Jack Black Biography

Summary

"Jack Black" (born "Thomas Jack Black, Jr." on August 28, 1969) is a Golden Globe-nominated American actor, comedian and musician. He is considered a core member of the Frat Pack, a name used by members of the media for a group of comedians active in today's Hollywood films, though he is also in demand for Hollywood blockbusters and indie films. He and Kyle Gass make up the comedy and rock duo Tenacious D. Black is also known by his nicknames, "JB" or "Jables".

Biography

Early life

Black is the son of two satellite engineers. His mother, Judith Cohen, is Jewish, while his father, Thomas Jack Black, Sr., converted. He was raised in the Jewish religion. His parents divorced when he was 10. Jack had a Bull Mastiff and Rottweiler mix named Chico. Chico died of parvo soon after Jack's parents divorce. Black moved to Culver City with his father and frequently visited his mother's home until the end of his first year of college at UCLA when his father's family moved abroad. As a child, Black appeared in an early Atari "Pitfall!" commercial, which was later shown during an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and again on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno".

When he entered high school, his parents suggested that he transfer to the Poseidon School, a private secondary school engineered specifically for students struggling in the traditional school system. Black eagerly accepted the proposition, afraid that he would only be bullied if he remained in public school. He also attended the Crossroads School, where he excelled in drama. Black later attended UCLA but dropped out during his sophomore year to pursue a career in the entertainment business, at which point his father discontinued his financial support. Fellow UCLA veteran Tim Robbins later cast Black in "Bob Roberts". He also had recurring roles on the HBO sketch comedy series "Mr. Show".

Acting career

Black's acting career began with primetime TV. He played roles on several hit shows such as: "The Golden Palace" (Taxi Driver), "Life Goes On" (skinhead), "The X-Files" (Bart 'Zero' Liquori), "Northern Exposure" (Kevin Wilkins, prom king) and Picket Fences (Curtis Williams). Black later took on small roles in "Airborne", "Demolition Man", "The Cable Guy", "Bob Roberts", "Mars Attacks!", "Waterworld","The Jackal", "Bye Bye Love", "Jesus' Son", "Dead Man Walking", "Enemy of the State", and "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" before a breakthrough role as Barry, the pretentious co-worker to John Cusack's record store owner in "High Fidelity". His career soon led to leading roles in films such as "Orange County", "School of Rock","Envy", and the Academy Award-winning "King Kong". Black starred in two films in 2006: "Nacho Libre", in which he played a Mexican friar following his childhood dream of wrestling and pursuing true victory by fighting for the children of an orphanage, and "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny", a fictionalized account of the band's formation and their quest to obtain a 'supranatural' ("sic") guitar pick ('Supranatural' being on 'a whole 'nother level than' super). "Nacho Libre" opened on June 16, 2006; "Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny" was released November 22, 2006. He starred alongside Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, and Kate Winslet in "The Holiday", in which he played Miles, the love interest of Winslet's character. He still occasionally makes TV appearances, including the short-lived animated television program "Clone High". Black will be starring in Margot at the Wedding, opposite Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nicole Kidman, to be released October 19, 2007.

Black has appeared numerous times on the 'untelevised TV network' short film festival Channel101, starring in the shows "Computerman", "Timebelt", and "Laserfart". He also provided an introduction for the unaired sketch comedy, "Awesometown", donning a Colonial-era military uniform. In the introduction, he claims to be George Washington (and takes credit for the accomplishments of other American Presidents such as Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln) and gives viewers a general idea as to what they should expect from the show. Black has also guest starred in the Adult Swim show "Tom Goes to the Mayor" as a bear trap store owner.

Black appeared in an un-aired pilot episode for a show directed by Ben Stiller called "Heat Vision and Jack" where he played an ex-astronaut pursued by actor Ron Silver. He was accompanied by his friend who had merged with a motorcycle, voiced by Owen Wilson. In a Season 3 episode of "The X-Files", titled 'D.P.O.', Black played Bart 'Zero' Liquori, friend to Darren, a teen who could cause lightning strikes, played by Giovanni Ribisi.

Black recently hosted the 2006 "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards" on April 1, 2006 and the MTV video music awards on August 31, 2006. He is also a member of the Frat Pack, which also includes Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn, and Steve Carell. Jack Black has made five appearances on "Saturday Night Live": three times as a host, once as a musical guest (with Kyle Gass as Tenacious D), and another appearance with Tenacious D, not as a host or musical guest. He appeared on VH1's Internet video show Acceptable.TV.

