Jack Black

Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969) is an American actor, producer, comedian, voice artist, writer, and musician. His acting career has been extensive, starring primarily as bumbling and cocky but internally self-conscious outsiders in comedy films, though he has played some serious roles. He is best known for his roles in High Fidelity, School of Rock, King Kong (2005), Nacho Libre, Tropic Thunder, Bernie, Kung Fu Panda, and Kung Fu Panda 2. Black is a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedians who have appeared together in several Hollywood films, and has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. He is the lead vocalist of the satirical rock group Tenacious D, which he formed in 1991 with friend Kyle Gass. Early life edit: Black was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of two satellite engineers, Judith (née Cohen), who worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, and Thomas William Black. His mother was born to a Jewish family, while his father converted to Judaism; Black attended Hebrew school and had a Bar Mitzvah. On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he said his surname may have come from the occupational name Blacksmith. Black's parents divorced when he was 10; Black moved to Culver City with his father and frequently visited his mother's home. As a child, Black appeared in a commercial for the Activision game Pitfall! in 1982, which was later shown during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and again on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. When Black entered high school, his parents enrolled him at the Poseidon School, a private secondary school engineered specifically for students struggling in the traditional school system. Black also attended the Crossroads School, where he excelled in drama. He later attended UCLA but dropped out during his sophomore year to pursue a career in entertainment, at which point his father discontinued his financial support. Fellow UCLA alumnus Tim Robbins later cast Black in Bob Roberts. He also had recurring roles on the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show. Acting career edit: Early roles edit: Black first began acting in a television commercial at age 13 for the video game Pitfall!. Black's acting career began with prime time television. He played roles on shows including Life Goes On, Northern Exposure, Mr. Show, Picket Fences, and The X-Files. Black appeared in the unaired TV pilot Heat Vision and Jack, directed by Ben Stiller, in which he played an ex-astronaut pursued by actor Ron Silver. He was accompanied by his friend who had merged with a motorcycle, voiced by Owen Wilson. Black later took on small roles in Airborne, Judge Dredd, Waterworld, The Fan, The Cable Guy, Mars Attacks!, Tim Robbins' Dead Man Walking, Enemy of the State, and others. He had a small role in True Romance as a security guard, but the scene was deleted. Leading roles edit: In 2000, Black appeared in High Fidelity as a wild employee in John Cusack's record store, a role Black considers his breakout. His career soon led to leading roles in films such as Shallow Hal, Nacho Libre, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Year One and Gulliver's Travels. He received particular praise for his starring role in the well-received School of Rock, earning critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor - Musical Or Comedy. In a rare move, he starred in a dramatic role as the obsessed filmmaker Carl Denham in Peter Jackson's 2005 remake of King Kong, a performance he based on Orson Welles. He voiced the title role in Kung Fu Panda, which grossed $20.3 million on its opening day, June 6, 2008, and Kung Fu Panda 2; it is a role he considers his favorite, with a performance enhanced with the tutoring of co-star and two time Academy Award winner Dustin Hoffman. On September 13, 2009 before nominees for best rock video at MTV Video Music Awards Black led the audience in a Rock & Roll prayer in which he told the audience to throw up their horns. His next film, The Big Year, a competitive birdwatching comedy co-starring Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and JoBeth Williams, was released in October 2011. He is referred to in the media as a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedy actors who frequently work together, which also includes Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Steve Carell. In 2012, Black starred in Linklater's black comedy Bernie as real-life murderer Bernie Tiede, a funeral