Biography: Jack Black

Jack Black returned as “Po” in Kung Fu Panda 2 for Paramount Pictures this past May grossing $125 million in its’ international opening weekend.

Jack Black returned as “Po” in Kung Fu Panda 2 for Paramount Pictures this past May grossing $125 million in its’ international opening weekend.

In October 2012, Black released The Big Year with Academy Award® winner Anjelica Huston and a comedy super cast of Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, Jim Parsons, Rashida Jones and Joel McHale for 20th Century Fox.  He has also recently been seen in The Muppets, written by his Gulliver’s Travels co-star, Jason Segel, for Disney.

In 2010, Black released the highly anticipated Gulliver’s remake for 20th Century Fox.  Black, who produced the film, starred as Lemuel Gulliver opposite Academy Award® nominated Emily Blunt, Segel and Amanda PeetGulliver’s grossed nearly $238 million worldwide.

In 2009, Black voiced video game character Eddie Riggs (modeled after him) in the widely popular Brutal Legend.  The game follows roadie (Riggs) into a fantasy world of heavy metal.  Black was nominated and won for Best Voice at the Spike Video Game Awards in 2009.

The year 2008 was very busy; starting by lending his voice to the lead animated character of “Po” in Paramount Pictures’ Kung Fu Panda, which earned more than $626 million worldwide. In August, Black found himself on top of the box office again for the Paramount release of Tropic Thunder.  Directed and written by Ben Stiller, who also starred in the film, Black was joined by the star studded cast Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson, Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey. The film was #1 in the box office for two straight weeks and has earned over $110 million domestically.

Being #1 is nothing new for Black. In September 2003, he proved his box office draw with a #1 opening for Paramount Pictures, School of Rock, from producer Scott Rudin, and writer Mike White. In the film, Black received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.  The next year Jack reunited with White to release Nacho Libre, which marked the first production under Black & White Productions, formed in late 2004 by White and Black.

In December 2005, Black was seen in the highly anticipated cinematic blockbuster and Academy Award® winning film, King Kong. Directed by Peter Jackson, the film opened at #1 and remained on top for three weeks in a row, and grossed over $540 million worldwide.

Black’s other screen credits include the comedies Bob Roberts, High Fidelity, Saving Silverman, Shallow Hal, Orange County, Envy, Shark Tale, The Holiday, and 2000’s independent drama Jesus’ Son and 2007’s drama Margot at the Wedding.

Fans also know Black as the lead singer of the rock-folk comedy group Tenacious D, which he created with friend Kyle Gass. Their self-titled album was released in the fall of 2001 with Epic Records and was quickly certified at gold-selling status. The band had a variety series on HBO that aired in 1999. The duo completed their first feature Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny for New Line Cinema, which released in November 2006.  Following Pick of Destiny, two documentaries were released in relation to the film.  The first, directed and produced by Black titled, The Making of ‘The Pick of Destiny’ reveals a behind the scenes look at the making of the film.  The second, D Tour: A Tenacious Documentary focused on the band’s world tour in support of their film and soundtrack.

Black currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Tanya and their two sons.

This biography/filmography of Jack Black is courtesy of Millennium Entertainment and the film, Bernie

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