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JON CRYER

JON CRYER

Cast Bio

Jon Cryer stars as Jim on the new NBC comedy "Extended Family." He also serves as one of the show's executive producers.

Throughout his award-winning career, Jon Cryer has turned in outstanding, eclectic performances in film and television and on stage. He returns to network television in "Extended Family," created by Mike O'Malley. Cryer stars in and serves as executive producer of the new NBC comedy. He also produced and narrates the Apple podcast "Lawyers, Guns, and Money" about the Iran-Contra scandal of the '80s. Previously, he received rave reviews for his performance of the ultimate villain, Lex Luthor, on The CW's "Supergirl."

Cryer earned two Emmy Awards for his work as Alan Harper on the CBS hit comedy "Two and a Half Men," first in the Supporting Actor category and then went on to win for Lead Actor. This puts him on a very short list of actors to win awards in both categories for the same character. He was also nominated for his first Screen Actors Guild Award for the portrayal. The show won The People's Choice Award for Best New Comedy Series in its debut year as well as Favorite TV Comedy from the group. After making his directorial debut on an episode of "Men" during its fourth season, he continued to direct episodes of the show.In the fall of 2011, coinciding with the ninth season of "Two and a Half Men," Cryer was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The sitcom wrapped its run after 12 seasons. Shortly after the show ended, Cryer released his first book, a memoir entitled "So That Happened" chronicling the ups and downs of his career over the last 30 years. He added best-selling author to his resume as the book made The New York Times Best Seller list in its first week of release.

His first foray into television was playing the title role in CBS' critically acclaimed "The Famous Teddy Z." Additionally, he starred in two shows for FOX, "Getting Personal" and "Partners," and was also seen on ABC's "The Trouble with Normal."

Cryer initially gained attention on the big screen opposite Demi Moore in "No Small Affair," followed by his iconic performance as an endearing misfit in John Hughes' "Pretty in Pink." Other film credits include "Hot Shots!," "Hiding Out" and "Shorts" along with indie features "Weather Girl," "Hit by Lightning" and "Big Time Adolescence."

Cryer is a gifted filmmaker as well. He co-wrote, produced and starred in two well-received independent films with director Richard Schenkman. The first, "The Pompatus of Love," explores the romantic floundering of four friends in their 30s. Cryer based his second film, "Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God… Be Back by Five," on the true story of a childhood friend who was homeless and living in Central Park. The film garnered awards in film festivals both in the U.S. and abroad.

On stage, Cryer has hit the boards on both sides of the Atlantic. He appeared in the New York Philharmonic Broadway revival of "Company," which marked his first foray into musicals. He played David in Harvey Fierstein's "Torch Song Trilogy," bringing the role from Broadway to Los Angeles, starred as Eugene Jerome on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and played Jack in the Los Angeles premiere of "Boys' Life." His performance in the London production of "900 Oneonta" inspired the Daily Mail to proclaim Cryer's work "undoubtedly one of the funniest performances on the West End stage."

A native New Yorker, Cryer is the son of actor David Cryer and writer and actress Gretchen Cryer. Alongside his mother, he did his first commercial at the age of 4 and was so excited that he broke out in hives, halting production. He studied acting at Stagedoor Manor, a summer acting camp featured in Todd Graff's Sundance favorite "Camp," before being accepted to the London's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

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