director in a small East Texas town, who befriends and eventually murders a rich widow, played by Shirley MacLaine. Black's subdued portrayal, authentic East Texas accent and musical talent - he sings several gospel hymns as well as "Seventy-six Trombones" -- have movie reviewers mentioning Black as an Oscar contender, including Roger Ebert, who calls Black's work "one of the performances of the year." Later television roles edit: Black guest-starred on The Office along with Cloris Leachman, and Jessica Alba in a movie within the show. He also guest-starred in iCarly, in the episode "iStart a Fan War". Black has appeared numerous times on the "untelevised TV network" short film festival Channel 101, created by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, starring in the shows Computerman, Timebelt, and Laserfart. He also provided an introduction for the unaired sketch comedy Awesometown, donning a Colonial-era military uniform. In the introduction, he claims to be George Washington (and takes credit for the accomplishments of other American Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln). Black also guest starred in the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim show Tom Goes to the Mayor, as a bear-trap store owner. Black also guest-starred on Dan Harmon's show Community. Hosting work and appearances edit: Black took part in the Who Wants to Be Millionaire celebrity edition along with Denis Leary, Jimmy Kimmel and others and was handed the prize of US$125,000 in October 2001. On December 14, he hosted the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards. Black has hosted the Nickelodeon Acceptable.TV. Voice acting edit: In addition to Kung Fu Panda, Black has voice acted on other occasions, including "Husbands and Knives" from The Simpsons, which aired November 18, 2007, portraying the friendly owner of the rival comic book store Milo. He provided the voice of the main character, roadie Eddie Riggs, in the heavy metal-themed action-adventure video game Brütal Legend. In 2009, at the Spike Video Game Awards, he earned the Best Voice award for the voice of Eddie Riggs in Brütal Legend. In April 2009, Black starred in an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba!, in which he vocalized funny kid songs, such as "It's Not Fun to Get Lost," "Friends," and "The Goodbye Song." Music career edit: Main article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenacious_D Black, also known as JB or Jables, is the lead singer for the rock comedy band Tenacious D. Along with Kyle Gass, they have released three albums, a self-titled debut, the follow-up, The Pick of Destiny, and Rize of the Fenix. One of their songs "The Metal", from their album The Pick of Destiny was used in the music video games Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and Brütal Legend. "Rock Your Socks" from the album Tenacious D was played in the music videogame Rock Band Unplugged, and "Master Exploder" from The Pick Of Destiny went on to be used in music video games Guitar Hero Van Halen , Rock Band 2 and Brütal Legend , along with their song "Tribute" from Tenacious D. "Master Exploder" and "The Metal" featured in the film Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny. The film, directed by Tenacious D veteran Liam Lynch, features recurring characters such as Lee the superfan and Sasquatch. Tim Robbins cameos as does Dave Grohl as Satan. Ben Stiller also makes an appearance as a worker at Guitar Center, and also another appearance in the music video for "Tribute". Tenacious D helped the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation to raise awareness and funds in San Diego on June 16, 2007. Tenacious D can be seen performing in the Pauly Shore film Bio-Dome where the duo is performing its song "The Five Needs" at a "Save the Environment" party. Black was also a guest star on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show entitled "Ellen the Musical", alongside Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and teenage singer-actress Olivia Olson. On the show, besides singing, he discussed his then-upcoming film Nacho Libre with the host. In 2000 Jack Black (along with partner in crime Kyle Gass) provided backing vocals to The Vandals song "Fourteen" which appears on their album Look What I Almost Stepped In.... Black has also appeared on Dave Grohl's Probot album, providing vocals for the hidden song "I Am The Warlock", and Lynch's Fake Songs album, providing vocals for the song "Rock and Roll Whore". Black performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" in