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John Paragon
Actor

John Paragon

9 Dec 1954Born
3 Apr 2021Died
66Age at death
44Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

John Dixon Paragon (born 9 December 1954) is an American actor, writer, and director.

He was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on an Army base. He grew up and attended schools in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Paragon is probably best known for his work on children's show Pee-wee's Playhouse where he played Jambi the Genie and voiced Pterri the Pterodactyl.

Read the full biography

In addition to writing many of the regular season episodes of Playhouse, Paragon also co-wrote (with Paul Reubens) the acclaimed Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special in 1988, for which they were nominated an Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Children's Special.

Some of Paragon's other memorable roles include Cedric, one half of the gay couple Bob and Cedric on the television series Seinfeld; the title character in the children's movie The Frog Prince; the sex shop salesman in the cult favorite Eating Raoul; and the owner of a Strip-o-gram business in the 1986 film Echo Park.

Paragon got his start in the Los Angeles-based improvisation group The Groundlings alongside Reubens and Phil Hartman. He also collaborated with fellow Groundling Cassandra Peterson on numerous Elvira projects, including the recurring role of The Breather, an annoying caller, for her first television series on KHJ-TV-Los Angeles.

In recent years, Paragon has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering on ways to incorporate improvisational performance into attractions at Disney parks. In this capacity, he performed as the keeper of Lucky the Dinosaur during the test runs of the animatronic figure.

Paragon returned to his performance as Jambi the Genie in the Broadway outing of the new Pee-wee Herman stage show that began performances 26 October 2010 at the Stephen Sondheim Theater.

Description above from the Wikipedia article John Paragon, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2016Pee-wee's Big HolidayFilm: TV Cameraman
  2. 2011The Pee-wee Herman Show on BroadwayFilm: Jambi
  3. 2006Red Riding HoodFilm: Fisherman
  4. 2002Elvira's Haunted HillsFilm: Writer
  5. 1996The Rich Man's WifeFilm: Maitre D'
  6. 1995Night Stand with Dick DietrickSeries (5 episodes)
  7. 1994Twin SittersFilm: Director, Writer
  8. 1994High TideSeries: Director (3 episodes)
  9. 1994Storybook CinemaSeries (9 episodes)
  10. 1994Every BreathFilm: Director
  11. 1993Star Trek: Deep Space NineSeries: Bokar (1 episode)
  12. 1993The Elvira ShowFilm: Renfield (Voice), Writer
  13. 1992Ring of the MusketeersSeries: Director (4 episodes)
  14. 1992RenegadeSeries: Director (1 episode)
  15. 1992Honey, I Blew Up the KidFilm: Lab Technician
  16. 1992Double TroubleFilm: FBI Agent, Director
  17. 1991Silk StalkingsSeries: Director (10 episodes)
  18. 1991Harry and the HendersonsSeries: Arnold (1 episode)
  19. 1989UHFFilm: Richard Fletcher
  20. 1989SeinfeldSeries: Cedric (3 episodes)
  21. 1988Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas SpecialFilm: Jambi / Pterri (voice), Writer
  22. 1988Elvira: Mistress of the DarkFilm: Gas Station Attendant, Writer
  23. 1987SpaceballsFilm: Dink (voice) (uncredited)
  24. 1986The Frog PrinceFilm: Ribbit / Prince of Freedly
  25. 1986Sledge Hammer!Series: Durward Monroe (1 episode)
  26. 1986Pee-wee's PlayhouseSeries: Jambi, Director, Writer (45 episodes)
  27. 1986Leo & Liz in Beverly HillsSeries (1 episode)
  28. 1985Echo ParkFilm: Hugo
  29. 1985Get Out of My RoomFilm: Robert Walters
  30. 1985Pee-wee's Big AdventureFilm: Movie Lot Actor
  31. 1984Elvira's MTV Halloween PartyFilm: The Breather
  32. 1984Last of the Great SurvivorsFilm: Beef
  33. 1983Going BerserkFilm: Rooster
  34. 1983The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo ShowSeries
  35. 1983The Paragon of ComedyFilm: Dr Berger / Debbie / Mr Excitement / Ramone Azteca and others, Writer
  36. 1982CheersSeries: Grif Palmer (1 episode)
  37. 1982Madame's PlaceSeries: Holistic Doctor (1 episode)
  38. 1982Things Are Tough All OverFilm: Red Carpet Man #1
  39. 1982The FactsFilm
  40. 1982PandemoniumFilm: Prisoner
  41. 1982Eating RaoulFilm: Sex Shop Salesman
  42. 1981Elvira's Movie MacabreSeries: Breather
  43. 1981The Pee-wee Herman ShowFilm: Jambi the Genie, Writer
  44. 1980Cheech & Chong's Next MovieFilm: Director (Groundling)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.