Jon Gries
Birthday:
Birthplace:
Glendale, California, USA
A longtime character actor with the unique ability to alternate between meek and menacing at the drop of a hat, Jon Gries can play a computer wiz (Real Genius, The Pretender) or a South American mercenary (The Rundown) with equal zeal and conviction. A native of Glendale, CA, and the son of Emmy-winning writer/producer/director Tom Gries, Jon launched his acting career with a small role in his father's made-for-television feature Helter Skelter (1976). His father unfortunately died shortly thereafter due to a heart attack, but the the groundwork for Gries' career had been laid. After moving to New York, the young actor studied under the capable tutelage of Stella Adler. Supporting roles in More American Graffiti, Joysticks, and High School USA segued Gries' career into the 1980s, with his role as the reclusive genius Lazlo in the brainy college comedy Real Genius enduring him to a nation of moviegoers. If the remainder of the decade didn't offer Gries the sort of roles that would take him to leading-man status, they would at least find him cast in such high-profile releases as Running Scared, The Monster Squad, and Fright Night Part 2. After once again appearing opposite Real Genius co-star Val Kilmer in the 1989 noir thriller Kill Me Again, Gries found a niche in television with roles in such series as Martin and The Pretender in the 1990s. Of course, Gries also continued to remain active on the big screen throughout the 1990s, and after a bit role in the popular sci-fi comedy Men in Black, he would establish a fruitful working relationship with Mark and Michael Polish -- the filmmaking duo behind the quirky sleeper Twin Falls Idaho. After turning in a memorable performance as a lawyer in that film, Gries became something of a stock player for the Polish brothers with appearances in both Jackpot and Northfork. Even outside of his work with the Polish brothers, Gries continued to gain indie credibility thanks to parts in such features as The Big Empty and Napoleon Dynamite. Gries' performance as a literally whip-smart heavy in the 2003 action comedy The Rundown found him essaying a rare villainous role, but doing so with such malevolent gusto that even audiences with vivid memories of the brainy Lazlo may not have realized whom they were watching give The Rock such a sound thrashing.
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
MOVIES
RATING | TITLE | CREDIT | BOX OFFICE | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|---|
No Score Yet | Wish Upon a Unicorn |
|
— | 2020 |
64% | 3 Days with Dad (Life Support) |
|
— | 2019 |
No Score Yet | Glass Jaw |
|
— | 2018 |
No Score Yet | All About the Money |
|
— | 2017 |
14% | The Axe Murders of Villisca |
|
— | 2017 |
40% | Operation Chromite |
|
$1M | 2016 |
0% | Eternity: The Movie |
|
— | 2016 |
No Score Yet | Falsely Accused |
|
— | 2016 |
17% | Durant's Never Closes |
|
— | 2016 |
50% | Endgame |
|
— | 2015 |
91% | Faults |
|
— | 2015 |
No Score Yet | Pass the Light |
|
— | 2015 |
14% | Americons |
|
$14.9k | 2015 |
13% | Taken 3 |
|
— | 2015 |
No Score Yet | Endgame |
|
— | 2015 |
80% | Bad Turn Worse |
|
— | 2014 |
75% | The Last Survivors (The Well) |
|
— | 2014 |
13% | Locker 13 |
|
— | 2014 |
No Score Yet | Skinwalker Ranch |
|
— | 2013 |
No Score Yet | A True Story |
|
— | 2013 |
No Score Yet | noobz |
|
— | 2013 |
No Score Yet | Last Best Chance |
|
— | 2013 |
22% | Taken 2 |
|
$139.9M | 2012 |
No Score Yet | Pickin' & Grinnin |
|
— | 2012 |
No Score Yet | Around June |
|
$9.6k | 2012 |
74% | Natural Selection |
|
$48.7k | 2012 |
No Score Yet | Unicorn City |
|
— | 2012 |
No Score Yet | Deep in the Heart |
|
— | 2012 |
No Score Yet | Five Time Champion |
|
— | 2012 |
No Score Yet | Redemption: For Robbing The Dead |
|
— | 2012 |
