Jeff Anderson
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Allan "Jeff" Anderson (born April 21, 1970) is an American film actor, film director, and screenwriter best known for starring as Randal Graves in Clerks
and Clerks II
. In between, he has appeared in other Kevin Smith
-directed films and has written, directed, and starred in Now You Know
.
and raised in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
, Anderson attended Henry Hudson Regional High School
, with his friend, aspiring writer Kevin Smith
, from which they both graduated in 1988.
While Anderson was working at AT&T
, Smith was working on his debut movie Clerks
. As a joke, Anderson auditioned for the role of "Jay," and based on this audition, Smith later offered Anderson a lead role as video store employee Randal Graves; a seemingly foul-mouthed apathetic slacker, who along with his morally elevated best friend Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran
) belittled, aggravated, and alienated their customers whilst avoiding any real work opportunities.
In 2002, Anderson wrote, directed, and starred in his own debut film (as writer/director) Now You Know
, the entire writing process only lasting three months. Anderson received a nomination for Best Male Performance at the Chicago Film Festival for his role in "Love 101
" and has been seen in Peter Bergstrom's Something Cool. Anderson also started his own production company in Hollywood. In 2006, Anderson reprised his role as Randal in Clerks II
.
In 2008, Anderson appeared in Kevin Smith
's romantic comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno
as Deacon, the cameraman and film editor for the porno made by leading stars Seth Rogen
and Elizabeth Banks
. The film was released on October 31.
On September 14th, 2010 Anderson made his first appearance on Kevin Smith's SModcast filling in for Scott Mosier on SModcast #134. In his podcast Anderson stated he had moved out of Los Angeles and into a "retirement community in the mountains" where he is "the youngest person there by 20 years." He stated he re-married in 2009 to an actress named Barbara who he met while house sitting for Kevin Smith.
Clerks
Clerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
and Clerks II
Clerks II
Clerks II is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, sequel to his 1994 film Clerks, and his sixth and latest feature film to be set in the View Askewniverse...
. In between, he has appeared in other Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
-directed films and has written, directed, and starred in Now You Know
Now You Know (film)
Now You Know is a comedy film directed, written by and starring Jeff Anderson. The film was produced by the Lumberyard production company...
.
Early life
Born in ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and raised in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey
Atlantic Highlands is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey in the Bayshore Region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,385...
, Anderson attended Henry Hudson Regional High School
Henry Hudson Regional High School
Henry Hudson Regional High School is a comprehensive regional public high school and school district which serves students in grades 7-12 from two communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States...
, with his friend, aspiring writer Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
, from which they both graduated in 1988.
While Anderson was working at AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, Smith was working on his debut movie Clerks
Clerks
Clerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
. As a joke, Anderson auditioned for the role of "Jay," and based on this audition, Smith later offered Anderson a lead role as video store employee Randal Graves; a seemingly foul-mouthed apathetic slacker, who along with his morally elevated best friend Dante Hicks (Brian O'Halloran
Brian O'Halloran
Brian Christopher O'Halloran is an American actor best known for his roles in Kevin Smith's View Askewniverse films, notably as Dante Hicks in Smith's debut film Clerks and its 2006 sequel, Clerks II...
) belittled, aggravated, and alienated their customers whilst avoiding any real work opportunities.
Career
For his role in Clerks, Anderson was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance. In every scene in Clerks, he had gum in his mouth; he claims it helped him relax. Anderson often says that when he is recognized as Randal it is always by voice, not appearance.In 2002, Anderson wrote, directed, and starred in his own debut film (as writer/director) Now You Know
Now You Know (film)
Now You Know is a comedy film directed, written by and starring Jeff Anderson. The film was produced by the Lumberyard production company...
, the entire writing process only lasting three months. Anderson received a nomination for Best Male Performance at the Chicago Film Festival for his role in "Love 101
Love 101
Love 101 is a feature film comedy starring Michael Muhney, Jeff Anderson and Mary Kay Cook. It was written and directed by Adrian Fulle and shot entirely on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois...
