John Ross Bowie

John Ross Bowie (; born May 30, 1971 ) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Barry Kripke on The Big Bang Theory and Jimmy DiMeo on Speechless, in addition to over 100 film and TV credits.

Early life and education Bowie was raised in New York City. He graduated from the Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities in 1989 and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a teaching credential from Ithaca College. He taught English for one year in New York.

Career

Improv Bowie is a regular sketch comedy performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (UCBT) in New York and Los Angeles. At UCBT he was a member of the sketch troupe "The Naked Babies" with comedians Rob Corddry, Seth Morris, and Brian Huskey. The group appeared at the 1999 Big Stinkin' International Improv & Sketch Comedy Festival in Austin, Texas.

Television He had a recurring role in Corddry's Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital. A former member of New York pop punk band Egghead., he worked with Big Bang Theory co-star Kevin Sussman to create two television comedies, The Ever After Part and The Second Coming of Rob.

He appeared in What the Bleep Do We Know!? opposite Marlee Matlin and made guest appearances on shows such as Reno 911!, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Glee, and Good Luck Charlie. In March 2011, he appeared in a series of commercials for the Ford Motor Company.

He is reprising his role of Barry Kripke on Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, which premiered on July 23, 2026 on HBOMax.

Author Bowie has written for Go Metric and The New York Press, and has authored a book on the cult movie Heathers.

His memoir, No Job For A Man, was published in November 2022 by Pegasus Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. Publishers Weekly called the book a "smart, pithy memoir with an earnest emotional arc."

Personal life Bowie married comedian Jamie Denbo in 2004. They have two children. Bowie was raised Episcopalian, but converted to Judaism in 2025.

Filmography Film Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 Road Trip Waiter 2004 Blackballed: The Bobby Dukes Story Daniel Benjamin What the Bleep Do We Know!? Elliot 2005 Life of the Party Bert 2006 The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause Rory 2007 Because I Said So Cute Food Spewing Guy 2008 Sex Drive Dr. Clark Teddescoe 2009 He's Just Not That Into You Dan the Wiccan 2010 Fully Loaded Richard 2013 iSteve John Sculley Internet movie The Heat FBI Agent 2016 Pet Jessup Between Us Patritzio 2019 Jumanji: The Next Level Cavendish 2020 Bad Therapy Nick 2022 Witchy Ken Short film 2026 The Brink of War Kenneth Adelman

Television Television Year Title Role Notes 1999–2000 Upright Citizens Brigade Various 3 episodes 2001 Undeclared Television Presenter Episode: "Sick in the Head" 2003 A.U.S.A. Wally Berman Main cast; 8 episodes 2004 Happy Family CocoNate Episode: "The Juicer" Joan of Arcadia Mr. Campbell Episode: "Do the Math" CSI: NY Lester Jayne Episode: "American Dreamers" Charmed Marcus Episode: "Once in a Blue Moon" Kevin Hill Wayne Ellis Episode: "Making the Grade" Girlfriends Ian Greenfield Episode: "Porn to Write" 2005 Las Vegas Adam Clemo Episode: "Hit Me!" Cheap Seats: Without Ron Parker Client Episode: "1995 SuperDogs! Superjocks!" 2005–2008 Reno 911! Various characters 4 episodes 2006 Psych George Cheslow Episode: "Weekend Warriors" 2007 Heroes Attorney Episode: "Godsend" CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Peter Ellis Episode: "A La Cart" 2008 Monk Tom Donovan Episode: "Mr. Monk Joins a Cult" The Mighty B! Integritone 2 (voice) 2 episodes; screenwriter Worst Week Rob Episode: "The Apartment" 2009 Wizards Of Waverly Place Simon Episode: "Fairy Tale" Trust Me Episode: "Way Beyond the Call" Family Guy Unnamed character in Shoving Buddies (voice) Episode: "Peter's Progress" Curb Your Enthusiasm John Fowler Episode: "Denise Handicapped" Glee Dennis Episode: "Mattress" 2009; 2011–2019 The Big Bang Theory Barry Kripke Recurring; 25 episodes 2010 Party Down Stuart Episode: "Constance Carmell Wedding" The Glades Joe Thomas Episode: "Doppelganger" Weeds Contest Organiser Episode: "Pinwheels and Whirligigs" Melissa & Joey Lewis Scanlon Episode: "A Fright in the Attic" 2010–2011 Childrens Hospital Dr. Max von Sydow 4 episodes 2010–2013 Good Luck Charlie Walter 2 episodes 2011 The Glee Project Dennis Episode: "Individuality" State of Georgia Professor Episode: "Pilot" Burn Notice Paul Burkowski Episode: "No Good Deed" Bones Lawrence Deighton Episode: "The Prince in the Plastic" 2012 House of Lies Spalding Winter Episode: "Microphallus" Happy Endings Michael Episode: "You Snooze, You Bruise" Retired at 35 Jared 7 episodes The League Dr. Pete Wyland Episode: "Bro-Lo El Cordero" 2012–2014 The Exes Jeff 2 episodes 2013 Whitney Eddie Episode: "Two Broke Hearts" Brooklyn Nine-Nine Sister Steve Episode: "Halloween" 2013–2015 Sofia the First Sven the Seahorse (voice) 2 episodes 2014 Episodes Psychiatrist 5 episodes About a Boy Fiona's Male Boss Episode: "About a Buble" Riot Competitor Regular cast Hot in Cleveland Benny Episode: "Undercover Lovers" Newsreaders Pat Fenis Episode: "Roswell, New Mexico; Skip Goes to a Wedding" The Wrong Mans David Kinsman 4 episodes 2014–2015 Chasing Life Paul Peters 7 episodes 2014–2016 @midnight Himself 2 episodes 2015 Marry Me What's-His-Name Episode: "Test Me" Fresh Off the Boat Lance Episode: "We Done Son" 2016 Love Rob Episode: "It Begins" Veep Focus Group Member Episode: "C**tgate" 2016–2019 Speechless Jimmy DiMeo Main cast; 63 episodes 2017 Death in Paradise Tyler McCarthy Episode: "In the Footsteps of a Killer" I'm Sorry Ben Episode: "Butt Bumpers" 2018 Big Hero 6: The Series Dr. Mel Meyers (voice) Episode: "Aunt Cass Goes Out" 2018–2019 Milo Murphy's Law Loab (voice) 4 episodes2019 Carol's Second Act Gordon Episode: "Therapy Dogs" 2020 The George Lucas Talk Show Himself Episode: "COVID-1138: More American Willoweenie: The Battle for Elector" 2021 Feel Good Scott Recurring; 5 episodes Generation Patrick 6 episodes 2021–2022 United States of Al Professor Brett Williams Recurring; 5 episodes 2022 The Rookie Alan Episode: "Long Shot" Grace and Frankie FredEpisode: "The Beginning" Station 19 Paul Episode: "Demons" Reno 911!: It's a Wonderful Heist BelphegorTV movie 2022–2025 The Neighborhood Gregory 3 episodes 2024 CSI: Vegas Dennis RosnerEpisode: "Atomic City" 2026 Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Barry Kripke Main role

Podcast Podcast Year Title Role Notes 2016 The Truth: Songonauts Dr. Staccato Released in 2016 on SoundCloud 2021Household Faces Host 2022 Grimcutty Host