Jason Sudeikis

Jason Sudeikis

Active - 2007 - 2023  |   Born - Sep 18, 1975 in Fairfax, Virginia, United States  |   Genres - Comedy, Adventure, Drama

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Biography by AllMovie

Hailing from Overland Park, KS, clean-cut comedic actor Jason Sudeikis rose to fame as a member of that Valhalla of comics, Saturday Night Live; he joined the series not as an actor but as a writer, in the 2003-2004 season, then moved into performance and distinguished himself during his premiere season with three portrayals that instantly became audience favorites: burglar Ed Mahoney, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, and that of a Bluetooth-wearing, egomaniacal "A-hole" in a series of sketches that also starred Kristen Wiig. Prior to SNL involvement, Sudeikis entered the comedic realm via participation in Kansas City's ComedySportz ensemble, then relocated to Chicago and enlisted with Second City. He also performed with Boom Chicago in Amsterdam and co-founded Second City Las Vegas.

From SNL, Sudeikis made the short leap to prime-time television and feature films. On the small screen, he landed a recurring role as Tina Fey's boyfriend Floyd on the popular NBC sitcom 30 Rock. Sudeikis' feature-film appearances (the majority in the comedy vein) include supporting roles in the outings The Ten (2007), What Happens in Vegas (2008), Semi-Pro (2008), and The Rocker (2008). He had his biggest non-SNL hit to date when he was one of three regular guys looking to kill their Horrible Bosses in 2011, and that same year he co-starred with Owen Wilson in Hall Pass, and starred in the indie comedy A Good Old Fashioned Orgy. Sudeikis left SNL in 2013 to focus on his film career, next appearing as a drug dealer/con artist in We're the Millers.

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Factsheet

  • While in high school, he started attending improv workshops at ComedySportz in Kansas City; later cofounded the comedy troupe Der Monkenpickle.
  • Earned a basketball scholarship to Fort Scott Community College but was kicked off the team because of poor grades.
  • First professional performing experience came with the Second City National Touring Company, Improv Olympic and the Annoyance Theater; later acted with the group Boom Chicago in Amsterdam and was a founding member of Second City Las Vegas.
  • Nephew of former Cheers star and SNL's "Superfan" mainstay George Wendt, who encouraged Sudeikis to audition for Saturday Night Live after attending an improv performance.
  • Hired first as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 2003.
  • Ex-wife Kay Cannon was a writer for NBC's 30 Rock, on which Sudeikis had a recurring role.
  • His voice-acting work includes The Cleveland Show and the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.