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John Michael Higgins
John Michael Higgins 2018 (275563741).jpg
Higgins in 2018
Born (1963-02-12) February 12, 1963 (age 61)
Alma mater Amherst College, Class of 1985
Occupation Actor, comedian, host
Years active 1985–present
Spouse(s)
Margaret Welsh
(m. 2003)
Children 2

John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963) is an American actor, game show host, and comedian whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim. He portrayed Peter Lovett in the TV Land original sitcom Happily Divorced and provided the voice of Iknik Blackstone Varrick in The Legend of Korra and Mini-Max in Big Hero 6: The Series. He also starred in the NBC sitcom Great News as Chuck Pierce for two seasons. Since 2018, he has hosted the game show America Says, which earned him a 2019 Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host, though he lost to Alex Trebek. Higgins attended Amherst College, graduating in 1985 and was a member of the acapella group the Zumbyes. Starting on April 17, 2023, he has also hosted the new version of the game show Split Second on Game Show Network.

Career

In the early 1980s Higgins was a theatre instructor with Street 70, a theatre production company in Rockville, Maryland. It is now known as Round House Theatre. He also taught voice and improvisation. In 1991, Higgins was featured in Broadway's La Bête, and in 2000 he was seen Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in a production of Edward Albee's Tiny Alice. He also originated the title role in Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey Off-Broadway in 1993.

Higgins's numerous television credits include recurring characters on Ally McBeal, Brother's Keeper, Boston Legal and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show. In Season 8 of Seinfeld, he portrayed Elaine's boyfriend Kurt. He also played attorney Wayne Jarvis in five episodes of Arrested Development. Higgins arranged the dense vocal harmonies sung by the nine-part ("neuftet") New Main Street Singers in 2003's A Mighty Wind, a change from the writers' original concept of having the group sing in unison, leveraged by Higgins' musical talent.

Higgins gained more recognition by being featured in the films Fun with Dick and Jane, Pitch Perfect and its sequels, and The Break-Up, for which he also wrote vocal arrangements. His work as a voice actor includes the roles of Judge Mentok in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, 2401 Penitent Tangent in Halo 2, and Riddler in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Higgins also portrayed David Letterman in the HBO TV film The Late Shift. Higgins was seen in the pre-show video for the Epcot attraction Test Track. However, the ride was refurbished in 2012 and the pre-show room was removed.

Higgins directs and appears on the stage from time to time as well. In 2004, he played Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the American premiere of David Hare's Stuff Happens at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. In 2003, he played the title role in A. R. Gurney's Big Bill at New York's Lincoln Center Theater.

Higgins has been featured in TV ads for DirecTV, alongside fellow co-stars Christopher Guest and Ed Begley Jr., and for Old Navy. He also stars in season 2 of TNT's Raising the Bar as an openly gay, rule-obsessed judge. Higgins took part in The Suite Life on Deck, taking the role of the sinister and secluded Mr. Tipton.

In 2011, Higgins was cast in Happily Divorced opposite Fran Drescher. He played Fran's gay ex-husband, Peter Lovett, a character based on Drescher's real-life ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson. In 2012, Higgins was cast as the voice of vain and eccentric businessman Iknik Blackstone Varrick in The Legend of Korra. From 2017 to 2018, Higgins starred as Chuck Pierce on the NBC comedy series Great News.

