Jason Gann
![]() | This article needs to be updated.(April 2019) |
Jason Gann | |
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![]() Gann at the San Diego Comic Con in July 2011 | |
Born | Jason Gann Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
Occupation(s) | Actor, writer, producer, comedian, musician, entrepreneur |
Years active | 1997–2014 |
Children | 2 |
Jason Gann is an Australian-born former actor, comedian, writer and producer. He is best known for his role as the title character in the Australian comedy series Wilfred, directed by Tony Rogers, and the U.S. reboot of the same name.
Biography
Early life
Jason Gann was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia,[1] At 14, while attending an all-boys school, Gann discovered his love for comedy when he performed as Suzanne, leader of the can-can dancers in a high school production of Paint Your Wagon.[2] After high school, he went on to study acting at the University of Southern Queensland. He earned a B.A. in Acting while also attending classes in humanities and the arts.[3]
Early career
Immediately following his studies, Gann moved to Brisbane where he continued studying theatre and music.[3] He worked in children's theatre at the Twelfth Night Theatre in Bowen Hills for several years, performing in dozens of shows. He also played lead roles and toured the country in several comedy theatre productions for that theatre company. He developed and starred in several seasons of the Arts Council-funded play Keep Everything You Love, for which he won the Del Arte Award for Best Male Actor 1997.[citation needed] Gann then worked for the Queensland Theatre Company as an actor in several development projects and starred in the Sven Swenson play The Vertigo and the Virginia for QTC in 1999.[4]
Wilfred and Australian TV
In 2001, Gann wrote and produced several short films that screened in festivals internationally. In 2002 he co-wrote and starred in the short Wilfred. He first came to national attention when he won Best Male Actor and the short won Best Comedy and the Peoples' Choice Award at Tropfest in 2002. Wilfred went on to screen at festivals including Sundance Film Festival in 2003.[4]
Gann won the Tropfest Best Male Actor award again in 2003 for Buried. He then appeared in Australian feature films including Gettin' Square, Thunderstruck, The Illustrated Family Doctor, and Kenny.[3][2][4]
In 2004, for Australian TV, Gann appeared in two episodes of Blue Heelers and had a cameo on Kath & Kim. In 2006, Gann wrote and starred in 52 episodes of the sketch comedy show The Wedge on Australia's Network Ten. Gann then created, produced, wrote and starred in the network's spin-off comedy series Mark Loves Sharon. The following year, Gann co-created and played the title character for the Australian comedy series Wilfred, based on the short film. It ran for two seasons, both of which went on to win awards at Tropfest in 2007 and 2009.[4]
US Television
In 2010, Renegade Films sold the Australian format of Wilfred to the U.S. network FX. Faced with redeveloping the show for an American market without Tony Rogers, Gann teamed with Family Guy executive producer David Zuckerman. Actor Elijah Wood signed on to co-star with Gann.[5] The Wilfred debut became FX's highest-rated comedy series debut.[6]
Gann is managed by Jeff Kwatinetz at Prospect Park. Gann left ICM and signed with WME in 2012.[7] After Wilfred, Gann has been commissioned to produce and develop new television series by networks including ABC.[8]
Music career
By his own admission, Gann has always been involved in music. His participation in several music bands in Australia did not bring success. Gann took one of the bands very seriously and expected to release a cd with recordings, however, some tragic circumstances that occurred with one of the band members and his family forced to cancel the recording indefinitely. It was never released.[9] During the filming of the series Wilfred Gann expressed the idea of re-assembling this music band, and wrote a letter to its former members planning to record vocals while being in California, however, to date there is no reliable information about the resumption of the project.
It is known about his participation in Sofamecca,[10] which released three albums: Sofa Mecca (2002), Commuters (2005), Children Dust (2008) - all three with Gann's vocals. One of the songs entitled "Ashen" is featured in a pilot episode of the Australian series Wilfred. All the albums are available for listening and buying online.
