Jonathan Groff (writer)

This article is about the writer. For the actor and singer, see Jonathan Groff.
Jonathan Groff
Groff at the 75th Annual Peabody Awards in 2016
Groff at the 75th Annual Peabody Awards in 2016
Born (1962-05-16) May 16, 1962 (age 62)
OccupationScreenwriter, producer, actor
Alma materBrown University (BA)
GenreComedy
Years active1989–present
Spouse
Martha Chowning
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2
RelativesDavid Groff (brother)

Jonathan Groff (born May 16, 1962) is an American actor, comedian, director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his role as Jerome Sinfeld in the Netflix series blackAF, and as an executive producer of the ABC sitcom black-ish (2014–2022).[1]

Groff graduated from Brown University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in history, initially pursuing a career in stand-up comedy before transitioning to television writing.[2] He wrote for The Jon Stewart Show and Short Attention Span Theater, hosted by Stewart and, later, Marc Maron.[3] Groff was the head writer at Late Night with Conan O'Brien in the late 1990s.[4] After leaving Late Night, Groff developed Father of the Pride with Jeffrey Katzenberg.[3] Subsequently, he was the showrunner for Andy Barker, P.I., co-created with O'Brien.[2][5] More recently, he has worked on Black-ish and as co-showrunner on Happy Endings.[6]

In March 1995, he was a 5-time undefeated champion on Jeopardy!, winning $60,500, and a semifinalist in the 1995 Tournament of Champions in November. In 2005, he was invited to the Ultimate Tournament of Champions, where he won $34,001 in the first 2 rounds of the tournament before being eliminated.[7]

Filmography

Writer

Year Title Notes
2019 How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming
2016 black-ish 2 episodes
2012 Happy Endings (TV series) 2 episodes
2010 Kung Fu Panda Holiday
2009 Scrubs (TV series) 1 episode
2007-2009 How I Met Your Mother 3 episodes
2007 Andy Barker, P.I. 1 episode
2006 The Jake Effect 2 episodes
2004-2005 Father of the Pride 7 episodes
2001 Ed (TV series) 1 episode
1995-2000 Late Night with Conan O'Brien 464 episodes (431 as head writer)
1993 The Jon Stewart Show
1989 Short Attention Span Theater

Producer

Year Title Notes
2014–present black-ish 109 episodes (79 as EP, 30 consulting)
2019 mixed-ish 1 episode as EP
2011-2013 Happy Endings 57 episodes as EP
2009-2010 Scrubs (TV series) 13 episodes (7 as EP, 6 consulting)
2007-2009 How I Met Your Mother 44 episodes as a consulting producer
2007 Andy Barker, P.I. 4 episodes as EP
2006 The Jake Effect 6 episodes as EP
2004-2005 Father of the Pride 7 episodes as EP
2001-2002 Ed (TV series) 15 episodes as consulting producer

Actor

Year Title Role Notes
2020 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Self 2 episodes
blackAF Jerome Sinfeld 3 episodes
2014 Maron Self 1 episode
2010 Kung Fu Panda Holiday Master Rhino Voice
1999 Late Night with Conan O'Brien Self 1 episode
1998 Sketch Player 1 episode
1996 The Daily Show Self - Contributor 1 episode
1991 An Evening at the Improv Self 1 episode

Creator

Year Title
2007 Andy Barker, P.I.
2006 The Jake Effect

Director

Year Title Notes
2018 black-ish 1 episode (Blue Valentine)
2015 1 episode (Pops' Pops' Pops)

References

  1. ^ “Jonathan Groff.” IMDb, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0342917/. Accessed 10 Mar. 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hart, Hugh. "The Making of a Gumshoe". Brown Alumni Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b Adalian, Joseph. "'Pride' papa hits stride at Peacock". Variety. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  4. ^ Sella, Marshall. "The Stiff Guy vs. the Dumb Guy". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  5. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (12 April 2004). "DreamWorks and NBC Gamble on a Lion Act". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  6. ^ Goldberg, Lesley. "'Happy Endings' Reboot at ABC? "There's a Remote Possibility"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  7. ^ "J! Archive - Jonathan Groff". j-archive.com. Retrieved 2024-07-02.


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