Jon Lovitz

Jonathan Michael Lovitz ( ; born July 21, 1957) and acted in other films such as Three Amigos, Big (1988), Mom and Dad Save the World (1992), Coneheads (1993), Happiness (1998), Small Time Crooks (2000), Rat Race (2001), The Producers (2005) and Bula Quo! (2013). He also voiced roles in The Brave Little Toaster (1987), Hotel Transylvania (2012) and Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015). He played Alan Dershowitz on Saturday Night Live and George Santos on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Early life and education Lovitz was born on July 21, 1957, in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles, to Harold and Barbara Lovitz. His family is Jewish and emigrated from Romania, Hungary and Russia. His paternal grandfather Feivel Ianculovici left Romania around 1914 and anglicized his name to Phillip Lovitz after arriving in the United States. He then studied drama at UC Irvine under Robert Cohen, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1979. He became a member of The Groundlings comedy troupe, where he performed alongside Lisa Kudrow, and where he befriended his future SNL castmate Phil Hartman.

Lovitz's childhood best friend was Lisa's brother David Kudrow.

1993–2008: Post-SNL and The Critic From 1998 to 1999, he was cast to replace Phil Hartman on NewsRadio upon the latter's death. Lovitz has lent his voice to several cartoons and films. In The Critic, he played the title character Jay Sherman (using his regular speaking voice). He has made several appearances on The Simpsons—as Marge's prom date Artie Ziff in "The Way We Was", the art teacher in "Brush with Greatness", theater director Llewellyn Sinclair and his sister who owned a daycare center in "A Streetcar Named Marge", and numerous other appearances, including the character of Jay Sherman in the episode "A Star Is Burns", a crossover with The Critic. He was also the voice of Radio in the Hyperion-produced, Disney-distributed animated film The Brave Little Toaster, and that of T.R. Chula the tarantula in Amblimation's An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.

In the 1990s, Lovitz voiced the Red M&M in commercials for M&M's. Between 1999 and 2000 Lovitz appeared in a $33 million advertising campaign that featured a series of television commercials promoting the Yellow Pages. The comic premise was to present Lovitz as the Yellow Pages' author. One of them featured Lovitz saying, "The hardest thing to do is to come up with a simple idea that is also great. And I just thought, 'Oh, the alphabet!'"

Lovitz performed a duet with Robbie Williams on Williams' album Swing When You're Winning (2001), in the song "Well, Did You Evah!". On October 10, 2001, Lovitz sang the song at the Royal Albert Hall. He also performed on the TV series Two and a Half Men singing "Save the Orphans" and beating Charlie (Charlie Sheen) out of the award for best jingle writer. He has appeared on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in Neil Simon's play The Dinner Party, taking over the lead role from Henry Winkler. He sang at Carnegie Hall three times (including Great Performances' Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall) and sang the national anthem at Dodger Stadium and the U.S. Open.

Lovitz began his stand-up career in 2003 at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. In 2006, he became the spokesman in an advertising campaign for the Subway restaurant chain.

2009–present: Stand-up In 2009, The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club location on Universal CityWalk in Universal Studios Hollywood opened. A comic short film starring Ken Davitian and featuring Lovitz was filmed there, directed by Brent Roske and written by Aaron Davitian. The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club in Universal Studios Hollywood was home to the first MMA Roasted standup comedy show in 2009. On May 29, 2011, the name was changed to the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club & Podcast Theatre. A premiere event called Podammit was held, in which Kevin Smith hosted a variety of six podcasts, including Plus One 3D with his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach; Hollywood Babble-On with Ralph Garman; and Jay & Silent Bob Get Old with Jason Mewes; as well as The ABCs of SNL with Lovitz himself, a six-episode This Is Your Life-style biographical interview about Lovitz's life and career. The Club periodically hosted other podcasts such as Rob Paulsen's Talkin' Toons (which subsequently left in October 2013). The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club & Podcast Theater closed on November 5, 2014.

