Jim Meskimen

Meskimen worked across stand-up comedian, film director, film producer, screenwriter and singer and 6 further recorded occupations. This article rests on 4 catalogued compositions and 20 published texts drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Jim Meskimen • Birth Name — James Ross Meskimen • Born — 10 September 1959 • Birthplace — Santa Monica, California, U.S. • Occupation — * Actor • comedian • impressionist • visual artist • Years Active — 1984–present • Children — Taylor Meskimen • Mother — Marion Ross • Father — Freeman Meskimen • Website — http: www.jimmeskimen.com

Jim Meskimen is the son of Marion Ross. He attended Taft High in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, where he met his wife, Tamra Shockley. He was the cartoonist for the school newspaper, and also acted in plays. After high school, he attended the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC). Before that first year was over, he returned home for a time and received training in animation at Hanna-Barbera studios in Hollywood, under the apprenticeship of Harry Love. Shortly after, he began working for producer Doug Wildey, who had created the original Jonny Quest series. Meskimen was assistant storyboard artist to veteran comic book artist Don Rico on the animated series, Jana of the Jungle. After a season at Hanna-Barbera, in 1978 Meskimen returned to UCSC to study general subjects, painting, drawing and lithography. He also did parts in plays, but did not take classes in the Drama department, preferring to concentrate on his visual art education. He studied art history in five courses with Jasper Rose, a fixture at UCSC, who later became the inspiration for an art historian character, Professor Knestor Jackdaws. He studied painting with Eduardo Carrillo, a Mexican muralist and teacher, and sculpture with Hardy Hanson. In 1980, Meskimen travelled to Galicia, Spain to begin a period of intensive training in classical painting with Argüello and a handful of other students. He returned in 1981 and resumed studies at UCSC, studying sculpture, printmaking and painting, as well as private training with Miguel, who continued teaching at the university. When not painting, Meskimen participated in major theatrical productions in Santa Cruz, both at the university and in local theater. After graduating UCSC In 1982 he returned with Argüello to Galicia, and resumed private studies.

