Jim Rash

{{short description|American actor, comedian, and filmmaker (born 1971)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jim Rash

| image = Jim Rash by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg

| image_upright = 1

| caption = Rash in 2013

| birth_name = James Rash

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|07|15}}

| birth_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
comedian
filmmaker

}}

| years_active = 1995–present

}}

James Rash{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2013-aug-24-la-et-st-conversation-jim-rash-story.html|title=Jim Rash writes, directs, acts and hosts.|last=Lacher|first=Irene|date=August 24, 2013|access-date=February 4, 2024|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} (born July 15, 1971){{Cite web |date=July 15, 2017 |title=Today in History |url=https://apnews.com/article/5095849cdd1a4dbb8c561f3ebe78febb |access-date=August 10, 2023 |website=The Associated Press}} is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He played Dean Craig Pelton on the NBC sitcom Community (2009–2015), for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012.

He co-wrote The Descendants (2011) alongside Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon for which they received the Academy Award, Independent Spirit Award and Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. They were also nominated for the BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Critics' Choice Movie Award.{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|title=The Descendants|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20111116%2FREVIEWS%2F111119988|date=November 16, 2011|work=The Chicago Sun-Times|publisher=Sun-Times Media Group|via=rogerebert.com|location=Chicago, Illinois|access-date=March 15, 2012|archive-date=July 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722193231/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20111116%2FREVIEWS%2F111119988|url-status=dead}} Rash has since, with Faxon, written and directed the comedy films The Way, Way Back (2013), and Downhill (2020).

Early life

Rash grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2013/08/05/jim-rash/2619271/|title=A chat with ... 'Writers' Room' host Jim Rash|last=Matheson|first=Whitney|date=August 5, 2013|newspaper=USA Today|access-date=February 4, 2024}} Both he and his sister were adopted.Interview with Paul F. Tompkins, 'Speakeasy' {{YouTube|id=HxaO7lkXIhg|title=Community's Jim Rash is TV Ugly - Speakeasy}} He attended Charlotte Latin School. After graduating, he spent a post-graduate year at the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.{{cite web|first=Lance|last=Carter|title=Q & A: Community's Jim Rash|url=http://www.dailyactor.com/2010/11/interview-jim-rash-community|work=Daily Actor|date=November 19, 2010|quote=Two things sort of started me towards what I wanted to do. One was I went to a school called Charlotte Latin School, in Charlotte and after I graduated from there, I really wanted to go to Chapel Hill. And, I just — now the world will know — my grades weren't great. I'll confess that, and so I really wanted to – I went to a post-graduate year at a boarding school up in New Jersey called the Lawrenceville School.|access-date=March 15, 2012}} He was a member of The Groundlings, a Los Angeles-based improv comedy group.

Career

Rash played Mr. Grayson/Stitches in the 2005 film Sky High, Fenton on That '70s Show, That '90s Show, and Andrew the "whore house guy" on Reno 911!. He appeared in the final episode of Friends, and played Head T.A. Philip in Slackers. From 2009 to 2015, Rash starred on Community as Craig Pelton, the dean of the community college in which the show takes place.

Rash and comedy partner Nat Faxon moved into screenwriting with a pilot in 2005 for a series entitled Adopted, which did not take off.[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/26/3049545/charlotte-native-wins-oscar-for.html Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021075109/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/02/26/3049545/charlotte-native-wins-oscar-for.html |date=October 21, 2014 }}, charlotteobserver.com; accessed October 6, 2017. They wrote the screenplay for The Descendants (2011), based on the novel of the same name, which appeared on the 2008 edition of the Black List (the most popular unproduced scripts in Hollywood at that time).{{cite news |first=Lane |last=Brown |title=The Black List 2008: The Full List |url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/12/the_black_list_2008_the_full_l.html |work=New York |date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=March 15, 2012 }} The film was released to critical acclaim, receiving a Golden Globe nomination and winning the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Both Rash and Faxon co-wrote and co-directed the film The Way Way Back (2013), which received a standing ovation at its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.{{cite magazine |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |title=Sundance 2013: The Way, Way Back makes huge splash with nostalgic summer comedy |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/01/22/the-way-way-sundance|magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 22, 2013 }} Parts of the film are based on Rash's teenage life. The ensemble comedy starred Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph, and Sam Rockwell. The film was a commercial and critical success, earning a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Comedy nomination.