8% | Crazy on the Outside |
|
$64.9k | 2010 |
No Score Yet | Good Intentions |
|
— | 2010 |
59% | Taken |
|
$145M | 2009 |
No Score Yet | Elsewhere |
|
— | 2009 |
No Score Yet | Bar Starz |
|
— | 2008 |
No Score Yet | South of Heaven |
|
— | 2008 |
46% | The Sasquatch Gang |
|
— | 2007 |
9% | The Comebacks |
|
$13.4M | 2007 |
16% | September Dawn |
|
$1.1M | 2007 |
33% | American Pastime |
|
— | 2007 |
No Score Yet | Frank |
|
— | 2007 |
No Score Yet | Frank |
|
— | 2006 |
No Score Yet | Car Babes |
|
— | 2006 |
58% | The Astronaut Farmer |
|
$11M | 2006 |
31% | Stick It |
|
$26.9M | 2006 |
100% | Waterborne |
|
— | 2005 |
72% | Napoleon Dynamite |
|
$44.5M | 2004 |
69% | The Rundown |
|
$47.6M | 2003 |
86% | The Snow Walker |
|
— | 2003 |
56% | Northfork |
|
$1.3M | 2003 |
67% | The Big Empty |
|
— | 2003 |
No Score Yet | The Beatnicks |
|
— | 2001 |
29% | Jackpot |
|
— | 2001 |
No Score Yet | The Pretender 2001 |
|
— | 2001 |
No Score Yet | Pretender: Island of the Haunted (Island of the Haunted ) |
|
— | 2001 |
78% | Twin Falls Idaho |
|
— | 1999 |
50% | Ed and His Dead Mother |
|
— | 1997 |
92% | Men in Black |
|
— | 1997 |
No Score Yet | Casualties |
|
— | 1997 |
No Score Yet | Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah |
|
— | 1996 |
88% | Get Shorty |
|
— | 1995 |
No Score Yet | Four Eyes and Six-Guns |
|
— | 1993 |
91% | The Grifters |
|
— | 1990 |
No Score Yet | Rainbow Drive |
|
— | 1990 |
No Score Yet | Kill Me Again |
|
— | 1989 |
No Score Yet | Pucker up and Bark Like a Dog |
|
— | 1989 |
30% | Fright Night 2 |
|
— | 1989 |
60% | The Monster Squad |
|
— | 1987 |
No Score Yet | Number One with a Bullet |
|
— | 1987 |
57% | Running Scared |
|
— | 1986 |
0% | TerrorVision |
|
— | 1986 |
75% | Real Genius |
|
— | 1985 |
No Score Yet | High School U.S.A. |
|
— | 1983 |
No Score Yet | Joy Sticks |
|
— | 1983 |
20% | More American Graffiti |
|
$8.2M | 1979 |
No Score Yet | The Chicken Chronicles |
|
— | 1977 |
85% | Will Penny |
|
— | 1968 |
TV
RATING | TITLE | CREDIT | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
89% |
The White Lotus
2021
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Dream Corp LLC
2016-2020
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Criminal Minds
2005-2020
|
|
|
32% |
Napoleon Dynamite
2012
|
|
|
93% |
Supernatural
2005-2020
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Hawaii Five-0
2010-2020
|
|
|
87% |
Sons of Anarchy
2008-2014
|
|
|
85% |
Lost
2004-2010
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
CSI: NY
2004-2013
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Las Vegas
2003-2008
|
|
|
87% |
24
2001-2014
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
ER
1994-2009
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Pretender
1996-2000
|
|
|
89% |
Seinfeld
1989-1998
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Beverly Hills, 90210
1990-2000
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Martin
1992-1997
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
Quantum Leap
1989-1993
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Twilight Zone
1985-1989
|
|
|
No Score Yet |
The Jeffersons
1975-1985
|
|
|
Quotes from Jon Gries' Characters
Skip: | I bet you even this, reminds you of a story... |
Archie: | You bet it does, everything's got a story son! |
Uncle Rico: | How much do you want to bet I can throw this football over them mountains? |
Uncle Rico: | How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains? |
Napoleon Dynamite: | Grandma just called. She said you should go home because you're ruining everyone's lives and eating all the steak. |
Uncle Rico: | It's a free country, Napoleon. I can do what ever I want. |
Napoleon Dynamite: | I'm gonna call the cops on you! |
Uncle Rico: | Fine! Go ahead! |
Napoleon Dynamite: | Maybe I will! Gosh! |