J. K. Simmons | |
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Simmons in 2009
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Born |
Jonathan Kimble Simmons January 9, 1955 Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S. |
Alma mater | University of Montana |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1986–present |
Spouse(s) | Michelle Schumacher (m. 1996) |
Children | 2 |
Jonathan Kimble "J. K." Simmons (born January 9, 1955) is an American actor and voice actor. In television, he is known for playing Dr. Emil Skoda on the NBC series Law & Order (and other Law & Order franchise series), neo-Nazi Vernon Schillinger on the HBO prison-drama Oz, and Assistant Police Chief Will Pope on TNT's The Closer. His film roles include J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy and music instructor Terence Fletcher in 2014's Whiplash. He is also known for voicing Cave Johnson in the video game Portal 2 (2011), Tenzin in The Legend of Korra (2012), Stanford Pines in Gravity Falls, Kai in Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), Mayor Lionheart in Zootopia (2016) and Khampa in Rock Dog (2016). Simmons also reprised his role as J. Jonah Jameson in various Marvel animated series and video games. He has also appeared in a series of highly popular television commercials for Farmers Insurance.
Simmons' performance in Whiplash (2014) received widespread critical acclaim and earned him more than thirty accolades, including the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor.