Jack Black turns 55: Five of his best movies to watch and a brief outlook of his career
Over the last two decades the actor, comedian and musician became one of the most successful and in demand actors of Hollywood
Jack Black turns 55: Five of his best movies to watch and a brief outlook of his career
Over the last two decades Jack Black became one of the most successful and in demand actors of Hollywood, being almost certain to guarantee a box-office success with his name on the bill. Jack Black was born on August 28, 1969, in Santa Monica, California.
Black grew up in Southern California in a family of satellite engineers. His parents, both engineers, worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, but young Jack gravitated toward the arts rather than science. He attended the Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences, a private school known for its focus on creative expression, where he began to nurture his passion for acting and performing. He later attended UCLA, where he met future collaborators Tim Robbins and other members of the Actors’ Gang, a Los Angeles-based theater group. His first acting gig was in a TV commercial at the age of 13 in 1982 for the video game Pitfall!.
Black’s early career saw him taking on small roles in television and film during the 1990s. Among some of the TV shows he starred are “Picket Fences”, “The X-Files”, “Life Goes On” and “Northern Exposure” among many others; in the big screen he had roles in Demolition Man, Waterworld, Mars Attacks!, Dead Man Walking” among several others. He also starred in The Cable Guy (1996), where his performance garnered attention for his comedic talent.
His breakout role came in 2000 with the film High Fidelity, where he played the brash and opinionated record store employee Barry. His performance was widely praised and showcased his unique blend of humor, music, and charisma. This role catapulted him into the spotlight and led to starring roles in several major films.
In 2003, Black starred in School of Rock, a film that became a defining moment in his career. Portraying Dewey Finn, a down-on-his-luck musician who fake his way into a teaching job, Black delivered a performance that combined his comedic talents with his love of music. The film was a critical and commercial success and earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical.
Black’s film career continued to thrive with roles in popular movies such as Shallow Hal (2001), Nacho Libre (2006), King Kong (2005), and the Kung Fu Panda animated franchise, where he voiced the lovable panda Po. He also starred in Bernie, Be Kind Rewind and Shallow Hal. His versatility as an actor allowed him to take on a wide range of roles, from slapstick comedy to action-adventure, and even drama.
In addition to his acting career, Black is also a successful musician. He is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the comedic rock duo Tenacious D, which he formed with friend and fellow musician Kyle Gass in 1994. The duo released their self-titled debut album in 2001, followed by The Pick of Destiny (2006), Rize of the Fenix (2012), and Post-Apocalypto (2018). Tenacious D’s music blends rock with humor, and the band has cultivated a passionate fanbase over the years. Black has been one of the most famous former Nirvana and Foo Fighters’ frontman Dave Grohl buddies, starring in some Foo Fighters music videos and Grohl also starring in Black’s projects including The Pick of Destiny. Tenacious D were awarded a Grammy in 2015 for Best Metal Performance at the 57th Grammy Awards for the song “The Last in Line”, a Dio cover released on “Ronnie James Dio – This Is Your Life” tribute album.
Jack Black married Tanya Haden, a musician and artist, in 2006. The couple has two sons, Samuel Jason, born in 2006, and Thomas David, born in 2008. Black is known for his down-to-earth nature and close relationship with his family, often speaking about the importance of fatherhood in his life. Today Jack Black turns 55 and here’s five of his best movies to watch.
5 – “Shallow Hal”, 2001
4 – ”Be Kind Rewind”, 2008
3 – ”High Fidelity”, 2000
2 – ”Bernie”, 2011
1 – ”School of Rock”, 2003
Watch more movies related videos
Images and photographs can be from different ranges of sources such as Pinterest, Tumblr etc. except when/where noted. If you are the copyright holder and would like them removed or credited, please get in touch.