Jonathan Kimble "J. K." Simmons (born January 9, 1955 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan) is an American actor and voice actor.
Though active since 1986, Simmons' current rise to fame began in 1994 with his 53 appearances as consulting psychiatrist Dr. Emil Skoda across the Law & Order franchise. Since 2001, he has mainly been typecast for Large Ham acting roles, particularly as J. Jonah Jameson across lots of Spider-Man media (most notably in the Sam Raimi film trilogy), possibly insane business tycoon Cave Johnson in Portal 2, Ax-Crazy neo-Nazi prisoner Vernon Schillinger in Oz, and the sadistic music teacher Terence Fletcher in his Academy Award-winning role in Whiplash. He also voiced the role of Tenzin in The Legend of Korra and the role of the Author in Gravity Falls, and portrayed Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man in Invincible (2021).
Simmons is additionally the voice of Yellow in the M&M's commercials, as well as Professor Nathaniel Burke of the University of Farmers in commercials for Farmers Insurance Group.
Filmography:
Film
- The Ref (1994) as Siskel
- The Scout (1994) as Assistant Coach
- The First Wives Club (1996) as Federal Marshal
- Extreme Measures (1996) as Dr. Mingus
- The Jackal (1997) as Witherspoon
- The Cider House Rules (1999) as Ray Kendall
- The Gift (2000) as Sheriff Pearl Johnson
- The Mexican (2001) as Ted Slocum
- The Spider-Man Trilogy, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony's Spider-Man Universe and Spider-Man: Spider-Verse as J. Jonah Jameson
- Spider-Man (2002)
- Spider-Man 2 (2004)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007)
- Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
- Hidalgo (2004) as William "Buffalo Bill" Cody
- The Ladykillers (2004) as Garth Pancake
- Thank You for Smoking (2005) as BR
- Postal (2007) as Candidate Welles
- Juno (2007) as Mac MacGuff
- Burn After Reading (2008) as CIA Superior
- I Love You, Man (2009) as Oswald Klaven
- Aliens in the Attic (2009) as Skip
- Extract (2009) as Brian
- Up in the Air (2009) as Bob
- Jennifer's Body (2009) as Mr. Wroblewski
- Megamind (2010) as Warden
- Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010) as Gruff K-9
- True Grit (2010) as J. Noble Daggett
- The Good Doctor (2011) as Detective Krauss
- Jobs (2013) as Arthur Rock
- Dark Skies (2013) as Edwin Pollard
- Men, Women & Children (2014) as Allison's Dad
- Whiplash (2014) as Terence Fletcher
- Barefoot (2014) as Dr. Bertleman
- The Rewrite (2014) as Dr. Hal Lerner
- Terminator Genisys (2015) as O'Brian
- Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016) as Kai
- Zootopia (2016) as Mayor Lionheart
- La La Land (2016) as Bill
- The Accountant as Ray King
- The Accountant sequel (TBA)
- Patriots Day (2016) as Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese
- Rock Dog (2017) as Khampa
- The Emoji Movie (2017) as Warden
- American Renegades (2017) as Admiral Levine
- The Snowman (2017) as Arve Støp
- DC Extended Universe as Commissioner James Gordon
- Justice League (2017)
- Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
- Father Figures (2017) as Roland Hunt
- The Front Runner (2018) as Bill Dixon
- Klaus (2019) as Klaus
- 21 Bridges (2019) as Captain Matt McKenna
- Palm Springs (2020) as Roy
- The Tomorrow War (2021) as James Forrester
- Being the Ricardos (2021) as William Frawley
- Seal Team (2021) as Claggart
- Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers (2022) as Captain Putty
- Glorious (2022) as Ghatanothoa
- The Venture Bros: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (2023) as Ben
- Rally Road Racers (2023) as Gnash
Television
- Homicide: Life on the Street (1996) as Colonel Alexander Rausch (episode: "For God and Country")
- New York Undercover (1996, 1998) as Sgt. Treadway/Dr. Emil Skoda (2 episodes)
- Spin City (1997) as Kevin (episode: "Hot in the City")
- Oz (1997-2003) as Vernon Schillinger (56 episodes)
- Law & Order (1997-2004, 2010) as Dr. Emil Skoda (44 episodes)
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2000-01) as Dr. Emil Skoda (6 episodes)
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2002) as Dr. Emil Skoda (episode: "Crazy")
- Everwood (2004) as Phil Drebbles (episode: "Burden of Truth")
- ER (2004) as Gus Loomer (episode: "Impulse Control")
- Without a Trace (2004) as Mark Wilson (episode: "Two Families")
- Nip/Tuck (2004) as Ike Connors (episode: "Kimber Henry")
- Justice League (2004-06) as General Wade Eiling/Mantis (5 episodes)
- Arrested Development (2005) as General Anderson (episode: "Switch Hitler")
- Jack & Bobby (2005) as Cyrus Miller (episode: "Running Scared")
- NUMB3RS (2005) as Dr. Clarence Weaver (episode: "Vector")
- The Closer (2005-12) as Assistant Chief Will Pope (109 episodes)
- The West Wing (2006) as Harry Ravitch (episode: "Duck and Cover")
- The Simpsons (2006-07, 2018-19) as J. Jonah Jameson/Additional Voices (5 episodes)
- Kim Possible (2007) as Martin Smarty (3 episodes)
- Phineas and Ferb (2008, 2014) as J.B./Napoleon/Additional Voices (3 episodes)
- The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2009-10) as Poseidon/Additional Voices (4 episodes)
- Party Down (2009-10) as Leonard Stiltskin (2 episodes)
- Generator Rex (2010-13) as White Knight/Additional Voices (34 episodes)
- Raising Hope (2011) as Uncle Bruce Chance (episode: "The Cultish Personality")
- Pound Puppies (2011, 2013) as Mr. Withers/Lt. Rock (2 episodes)
- Men at Work (2012-14) as P.J. Jordan (5 episodes)
- The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2012) as J. Jonah Jameson (episode: "Along Came A Spider")
- The Venture Bros. (2012) as Ben (episode: "A Very Venture Halloween")