In 2020, Rash and Faxon reunited for Downhill, an adaptation of the film Force Majeure (2014) by Swedish director Ruben Östlund. The film starred Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Rash and Faxon co-wrote the script with Jesse Armstrong. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival where it received mixed reviews, with critics' comparing the film to the original.

Rash has voiced the Marquess of Queensberry for all four seasons of the Adult Swim animated comedy Mike Tyson Mysteries. From 2017 to 2021, he voiced Gyro Gearloose in the reboot of DuckTales.{{Cite web |last=Snetiker |first=Marc |date=June 8, 2017 |title='DuckTales' Exclusive: Meet the New Faces of Duckburg |url=https://ew.com/tv/2017/06/08/ducktales-exclusive-characters-cast/ |access-date=April 28, 2024 |website=EW.com |language=en}} In 2023, Rash voiced the Fixer, the enforcer for the Conglomerate and recurring character in My Dad the Bounty Hunter.{{cite web|last=Oddo|first=Marco Vito|url=https://collider.com/my-dad-the-bounty-hunter-trailer-netflix/|title='My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Trailer Makes Catching Space Criminals a Family Business|website=Collider|date=November 16, 2022|access-date=February 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230115115049/https://collider.com/my-dad-the-bounty-hunter-trailer-netflix/|archive-date=January 15, 2023|url-status=live}} He also voiced a video game announcer in the same series.{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/My-Dad-the-Bounty-Hunter/|title=My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023)|website=Behind the Voice Actors|access-date=February 16, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230217031545/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/My-Dad-the-Bounty-Hunter/|archive-date=February 17, 2023|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Rash stated he came out "well over 10-plus years ago" during an interview promoting Bros in September 2022.{{cite web |last1=Betancourt |first1=Manuel |title=Will Bros convince Hollywood to embrace LGBTQ+ stories? Jim Rash has some thoughts |url=https://www.avclub.com/bros-film-jim-rash-lgbtq-interview-billy-eichner-1849583344 |website=AV Club |access-date=October 9, 2022 |date=September 29, 2022}}

Filmography

=Film=

Year	Title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
2000	Auto Motives	Accountant
rowspan=5\|2002	Hiding in Walls	Jane's Assistant
One Hour Photo	Amateur Porn Guy
Slackers	Head T.A. Philip
Minority Report	Technician
S1m0ne	Studio Executive
rowspan=2\|2003	Wrong Hollywood Number	Caller	Short film
George & Gracie	George
2005	Sky High	Mr. Grayson/Stitches
rowspan=2\|2007	Smiley Face	Talent Agency Secretary
Balls of Fury	Techie
2008	The Onion Movie	Bryce's Manager
2009	The Slammin' Salmon	Disgruntled Businessman
2011	The Descendants	{{n/a}}	Co-writer
2013	The Way Way Back	Lewis	Also co-writer, co-director and executive producer
2014	Yellowbird	Karl	Voice{{Cite web \|last=Sneider \|first=Jeff \|date=February 10, 2014 \|title=Seth Green, Dakota Fanning 3D Animated Movie 'Yellowbird' Acquired by Wrekin Hill \|url=https://www.thewrap.com/seth-green-dakota-fanning-3d-animated-movie-yellowbird-acquired-wrekin-hill/ \|access-date=April 28, 2024 \|website=TheWrap \|language=en-US}}{{Cite web \|date=February 10, 2014 \|title=Berlin: Wrekin Hill Acquires 3D Animated Pic 'Yellowbird' \|url=https://deadline.com/2014/02/yellowbird-animated-movie-fall-release-date-wrekin-hill-680732/ \|access-date=April 28, 2024 \|website=Deadline \|language=en-US}}{{cite web \|title=Jim Rash (visual voices guide) \|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Jim-Rash/ \|access-date=April 28, 2024 \|publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
2015	Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run	Cecil Turtle	Voice, direct-to-video
2016	Captain America: Civil War	Dean of M.I.T.	Cameo
rowspan=2\|2017	Thoroughbreds	{{n/a}}	Producer
Bernard and Huey	Bernard
2019	Red Shoes and the Seven Dwarfs	Prince Average	Voice
rowspan=2\|2020	Downhill	{{n/a}}	Co-director and co-writer
Lazy Susan	Phil
rowspan=2\|2021	Long Weekend	Larry
Home Sweet Home Alone	Bell Choir Leader
2022	Bros	Robert
2024	Fly Me to the Moon	Lance Vespertine	rowspan="2" \|

