Thomas Lennon

Thomas Lennon (born August 9, 1970 ) is an American comedian, actor, and screenwriter. He plays Lieutenant Jim Dangle on the series Reno 911!, Andrei Novak on Santa Clarita Diet and Felix Unger on The Odd Couple. He is the screenwriter of several comedies released by major film studios with writing partner Robert Ben Garant, with whom he wrote the Night at the Museum films, The Pacifier, Balls of Fury, and Baywatch.

Early life, family and education Lennon was born on August 9, 1970 in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Of Irish and Scottish descent, he is the son of Kathleen and Timothy Lennon. He graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1988.

At 16, he met friend and future co-star Kerri Kenney at theater camp at Northwestern University. The two later attended New York University, He played Felix Unger in the 2015–17 television series reboot of The Odd Couple opposite Matthew Perry, who played Oscar Madison. In 2016, he co-starred as a scientist in Paramount Animation's Monster Trucks and began a recurring role on the Fox action sitcom Lethal Weapon as Leo Getz, a character which was previously portrayed on film by Joe Pesci. At the 2016 People's Choice Awards ceremony, Lennon participated in an on-stage sketch parodying a recent gaffe by Steve Harvey at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant. In 2020 and 2021, he had a recurring role in Supergirls fifth and sixth seasons as Mr. Mxyzptlk, taking over from Peter Gadiot.

In 2020, Lennon reprised his role as Lieutenant Jim Dangle in the seventh season of Reno 911! which aired on Quibi. He appeared in the 2021 film Reno 911! The Hunt for QAnon. The eighth season of the series, now titled Reno 911! Defunded, premiered on The Roku Channel in February 2022. In 2023, he was cast in the Zoey 101 reboot, Zoey 102. The film was released on July 27, 2023, on Paramount+.

Screenwriting Lennon is a successful screenwriter and script doctor. Most of his screenplays are written in collaboration with writing partner Robert Ben Garant. Among Garant and Lennon's credits are the Night at the Museum films, the 2005 Disney comedy The Pacifier and the 2006 prison comedy Let's Go to Prison.

In 2010, FX Network ordered a pilot episode for a Garant/Lennon science fiction television comedy called USS Alabama, set 1000 years in the future aboard a United Nations Peacekeeping spaceship, the U.S.S. Alabama. Garant and Lennon are credited as story co-writers for the film version of Baywatch (2017). Lennon is the author of four of IFC's "50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time".

Novels and stage Lennon has written three young adult novels: Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles, Ronan Boyle and the Swamp of Certain Death, and Ronan Boyle into the Strangeplace. Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list. He wrote the book for the theatrical production of Trading Places: The Musical! which debuted at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in June 2022.

Personal life Lennon lives in Wisconsin with his wife, actress Jenny Robertson, whom he married in 2002, and their son. He is a fan of The Smiths and Morrissey, occasionally performing live as a guitarist with the tribute band Sweet and Tender Hooligans.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 A Friend of Dorothy 'Moonie' Short film 1998 Row Your Boat Census Taker 1999 Drop Dead Gorgeous Documentarian Voice 2000 Memento Doctor 2001 Out Cold Eric Montclare 2002 Boat Trip The Priest 2003 Le Divorce Roger Walker How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Thayer A Guy Thing Pete Morse 2004 Taxi Writer Heights Marshall 2005 Conversations with Other Women Videographer Herbie: Fully Loaded Larry Murphy Also writer The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Eddie the Shipboard Computer Voice Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie V.D.I Voice; direct-to-video Organ Trail Royale Fitzgibbon 2024 Destroy All Neighbors Scott Chosen Family Max Unfrosted Harold von Braunhut 2025 Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie Matthew Voice 2026 Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass Completed

Television Year Title Role Notes 1992 You Wrote It, You Watch It Various characters Also writer 1993–1995 The State Also co-creator and writer 1995 The State's 43rd Annual All-Star Halloween Special Television special; also writer 1997 Viva Variety Host Meredith Laupin 16 episodes; also writer 1997–1999 Hercules Atlas Voice, 3 episodes 1999 Friends Randall 2 episodes Strangers with Candy Writer: "Bogie Nights" 1999–2000 Jesse Ernie 2 episodes 2001 The Legend of Tarzan Landlord Voice, episode: "Tarzan and the Mysterious Visitor" 2002 Kim Possible Dr. Fester Voice, episode: "Kimitation Nation" MDs Chester E. Donge 8 episodes 2003–2009,2020–2022 Reno 911! Lieutenant Jim Dangle Also creator, writer, directorNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series (2020) 2004–2006 Brandy & Mr. Whiskers Vic Voice, 2 episodes 2006 Stacked Gary Episode: "You're Getting Sleepy" 2007 Wainy Days Ice Cream Man Episode: "Dorvid Days" 2009 The League Bryce Episode: "The Usual Bet" 2010 Party Down Nick DiCintio Episode: "Nick DiCintio's Orgy Night" Svetlana Fyodor Episode: "Wish Fulfillment" 2010–2011 Funny or Die Presents Richard, Co-Pilot 5 episodes 2010–2013 Planet Sheen Pinter, Blurg Voice, 15 episodes Episode: "Everybody's a Superhero" Dallas & Robo Dr. John Eichler, Dickie St. James Voice, episode: "Murder on the Georgia Overdrive" Legend of the Three Caballeros Clinton Coot Voice, 8 episodes Prince Humperdinck 2 episodes 2020–2021 Supergirl Mr. Mxyzpltk 4 episodes 2021 Solar Opposites Police Cop Voice, episode: "The Sacred Non-Repeating Number" Infinity Train Spiceman Voice, episode: "The Party Car" Friends: The Reunion Himself HBO Max special Central Park Leslie Portergrave Voice, episode: "Central Dark" Aquaman: King of Atlantis Nuidis Vulko Voice, 3 episodes 2021–2023 The Ghost and Molly McGee Maxwell Davenport Voice, 6 episodes Ten Year Old Tom Neighbor Rick Voice, 4 episodes 2022 Lego Star Wars: Summer Vacation Wick Cooper Voice, Disney+ special 2023 HouseBroken Pony Ferrari Voice, episode: "Who's a Party Pony?" 2023–present Rock Paper Scissors Paper Main voice role 2024–2025 Animal Control Patrick Shaw 5 episodes2025 Family GuyVoice, episode: "Row v. Wade" Universal Basic GuysKing TonyVoice, episode: "Medieval Knights"

Web Year Title Role Notes 2019 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television Himself Episode: "For Your Inconsideration"