JR Reed (actor)

JR Reed (born December 13, 1967 as Jason William Reed) is an American character actor and singer, originally from Corvallis, Oregon. He is best known for his roles as "Lee" with American rock band Tenacious D, mainly in their television series and in their film, The Pick of Destiny, as well as featuring at live concerts.[1] He would also form the band Trainwreck in 2002 alongside Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass, performing as the lead singer. Trainwreck broke up in 2010, though reformed in 2018. Outside of these appearances, Reed mainly features in sporadic television, web-series and film appearances, as well as in commercial work.[2]

JR Reed
Birth nameJason William Reed
Born (1967-12-13) December 13, 1967
Corvallis, Oregon
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, singer, theatre director
Years active1991–present

Early life

Reed was born in Corvallis, Oregon, though grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada where he graduated from Bonanza High School.[3] He moved to Los Angeles after graduating, where he worked as a handyman, before attending UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.[4]

Career

Acting and music

Reed enrolled in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 1987 and graduated in 1991. He joined Tim Robbins' The Actors' Gang and his first production with the group was the Good Woman of Setzuan.[5] JR met Kyle Gass and knew Jack Black from UCLA previously, which led him to getting hired as a roadie and playing Spider-Man at early Tenacious D concerts. In 1996, Reed starred in his first film, The Shot. His Actors' Gang production "Kick Ass Militia" won the Backstage West Play Production of the Year award in 1997. In 1999, JR starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and in 2000 featured in Tenacious D's TV series as "Lee". In 2001, Reed made appearances in Dead Last and The Anniversary Party. In 2002, JR started a side-project band with Gass called Trainwreck. He can also be seen on The Complete Masterworks Tenacious D concert DVD.

In 2005, Reed featured in a television special of Alias as well as having a part in Living with Fran. In 2006, Reed featured in Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, taking on the role of Lee, and played the "Time Goblin" in the 2006 short film Tenacious D: Time Fixers. He also went on the world tour to support the album as "Satan" and "The Metal" amongst other roles, he would continue these roles at summer festivals a couple of years later, such as Reading and Leeds festivals 2008 and Outside Lands in 2009. He can be seen on The Complete Masterworks Part 2. In late 2009, Reed featured in the viral thanksgiving video, "The Sexy Pilgrim" and in 2010 Reed featured in Remington's "Keep It Hairy". In 2013, Reed featured as the lead role in "Campus Security", an Internet series, as well as featuring in an episode of Community. In 2014, Reed featured in Nickelodeon's Henry Danger. In 2015, he made his international film debut in the Danish film Klown Forever as himself and the Battle Cat. In the fall of 2015, Reed's signature "The Metal" costume, used on the 2006–2007 world tour, was put on auction by Tenacious D in support of Josh Homme's Sweet Stuff Foundation, to raise funds for the victims and families of the November 2015 Paris attacks.[6] In 2016, Reed featured in Black-ish as a substitute teacher.

Commercial work

Reed's career includes commercial work for Time Warner, Microsoft, TiVO, Carl's Jr, Hardees, Taco Bell, Silk Soy Milk, Tanqueray, Volkswagen, Planter's Nuts and Castrol Motor Oil.[7] His lead role in McDonald's "The Fish Is Back" Filet-O-Fish commercial went viral in 2010. He has also featured in Remington's "Keep it Hairy" and in Muscle Milk's "The Sexy Pilgrim" music videos, both of which feature Reed as the lead role. More recently, Reed featured in a commercial for hotels.com. In 2015, Reed featured in commercials for Rite Aid promoting flu treatment.[7]

Personal life

Reed lives in Los Angeles.

Appearances

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1996 The Shot Police Officer
1996 Scream, Teen, Scream! Tony
2000 Camera Obscura Bouncer
2001 Frank's Book Stoney Friend
2001 The Anniversary Party Party Guest
2003 The Pick Up Mick The Bartender
2003 Humanoid Mullet Man
2003 Johnny Kazoo Johnny Kazoo
2005 Captain Lou Albano's Birthday Slam Hulk Hogan
2006 Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny Lee
2007 What Ever Happened to Gavin Buckmaster? Randy
2008 Kung Fu Panda JR Shaw
2008 The 7th Claus Coop
2009 Other People's Parties Duane DuFresne
2009 Addicted to Facebook Group Leader
2010 Removal Mike
2010 Errand_boy Bo
2015 Klown Forever JR / Battle Cat

Television and Web Series
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Guard Episode: Choices
2000 Tenacious D Lee Episode: The Fan
2001 Dead Last Tom Trevino Episode: Laughlin It Up
2005 Living with Fran Rocker Dude Episode: The Concert
2005 Alias Lead CIA Agent Episode: Authorized Personnel Only: Part 2
2006 Friday Night with Jonathan Ross Satan (Tenacious D) Series 11, Episode 14 (December 15, 2006)
2006 American Music Awards Satan (Tenacious D)
2006 Saturday Night Live The Metal (Tenacious D) Series 32, Episode 7 (December 2, 2006)
2006 Spike Video Game Awards The Metal (Tenacious D)
2007 Jimmy Kimmel Live Satan (Tenacious D) Series 5, Episode 24 (February 9, 2007)
2008 Spike Video Game Awards The Anti-Video Game Devil
2013 Campus Security Karl Thompson
2013 Community Inspector Spacetime Episode: Conventions of Space and Time
2014 Henry Danger Ortho's Father Episode: Jasper Danger
2016 Black-ish Mr. Sheffield Episode: Twindependence
2016 Bizaardvark Horse Face Guy's Father Episode: Agh, Humburg
2016 Just Add Magic Mr. Kramer Episode: Just Add Betrayal
2016 Joy Jacobs: First Bite Archetype Vampire

References
  1. resumes.actorsaccess.com http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JRReed. Retrieved August 27, 2019. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. "JR Reed TV Commercials". ispot.tv. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  3. "About BHS". schools.ccsd.net. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  4. Episode 48 – JR Reed and Trainwreck, retrieved October 12, 2019
  5. "The Actors' Gang to Launch A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM International Tour this Summer; Tim Robbins to Direct". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  6. Blistein, Jon (December 22, 2015). "Tenacious D Launch Auction to Benefit Paris Victims". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  7. http://www.johnreedfamily.com/~LeeoftheD/resume.htm
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