the last sequence of High Fidelity. He lent his musical abilities to the Queens of the Stone Age song "Burn the Witch" with rhythmic stomps and claps, some performed with his eyes closed. He also provided vocals for The Lonely Island's track "Sax Man" from the album Incredibad. Black has also recorded a duet on Meat Loaf's new CD Hang Cool Teddy Bear. The song is called "Like a Rose". Meat Loaf has also played Black's father in the Pick of Destiny movie. Black has appeared in music videos of Beck "Sexx Laws"; Foo Fighters "Learn To Fly", "Low", and "The One"; The Eagles of Death Metal's "I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)"; Sum 41's "Things I Want"; Dio's "Push"; and Weezer's "Photograph." In October 2010, Tenacious D appeared at BlizzCon 2010, a convention hosted by the game designers, Blizzard Entertainment. In 2012, Jack Black joined up with other celebrities to record "Book People Unite", a song sponsored by the Library of Congress, and RIF. Personal life edit: In January 2006, Black became engaged to Tanya Haden. She is one of the triplet daughters of jazz double bassist Charlie Haden, with her sisters being violinist and singer Petra Haden and bass player Rachel Haden. Haden herself is an accomplished cellist. Both attended Crossroads school and met again 15 years after graduating, at a friend's birthday party. Black proposed marriage around Christmas 2005. They married on March 14, 2006, in Big Sur, California. Their son, Samuel Jason "Sammy" Black, was born on June 10, 2006, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. On May 23, 2008, Black and his wife had their second son, Thomas David Black. Black is an atheist; now that he is a father, he has also started going to a synagogue with his children. Filmography edit: Film edit: Year Title Role Notes 1992 Bob Roberts Roger Davis 1993 Airborne Augie 1993 Demolition Man Wasteland Scrap 1994 The NeverEnding Story III Slip 1995 Bye Bye Love DJ at party 1995 Dead Man Walking Craig Poncelet 1995 Waterworld Pilot 1996 Bio-Dome Tenacious D 1996 The Cable Guy Rick Legatos 1996 The Fan Broadcast technician 1996 Mars Attacks! Billy Glenn Norris 1997 Bongwater Devlin 1997 Crossworlds Steve 1997 The Jackal Ian Lamont 1998 Enemy of the State Fiedler 1998 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Titus Telesco Uncredited 1998 Johnny Skidmarks Jerry 1999 Cradle Will Rock Sid 1999 Jesus' Son Georgie 1999 The Love Letter Fisherman Uncredited 2000 High Fidelity Barry Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/Romance, Nominated - American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Nominated - Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best Music Moment, Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Breakthrough Male Performance, Nominated - Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor 2001 Frank's Book Performance hipster Short film 2001 Saving Silverman JD McNugent 2001 Shallow Hal Hal Larson Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Film- Choice Actor, Comedy 2002 Ice Age Zeke Voice 2002 Orange County Lance Brumder 2002 Run Ronnie Run Lead chimney sweep DVD Exclusive Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere 2003 Melvin Goes to Dinner Mental patient Phoenix Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Acting, Nominated - DVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actor in a DVD Premiere 2003 School of Rock Dewey Finn MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance, Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team, Nominated - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor (3rd place), Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor- Comedy, Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Liar 2004 Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Motorcyclist Cameo 2004 Envy Nick Vanderpark Nominated - People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star 2004 Laser Fart Elegant hunter 2004 Shark Tale Lenny Voice 2005 King Kong Carl Denham Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Sleazebag 2005 Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie Carl Denham Voice, Spike Video Game Award - Best Leading Male Performance 2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Orson, Booker, Wolf 2006 The Holiday Miles 2006 Nacho Libre Nacho Nominated - Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Star, Nominated - MTV Movie Award for Best Fight, Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Actor: Comedy, Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Movies - Choice