Business career
As of 2014 Gann has left both acting and writing to pursue his CBD business Wilfred CBD & Hemp.[11]
Awards and nominations
In 2007 and 2010, Gann was nominated for an AFI Award for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Series. In 2007 he won for Best Comedy Series, for Wilfred, and in 2010 he won for Best Screenplay in a Television Series. In 2011, Gann was nominated for a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Actor for his work on Wilfred.[12] He was awarded the Australian GQ Comedian of the Year Award for 2011,[13] and was nominated for the annual Golden Collar Award, normally given solely to canine performers.[14]
Personal life
Family and charity
Gann married Spanish model Alejandra Varela on 4 February 2013. The two had a son, Xano, born 13 August 2013.[15] An animal lover, Gann dedicates time as a celebrity spokesperson for multiple animal rights groups including Stray Cat Alliance in Los Angeles, California, US.[16]
Melbourne legal incident
In 2007, Gann pleaded guilty to assaulting a shuttle bus driver, Joseph Hosny. Gann's legal counsel advised him to plead guilty rather than fight the allegation, as a tough sentence could have threatened the production of Wilfred in the United States.[17] In September 2014, Gann was reassessing his legal options.[18][19] In March 2018, a California court ordered Gann to pay $594,452 (USD) to the bus driver.[20]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Wilfred | Wilfred | Short film, Writer |
2003 | Ain't Got No Jazz | Intruder | |
2003 | Button It | Jogger (Squealer A.C) | |
2003 | Gettin' Square | Wood-Duck Frank | Feature film |
2004 | Thunderstruck | Robbo | Feature film |
2005 | The Illustrated Family Doctor | Carl Lucas | Feature film |
2006 | Kenny | Buggy victim's friend | Feature film |
2007 | Rats and Cats | Feature film, writer |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006–07 | The Wedge | Various characters |
TV series, writer |
2007–10 | Wilfred | Wilfred | Australian TV series, co-creator, writer |
2008 | Mark Loves Sharon | Mark Wary | TV series, co-creator, writer, executive producer |
2008 | Jason and the Residents | Jason | |
2008 | Comedy Gold | Himself | TV series |
2008 | 9am with David & Kim | Himself / Mark Wary | TV series, 1 episode |
2009 | The Squiz | TV series, 2 episodes | |
2011–2014 | Wilfred | Wilfred | U.S. TV series, creator, writer |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | 'Allo 'Allo! | Herr Otto Flick | Twelfth Night Theatre |
See also
References
- ^ "Jason Gann Biography". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ a b "One on One with Jason Gann". Hobotrashcan.com. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "Of rats, cats and indiscretion". Brisbane Times. 8 May 2008. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Wilfred". IFC.com. 7 July 2006. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ "Jason Gann on Bringing His Show to America". New York. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ "Louie and Wilfred Premiere Strongly". New York. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ "WME Signs 'Wilfred's Jason Gann". Deadline Hollywood. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ "'Wilfred's Jason Gann To Adapt Peruvian Comedy 'My Problem With Women' For ABC". Deadline Hollywood. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ Barta, Preston (25 June 2014). "Interview: WILFRED's Jason Gann On Hanging Up the Dog Suit". North Texas Daily. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ "Sofamecca". facebook.com.
- ^ Carter, Lance (25 November 2020). "Interview: Jason Gann on Life After 'Wilfred' and Why He Stopped Acting to Start His Own CBD Business". Daily Actor. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Davies, Rebecca (2 May 2011). "In full: Logies 2011 - The Winners". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Men of the Year". GQ. Australia. 21 November 2011. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ "Uggie is top dog at the Golden Collar Awards – of course". Reuters. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2012.
- ^ Nilles, Billy (14 August 2013). "'Wilfred' star Jason Gann and wife Alejandra Varela welcome son Xano William". Zap2it. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ "StrayCat Alliance Endorsements". straycatalliance.org. The Stray Cat Alliance. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ Deery, Shannon (1 September 2014). "Wilfred star Jason Gann reconsiders $325,000 compo payout for bashing bus driver". Herald Sun. Melbourne, Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ Mickelburough, Peter (13 September 2014). "Wilfred star Jason Gann reconsiders $325,000 compo payout for bashing bus driver". The Herald Sun. Australia. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
- ^ Mills, Tammy (1 September 2014). "Melbourne bus driver assaulted by Wilfred star Jason Gann appears in court". The Age. Victoria, Australia. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ Carmody, Broede (14 March 2018). "Wilfred star Jason Gann ordered to pay $750,000 over 2007 assault". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
External links
- Jason Gann at IMDb