Jamie Kennedy

About Jamie Kennedy

Jamie Kennedy is best known for his breakthrough performance as Randy Meeks, the video store clerk well-versed in the conventions of scary movies, in Wes Craven's 1996 self-referential horror film "Scream" and its follow-up "Scream 2" (1997). The Pennsylvania native headed west after high school and began performing stand-up comedy while supporting himself in a variety of odd jobs. Kennedy was spotted at one of the comedy clubs and cast in the little-seen 1995 indie comedy "The Road to Flin Flon". An appearance as a punked-out rival to John Leguizamo in "William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" (1996) and as a street hustler who attacks Greg Kinnear in the Oscar-nominated "As Good As It Gets" (1997) can be counted among his smaller roles.

This offbeat, high-energy actor frequently sports a shock of peroxide blond in his short brown hair and has cultivated a rumpled hipster look complete with colorful eye-catching sh s reportedly culled from the set of "Scream". His laid-back yet edgy persona and dynamic performances have earned him an impressive fan following. Following his success in "Scream", Kennedy took on roles in the 1997 films "Sparkler", as one of a trio of youths headed to Las Vegas, and "Clockwatchers", as the office mailman who develops a crush on a temp worker. He continued to add to his gallery of eccentric characters with a dramatic turn as a heroin addict in "Bongwater" and a novice screenwriter in the comedy "Starf*cker" (both 1998). He added much-needed comedy in the dramas "The Three Kings" (1999) and "The Boiler Room" (2000). After years of obtaining his fair-share of supporting and featured roles, Kennedy was given his own sketched comedy show.

In 2002, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment (JKX), a television show that can best be described as a combination of Candid Camera and Saturday Night Live, was born. "JKX" quickly became The WB's highest ranking new show. Among the wacky characters (played by Kennedy), one became across the board an all-time favorite-Brad Gluckman the Malibu rapper. The character was such a hit that Kennedy decided to take it, naturally, to the next level. Thus, in 2003, "Malibu's Most Wanted" was released starring Kennedy as the white "wanna-be rapper" from Malibu. Kennedy was set to elevate his profile with "Son of the Mask" (2005), the sequel to the blockbuster Jim Carrey vehicle. In the movie, Kennedy played a cartoonist who finds the Mask of Loki and later has a son that possesses some of its spectacular powers. Loki, however, comes down to earth and engages Kennedy in an epic power struggle.

Partners

Companion

Jennifer Love Hewitt. Hewitt announced they were dating on Ryan Seacrest's radio show in March 2009; rumored to be engaged as of July 2009; announced split in March 2010

Education

Delaware County Community College, Media , Pennsylvania

British American Drama Academy

Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill , Pennsylvania

Career Milestones

Began career as a stand-up comic and created the false persona Marty Power

Moved to Los Angeles after graduating from high school

1989

Worked as an extra in "Dead Poets Society"

1995

Feature debut in "The Road to Flin Flon"

1995

Had recurring roles on The WB's "Unhappily Ever After" and ABC's "Ellen"

1996

Breakthrough screen role, playing horror film buff Randy Meeks in Wes Craven's "Scream"

1996

Played Sampson in Baz Luhrmann's stylized adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Romeo + Juliet"

1997

Reprised role of Randy for the sequel "Scream 2"

1998

Co-starred in Tony Scott's "Enemy of the State"

1999

Appeared in David O. Russell's Gulf War-set drama "Three Kings"

2000

Once again played Randy Meeks in "Scream 3"

2001

Played the Evil Ice Cream Man in the children's comedy "Max Keeble's Big Move"

2002

Hosted and starred on comedy series "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment" (The WB); also wrote and produced

2003

Wrote and starred in "Malibu's Most Wanted," a movie based on his most popular character Brad Gluckman; also co-starred Kal Penn

2005

Created the short-lived reality program "The Starlet" on The WB

2005

Created the short-lived sitcom "Living With Fran," starring Fran Drescher (The WB)

2005

Played the lead role in "Son of the Mask"; co-starred with Kal Penn

2006

Featured in the stand-up comedy special "Jamie Kennedy: Unwashed" (also aired on Comedy Central)

2006

Starred in the comedic reality show "Blowin' Up" on MTV

2007

Appeared as himself in the documentary film "Heckler"

2007

Starred as a 32-year-old breakdancer in "Kickin' It Old Skool"

2008

Cast as psychology professor Eli James on the CBS drama "Ghost Whisperer"

2009

Voiced several characters on the Nickelodeon animated series "Fanboy and Chum Chum"

2010

Produced and featured on the Showtime special "Jamie Kennedy: Uncomfortable"

2012

Cast in Tyler Perry written and directed drama feature "Good Deeds"