Jon Favreau

Birthname: Jonathan Kolia Favreau

Bio: Initial independent film favorite Jon Favreau has progress to strong mainstream visibility over the years and still enjoying character, if not topflight Hollywood stardom after nearly two decades in the business. Of Jewish and French/Italian descent, the amiable, stocky-framed actor with the tight, crinkly hair was born in Queens, New York on October 19, 1966, the only child of two teachers. He attended the Bronx High School of Science before furthering his studies at Queens College in 1984. He dropped out just credits away from receiving his degree and moved to Chicago where he focused on comedy and performed at several Chicago improvisational theaters, including the ImprovOlympic and the Improv Institute. He also found a couple of bit parts in films.While there he earned another bit role in the film Rudy (1993) and met fellow castmate Vince Vaughn. Their enduring personal friendship would play a substantial role in the furtherance of both their professional careers within just a few years. Jon broke into TV with a role on the classic series "Seinfeld" (as Eric the Clown). Rudimentary roles in the films Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Notes from Underground (1995) and Batman Forever (1995) eventually led to his risk-taking by writing himself and friend Vaughn into what would become their breakthrough to stardom in 1996 with the film Swingers (1996). Also serving as co-producer, the story centers on Jon as a luckless, struggling actor type who is emotionally shattered after losing his girlfriend and is pushed back into the L.A. social scene via the help of cool, worldly, outgoing actor/buddy Vaughn. These two blueprint roles would define the characters of both actors on film.In 1997 Jon appeared favorably on several episodes of the popular TV sitcom "Friends" (1994) as Pete Becker, a plain-looking but extremely wealthy suitor for Courteney Cox's Monica character, and also appeared to fine advantage on the "Tracy Ullman Takes On..." comedy series. He later took on the biopic mini-movie Rocky Marciano (1999) (TV) portraying the prizefighter himself in a highly challenging dramatic role and receiving excellent reviews.Other engagingly offbeat "everyman" films roles came Jon's way -- the ex-athlete in the working class film Dogtown (1997); a soon-to-be groom whose bachelor party goes horribly awry in the comedy thriller Very Bad Things (1998); a newlywed opposite Famke Janssen in Love & Sex (2000); a wild and crazy linebacker in The Replacements (2000); as Ben Affleck's legal partner in Daredevil (2003); and another down-and-out actor in The Big Empty (2003). He wrote and directed himself and Vaughn as two fellow boxers who involve themselves in criminal activity in Made (2001). Both he and Vaughn produced. He also directed the highly popular Will Ferrell comedy Elf (2003) in which he had a small part.Albeit in featured and/or character roles, Jon went on to re-team favorably with friend, Vince Vaughn, who enjoyed a meteroic rise into the star ranks, in the comedies The Break-Up (2006), Four Christmases (2008) and Couples Retreat (2009), the last of which he co-wrote with Vaughn. He also made great strides as a producer/director in recent years with the exciting mega-box office action-packed Iron Man (2008) starring Robert Downey Jr. and its sequel Iron Man 2 (2010).Favreau's marriage to Joya Tillem on November 24, 2000, produced son Max and two daughters, Madeleine and Brighton Rose. Joya is the niece of KGO (AM) lawyer and talk show host Len Tillem. On the sly, the actor/writer/producer/director enjoy a release playing on the World Poker Tour.

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