=Television=

Year	Title	Role	class="unsortable" \| Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1995	Cybill	Production Assistant	Episode: "Local Hero"
1997	Tracey Takes On...	Pollster	Episode: "Movies"
1997–1998	The Naked Truth	Harris Van Doren	3 episodes
1998	Working	Carl	Episode: "Good Val Hunting"
rowspan=4\|1999	Becker	Eddie Blatt	Episode: "Becker the Elder"
Clueless	Bart	Episode: "Big Sissies"
Katie Joplin	Mitchell Tuit	7 episodes
Thanks	Cotton	6 episodes
2000	The Hughleys	Census Guy	Episode: "Scary Hughleys"
rowspan=2\|2001	Loomis	Derek	Pilot
The Practice	Quimby	Episode: "Vanished: Part 1"
2002	Less Than Perfect	Rob McLyle	Episode: "Claude the Liar"
2002–2006	That '70s Show	Fenton	6 episodes
rowspan=5\|2003	Alligator Point		Pilot
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Todd Benton	Episode: "Random Acts of Violence"
The Guardian	Court Therapist	Episode: "All the Rage"
Baby Bob	Dougy	Episode: "Reality Bites"
Coupling	Stalker	Episode: "Check/Mate"
2003–2009, 2020	Reno 911!	Andrew	15 episodes
rowspan=3\|2004	Friends	Nervous Passenger on Plane	Episode: "The Last One"
Grim & Evil	Various	Voice, Episode: "A Kick in the Asgard"
NCIS	Dr. Joel Sanderson	Episode: "Left For Dead"
rowspan=3\|2005	Will & Grace	Brent	Episode: "Love is in the Airplane"
Jake in Progress	Freddie Blake	Episode: "Rivals and Departures"
Adopted		Pilot; co-creator and executive producer
2006	Saturday Night Live		Guest writer on episode "Dane Cook / The Killers"
2006–2007	Help Me Help You	Jonathan	14 episodes
rowspan=3\|2008	Hackett		Pilot
Eli Stone	Bradley Kitsis	Episode: "I Want Your Sex"
Samantha Who?	Artist	Episode: "The Gallery Show"
2009, 2016	American Dad!	Bouncer, Puddin'	Voice, 2 episodes
2009–2015	Community	Dean Craig Pelton	90 episodes; also wrote "Basic Human Anatomy" co-directed 2 episodes
2010	Open Books	Kyle	Pilot
2011	Worst. Prom. Ever.	Pizza Pete	Television film
2011–2014	The Soup	Various roles	7 episodes
rowspan=2\|2012	Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated	JR Kipple	Voice, episode: "The Night the Clown Cried II - Tears of Doom"
The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange	Pineapple Joe	Voice, episode: "Follow the Bouncing Orange"
2012–2013	The Looney Tunes Show	Cecil Turtle	Voice, 2 episodes
2012–2015	Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja	Principal Slimovitz	Voice, 34 episodes
rowspan=2\|2013–2014	The Writers' Room	Himself (host)	12 episodes; also producer
TripTank	Tony, Sir Ruthert, Cowboy Dad	Voice, 3 episodes
2013–2015	Comedy Bang! Bang!	Various roles	2 episodes
2014–2015	Glee	Lee Paulblatt	2 episodes
2014–2020	Mike Tyson Mysteries	Marquess of Queensberry	Main voice role
2015–2016	Jake and the Never Land Pirates	Sinker	Voice, 2 episodes
2015	Rick and Morty	Glaxo Slimslom	Voice, episode: "Big Trouble In Little Sanchez"
rowspan=5\|2016	Dr. Ken	Devon Drake	Episode: "Ken's an Expert Witness"
Lucifer	Richard Kester	Episode: "Et Tu, Doctor?"
The Odd Couple	Joshua Norwall	Episode: "Chess Nuts"
Black-ish	Cody	Episode: "VIP"
The Grinder	Bill Foosley	Episode: "The Retooling of Dean Sanderson"
rowspan=7\|2017	Girlboss	Mobias	4 episodes
SuperMansion	NASA Scientist	Voice, episode: "Blazarmageddon"
Animals.	Chuckles	Voice, episode: "Cats Part I"
Nobodies	Himself	5 episodes
Curb Your Enthusiasm	Hotel Day Manager	Episode: "The Pickle Gambit"
Beyond Stranger Things	Himself (host)	7 episodes
Superior Donuts	Mr. Mathers	Episode: "Error of Admission"
2017–2021	DuckTales	Gyro Gearloose, Bulby, Gizmoduck Armor	Voice, 14 episodes
2017, 2021	Vampirina	Mr. Thornberg	Voice, 2 episodes
2018-2024	Blaze and the Monster Machines	Grandpa Pickle	Voice, 2 episodes
rowspan=4\|2018	Great News	Fenton Pelt	2 episodes
Big City Greens	Ted	Voice, episode: "Fill Bill"
The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants	Mr. Jerry Citizen	Voice, episode: "Captain Underpants and the Jarring Jerkiness of the Judge J.O.R.T.S."
Angie Tribeca	Philip Grammbbowski	Episode: "Trader Joes"
2018–2020	Star Wars Resistance	Flix, Pirate	Voice, 13 episodes
2019–present	Harley Quinn	Edward Nygma/Riddler, various voices	Voice, 14 episodes
rowspan=2\|2020	Brooklyn Nine-Nine	Dr. Darren Watkins	Episode: "Pimemento"{{Cite web \|last=Steel \|first=Tom \|date=February 10, 2022 \|title=10 Actors That Were In Community & Brooklyn Nine-Nine \|url=https://www.cbr.com/actors-appeared-in-community-brooklyn-nine-nine/ \|access-date=April 2, 2024 \|website=Comic Book Resources \|language=en}}
Archibald's Next Big Thing	Fritz	Episode: "The Royal Strutters/Impromptu Cruise"
2020–2021	American Housewife	Walker Montgomery	6 episodes
rowspan=3\|2021	Solar Opposites	Keith	Voice, episode: "The Solar Opposites Almost Get an Xbox"
Impeachment: American Crime Story	Ken Bacon	4 episodes
Tacoma FD	CEO Frank Drake	Episode: "Fire at the Fire Station"
rowspan=2\|2022	The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window	Flight Attendant	Episode: "Episode 8"
Out of Office	Edward	Television film
rowspan="3" \|2023	That '90s Show	Fenton	2 episodes
My Dad the Bounty Hunter	Fixer, various voices	Voice; recurring role
The Ghost and Molly McGee	JR	Voice, episode: "Dance Dad Revolution"
2023–present \| Krapopolis	Dionysus	Voice, 3 episodes
2023-2024	Velma	Mayor Dave	Voice, 6 episodes
2024	Kite Man: Hell Yeah!	Edward Nygma / Riddler	Voice, episode: "Pilot, Hell Yeah!"
rowspan=3\|2025	Ironheart	Dean of M.I.T.	Upcoming series{{Cite web \|last=Klein \|first=Brennan \|date=September 10, 2022 \|title=Iron Man Successor's Origin Revealed In Ironheart Footage Description \|url=https://screenrant.com/ironheart-origin-footage-description-mcu-movie-first-look/ \|access-date=April 28, 2024 \|website=ScreenRant \|language=en}}
Abbott Elementary	Thomas	Episode: "Audit"
Chibiverse	Gyro Gearloose	Voice, episode: "Mabel's Dream Date"

Awards and nominations

Year ! Association ! Category ! Project ! Result ! class=unsortable\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|Reference(s)}}
class="wikitable sortable"
2011	Academy Award	Best Adapted Screenplay	rowspan=6\|The Descendants	{{won}}
2011	BAFTA Award	Best Adapted Screenplay	{{nom}}
2011	Golden Globe Award	Best Screenplay	{{nom}}
2011	Independent Spirit Award	Best Screenplay	{{won}}
2011	Writers Guild of America Award	Best Adapted Screenplay	{{won}}
2011	Critics' Choice Movie Award	Best Adapted Screenplay	{{nom}}
2012	Critics' Choice Television Award	Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series	Community	{{nom}}
2014	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Informational Series or Special	The Writers' Room	{{nom}}