In 2020, Lovitz starred in commercials for Playology, a brand of toys for aging dogs. They featured him with disparaging puppies, asking for senior dogs to get their due. That same year he portrayed lawyer Alan Dershowitz on season 45 of Saturday Night Live with Adam Driver as the host playing Jeffrey Epstein. Also that year, he was hired by Ninjio to voice characters in their animated employee training videos on cybersecurity. In 2023, he portrayed U.S. Congressman George Santos on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Personal life Lovitz resides in Beverly Hills, California. He is friends with Adam Sandler. He was also friends with Penny Marshall and Phil Hartman. He has described Hartman as "the big brother I always wanted".

Charity Lovitz was a contestant on The New Celebrity Apprentice (also known as Celebrity Apprentice 8), playing for the charity St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was the sixth contestant fired, finishing in 11th place and raising $50,000 for his charity. He also appeared on an episode of Celebrity Weakest Link to compete for charity on November 17, 2025.

Feud with Andy Dick Lovitz was involved in an intense feud with former NewsRadio costar Andy Dick concerning the death of their mutual friend Phil Hartman. According to Lovitz, Dick gave Hartman's wife Brynn cocaine at a Christmas party at Hartman's house in 1997. Brynn, a recovering addict, began using drugs again, culminating in her killing Hartman and herself on May 28, 1998. When Lovitz joined the cast of NewsRadio as Hartman's replacement, he and Dick got into a heated argument in which Lovitz reportedly shouted "I wouldn't be here if you hadn't given Brynn coke in the first place." Lovitz later apologized to Dick for the remark.

In early 2007, Dick approached Lovitz at a restaurant and said "I put the Phil Hartman hex on you—you're the next to die." On July 10, 2007, Lovitz got into a physical altercation with Dick at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Lovitz demanded an apology from Dick, who refused and accused Lovitz of blaming him for Hartman's death. Lovitz then smashed Dick's head into the bar.

In June 2021, Lovitz criticized cancel culture and compared it to McCarthyism. He opined that it makes comedians' jobs increasingly difficult, saying, "If you don't have the ability to laugh at yourself, don't go to a comedy club," and "If you're watching TV and you don't like the show, change the channel. It's very simple." He has regularly criticized antisemitism, including exposing children who bullied his friend's daughter and pro-Palestinian protestors at Columbia University.

Filmography Film + Film performances Year Title Role Notes 1986 Hamburger: The Motion Picture Security guard Last Resort Bartender Jumpin' Jack Flash Doug Ratboy Party guest Three Amigos Morty 1987 The Brave Little Toaster Radio Voice 1988 Big Scotty Brennen My Stepmother Is an Alien Ron Mills 1990 Mr. Destiny Clip Metzler 1991 T.R. Chula Voice 1998 Jimmie Moore Uncredited Happiness Andy Kornbluth 1999 Lost & Found Uncle Harry 2000 Small Time Crooks Benny Little Nicky Peeper Sand Kirby 2001 3000 Miles to Graceland Jay Peterson Cats & Dogs Calico Voice 2014 Birds of Paradise Skeeter Voice 2025 Happy Gilmore 2 Dapper Man 2026 Don't Say Good Luck Lenny

