Jon Favreau facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jon Favreau
Favreau in 2016
Born	Jonathan Kolia Favreau (1966-10-19) October 19, 1966 (age 58) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Queens College
Occupation	Actor filmmaker
Years active	1988–present
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Joya Tillem ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	3

Jonathan Kolia Favreau (born October 19, 1966) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for both acting in and directing many popular movies and TV shows.

..... He also played Happy Hogan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

As a filmmaker, Favreau has directed many well-known movies. These include Elf (2003), Iron Man (2008), The Jungle Book (2016), and The Lion King (2019). He has also been a big part of the Star Wars universe. He created the Disney+ series The Mandalorian and is an executive producer on its spin-off shows.

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Kolia Favreau was born in Flushing, Queens, New York City on October 19, 1966. He was the only child of Madeleine and Charles Favreau. His mother was an elementary school teacher who sadly passed away in 1979. His father was a special education teacher.

Favreau went to The Bronx High School of Science, a school for very talented students. He graduated in 1984. After high school, he attended Queens College from 1984 to 1987. He later dropped out to follow his dream of acting.

In 1988, he moved to Chicago to start a career in comedy. He performed at famous improvisational theaters there, like the ImprovOlympic.

A Look at His Career

Early Acting and Writing

While in Chicago, Favreau got his first movie role in Rudy (1993). He met actor Vince Vaughn during the filming of this movie. The next year, he appeared in the college film PCU. He also had a small role in an episode of the TV show Seinfeld.

Favreau then moved to Los Angeles. ..... He wrote the script for this film and also starred in it alongside Vince Vaughn. In 1997, he appeared in several episodes of the popular TV show Friends. He played Pete Becker, Monica Geller's millionaire boyfriend.

He continued to act in films like Deep Impact (1998) and The Replacements (2000). He even played himself in an episode of The Sopranos.

Becoming a Director

Favreau at an Iron Man event in Mexico City in 2008

In 2001, Jon Favreau directed his first movie, Made. He also wrote the script for this film and starred in it with Vince Vaughn. From 2001 to 2005, he hosted a TV series called Dinner for Five, where he talked with other filmmakers.

He had a role as lawyer Foggy Nelson in the 2003 movie Daredevil. His first big success as a director was the hit comedy Elf (2003), starring Will Ferrell. This movie became a holiday favorite. In 2005, he directed Zathura: A Space Adventure, a movie based on a children's book.

A major turning point in his career came in 2006 when he was chosen to direct the Iron Man movie. This film, released in 2008, was a huge success. It helped start the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Favreau also played Tony Stark's driver, Happy Hogan, in the movie. He directed the sequel, Iron Man 2, in 2010. He continued to be an executive producer for many Marvel films and appeared as Happy Hogan in several more, including Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Favreau with Robert McCurdy, Cole Dabney, and Jaime Pressly at SXSW 2009

In 2009, Favreau co-starred in and wrote the comedy Couples Retreat with Vince Vaughn. He also voiced the character Pre Vizsla in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars. In 2011, he directed the science fiction Western film Cowboys & Aliens, starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford.

In 2014, Favreau wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the movie Chef. In this film, he played a chef who starts a food truck. The movie was praised by critics and was a financial success.

Working with Big Franchises

Favreau directed and produced the live-action version of The Jungle Book for Walt Disney Pictures. This movie, released in 2016, was very popular and received great reviews. After that, he directed a CGI adaptation of Disney's The Lion King, which came out in 2019. This film was also a huge success, becoming his highest-grossing movie as a director.

In 2018, Lucasfilm announced that Favreau would be an executive producer and writer for a live-action Star Wars TV series. This series, called The Mandalorian, premiered on Disney+ in 2019. He also voices the character Paz Vizsla in the show. Favreau has continued his work in the Star Wars universe, serving as an executive producer on spin-off series like The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka.

In 2019, Favreau also started co-hosting and executive producing a cooking show for Netflix called The Chef Show with chef Roy Choi. He continues to appear as Happy Hogan in Marvel films, including Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024).

In 2022, Favreau produced the documentary series Prehistoric Planet for Apple TV+. A new Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is being developed with Favreau directing, writing, and co-producing.

Personal Life

Jon Favreau married Joya Tillem, who is a doctor, on November 24, 2000. They have three children: a son named Max and two daughters.

Favreau has said that playing the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons helped him develop his imagination and storytelling skills.

Golem Creations

Golem Creations is a production company started by Jon Favreau in 2018. He named it Golem Creations because he sees technology like a golem: it can be used for good or bad, depending on how it's controlled. This company has produced several TV shows, including The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka, in partnership with Lucasfilm. It also produced the documentary series Prehistoric Planet.

Directed Films

Favreau at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

Awards and Special Recognition

In May 2019, Jon Favreau was named a Disney Legend. This honor is given to people who have made amazing contributions to The Walt Disney Company.

On February 13, 2023, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is a very special recognition for his work in entertainment.