Higgins became the host of the game show America Says in 2018. Coincidentally, he played a game show host 14 years earlier in a season 3 episode of the TV comedy/drama detective series Monk. Since 2019, Higgins has appeared in TV commercials for Omaha-based Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. In 2020, Higgins began appearing in a series of adverts for 123.ie, an Irish insurance company. Higgins played the role of Principal Toddman in the 2020 Peacock comedy series Saved by the Bell, which was created by Tracey Wigfield.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986 National Lampoon's Class of '86 Various characters
1988 Vampire's Kiss Ed
1997 G.I. Jane Chief of Staff
1997 Wag the Dog John Levy
1999 Bicentennial Man Bill Feingold
2000 Seven Days to Live [de] Social Worker
2000 Best in Show Scott Donlan
2001 The Man Who Wasn't There Emergency Room Physician Uncredited
2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Whit Summers
2003 A Mighty Wind Terry Bohner
2004 Jiminy Glick in Lalawood Andre Devine
2004 After the Sunset Hotel Manager Uncredited
2004 Killer Diller Deermont
2004 Blade: Trinity Dr. Edgar Vance
2005 English as a Second Language Norman Benjamin
2005 Fun with Dick and Jane Garth
2006 The Break-Up Richard Meyers
2006 For Your Consideration Corey Taft
2007 Evan Almighty Marty Stringer
2007 Fred Claus Willie
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Record producer Uncredited
2008 Yes Man Nick
2009 Still Waiting... Dennis
2009 The Ugly Truth Larry
2009 Fired Up Coach Keith
2009 Couples Retreat Therapist
2010 The Burying Beetle Philip Short film
2011 Bad Teacher Principal Wally Snur
2011 6 Month Rule Paul
2011 We Bought a Zoo Walter Ferris
2012 My Uncle Rafael Damon
2012 Big Miracle Wes Handrick
2012 Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse Prince John Voice
2012 Pitch Perfect John Smith
2013 Rapture-Palooza Mr. Lewis
2013 Super Buddies Drex Voice
2013 The Best Man Holiday Stan
2014 A Million Ways to Die in the West Dandy #1
2014 Planes: Fire & Rescue Cad Voice
2014 Tell Huffman
2014 Breaking the Bank Richard Grinding
2015 Pitch Perfect 2 John Smith
2016 Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? Mayor Wally
2016 Sundown Dad
2016 Internet Famous Dave Larson
2016 Mascots Upton French
2016 Almost Christmas Brooks
2017 Shimmer Lake Brad Dawkins
2017 Pitch Perfect 3 John Smith
2017 Reality High Principal Dixon
2018 Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold Riddler Voice
2018 Status Update Mr. Moody
2021 Licorice Pizza Jerry Frick
2022 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Warren Stone Voice
2022 The Curse of Bridge Hollow Principal Floyd

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Miami Vice Murray Phillips Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury"
1991 Mathnet I. M. Uppwardd Episode: "The Case of the Poconos Paradise"
1994 The George Carlin Show Dan Goodwin Episode: "George Expresses Himself"
1996 Cybill Chip Episode: "Cybill Does Diary"
1996 The Late Shift David Letterman Television film
1997 Seinfeld Kurt Episode: "The Little Jerry"
1997 Weird Science Timidius Episode: "I, Chettus"
1997 Party of Five Glenn Episode: "S'Wunnerful Life"
1997–1998 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Ar'nox 3 episodes
1998 From the Earth to the Moon Master of Ceremonies Episode: "The Original Wives Club"
1998 Nothing Sacred Father Jesse O'Connell Episode: "HIV Priest! Film at Eleven"
1998 Guys Like Us Mr. Levin Episode: "Maestro's First Crush"
1998–1999 Brother's Keeper Mark 3 episodes
1998–1999 Mad About You Patrick 2 episodes
2000 Get Real George Clark Episode: "Guilt"
2000 Movie Stars Kurt Mason Episode: "Who's on First?"
2000–2002 Ally McBeal Steven Milter 13 episodes
2001 Bette Alex Berringer Episode: "Big Business"
2001 Frasier William Episode: "It Takes Two to Tangle"
2001 Gideon's Crossing Dr. Plummer Episode: "The Mistake"
2002 George Lopez Charles Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Honey"
2002–2007,
2018
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Mentok the Mindtaker, Zardo, Grape Ape, additional voices Voice, 31 episodes
2003 Monte Walsh Robert Slocum Television film
2003–2006 Arrested Development Wayne Jarvis 5 episodes
2004 Game Over Sully, Guidance Counselor, Proctor Voice, 4 episodes
2004 Higglytown Heroes Tow Truck Driver Hero Voice, episode: "All Tire'd Out"
2004 Monk Roddy Lankman Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Game Show"
2004 Boston Legal Jerry Austin 2 episodes
2005 Joey Albert 2 episodes
2006 So Notorious Phillip Walker Episode: "Whole"
2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Anthony Caprice Episode: "Time of Your Death"
2008–2009 Kath & Kim Phil Knight 17 episodes
2009 Numbers Floyd Mayborne Episode: "Dreamland"
2009 Raising the Bar Judge Albert Farnsworth 9 episodes
2009–2010 Community Professor Eustice Whitman 3 episodes
2010 Glee Russell Episode: "Dream On"
2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Various Voice, episode: "Funshine, USA"
2010 Psych Clive Prescott Episode: "Chivalry Is Not Dead... But Someone Is"
2010 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Riddler Voice, 2 episodes
2010 Human Target Richard Applebaum Episode: "The Other Side of the Mall"
2010–2011 Glory Daze Brother Jerrod 2 episodes
2011 The Suite Life on Deck Wilfred Tipton Episode: "Twister: Part 3"
2011 Man Up! Mr. Tipton Episode: "Camping"
2011–2013 Happily Divorced Peter Lovett 34 episodes
2011–2013 The Good Wife Rodney Jesko 2 episodes
2011–2014 Wilfred Dr. Cahill 4 episodes
2012 Doc McStuffins Star Blaster Zero Voice, episode: "Blast Off!"
2012 Cars Toons Stanley Voice, episode: "Time Travel Mater"
2012–2014 Sullivan & Son Gary Barton 3 episodes
2012–present Bob's Burgers Doug Wheeler, additional voices Voice, 9 episodes
2013 Men at Work Lindsey Tucker Episode: "The New Boss"
2013 Good Morning Today Reverend Jeremiah Phelps Voice, Episode: "Episode Three"
2013–2014 The Legend of Korra Varrick, additional voices Voice, 22 episodes
2014 Mike & Molly Dr. Gayle Rosen Episode: "Mind Over Molly"
2014 Terry the Tomboy Doctor Larry Television film
2014 Phineas and Ferb Additional voices Episode: "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars"
2014 Franklin & Bash Dominic 1 episode
2014 Jessie Carlisle Episode: "Between the Swoon and New York City"
2014–2017 Sofia the First Flambeau Voice, 3 episodes
2014–2015 Instant Mom Hoyt Ebnetter 3 episodes
2015 Turbo FAST Pasadena Paul, Trash Fire Snail Voice, episode: "Groundhog, Stay!/Gone Guys Gone"
2015 Switched at Birth Larry Shimingo Episode: "Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows"
2015 Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise Evan Television film
2015 Adam Ruins Everything Sommelier Episode: "Adam Ruins Restaurants"
2016–2018 Angie Tribeca Randy Zaius 3 episodes
2016 The Tom and Jerry Show Uncle Harry Voice, episode: "Say Uncle"
2016 2 Broke Girls Elliot Episode: "And the Pity Party Bus"
2016–2017 All Hail King Julien Barty Voice, 7 episodes
2016 Tween Fest Todd Crawford 8 episodes
2016 Awkward Garrett Gibson Episode: "Happy Campers. Happier Trails"
2017–2018 Great News Chuck Pierce 23 episodes
2017 Dropping the Soap Flock Deluge Episode: "Man Musk"
2017 Niko and the Sword of Light King Scampi Voice, 3 episodes
2017 Goldie & Bear Pops Weasel Voice, episode: "Pops Goes the Weasel"
2018–2020 Big Hero 6: The Series Mini-Max, additional voices Voice, 25 episodes
2018–present America Says Himself (host) 540+ episodes
Nominated - Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host (2019)
2018 ... History Wilhelm Von Osten Episode: "Animals"
2018–2020 F Is for Family Dr. McCallister Voice, 2 episodes
2018–2019 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Warren Stone Voice, 6 episodes
2019 Just Roll with It General Caleb Barnswallow Episode: "General Nuisance"
2019 Archibald's Next Big Thing Tolby Voice, episode: "The Enchanted Mansion/The Shell Game"
2019 Sunnyside Wallace Furley Episode: "The Ethiopian Executioner"
2020 Single Parents Bud Cooper Episode: "The Angie-Man"
2020–2021 Saved by the Bell Principal Toddman Main role
2021 Monsters at Work Argus Voice, episode: "The Cover Up"
2022 Celebrity Jeopardy! Himself
2022 Super Pumped Mike Ovitz Episode: Grow or Die
2022 Tab Time Burnie 8 episodes
2023 Split Second Himself (host)

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Halo 2 2401 Penitent Tangent
2008 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Mentok the Mindtaker

Theme park attractions

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Test Track Bill McKim Under GM-sponsored iteration from 1999 to 2012

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: John Michael Higgins para niños

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