Chemistry, Nominated - Teen Choice Award for Movie - Choice Rumble 2006 Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny Jack "Jables" Black 2007 Margot at the Wedding Malcolm Nominated - Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast 2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Paul McCartney Uncredited 2008 Be Kind Rewind Jerry Gerber 2008 Kung Fu Panda Po Voice, Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie, Nominated - Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Character in a Motion Picture 2008 The Secrets of the Furious Five Po Voice, Short film 2008 Prop 8: The Musical Jesus Christ Viral video 2008 Tropic Thunder Jeff "Fats" Portnoy Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast 2008 Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness Jeff "Fats" Portnoy 2009 Brütal Legend Eddie Riggs Voice, Spike Video Game Award - Best Voice 2009 Year One Zed 2010 Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special Po Voice, Short film 2010 Gulliver's Travels Gulliver Nominated - Razzie Award for Worst Actor, Nominated - Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Male Movie Star 2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Po Voice, Nominated - Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Animated Voice, Nominated - People's Choice Award for Favorite Animation Movie Voice 2011 Bernie Bernie Tiede Nominated - Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Nominated - Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Performance, Nominated - Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead, Nominated - New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor (runner-up) 2011 The Big Year Brad Harris 2011 The Muppets Himself 2013 Bailout Matt Prior 2013 Frank or Francis Francis 2015 Kung Fu Panda 3 Po Television edit: Year Title Role Notes 1991 Our Shining Moment Teenage boy TV Movie 1993 The Golden Palace Taxi driver Episode: "Seems Like Old Times: Part 2" 1993 Life Goes On Skinhead Episode: "Incident on Main" 1993 Marked for Murder Car thief television film 1993 Northern Exposure Kevin Wilkins Episode: "A River Doesn't Run Through It" 1994 Blind Justice Private television film 1994 The Innocent Marty Prago television film 1995 All-American Girl Tommy episode "A Night at the Oprah" 1995 Pride & Joy Man Episode: "Brenda's Secret" 1995 The Single Guy Randy Episode: "Sister" 1995 Touched by an Angel Monte Episode: "Angels on the Air" 1995 The X-Files Bart "Zero" Liqouri Episode: "D.P.O." 1995-1996 Mr. Show with Bob and David Various characters 4 episodes 1995-1996 Picket Fences Curtis Williams 2 episodes 1997-2000 Tenacious D JB 1999 Heat Vision and Jack Jack 2001 Space Ghost Coast to Coast Himself Episode: "Sweet for Brak" 2002 2002 MTV Movie Awards Host 2002 The Andy Dick Show J.D. Episode: "Flipped" 2002 Clone High Pusher / Larry Hardcore Episode: "Raisin the Stakes" 2002 Crank Yankers Tenacious D Episode: "#1.3" 2002 Jack Black: Spider-Man Spider-Man MTV Movie Awards segment 2002 Lord of the Piercing Jack the elf 2002 MADtv Tenacious D Episode: "#7.22" 2002 Panic Room with Will Ferrell Himself MTV Movie Awards segment 2003 Player$ Tenacious D Episode: "Tenacious D a la Mode" 2003 Will & Grace Dr. Isaac Hershberg Episode: "Nice in White Satin" 2003-2004 Computerman Computerman 6 episodes 2003-2004 Time Belt Computerman 2 episodes 2004 Cracking Up Brian Episode: "Scared Straight" 2004 Tom Goes to the Mayor Trapper JB Episode: "Bear Traps" 2005 Awesometown George Washington television film 2006 2006 Kids' Choice Awards Himself Host 2006 Howard Stern Himself With Kyle Gass as Tenacious D 2007 The Naked Trucker and T-Bones Show Jables Episode: "Break-Up" 2007 The Simpsons Milo Episode: "Husbands and Knives" 2008 Sesame Street Himself Episode: "The Golden Triangle of Destiny" 2008 2008 Kids' Choice Awards Himself Host 2009 The Office Sam Episode: "Stress Relief" 2009 Yo Gabba Gabba Himself Episode: "New Friends" 2010 Community Buddy Episode: "Investigative Journalism" 2010 iCarly Aspartamay Episode: iStart a Fanwar 2010-2011 Take Two with Phineas and Ferb Himself Episodes: "Jack Black" and "Neil Patrick Harris" 2010 "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" Himself Special gag ad episode 2011 Fish Hooks Chief Episode: "Labor Day" 2011 Big Time Rush Cupid Episode: "Big Time Crush" 2011 2011 Kids' Choice Awards Himself 2011 American Idol Himself Performed "Fat Bottomed Girls" with contestant Casey Abrams 2012 Conan Himself With Kyle Gass as Tenacious D

Source: Wikipedia

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