The Burning (1981)
- Pretty Woman (1990)
- Coneheads (1993)
- The Paper (1994)
- The Return of Jafar (1994) - Voice
- Dunston Checks In (1996)
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - Voice
- Love! Valour! Compassion! (1997)
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2000)
- Shallow Hal (2001)
- 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure (2003) - Voice
- Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
- Leo (2023) - Voice
Television
- Seinfeld (1989–1998)
- Dinosaurs (1992–1993) - Voice
- Duckman (1994–1997) - Voice
- Bye Bye Birdie (1995)
- Cinderella (1997)
- Star Trek: Voyager (1999)
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001, 2009)
- Friends (2001)
- Monk (2005)
- Everybody Hates Chris (2006–2007)
- Criminal Minds (2008)
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2019–2022)
- Young Sheldon (2018–2022)
- Harley Quinn (2019–present) - Voice
- Star Trek: Prodigy (2022–2024) - Voice
See also
In Spanish: Jason Alexander para niños
