Home   >   Movie Stars   >   L   >   Jason Lee

Jason Lee

Jason Lee is in the midst of a flourishing career that includes an Independent Spirit Award for his performance in Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy. He has received two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Television Series and two SAG nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor for his starring role as Earl Hickey on NBC's hit comedy series My Name Is Earl. Lee not only stars, but also serves as a producer on the show about a hapless crook who has an epiphany after winning a small fortune in the lottery.

Over his recent summer hiatus from Earl, Lee starred in the CG/live-action hybrid feature film Alvin and the Chipmunks. He plays Dave Seville, the songwriter/father-figure to singing chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore. A December 14, 2007 release is anticipated.

Lee previously voiced the role of Syndrome in Walt Disney Pictures' and Pixar's Academy Award-winning animated feature The Incredibles. He also did voice work on the motion-capture feature Monster House, about three teenagers who discover their neighbor's house is a monster.

Born and raised in Huntington Beach, California, Lee turned a childhood pastime of skateboarding into a professional career. However, once moving to Los Angeles during his early 20s, he began developing an interest in acting. "After watching Steve Buscemi as the bellboy in 'Barton Fink,' I knew I wanted to be in movies," says Lee.

Lee's big break came in 1995 with the lead role in writer-director Smith's comedy Mallrats, in which he deftly portrayed the inconsiderate slacker Brodie. Lee then went on to star in Smith's Chasing Amy (for which he won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male for his role as Banky) and as the demonic Azrael in Smith's supernatural comedy Dogma. He reunited with Smith in the Dimension Films comedy, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and most recently, he had a cameo role in Smith's Clerks II.

Lee co-starred in Cameron Crowe's Golden Globe-winning ensemble feature, Almost Famous, in the role of Jeff Bebe, the lead singer of a 1970s rock band called Stillwater. He then re-teamed with Crowe on the writer-director's film Vanilla Sky.

After working with director Lawrence Kasdan's ensemble comedy Mumford, Lee reunited with Kasdan for the director's suspense thriller, Dreamcatcher.

Lee's additional film credits include writer-director Rebecca Miller's feature, The Ballad of Jack and Rose (with Daniel Day-Lewis and Catherine Keener), director Barry Sonnenfeld's ensemble comedy Big Trouble, Enemy of the State, and Kissing a Fool.

In Summer 2006, Lee wrote and directed the short film, The White Door, which stars Giovanni Ribisi and Beth Riesgraf. The film will have a future DVD release.

Lee is also a professional photographer, as well as an avid supporter and collector of the arts. He is currently shooting 20x24 Polaroid portraits for an upcoming gallery and book series. When not working on personal projects, Lee photographs for Los Angeles-based Anthem magazine. He is also actively involved with his skateboard company, Stereo Skateboards, which recently celebrated its 15-year anniversary.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2007.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Jason Lee Facts

OccupationActor
BirthdayApril 25, 1970 (53)
SignTaurus
BirthplaceOrange, California, USA
Height6' 2" (1m88)  How tall is Jason Lee compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Almost Famous
Terminator: Genisys
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip
Monster House
The Incredibles
Mechanic: Resurrection
The Hateful Eight
Fire From Below
Underdog
Afflicted
Continue » Find more details on the Jason Lee Movies page