John Michael Higgins

John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963) is an American actor, comedian and game show host whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim. He portrayed Peter Lovett in the TV Land original sitcom Happily Divorced and provided the voice of Iknik Blackstone Varrick in The Legend of Korra and Mini-Max in Big Hero 6: The Series. He also starred in the NBC sitcom Great News as Chuck Pierce for two seasons. From 2018-2022, and 2026-present he hosted the game show America Says, which earned him a 2019 Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host. Higgins attended Amherst College, graduating in 1985, and was a member of the a cappella group the Zumbyes. From 2023 to 2024, he hosted a new version of the game show Split Second on Game Show Network.

Early life John Michael Higgins was born on February 12, 1963, in Boston, Massachusetts. His father served as a naval officer, which led the family to relocate frequently across sixteen military bases during Higgins's youth. While his father was stationed in Washington, D.C., Higgins started acting for the first time, performing at the Folger Theatre, Arena Stage and Round House Theatre. Higgins continued acting in plays but also decided to further his education at Amherst College where he studied literature.

Following graduation, Higgins relocated to New York to pursue his acting and theatre career.

Career In the early 1980s Higgins was a theatre instructor with Street 70, a theatre production company in Rockville, Maryland that is now known as Round House Theatre. He also taught voice and improvisation. In 1991, Higgins was featured in Broadway's La Bête, and in 2000 he was seen Off-Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in a production of Edward Albee's Tiny Alice. He also originated the title role in Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey Off-Broadway in 1993.

Higgins's numerous television credits include recurring characters on Ally McBeal, Brother's Keeper, Boston Legal and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show. In Season 8 of Seinfeld, he portrayed Elaine's boyfriend Kurt. He also played attorney Wayne Jarvis in five episodes of Arrested Development. Higgins arranged the dense vocal harmonies sung by the nine-part ("neuftet") New Main Street Singers in 2003's A Mighty Wind, a change from the writers' original concept of having the group sing in unison, leveraged by Higgins's musical talent.

Higgins gained more recognition by being featured in the films Fun with Dick and Jane, Pitch Perfect and its sequels, and The Break-Up, for which he also wrote vocal arrangements. His work as a voice actor includes the roles of Judge Mentok in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, 2401 Penitent Tangent in Halo 2, and Riddler in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Higgins also portrayed David Letterman in the HBO TV film The Late Shift. Higgins was seen in the pre-show video for the Epcot attraction Test Track. However, the ride was refurbished in 2012 and the pre-show room was removed.

Higgins directs and appears on the stage from time to time as well. In 2004, he played Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the American premiere of David Hare's Stuff Happens at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. In 2003, he played the title role in A. R. Gurney's Big Bill at New York's Lincoln Center Theater.

Higgins has been featured in TV ads for DirecTV, alongside fellow co-stars Christopher Guest and Ed Begley Jr., and for Old Navy. He also stars in the second season of TNT's Raising the Bar as an openly gay, rule-obsessed judge. Higgins took part in The Suite Life on Deck, taking the role of the sinister and secluded Mr. Tipton.

In 2011, Higgins was cast in Happily Divorced opposite Fran Drescher. He played Fran's gay ex-husband, Peter Lovett, a character based on Drescher's real-life ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson. In 2012, Higgins was cast as the voice of vain and eccentric businessman Iknik Blackstone Varrick in The Legend of Korra. Higgins’s would receive acclaim for this role winning best vocal performance in a television series in a supporting role Action/Drama at the 2014 Behind the Voice Actor awards. From 2017 to 2018, Higgins starred as Chuck Pierce on the NBC comedy series Great News.

Since 2012 Higgins has also served as the voice of the recurring character Doug Wheeler on the show Bob's Burgers. Occasionally providing other voices as well.

Higgins would also gain recognition for his role alongside Elizabeth Banks in the trilogy of Pitch Perfect films, with their two characters serving as announcers during all 3 films.

In 2017 Higgins was cast as Tod Crawford in the show Tween Fest. He would receive praise for this role being nominated for a primetime Emmy in the Outstanding actor Award in a short comedy film or drama series category.

Higgins became the host of the game show America Says in 2018. The show originally ran for 5 seasons, going on break for four years, before returning for its sixth season on April 14, 2026. Coincidentally, he played a game show host 14 years earlier in a season 3 episode of the TV comedy/drama detective series Monk. Since 2019, Higgins has appeared in TV commercials for Omaha-based Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. In 2020, Higgins began appearing in a series of adverts for 123.ie, an Irish insurance company. Higgins played the role of Principal Toddman in the 2020 Peacock comedy series Saved by the Bell, which was created by Tracey Wigfield.

Since 2021 Higgins has starred in multiple Physicians Mutual commercials. He has continued to lend his voice in animated films and shows. In 2022 he voiced Warren Stone in the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie. Higgins appeared on 2 episodes of Celebrity Jeopardy! that same year.