" and has been seen in Peter Bergstrom's Something Cool. Anderson also started his own production company in Hollywood. In 2006, Anderson reprised his role as Randal in Clerks II
Clerks II
Clerks II is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, sequel to his 1994 film Clerks, and his sixth and latest feature film to be set in the View Askewniverse...
.
In 2008, Anderson appeared in Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
's romantic comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
as Deacon, the cameraman and film editor for the porno made by leading stars Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen is a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, producer, screenwriter, and voice artist. Rogen began his career doing stand-up comedy during his teen years, winning the Vancouver Amateur Comedy Contest in 1998. While still living in his native Vancouver, he landed a small part in Freaks and...
and Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Banks
Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell , known professionally as Elizabeth Banks, is an American actress. Banks had her film debut in the low-budget independent film Surrender Dorothy...
. The film was released on October 31.
On September 14th, 2010 Anderson made his first appearance on Kevin Smith's SModcast filling in for Scott Mosier on SModcast #134. In his podcast Anderson stated he had moved out of Los Angeles and into a "retirement community in the mountains" where he is "the youngest person there by 20 years." He stated he re-married in 2009 to an actress named Barbara who he met while house sitting for Kevin Smith.
Filmography
- ClerksClerksClerks is a 1994 independent comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances...
(1994) - DogmaDogma (film)Dogma is a 1999 American adventure fantasy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also stars in the film along with an ensemble cast that includes Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Alan Rickman, Bud Cort, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Jason Lee, George Carlin, Janeane Garofalo,...
(1999) - Love 101Love 101Love 101 is a feature film comedy starring Michael Muhney, Jeff Anderson and Mary Kay Cook. It was written and directed by Adrian Fulle and shot entirely on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois...
(2000) - Clerks: The Animated SeriesClerks: The Animated SeriesClerks is an American animated sitcom based on Kevin Smith's 1994 comedy of the same name. It was developed for television by Smith, Smith's producing partner Scott Mosier and former Seinfeld writer David Mandel with character designs by Stephen Silver.-Cast:- Broadcast history :Only two episodes...
(2000) (TV series) - Rennie's Landing (2001)
- UnleashedUnleashed- Film and television :* Unleashed , a 2005 martial arts film starring Jet Li* "Unleashed" , an episode of Angel* "Unleashed" , an episode of Fringe* Women of Wrestling Unleashed, a pay-per-view event...
(2001) - Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike BackJay and Silent Bob Strike Back is a 2001 American action adventure comedy film written, directed by, and starring Kevin Smith as Silent Bob, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of his cult favorite Clerks...
(2001) - Now You KnowNow You Know (film)Now You Know is a comedy film directed, written by and starring Jeff Anderson. The film was produced by the Lumberyard production company...
(2002) (actor, writer, and director) - The Flying CarThe Flying CarThe Flying Car is a six-minute 2002 short film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It stars Brian O'Halloran and Jeff Anderson as the View Askewniverse characters Dante Hicks and Randal Graves, who were introduced in Clerks...
(2002) (short film) - Twist of FaithTwist of FaithTwist of Faith is a 2004 American documentary film directed by Kirby Dick about a man who confronts the Catholic Church about the abuse he suffered as a teenager. The film was produced for the cable network HBO and screened at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival...
(2003) - Stealing TimeStealing TimeStealing Time is a 2001 drama involving the uniting of four friends reuniting a year after college, each of them now dealing with their own problems...
(2003) - Clerks: The Lost Scene (2004)
- Clerks IIClerks IIClerks II is a 2006 American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, sequel to his 1994 film Clerks, and his sixth and latest feature film to be set in the View Askewniverse...
(2006) - American Hormones (2007)
- Zack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a PornoZack and Miri Make a Porno is a 2008 romantic comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, distributed by The Weinstein Company, and starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. It is Smith's second film not to be set within the View Askewniverse and the first not set in New Jersey. It was...
(2008) - Hit Somebody (2012)