Jon Favreau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jon Favreau
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Favreau in 2016
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| Born |
Jonathan Kolia Favreau
October 19, 1966 New York City, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Queens College |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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Works
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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 well-known for his work both in front of and behind the camera.
As an actor, Favreau has appeared in many films. Some of these include Rudy (1993), PCU (1994), Very Bad Things (1998), and Chef (2014).
Favreau is also a very important filmmaker, especially for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He directed and produced the first two Iron Man movies (2008 and 2010). He also played the character Happy Hogan in these films and many other Marvel movies.
He has directed other popular movies like Elf (2003), Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005), and Chef (2014). More recently, he directed the live-action versions of Disney's The Jungle Book (2016) and The Lion King (2019).
Favreau has also made a big impact on the Star Wars universe. He created and is an executive producer for the Disney+ series The Mandalorian (2019–present). He also helps produce its spin-off shows like The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka.
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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.
Career Highlights
Starting Out in Acting
While in Chicago, Favreau got his first movie role in Rudy (1993). In this film, he met Vince Vaughn, who would become a frequent co-star. The next year, he appeared in the college movie PCU. He also had a guest role on the TV show Seinfeld.
Favreau then moved to Los Angeles. He became well-known in 1996 as both an actor and a writer. In 1997, he was on the popular TV sitcom Friends. He played Pete Becker, a millionaire boyfriend of Monica Geller.
He also appeared in films like Deep Impact (1998) and Very Bad Things (1998). In 2000, he played a football player in The Replacements.
Becoming a Director
In 2001, Jon Favreau directed his first movie, Made, which he also wrote and starred in with Vince Vaughn. He also hosted a TV series called Dinner for Five from 2001 to 2005.
His first big success as a director came in 2003 with the hit comedy Elf. This movie starred Will Ferrell as a human raised by elves. Favreau also had a small role in the movie Something's Gotta Give that same year.
In 2005, he directed Zathura: A Space Adventure, a movie based on a children's book. It was liked by critics but didn't make a lot of money. He continued to act, appearing with Vince Vaughn again in The Break-Up.
Directing the Marvel Cinematic Universe
A major turning point in Favreau's career was 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. While he didn't direct Iron Man 3, he remained an executive producer for many Marvel films. He continued to appear as Happy Hogan in movies like Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
In 2011, Favreau directed Cowboys & Aliens, starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford. This movie mixed science fiction with a Western story. In 2014, he wrote, directed, and starred in Chef. This movie was about a chef who starts a food truck. It was very well-received by critics.
Working with Disney and Star Wars
Favreau directed and produced the live-action version of The Jungle Book for Disney in 2016. This movie used amazing computer graphics to bring the jungle animals to life. It was a big hit with both critics and audiences.
He then directed another Disney live-action film, The Lion King, released in 2019. This movie also used advanced computer graphics to create realistic animals. It became his highest-grossing film as a director.
In 2018, Lucasfilm announced that Favreau would write and produce a live-action Star Wars TV series for Disney+. This series became The Mandalorian, which premiered in 2019. He also voices the character Paz Vizsla in the show.
Favreau is an executive producer on other Star Wars spin-off shows like The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka. In 2024, it was announced that he would direct a new Star Wars movie called The Mandalorian & Grogu, set to be released in 2026.
He also co-hosts and produces a cooking show for Netflix called The Chef Show with chef Roy Choi.
Personal Life
Jon Favreau is married to Joya Tillem, who is a doctor. They got married 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 a lot. He believes it gave him a strong background in imagination and storytelling.
Golem Creations
Golem Creations Ltd. LLC is a television 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 things, like protecting, or it can cause problems if not controlled. This company has produced shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Ahsoka.
Images for kids
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Favreau at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con
See also
In Spanish: Jon Favreau para niños