Black has also voice acted for "The Simpsons" episode 'Husbands and Knives', voicing the friendly owner of the rival comic book store, Milo.

Music career

Black first appeared in the music video for Beck's song Sexx Laws. Black is the lead singer for the rock comedy band Tenacious D. Black's singing style is often described as being a scat type of music. Black has dubbed this form of singing the 'ventrili-solo'. Black has also performed a two-part scat with bandmate Gass in the song 'Tribute'.

Tenacious D has released two albums, a self-titled debut, and the follow up, "The Pick of Destiny". The latter coincides with the movie "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny". The film, directed by Tenacious D veteran Liam Lynch, features recurring characters such as Lee the superfan and Sasquatch. Tim Robbins cameos (both Black and Gass appeared in Robbins' 1999 film "Cradle Will Rock"), as does Dave Grohl as Satan. Ben Stiller also makes an appearance as a worker at Guitar Center.

Tenacious D recently helped the (United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation) to raise awareness and funds in San Diego on June 16, 2007. This was the second time Jack Black donated time and energy to the organization.

Black was also a guest star on an episode of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" entitled 'Ellen the Musical', alongside Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and teenage singer-actress Olivia Olson. On the show, besides singing, he discussed his then-upcoming film "Nacho Libre" with the host.

Black has also appeared on Dave Grohl's "Probot" album, providing vocals for the hidden song 'I Am The Warlock', and Liam Lynch's "Fake Songs" album, providing vocals for the song 'Rock and Roll Whore'.

Black performed a cover of Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On' in the last sequence of "High Fidelity". He lent his musical abilities to the Queens of the Stone Age song 'Burn the Witch' with rhythmic stomps and claps, some performed with his eyes closed.

Black sang lead vocals with Sum 41 in the song 'Things I Want,' which is currently unreleased, and performed a cover of 'Kiss From a Rose' on an "American Idol" charity special in 2007.

Black has not only appeared in music videos by Tenacious D, but also in the following:

Beck, 'Sexx Laws'

Dio, 'Push'

Foo Fighters, 'Learn To Fly'

Foo Fighters, 'Low'

Foo Fighters, 'The One'

The Eagles of Death Metal, 'I Want You So Hard (Boy's Bad News)'

Foo Fighters, cover of AC/DC's song 'Back in Black' at MTV New Year's Eve Party 2003

Queens of the Stone Age, 'Burn the Witch'

Sum 41, 'Things I Want'

Personal life

Black dated actress and comedian Laura Kightlinger from 1997 until 2005. In January 2006, he became engaged to Tanya Haden (daughter of the jazz double bassist Charlie Haden). Haden herself is an accomplished cellist. Both attended Crossroads school, but met again 15 years after graduating, at a friend's birthday party. Black proposed marriage around Christmas 2005 with a $50,000 Neil Lane ring. They married on March 14, 2006, in Big Sur, California. Their son, Samuel Jason, was born on June 10, 2006.

Comedic style

Black's comedic style combines many key elements from both sides of the traditional double act. Black typically begins a skit in which he presents an earnest introduction to a premise or subject that quickly reveals itself to be flawed or fundamentally ludicrous. Black then switches completely to a far-extreme caricature of human emotion. His would-be straight-man Gass often functions to trigger these outbursts. Tenacious D's subject matter illustrates this technique:

In 'Tribute', Tenacious D tells a story in which they claim to have performed 'The Best Song in the World' for a 'Shiny Demon' who would otherwise 'eat their souls'.

In 'Inward Singing', Black doesn't merely discover a new vocal technique, he discovers what he refers to as 'the most powerful tool in singing technology since yodeling'.

Black's skits also use the phrase 'more cushion for the pushin' including his guest appearance on "Will & Grace" and MTV Movie parody 'Jack Black: Spiderman'.

Salaries

$1,000,000 - "Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny" (2006) Split equally with Kyle Gass, with whom will share 10% of gross revenues once production & marketing costs are recouped.

$8,000,000 - "Nacho Libre" (2006)

$2,000,000 - "Orange County" (2002)

$2,000,000 - "Shallow Hal" (2001)

$1,000,000 - "Saving Silverman" (2001)