Television Year Title Role Notes 1984 Levitz Episode: "Billy Pierce" 1985–1986 Foley Square Mole Regular cast member 1985–1992 Saturday Night Live Various characters Main cast (92 episodes) 1991 Tales from the Crypt Barry Blye Episode: "Top Billing" Married... with Children Jeff Littlehead Episode: "Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 2" 1991–present Artie Ziff, Jay Sherman, Aristotle Amadopolis, Prof. Lombardo, Various characters Voice (22 episodes) 1992, 1994 The Larry Sanders Show Himself (2 episodes) 1993 A League of Their Own Ernie Capadino Episode: "Dottie's Back" 1994–1995 Jay Sherman Voice, Main role (23 episodes) 1995 Seinfeld Gary Fogel Episode: "The Scofflaw" 1995, 2003 Friends Steve (2 episodes) 1997 Acer Predburn Episode: "The Scoop" 1997–1999 NewsRadio Ulysses S. Grant, Mike Johnson, Max Lewis Main cast member in fifth season (2 episodes) 1997 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Jon Lovitz/Jane's Addiction" 2000 Bette Himself Episode: "Polterguest" 2000–2001 The Critic (webisodes) Jay Sherman Voice 2002 Son of the Beach Father of B.J.'s Baby Episode: "Bad News, Mr. Johnson" 2003 Just Shoot Me! Roland Devereaux Episode: "A Simple Kiss of Fate" 2004–2005 Las Vegas Fred Puterbaugh (3 episodes) 2006 Two and a Half Men Archie Baldwin Episode: "The Unfortunate Little Schnauzer" 2008 Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget Himself Television special 2010 WWE Raw Himself Guest host 2011 Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen Himself Television special 2011 Saturday Night Live Himself (Cameo) Episode: "Dana Carvey/Linkin Park" 2011–2012 Hot in Cleveland Homeless Man & Artie (4 episodes) 2012–2015 Mr. Box Office Bobby Gold Main cast member 2013–2014 New Girl Rabbi Feiglin (2 episodes) 2014 Sing Your Face Off Himself Contestant 2015 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Queen Gabnidine Voice, Episode: "To Smell and Back" Hawaii Five-O Barry Burns (2 episodes) 2016–2018 Animals. Himself & Old Ben Voice (3 episodes) 2016, 2018 The $100,000 Pyramid Himself (Celebrity Guest) (2 episodes) 2017 The New Celebrity Apprentice Himself (Contestant) 11th place Justice League Action Sid Sharp Voice, Episode: "Superman's Pal, Sid Sharp" 2017–2024 Funny You Should Ask Himself (Celebrity Comic) (467 episodes) 2018 Insatiable Father Schwartz Episode 1.09 "Bad Kitty" Mogulettes Amnon Television film 2019 The Goldbergs Jimmie Moore Episode: "The Wedding Singer" The Cool Kids Kip Samgood Episode: "Kip Samgood's Biggest Fan" Jackie and the Next-Neighbor Girls Johnny Bodine (41 episodes) Historical Roasts Franklin D. Roosevelt Episode: "Anne Frank" Anything but A..Man..Da! Michael Stein Episode: "Pilot" 2020 Saturday Night Live Alan Dershowitz Episode: "Adam Driver/Halsey" Bitmoji TV Justin Bieber Voice, Episode: "Demon Bear" Holey Moley Himself (Captain Long Jon Lovitz) (3 episodes) A.P. Bio Robin Schwonk Episode 3.02 "Disgraced" 2021 The Potwins Henry Episode: "Blue Collar" Paper Empire Stan Katz Episode: "The Anderson Files" 2023 The Tonight Show George Santos Episode: "Colin Jost/Kenya Barris" The Masked Singer Himself Episode: "Comedy Roast Night" Human Resources Schmitty from Pity Voice, Episode: "Pity Party" Magnum P.I. Pierre Episode: "Consciousness of Guilt" 2024 SpongeBob SquarePants Acceleration T. Greenlight Episode: "Student Driver Survivor" 2025 Tires Irate Customer Episode: "Bonus Money"

Theatre Year Title Role Venue 2000 The Dinner Party Albert Donay (replacement) Music Box Theatre, Broadway

Podcasts Year Title Role Notes 2013 Kevin Pollak's Chat Show Himself/Guest Episode: "178" 2020 GPS Distress Manager, NavTerrain Season 5, Episode 10 2024 Bill Burr's Monday Morning Himself February 1, 2024

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Project Result Ref.1986 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety Program Saturday Night Live 1987 1993 American Comedy Awards Funniest Supporting Actor in a Movie A League of Their Own 1998 National Board of Review Best Acting in an Ensemble Happiness 2013 Behind the Voice Awards Best Vocal Performance in a Film Hotel Transylvania