In 1983, after living for a time in Madrid on his own, he had an encounter with actor Harvey Keitel and he decided to pursue acting, and moved to New York City. In New York, he worked as a visual artist, doing illustrations, cartoons and commercial art for various companies. He landed a job designing characters for Rankin/Bass's original series ThunderCats, then in its first season. He worked with producer Jules Bass on expanding the story, and contributed to the ThunderCats "bible." While working for Rankin/Bass, Meskimen visited one of the recording sessions with actors Bob McFadden, Earl Hammond, Peter Newman, Earl Hyman and others, and began working in radio and TV voiceovers. He did hundreds of radio and television commercials, and became a series regular on the animated show The Comic Strip, produced by his old employer Rankin/Bass. He became the voice of several brands in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the voice of the channel that became Comedy Central, (then named HA!) and did campaigns for Swatch Watch as Doctor Swatch, a character he created with marketing head Steven Rechtshaffner. He became on-camera spokesman on television and radio commercials for Skaggs Alfa Beta grocery stores in 1986. He worked as a man-on-the-street interviewer for banks, cars, retail chains and other clients, in spontaneous, off-the-cuff comedic campaigns that won dozens of industry awards. Among these were Schnucks Markets, Food Lion, and Kash & Karry. During those New York years (1983-1993), Meskimen studied and performed improv with several companies, chiefly INTERPLAY and did hundreds of live shows at the National Improvisational Theatre on Eighth Avenue, Chelsea. On the invitation of producers, he and fellow Interplay member Christopher Smith guest starred several times on Britain's Whose Line Is It, Anyway? His first film role was in Ron Howard's The Paper, starring Michael Keaton. In 1993, he moved home to LA with his family to start a career in TV and film, beginning with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and a role in director Ron Howard's Oscar-nominated Apollo 13. Howard cast Meskimen in no fewer than five feature films, including The Grinch and Frost/Nixon. He appeared in an early episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as professor Jeremy Mansfield, who was loosely modeled after Robin Williams' character in the film Dead Poets Society. In early 2003, he met Gregg and Evan Spiridellis, the brothers who founded JibJab Media. He voiced early hits, including Arnold for President, This Land, and Second Term. He continued to work with the Spiridellis brothers on their Emmy and BAFTA award-winning children's series Ask the StoryBots, and other projects. He has appeared on major television programs; Friends, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, This is Us, SWAT, Hunters, NCIS, Parks & Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory, to name but a few. Meskimen's character voices have been heard on a number of video games and animated shows including Star Trek: Resurgence, Avengers Assemble, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!, Pinky and the Brain, Phineas and Ferb, The Legend of Korra, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. He has voiced the Genie in Disney's Aladdin franchise since 2008. His viral hit, Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices, brought him global attention on YouTube and led to many opportunities, including performing on America's Got Talent in 2013, where his improvised celebrity impressions at Radio City Music Hall earned him a standing ovation. He has performed his live one-man show, JIMPRESSIONS, in Hollywood, Australia and the U.K. In 2017, he wrote a screenplay for a short film, which became "Son to Son," and won festival awards. He starred in the short, with actor Nick Lane, with Taron Lexton directing. His performance as the troubled, opioid addict father in "Son to Son" garnered praise; the UK Film Review said: "Meskimen delivers a tragically believable character in a short space of time to great effect." He provided the voice of Colonel Harland Sanders for the KFC brand on radio, web and television ads for many years, starting in 2016. As an audiobook narrator, he has worked on hundreds of titles for all major publishers and received awards for his narration. Directing multi-cast audiobooks for Galaxy Audio was his full-time job from 2005 to 2009, when he worked as senior director to complete hundreds of hours of audio of the fiction work of L. Ron Hubbard. The multi-cast production of "Battlefield Earth, a Saga of the Year 3000," which Meskimen directed and performed in, won an Audie Award in 2017. He appeared on "America's Got Talent" as a celebrity impressionist in 2013 and as a finalist performed at Radio City Music Hall, NYC, receiving a standing ovation. Since 2020, he has played roles on television in Gaslit with Sean Penn and Julia Roberts, Hunters, and as the recurring character of Cary Hubbard in Apple TV+'s The Big Door Prize, opposite Chris O'Dowd.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Tamra, who is a co-founder of The Acting Center, an acting school and performance venue in Sherman Oaks, California. They have one daughter, actress, singer and award-winning audio book narrator Taylor Meskimen. Meskimen is a practicing Scientologist.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref(s) Reference(s) • 1985–1989 — ThunderCats — 125 episodes Secondary character designer • 1988–2011 — Whose Line Is it Anyway? — Himself • 1993–1996 — The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — Jeremy Mansfield, Werner — 4 episodes • 1996 — 3rd Rock from the Sun — Alan — Episode: "Big Angry Virgin from Outer Space" • Pinky and the Brain — Bob Dole — Voice role; episode: "The Pink Candidate" • 1996–1997 — The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest — Dr. Vedder, various voices — Voice role; 6 episodes • 1997 — Superman: The Animated Series — Danny the Janitor — Voice role; episode: "Double Dose" • 2001 — Even Stevens — Dr. Dean — Episode: "Thin Ice" • 2002 — Malcolm in the Middle — Waiter — Episode: "Hal's Birthday" • Justice League — Knight — Voice role; episode: "A Knight of Shadows" • 2003 — Time Squad — George W. Bush, George H. W. Bush — Voice role; episode: "Orphan Substitute" • Friends — Bill — Episode: "The One Where Ross Is Fine" • 2004 — All Grown Up! — Skeleton, Dr. Cartunian — Voice role; episode: "The Old & the Restless" • Johnny Bravo — Whiny Man, Derek, Waiter #1 — Voice role; episode: "It's a Magical Life/The Hunk at the End of This Cartoon" • data-sort-value="Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, The" | The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius — Quentin Smithee — Voice role; episode: "Lights! Camera! Danger!" • 2005 — data-sort-value="Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The" | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy — Narrator, Old Man, Chubby Employee — Voice role Episode: "Runaway Pants/Scythe 2.0" • 2005–2014 — data-sort-value="Boondocks, The" | The Boondocks — Bill O'Reilly, Ronald Reagan, Anchorman, News Reporter, Chris Hansen — 21 episodes • 2005–2008 — Avatar: The Last Airbender — Fire Nation soldier, Jee, How, Avatar Kuruk, additional voices — 10 episodes • 2006 — Robot Chicken — Frank, Jon Corzine, Heimlich's Father, Sorting Hat — Voice role; 2 episodes • Two and a Half Men — Gangster — Episode: "The Sea Is a Harsh Mistress" • 2006–2008 — Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! — Agent 1, Robi — Voice role • 2007 — data-sort-value="Batman, The" | The Batman — Chuck — Voice role; episode: "Joker Express" • Random! Cartoons — Thom Cat, John, Stumpy — Voice role; episode: "Thom Cat" • 2007–2011 — Back at the Barnyard — Goraldo — Voice role; 2 episodes • 2009–2015 — Parks and Recreation — Martin Housely, Clown, Man — 7 episodes • 2010 — G.I. Joe: Renegades — Norton, News Reporter, S.W.A.T. M.P. — Voice role; episode: "The Descent: Part 2" • Rules of Engagement — Mr. Wrigley — Episode: "Rug-o-War" • 2011 — Victorious — Doctor — Episode: "Tori Gets Stuck" • Kickin' It — Principal Bucket — Episode: "Dojo Daycare" • 2011–2012 — ThunderCats — Aburn, Ponzi, Dog Constable, Vendor — Voice role; 6 episodes • 2012 — Community — Christopher Walken / Tommy Lee Jones Impersonator — Episode: "Contemporary Impressionists" • 2012–2014 — Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness — Emissary, Master Kweng, Shying Tree, Guardian #1 — Voice role; 3 episodes • 2012–2017 — Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — Carlos Chiang O'Brien Gambeg, General Griffen, EPF Commander #2 — Voice role 10 episodes • 2013 — Anger Management — Daniel — Episode: "Charlie Breaks Up with Kate" • 2013–2014 — data-sort-value="Legend of Korra, The" | The Legend of Korra — Bataar, Daw, Avatar Kuruk — Voice role; 11 episodes • Hot in Cleveland — Professor Zucker — 2 episodes • 2014–2017 — Avengers Assemble — Ultron, Arsenal, Scientist Supreme, Roxxon Guard — Voice role; 13 episodes • 2015 — Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled — Ultron — Voice role; television short — • 2015 — The Big Bang Theory — Doctor, Man, Las Vegas Wedding Minister — 2 episodes • 2017 — data-sort-value="Loud House, The" | The Loud House — Ted, Manager, Junkyard Guy, Announcer — Voice, 2 episodes • 2018 — Constantine: City of Demons — Beroul — Voice role; episode: "#1.5" • Family Guy — Ron Howard — Voice role; episode: "Griffin Winter Games" • data-sort-value="Good Place, The" | The Good Place — Bertram Varmin — Episode: "Rhonda, Diana, Jake, and Trent" • NCIS — Farrel Emerson — Episode: "Destiny's Child" • 2019 — data-sort-value="Kids Are Alright, The" | The Kids Are Alright — Johnny Carson — Voice role; episode: "Mike's Award" • Good Omens — George H. W. Bush — Voice role; episode: "In the Beginning" • 2021 — Brooklyn Nine-Nine — Deputy Chief Williams — 2 episodes • 2024 — Rock, Paper, Scissors — Abraham Lincoln — Voice role; episode: "Pencil Comes Over/The Wind" • Night Court — Shot Clock Showdown — Episode: "Chips Ahoy" • 2025 — Beavis and Butt-Head — Dr. Rod Johnson — Voice role; episode "Depositors" • 2026 — Margo's Got Money Troubles — Dr. Porter — Episode: "The Hungry Ghost"