- The Legend of Korra (2012-14) as Tenzin (42 episodes)
- Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-15) as J. Jonah Jameson/Additional Voices (39 episodes)
- Parks and Recreation (2013) as Mayor Stice (episode: "Partridge")
- Avengers Assemble (2013-15) as J. Jonah Jameson (4 episodes)
- Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (2013-15) as J. Jonah Jameson/Additonal Voices (10 episodes)
- Growing Up Fisher (2014) as Mel Fisher
- Chozen (2014) as Gary Cullens (episode: "Family Weekend (or How Gary Got His Groove Back))"
- Bojack Horseman (2014-20) as Lenny Turtletaub (13 episodes)
- Gravity Falls (2015-16) as the Author (7 episodes)
- Archer (2016) as Detective Bob Harris (4 episodes)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (2017) as Conductor Maestro Mackerel (episode: "Snooze You Lose")
- Counterpart (2018-19) as Howard Silk/Howard Silk Prime (20 episodes)
- Brockmire (2019) as Matt "The Bat" Hardesty (4 episodes)
- Veronica Mars (2019) as Clyde Pickett (7 episodes)
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2020) as Frank Dillman (episode: "Dillman")
- Defending Jacob (2020) as Billy Barber (5 episodes)
- Home Movie: The Princess Bride (2020) as The Grandfather (episode: "Chapter Two: The Shrinking Eels")
- The Stand (2020) as General Starkey (episode: "The End")
- Invincible (2021) as Nolan Grayson/Omni-Man
- The Great North (2021) as Tusk Johnson (2 episodes)
- Night Sky (2022) as Franklin
Video Games
- Spider-Man 2 (2005) as J. Jonah Jameson (PSP only)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007) as J. Jonah Jameson
- Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (2008) as President Howard T. Ackerman
- Portal 2 (2011) as Cave Johnson
- The Legend of Korra (2014) as Tenzin
- Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2014) as J. Jonah Jameson
- LEGO Dimensions (2015) as Cave Johnson
- Aperture Desk Job (2022) as Cave Johnson
- Baldur's Gate III (2023) as General Ketheric Thorm
- Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) as Omni-Man
Tropes describing J. K. Simmons' roles
- Breakout Role: His turn as Schillinger in Oz put him on the map.
- Da Editor: Taken to iconic levels in the Spider-Man Trilogy and currently reprising the role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even when other roles aren't editors he shows shades of this.
- Dueling Works: One of the very few actors to play main or supporting characters both the DC Extended Universe (playing Commissioner James Gordon in Justice League (2017)) and Marvel Cinematic Universe (reprising the role of J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home).
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Many of his characters aren't what you would call stable.
- Ink-Suit Actor:
- To the point that many Spider-Man fans are not sure if he is J. K. Simmons, or if he is, in fact, J. Jonah Jameson.
- While his younger and older selves look much more different, the middle-aged Cave Johnson is basically him with hair and side burns (and possibly a mustache if you find the hidden portrait).
- Large Ham: An expert at playing roles like this. He can either be hilarious as with J. Jonah Jameson or absolutely terrifying as seen in Whiplash.
- Manly Facial Hair: Several of his roles feature one of these, most notably J. Jonah Jameson, Commissioner Gordon, and Omni-Man.
- Money, Dear Boy: His main motivation is money. That doesn't mean he won't give it his all regardless. A prime example: following up his Oscar-winning role in Whiplash with the unremarkable rom-com Barefoot.
- Motor Mouth: Crops up in several roles, as he's very, very good at it.
- No Indoor Voice: Frequently shouting his lines in a delightfully hammy fashion.
- Only Known by Initials: His real name is Jonathan Kimble Simmons.
- Playing Against Type:
- As the calm, patient, spiritual airbender Tenzin. Except when he loses his temper, which happens more often than he would probably care to admit.
- Also as Skoda, a Deadpan Snarker police psychoanalyst. He has said that playing Skoda and Vern Schillinger at the same time ended up giving him greater insight into both characters.
- Also as Yellow who really doesn't evoke the authority figure type he's known for.
- Star-Making Role: While Simmons earned recognition as the ominous skinhead Schillinger, he broke out as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man films, turning him into a prolific and recognizable character actor, and he has reprised the role many times in different projects, including on The Simpsons and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home. His hair-raising performance as a Sadist Teacher in Whiplash got him an Oscar and turned him into a household name.
- Typecasting: Simmons often plays amiable, avuncular characters, even when those characters are Affably Evil or Faux Affably Evil. By contrast, many of his other roles are forceful or manic to a certain degree. His specialty seems to be in playing characters with characteristics on both sides.
- Unfortunately, my suspicions have been confirmed: These lemons are not quite my tempo. Cave Johnson, we're done here.PFFFHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! -- You serious?? Pay you for what, reading this article??
And why did you make this page!? You're troping so you could see your life ruined! THINK, TROPER! You live to get stuck on your seat while typing pages and nonsensical memes. You stare at the screen when you can get more in your life by going out there! Every seconds of your potential life improvement will be wasted! What will you have, after five hundred years of troping!?
