Known for movies

Short Info

FactGood friend of Paul Reubens, and the late Phil Hartman.


John Paragon is an American actor, comedian, writer, and director. He is best known for his work on the television series Pee-wee’s Playhouse, where he played the character of Jambi the Genie, and for his role as Hollywood Montrose in the film Cry-Baby.

Paragon was born in Los Angeles, California, on September 27, 1952. His parents were both actors, and he has two older sisters. He was educated at the Harvard-Westlake School and then at Occidental College.

Paragon’s acting career began in the early 1970s, with roles in several television series including The Odd Couple and The Love Boat. He made his film debut in 1978, in the film Grease. In 1980, he was cast as Jambi the Genie in Pee-wee’s Playhouse. He appeared in all 45 episodes of the series, which ran for five seasons.

After Pee-wee’s Playhouse ended, Paragon appeared in a number of films including Batman Returns (1992), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), and Scream 2 (1997). He also had a recurring role in the television series Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996-2003).

In recent years, Paragon has directed episodes of the television series Hot in Cleveland (2010-2015) and 2 Broke Girls (2011-2017). He has also appeared in the films The Watch (2012) and Dumb and Dumber To (2014).

Paragon is divorced from his first wife, actress Linda Day. He has two daughters from his second marriage, to actress Julie Brown. His net worth is estimated to be $3 million.

General Info

Full NameJohn Paragon
ProfessionActor, Film director, Screenwriter, Television Director
NationalityAmerican

Accomplishments

NominationsDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For A Children's Series, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In A Children/Youth/Family Special, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing In A Children's or Pre-School Children's Series
MoviesTwin Sitters, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, Pee-wee's Big Adventure, The Pee-wee Herman Show, Double Trouble, The Frog Prince, UHF, Elvira's Haunted Hills, Pee-wee's Big Holiday, The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid, Cheech and Chong's Next Movie, Echo Park, Ring of the Musk...
TV ShowsPee-wee's Playhouse, The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show, Elvira's Movie Macabre, Storybook Cinema

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1Good friend of Paul Reubens, and the late Phil Hartman.
2Former member of Groundlings Improv Group.

Pictures

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine1999TV SeriesBokar
Seinfeld1995-1998TV SeriesCedric
The Rich Man's Wife1996Maitre D'
Night Stand1995-1996TV SeriesBachelor #3 / Dr. Ed Burns / Doctor
Kirk1995TV SeriesRicky
Twin Sitters1994Loan officer
Every Breath1994Director
The Elvira Show1993TV SeriesVoice of 'Reinfield'
Ring of the Musketeers1992TV MovieAir Traffic Controller Manfred Wenzel
Honey I Blew Up the Kid1992Lab Technician
Double Trouble1992/IFBI Agent
On the Television1991TV SeriesVarious
Pee-wee's Playhouse1986-1990TV SeriesJambi Pterri Jambi the Genie ...
UHF1989Richard Fletcher
Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse1988TV MovieJambi Pterri
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark1988Gas Station Attendant
The Frog Prince1988Frog Prince
Sledge Hammer!1988TV SeriesDurward Monroe
Cheers1987TV SeriesGrif Palmer
North Shore1987Professor
Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills1986TV SeriesRaddichio
FTV1985TV SeriesVarious Characters
Echo Park1985Hugo
Pee-wee's Big Adventure1985Movie Lot Actor
Get Out of My Room1985Robert Walters
Uncensored1984VideoSkit characters
Movie Macabre1981-1984TV SeriesBreather
Last of the Great Survivors1984TV MovieBeef
Going Berserk1983Rooster
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show1983TV Series voice
The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour1983TV SeriesRegular
The Paragon of Comedy1983TV Movie
Airplane II: The Sequel1982'Economy' Flight Attendant (uncredited)
Madame's Place1982TV SeriesHolistic doctor
Things Are Tough All Over1982Red Carpet Man #1
Pandemonium1982Prisoner
Eating Raoul1982Sex Shop Salesman
The Pee Wee Herman Show1981TV MovieJambi the Genie Pterry-Dactyl (voice)
Cheech and Chong's Next Movie1980Director (Groundling)
Pee-wee's Big Holiday2016TV Cameraman
Elvira's Movie Macabre2010-2011TV SeriesThe Breather
The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway2011TV MovieJambi Pterri (voice)
Saturday Night Live2011TV SeriesPterri
Red Riding Hood2006Fisherman

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
13 Nights of Elvira2014TV Series written by
The Pee-Wee Herman Show on Broadway2011TV Movie adapted from "The Pee-wee Herman Show" written by / additional material
Elvira's Haunted Hills2001written by
You Don't Know Jack2001TV Series
Mega Babies2000TV Series 2 episodes
Twin Sitters1994
Ring of the Musketeers1992TV Movie written by
Pee-wee's PlayhouseTV Series writer - 15 episodes, 1986 - 1990 written by - 8 episodes, 1988 - 1989
Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse1988TV Movie written by
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark1988written by
The Cheech Show1988TV Movie
Saturday Night Live1985TV Series additional sketches - 1 episode
Elvira's MTV Halloween Party1984TV Movie co-writer
Movie Macabre1983TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Paragon of Comedy1983TV Movie
The Pee Wee Herman Show1981TV Movie

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Silk Stalkings1996-1998TV Series 10 episodes
Pacific Blue1997TV Series 1 episode
Renegade1996TV Series 1 episode
Twin Sitters1994
Ring of the Musketeers1992TV Movie
Double Trouble1992/I
Pee-wee's Playhouse1989-1990TV Series 20 episodes

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Encounter in the Third Dimension1999Short writer: "Haunted House"
Elvira: Mistress of the Dark1988writer: "Here I Am"

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
13 Nights of Elvira2014TV Series music supervisor

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
13 Nights of Elvira2014TV Series producer

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
You Don't Know Jack2001TV Series consultant

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Scream Awards 20112011TV Special special thanks
Red Riding Hood2006special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Welcome to the Fun Zone1984TV MovieHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Seinfeld: Inside Look2006TV Series documentary shortCedric

Awards

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1991Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing in a Children's SeriesPee-wee's Playhouse (1986)
1991Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Children's SeriesPee-wee's Playhouse (1986)
1990Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing in a Children's SeriesPee-wee's Playhouse (1986)
1989Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing in a Children's SpecialPee-wee's Playhouse (1986)
1987Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Writing in a Children's SeriesPee-wee's Playhouse (1986)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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