• Armored Core V – Jack Batty, Men of Honor Unit B, Zodiac No. 8 • Baldur's Gate – Edwin Odesseiron, Jebadoh, Khalid, Thaldorn • Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn – Edwin Odesseiron • Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal – Edwin Odesseiron, Khalid • Batman: Arkham City – Officer Tom Miller • Batman: Arkham Knight – Additional voices • Batman: Arkham Origins – SWAT Officers, Cops • Call of Duty: Black Ops – John F. Kennedy • Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – Secretary of Defense David Petraeus • Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight – Various • Destroy All Humans! 2 – Additional voices • Diablo III – Additional voices • Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Additional voices • Disney Infinity 3.0 – Ultron • Disney Think Fast – Genie • Disney Speedstorm – Genie • Epic Mickey – Voice • Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two – Mad Doctor • EverQuest II – Guild Patron Volarian, Baron Zafimus, Sergeant-at-Arms Ironcast, Commission Deputy Halford, Naturalist Tummyfill, Borthen, Amren Talbot, Morte Winghammer, Green Hood Trap Master, Banker Izark, Ubani, Overseer Travog • Fantastic 4 – Doctor Doom, Additional voices • Final Fantasy XIII-2 – Additional voices • Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic – Edwin Murray, Mr. Helpful, Sleepy Moon, M2 / The Mimic (mimicking Edwin) • Gothic 3 – Additional voices • Hitman: Blood Money – Additional voices • Kinect Disneyland Adventures – Genie • Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix – Genie (Kingdom Hearts Re:coded cinematics) • Lego Jurassic World – Additional voices • Lego The Lord of the Rings – Various • Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – Additional voices • Madagascar: The Video Game – Albino Crocodile, Guard, Jogger, Sailor • Marvel Dimension of Heroes – Ultron • Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – Ultron, Ultron Sigma, Ultron Omega • Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order – Ultron, Ultimo • Marvel Rivals – Ultron • MAG – SVER Executive • Minecraft Story Mode – Milo • Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl – Nigel Thornberry (voiceover added in the June 2022 update) • Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 – Nigel Thornberry • Robots – Ratchet, additional voices • Shark Tale: The Video Game – Lino, Additional Tenant Fish • Shrek the Third – Captain Hook, Attendant 2, Geek • Skylanders: Trap Team – Additional voices • Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom – Genie • Syndicate – Additional voices • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan – Wingnut, Stone Warriors • The Lego Movie Videogame – Batman, Additional voices • The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II – Elven King Thranduil • The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II - The Rise of the Witch-king – King Thranduil • Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter – Albert Russell • Ultimate Spider-Man – Additional voices

• Jib Jab – George W. Bush, John Kerry, John McCain

• Bugs Bunny and Friends Sing The Beatles – Elmer Fudd

Jim Meskimen was born on 10 September 1959 in Santa Monica. Meskimen held the nationality of United States. Married to: Tamra Meskimen. Recorded mother: Marion Ross. Recorded child: Taylor Meskimen. Recorded sibling: Ellen Kreamer. Meskimen worked as stand-up comedian, film director, film producer and screenwriter, and the authority record catalogues a further 7 occupations under the same name, among them singer, voice actor, comedian, television actor, audiobook narrator and dub actor. Meskimen was active from 1984. Meskimen played the voice. Meskimen worked in English.