Comedic actor Neil Flynn cut his teeth with the renowned improv companies Second City and ImprovOlympic, the latter of which saw him study under the late improv guru Del Close. Despite his comedy-oriented aspirations, though, Flynn spent much of his early career taking bit parts in films like The Fugitive and Magnolia and on TV shows such as Doogie Howser, M.D. and Chicago Hope, often playing a cop. But in 2001, things took a decidedly positive turn when he was cast as the nameless Janitor on NBC's Scrubs, a role that was intended only for the pilot but was expanded to a regular series character in light of Flynn's performance. In addition to his live-action work, Flynn has also done a considerable amount of voice work on such animated projects as Clone High, Kim Possible, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Flynn left Scrubs after season 8 and took a starring role in the ABC comedy The Middle, playing patriarch Mike Heck
Neil Flynn
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- Student of improv instructor Del Close.
- Started his career working at the Steppenwolf and Goodman Theaters after graduating from college.
- Performed with the Second City Comedy Troupe in Chicago.
- Various jobs have included selling light bulbs over the phone and teaching high-school English.
- Auditioned for the role of Dr. Cox on Scrubs.
- His janitor role on Scrubs was originally a one-episode gig, but it was expanded based on his performance; he was subsequently made a full-time series regular.
- Regularly performs with his improv group, Beer Shark Mice, which includes actor David Koechner.