Jason Gann

Jason Gann is an Australian-born former actor, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known for his role as the title character in the Australian comedy series Wilfred, directed by Tony Rogers, and the American reboot of the same name.

Biography

Early life Jason Gann was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. At 14, while attending an all-boys school, Gann discovered his love for comedy when he performed as Suzanne, leader of the can-can dancers in a high school production of Paint Your Wagon. He worked in children's theatre at the Twelfth Night Theatre in Bowen Hills for several years, performing in dozens of shows. He also played lead roles and toured the country in several comedy theatre productions for that theatre company. He developed and starred in several seasons of the Arts Council-funded play Keep Everything You Love, for which he won the Del Arte Award for Best Male Actor 1997. Gann then worked for the Queensland Theatre Company as an actor in several development projects and starred in the Sven Swenson play The Vertigo and the Virginia for QTC in 1999.

Wilfred and Australian TV In 2001, Gann wrote and produced several short films that screened in festivals internationally. In 2002 he co-wrote and starred in the short Wilfred. He first came to national attention when he won Best Male Actor and the short won Best Comedy and the Peoples' Choice Award at Tropfest in 2002. Wilfred went on to screen at festivals including Sundance Film Festival in 2003. The Wilfred debut became FX's highest-rated comedy series debut.

Gann is managed by Jeff Kwatinetz at Prospect Park. Gann left ICM and signed with WME in 2012. After Wilfred, Gann has been commissioned to produce and develop new television series by networks including ABC.

Business career

As of 2014, Gann has left both acting and writing to pursue his CBD business Wilfred CBD & Hemp.

Awards and nominations In 2007 and 2010, Gann was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Series. In 2007 he won for Best Comedy Series, for Wilfred, and in 2010 he won for Best Screenplay in a Television Series. In 2011, Gann was nominated for a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor for his work on Wilfred. He was awarded the Australian GQ Comedian of the Year Award for 2011, and was nominated for the annual Golden Collar Award, normally given solely to canine performers.

Personal life

Melbourne legal incident In 2007, Gann pleaded guilty to assaulting a shuttle bus driver, Joseph Hosny. Gann's legal counsel advised him to plead guilty rather than fight the allegation, as a tough sentence could have threatened the production of Wilfred in the United States. In September 2014, Gann was reassessing his legal options. In March 2018, a California court ordered Gann to pay $594,452 (USD) to the bus driver.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 Wilfred Wilfred Short film, Writer 2003 Ain't Got No Jazz Intruder 2003 Button It Jogger (Squealer A.C) 2003 Gettin' Square Wood-Duck Frank Feature film 2004 Thunderstruck Robbo Feature film 2005 The Illustrated Family Doctor Carl Lucas Feature film 2006 Kenny Buggy victim's friend Feature film 2007 Rats and Cats Feature film, writer

Television Year Title Role Notes 2006–07 The Wedge Various characters TV series, writer 2007–10 Wilfred Wilfred Australian TV series, co-creator, writer 2008 Mark Loves Sharon Mark Wary TV series, co-creator, writer, executive producer 2008 Jason and the Residents Jason 2008 Comedy Gold Himself TV series 2008 9am with David & Kim Himself / Mark Wary TV series, 1 episode 2009 The Squiz TV series, 2 episodes 2011–2014 Wilfred Wilfred American TV series, creator, writer

Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2007 'Allo 'Allo! Herr Otto Flick Twelfth Night Theatre