Jack Black | |
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Jack Black, Los Angeles, CA on October 4, 2011 |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Thomas Jacob Black |
Also known as | Jables, JB |
Born | August 28, 1969 [1] Santa Monica, California, US |
Genres | Rock, comedy rock, hard rock, heavy metal, acoustic rock |
Occupations | Musician, songwriter, actor, comedian |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, percussion, keyboard |
Years active | 1991–present |
Labels | Epic, Sony BMG |
Associated acts | Tenacious D, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Probot, Foo Fighters, Meat Loaf, Ronnie James Dio |
Website | www.tenaciousd.com |
Thomas Jacob "Jack" Black (born August 28, 1969)[1] is an American comedian, actor and musician. He makes up one half of the comedy and satirical rock duo Tenacious D. The group has two albums as well as a television series and a film. His acting career is extensive, starring primarily as bumbling, cocky, but internally self-conscious outsiders in comedy films. He was a member of the Frat Pack, a group of comedians who have appeared together in several Hollywood films, and has been nominated for a Golden Globe award. He has also won an MTV Movie Award, and a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award as well as hosting the 2006 and 2011 Kids Choice Awards.
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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.[2][3] His mother is Jewish and his father converted to Judaism (Black attended Hebrew school).[4][5] On The Tonight Show, he said his surname may have come from the occupational name Blacksmith.[6] 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,[7] 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.[8] 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.
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, Demolition Man, Waterworld, The Fan, Mars Attacks!, Tim Robbins' Dead Man Walking, and others. He had a small role in True Romance as a security guard, but the scene was deleted. In 2000, he 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, The School of Rock, Nacho Libre, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, King Kong, Year One and Gulliver's Travels. 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 favourite, with a performance enhanced with the tutoring of co-star and two time Academy Award winner, Dustin Hoffman[9]. 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.
He guest-starred on The Office along with Cloris Leachman, Jessica Alba, and Steve Carell in a movie within the show. He also guest-starred in iCarly, in the episode iStart a Fan War.[10] Black has appeared numerous times on the "untelevised TV network" short film festival Channel101, 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 hosted the 2006 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards on April 1, 2006 and hosted it again March 29, 2008, and April 2, 2011. He also appeared on the MTV video music awards on August 31, 2006. Black has made five appearances on Saturday Night Live: three times as a host, once as a musical guest (with Kyle Gass as Tenacious D), and another appearance with Tenacious D, not as a host or musical guest. He produced and appeared on VH1's Internet video show Acceptable.TV.[11]
Black voice acted for The Simpsons episode "Husbands and Knives", which aired November 18, 2007, voicing the friendly owner of the rival comic book store, Milo. Black took part in the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire celebrity edition along with Denis Leary, Jimmy Kimmel and others and was handed the prize of US$125,000 in October 2001.[12] On December 14, Jack Black hosted the 2008 Spike Video Game Awards. 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 also starred in an episode of the children's show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" on Nick Jr. vocalized funny kid songs such as "It's Not Fun to Get Lost", "Friends" and "The Goodbye Song".
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 two albums, a self-titled debut, and the follow-up, The Pick of Destiny, from which one of their songs "The Metal" 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" and "Rock Band 2", 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[13] 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.
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. Hang Cool Teddy Bear also features Hugh Laurie, Kara Dioguardi, Brian May, Steve Vai & Patti Russo, produced by Rob Cavallo.