In 2023, Higgins became the host of the new iteration of the game show Split Second, also serving as executive producer.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1986 National Lampoon's Class of '86 Various characters 1989 Vampire's Kiss Ed 1997 G.I. Jane Chief of Staff 1997 Wag the Dog John Levy 1999 Bicentennial Man Bill Feingold 2000 Social Worker 2000 Best in Show Scott Donlan 2001 The Man Who Wasn't There Emergency Room Physician Uncredited 2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Whit Summers 2003 A Mighty Wind Terry Bohner 2004 Jiminy Glick in Lalawood Andre Devine 2004 After the Sunset Hotel Manager Uncredited 2004 Killer Diller Deermont 2004 Blade: Trinity Dr. Edgar Vance 2005 English as a Second Language Norman Benjamin 2005 Fun with Dick and Jane Garth 2006 The Break-Up Richard Meyers 2006 For Your Consideration Corey Taft 2007 Evan Almighty Marty Stringer 2007 Fred Claus Willie 2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Record producer Uncredited 2008 Yes Man Nick 2009 Still Waiting... Dennis 2009 The Ugly Truth Larry 2009 Fired Up Coach Keith 2009 Couples Retreat Therapist 2010 The Burying Beetle Philip Short film 2011 Bad Teacher Principal Wally Snur 2011 6 Month Rule Paul 2011 We Bought a Zoo Walter Ferris 2012 My Uncle Rafael Damon 2012 Big Miracle Wes Handrick 2012 Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse Prince John Voice 2024 Prom Dates Principal Lundy 2025 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues Bob Kitness

Television Year Title Role Notes 1988 Miami Vice Murray Phillips Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury" 1991 Mathnet I. M. Uppwardd Episode: "The Case of the Poconos Paradise" 1994 The George Carlin Show Dan Goodwin Episode: "George Expresses Himself" 1996 Cybill Chip Episode: "Cybill Does Diary" 1996 The Late Shift David Letterman Television film 1997 Seinfeld Kurt Episode: "The Little Jerry" 1997 Weird Science Timidius Episode: "I, Chettus" 1997 Party of Five Glenn Episode: "S'Wunnerful Life" 1997–1998 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Ar'nox 3 episodes 1998 From the Earth to the Moon Master of Ceremonies Episode: "The Original Wives Club" 1998 Nothing Sacred Father Jesse O'Connell Episode: "HIV Priest! Film at Eleven" 1998 Guys Like Us Mr. Levin Episode: "Maestro's First Crush" 1998–1999 Brother's Keeper Mark 3 episodes 1998–1999 Mad About You Patrick 2 episodes 2000 Get Real George Clark Episode: "Guilt" 2000 Movie Stars Kurt Mason Episode: "Who's on First?" 2000–2002 Ally McBeal Steven Milter 13 episodes 2001 Bette Alex Berringer Episode: "Big Business" 2001 Frasier William Episode: "It Takes Two to Tangle" 2001 Gideon's Crossing Dr. Plummer Episode: "The Mistake" 2002 George Lopez Charles Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Honey" 2002–2007,2018 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Mentok the Mindtaker, Zardo, Grape Ape, additional voices Voice, 31 episodes 2003 Monte Walsh Robert Slocum Television film 2003–2006 Arrested Development Wayne Jarvis 5 episodes 2004 Game Over Sully, additional voices Voice, 4 episodes 2021 Monsters at Work Argus Voice, episode: "The Cover Up" 2023–2025 Family Guy Various voices Voice, 3 episodes 2023–2024 Baby Shark's Big Show! Mayor Anchovy Voice, 15 episodes 2025 RoboGobo CappucinoVoice, episode: "Bouncy Ball Baddie/Spray Paint Showdown" 2026 Ghosts PaulEpisode: "The List"2026President CurtisWarden Ken JeffriesVoice, Episode: "Triangle"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2004 Halo 2 2401 Penitent Tangent 2008 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Mentok the Mindtaker

Theme park attractions Year Title Role Notes 1999 Test Track Bill McKim Under GM-sponsored iteration from 1999 to 2012

Awards and nominations Daytime Emmy Awards

Nominated for 2019 Outstanding Game Show Host (America Says)

Primetime Emmy Awards

Nominated for 2017 Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (for playing Tod Crawford in Tween Fest)

Behind the Voice Actor Awards

Winner for 2014 best vocal performance in a television series in a supporting role action/drama (for voicing Varrick in The Legend of Korra) Winner for 2014 best vocal ensemble in a television series action/drama (The Legend of Korra)

Florida Film Critics Circle Awards

Winner for 2004 best ensemble cast (A Mighty Wind)

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

Nominated for 2004 best ensemble acting (A Mighty Wind)

Gotham Awards

Nominated for 2006 best ensemble performance (For Your Consideration)

Online Film and Television Association

Nominated for best guest actor in a comedy series (Arrested Development)