Jon Cryer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jon Cryer
Cryer in 2011
Born	Jonathan Niven Cryer (1965-04-16) April 16, 1965 (age 60) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1982–present
Known for	Pretty in Pink, Two and a Half Men
Spouse(s)	Sarah Trigger ​ ​ (m. 1999; div. 2004)​ Lisa Joyner ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Gretchen Kiger David Cryer

Jonathan Niven Cryer (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor. He grew up in a family involved in show business. Jon Cryer made his first movie appearance in No Small Affair in 1984.

He became well-known for his role as Duckie in the movie Pretty in Pink (1986). After that, he starred in films like Morgan Stewart's Coming Home (1987) and Hiding Out (1987). He also had roles in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) and Hot Shots! (1991).

In the 1990s and 2000s, Cryer started working more in television. He had main roles in sitcoms such as Partners and Getting Personal. He also wrote, produced, and starred in the independent film Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five (1998).

Cryer's career became very successful when he was cast as Alan Harper in the TV show Two and a Half Men (2003–2015). For this role, he won two Primetime Emmy Awards. He received an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2009. In 2012, he won an Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. In 2011, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television.

After Two and a Half Men, Cryer played the famous villain Lex Luthor on the TV series Supergirl from 2019 to 2021. He also appeared as Lex Luthor in other shows based on DC Comics. More recently, he had a main role in the sitcom Extended Family (2023–2024).

Early Life and Education

Jon Cryer was born in New York City. His mother, Gretchen Cryer, is a writer, songwriter, actress, and singer. His father, David Cryer, is also an actor and singer. Jon has two sisters, Robin and Shelly.

When Jon was twelve, he decided he wanted to be an actor. His mother suggested he have a backup plan, jokingly saying "Plumbing is a pretty good career." As a teenager, Cryer spent several summers at the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center. He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1983.

Instead of going to a regular college, he attended a summer course in Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England.

Acting Career Highlights

Cryer at the 2003 premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Cryer's first professional acting job was in the Broadway play Torch Song Trilogy. He took over a role previously played by Matthew Broderick. He also filled in for Broderick in another Broadway play, Brighton Beach Memoirs, in 1984.

At 19, Cryer starred in the 1984 romantic comedy film No Small Affair. He then appeared in smaller roles in movies and TV films.

Breakthrough in Film

Jon Cryer became widely known for his role as Philip "Duckie" Dale in the film Pretty in Pink. After this movie, his mother, Gretchen, said she received many calls from teenage girls who loved his character.

In 1987, Cryer starred in Hiding Out as a stockbroker on the run. His mother played his aunt in the film. That same year, he played Lenny Luthor, the nephew of supervillain Lex Luthor, in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. In 1989, he got the main role in the TV comedy series The Famous Teddy Z, but the show was canceled after one season.

In 1990, Cryer appeared with his future Two and a Half Men co-star Charlie Sheen in the comedy Hot Shots!. This movie was very popular. Cryer was considered part of the "Brat Pack," a group of young actors popular in the 1980s. He even auditioned for the show Friends but the audition tape did not arrive in time.

In 1995, Cryer was cast in the sitcom Partners, which was also canceled after its first season. He joked that every show he was in seemed to get canceled. After guest appearances on shows like Dharma & Greg, he wrote, produced, and co-starred in the film Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five in 1998. This film received good reviews. That same year, he was in another sitcom, Getting Personal, which was also canceled.

In 2000, Cryer starred in a comedy series called The Trouble with Normal. This was the third time he starred in a show that was canceled after its first season.

Two and a Half Men Success

Jon Cryer's streak of short-lived TV projects ended in 2003. He was cast as Alan Harper in the popular comedy series Two and a Half Men. He had also auditioned for a role in Battlestar Galactica around the same time.

Cryer received seven Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for his work on Two and a Half Men. He won two of these awards. He said that being on a successful show took a lot of pressure off him. It allowed him to trust his acting instincts.

After Charlie Sheen left the series, Cryer's character became the main focus of the show. Ashton Kutcher joined as the co-lead for the final four seasons. Cryer is the only actor who appeared in every single episode of the series.

Recent Roles and Other Work

In 2008, Cryer appeared in the film Tortured. In 2009, he co-starred in the film Shorts.

In 2011, Cryer performed in a concert version of the musical Company with the New York Philharmonic. This performance was later shown on TV.

Cryer also made a guest appearance on the sitcom Husbands. He was originally going to voice the main character in the animated film Planes, but another actor took the role. However, Cryer still received credit for helping with the story.

In 2015, Cryer released a book about his life called So That Happened. It tells funny stories from his 30-year career in acting.

Cryer appeared in the drama series NCIS from 2015 to 2016. He played Navy Dr. Cyril Taft, who treated Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Cryer had wanted to be on NCIS since it started in 2003.

He also joined the team of the podcast Undisclosed, which focuses on criminal justice.

In 2018, Cryer was featured on the TV show Who Do You Think You Are?. On the show, he learned about his ancestor, James Adams. James was a Scottish soldier captured in 1650 and sent to America as a servant. Cryer visited the places where his ancestor lived and worked. He said learning about his family's strength inspired him.

From 2019 to 2021, Cryer played Lex Luthor on The CW's Supergirl. He had played Lex Luthor's nephew, Lenny Luthor, in a Superman movie in 1987. He also played Lex Luthor in other Arrowverse shows like Batwoman and The Flash.

Cryer supported the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. These strikes were about fair pay and working conditions for writers and actors.

Personal Life

Jon Cryer married British actress Sarah Trigger in 1999. They had a son named Charlie Austin. They divorced in 2004.

In 2007, he married entertainment reporter Lisa Joyner in Mexico. In 2009, they announced they had adopted a baby girl. Cryer still follows the Methodist faith he grew up with.

In 2012, Pretty in Pink co-star Molly Ringwald suggested that Cryer's character, Duckie, might have been gay. Cryer disagreed, saying he represents "slightly effeminate dorks that are actually heterosexual." He has joked about being mistaken for gay because of his "effeminate heterosexual dork" personality.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Performances

Book

• So That Happened: A Memoir (2015) - Berkley – ISBN: 0-45-147235-7.

See also

In Spanish: Jon Cryer para niños