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 January 2006, Black became engaged to Tanya Haden. She is the daughter of the jazz double bassist Charlie Haden, and sister of violinist and singer Petra 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.[14] Their son, Samuel Jason "Sammy" Black, was born on June 10, 2006, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[15] On May 23, 2008, Black and his wife had their second son, Thomas David Black.[16]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1992 | Bob Roberts | Roger Davis | |
1993 | Airborne | Augie | |
Demolition Man | Wasteland Scrap | ||
1994 | The NeverEnding Story III | Slip, Leader of the Nasties | |
1995 | Bye Bye Love | DJ at Party | |
Dead Man Walking | Craig Poncelet | ||
Waterworld | Pilot | ||
1996 | Bio-Dome | Tenacious D | |
The Cable Guy | Rick | ||
The Fan | Broadcast Technician | ||
Mars Attacks! | Billy Glenn Norris | ||
1997 | Bongwater | Devlin | |
Crossworlds | Steve | ||
The Jackal | Ian Lamont | ||
1998 | Enemy of the State | Fiedler | |
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer | Titus Telesco | (uncredited) | |
Johnny Skidmarks | Jerry | ||
1999 | Cradle Will Rock | Sid | |
Jesus' Son | Georgie | ||
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 |
Saving Silverman | J.D. McNugent | ||
Shallow Hal | Hal Larson | Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Film- Choice Actor, Comedy | |
2002 | Ice Age | Zeke | Voice only |
Orange County | Lance Brumder | ||
Run Ronnie Run | Lead Chimney Sweep | DVD Exclusive Award for Best Original Song in a DVD Premiere | |
2003 | Melvin Goes to Dinner | Mental Patient | uncredited Phoenix Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Acting Nominated – DVD Exclusive Award for Best Supporting Actor in a DVD Premiere |
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 – 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 |
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2004 | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | Motorcyclist | uncredited (cameo) |
Envy | Nick Vanderpark | Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star | |
Laser Fart | The Elegant Hunter | Video | |
Shark Tale | Lenny | Voice only | |
2005 | King Kong | Carl Denham | Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Movies – Choice Sleazebag |
Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie | Carl Denham | voice Video game Spike Video Game Award – Best Leading Male Performance |
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2006 | Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties | Orson, Booker and Wolf | |
The Holiday | Miles | ||
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 |
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Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Jack "Jables" Black (JB) | ||
2007 | Margot at the Wedding | Malcolm | Nominated – Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast |
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Paul McCartney | Uncredited | |
2008 | Be Kind Rewind | Jerry Gerber | |
Kung Fu Panda | Po | Voice only Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie Nominated – Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Animated Character in a Motion Picture |
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The Secrets of the Furious Five | Voice Short film |
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Prop 8: The Musical | Jesus Christ | Viral video short |
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Tropic Thunder | Jeff "Fats" Portnoy | Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast | |
Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness | Jeff "Fats" Portnoy | Video | |
2009 | Brütal Legend | Eddie Riggs | Voice Video game Spike Video Game Award – Best Voice |
Year One | Zed | ||
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 only Nominated – Teen Choice Awards for Choice Movie Animated Voice Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Animation Movie Voice |
Bernie | Bernie Tiede | Premiered on June 16, 2011 at the Los Angeles Film Festival. | |
The Big Year | Brad Harris | ||
The Muppets | Himself | ||
2012 | Frank or Francis[17] | pre-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1991 | Our Shining Moments | 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 | 4 episodes |
1995–1996 | Picket Fences | Curtis Williams | 2 episodes |
1997–2000 | Tenacious D | JB | 6 |
1999 | Heat Vision and Jack | Jack | television pilot |
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 | MTV Movie Awards segment Fellowship of the Ring: Extended Edition easter egg |
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 |
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[18] | episode iStart a Fanwar |
2010–2011 | Take Two with Phineas and Ferb | Himself | 2 episodes, "Jack Black" and "Neil Patrick Harris" |
2010 | "Space Ghost Coast to Coast special gag ad episode" | Himself (cameo) | (this special episode was meant to promote Gulliver's Travels) |
2011 | Fish Hooks | Chief | episode "Labor Day" |
2011 | Big Time Rush | Cupid | episode "Big Time Crush" |
2011 | 2011 Kids' Choice Awards | Himself | Host, This will be the third time Jack Black has hosted the Kids Choice Awards, the last times being in 2008 and 2006. |
2011 | American Idol | Himself | Performed 'Fat Bottomed Girls' with American Idol contestant Casey Abrams. |
Preceded by Kirsten Dunst and Jimmy Fallon |
MTV Movie Awards host 2002 (with Sarah Michelle Gellar) |
Succeeded by Seann William Scott and Justin Timberlake |
Preceded by Sean Combs |
MTV Video Music Awards host 2006 |
Succeeded by no host |
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