May 25, 2004
Another "Hey, It's That Guy!"
Five little known facts about Jon (Jonathan) Gries...
(1) First starred as a child actor in the western Will Penny, directed by his father Tom. Off camera, Charlton Heston, upon discovering that young Jon was rooting through his liquor cabinet, took a shot at him.
(2) In the episode of Seinfeld whether he played a homeless guy who takes possession of George's toupee (thrown out the window by Elaine), he actually walked off set with the toupee and utilized it to get ahead in life. Photographic evidence here.
(3) Has actually been a leading man (as shown by the photograph above) in Jackpot. With Daryl Hannah, no less. In fact, he has been a mainstay of the Polish Brothers' films, including Twin Falls Idaho and Northfork.
(4) In order to prepare for the role of Lazlo Hollyfeld (the recluse) in Real Genius, he actually lived in a closet for eight months. In addition, he took the mathematical knowledge he gleaned during production and actually monopolized MTV's "Win Bon Jovi's House" competition in 1988, only to emphatically turn down the grand prize when he won.
(5) Odds against him being cast with fellow forgotten 80s icon Ernie Reyes Jr. (small, Filipino martial arts sidekick in Red Sonja) in the recent crapfest The Rundown: 23 million to 1. By the way, to get from Ernie Reyes Jr. to Kevin Bacon, use Brigitte Nielsen (Red Sonja) to Brian Thompson (Cobra) to Fred Ward (Joe Dirt) to Kevin Bacon (Tremors). It's that simple.
Wow, you did just pull out the Kevin Bacon routine. I have to respectfully throw in my bid for the standing "call me on it when I blatantly run out of ideas" contest.
But more on topic, I lived a large portion of my youth attempting to live up to the ideals espoused in Real Genius and felt that Lazlo was the true centerpiece of the film. He was a true saint of slack. The man who was too lazy to fail. Oh, who am I kidding, I still look up to him.
Posted by: farfetched at May 25, 2004 01:52 PMYes, but I didn't use any conventional leading actors, including the guy who screams "PIG!!" at Sly Stallone, so we're still good to go. But just barely.
Posted by: Norbizness at May 25, 2004 01:56 PMYou pass this time, but there are at least five of us out here watching, waiting for you to slip up. Just one lapse of concentration is all we need. Then there'll be new sheriff in town, or at least someone will feel a little better about their pathetic little life. Either way.
Posted by: farfetched at May 25, 2004 02:21 PM