Jonathan Michael Lovitz was born on July 21, 1957, in Tarzana, California. He was raised in a Jewish family by his mother Barbara, father Robert (an anesthesiologist), and twin sister Leslie. Jon’s paternal grandfather was born Feivel Ianculovici, but he changed his name to Phillip Lovitz after immigrating to the United States from Romania in the early 1900s. Jon chose to become a comedian after seeing the Woody Allen film “Take the Money and Run” at the age of 13, and he later began learning and performing stand-up routines by Allen and Lenny Bruce in his dorm at the University of California, Irvine.
In 1979, Lovitz got a bachelor’s degree in drama before enrolling in acting lessons at the Film Actors Workshop. In 1984, he joined The Groundlings and met Phil Hartman, who would become one of his closest friends. Later, the two became “Saturday Night Live” castmates after Jon proposed to Lorne Michaels, “If you think I’m good, you should see Phil.” He’s even more impressive!”
Personal Life
In May 1998, Jon’s world was turned upside down when his good friend Phil Hartman was murdered by his wife, Brynn, in a dramatic murder-suicide. Lovitz, who has said that Hartman “was like [his] older brother,” blamed “NewsRadio” star Andy Dick in part for Phil’s untimely death since Dick allegedly gave Brynn Hartman cocaine at a 1997 Christmas party, prompting the recovering addict to reintroduce drugs. Brynn had cocaine, alcohol, and an antidepressant in her bloodstream when she murdered her husband, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Dick warned Lovitz when he joined the cast of “NewsRadio,” to which Jon answered, “Well, I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t given Brynn coke in the first place.” Lovitz eventually apologized for the remark, but when the two met in a restaurant in 2007, Dick said, “I put the Phil Hartman hex on you—you’re the next to die.” They got into an argument at the Laugh Factory a few months later when Dick refused to apologize for his prior remark. Later, in an interview with Dennis Miller, Jon stated:
“I just couldn’t take it anymore, so I grabbed him by the shirt and pushed him against the wall.” And he’s just smiling at me, and I thought to myself, ‘oooh, here’s my opportunity.’ So I grabbed his shirt and shoved him pretty hard, slamming his back and head on the bar. And then I did it again. I would have gone on, but the doorman stopped me.”
John paid $1.9 million for a property in Beverly Hills, California, in 1990. According to real estate records, he still owns this home, which is likely worth $6-8 million.
Career
Lovitz first appeared on television in a 1984 episode of “The Paper Chase,” and from 1985 to 1986, he was a regular on the CBS sitcom “Foley Square.” He joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1985 and was recognised for roles such as Tommy Flanagan, Master Thespian, Hanukkah Harry, and Annoying Man. Jon made his cinematic debut in 1986 with “Hamburger: The Motion Picture,” and that same year he also appeared in “Last Resort,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” “Ratboy,” and “Three Amigos.”
He appeared as a guest star on “Tales from the Crypt” (1991), “Married… with Children” (1991), and “The Larry Sanders Show” (1992; 1994), and co-starred in 1992’s “A League of Their Own” with Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, and Rosie O’Donnell, which was preserved in the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry in 2012 for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” Lovitz then appeared in the films “Mom and Dad Save the World” (1992), “Loaded Weapon 1” (1993), “Coneheads” (1993), and “City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold” (1994), as well as co-starring alongside Dana Carvey and Nicolas Cage in 1994’s “Trapped in Paradise.”
Jon appeared on “Seinfeld” (1995) and “The Naked Truth” (1997), and from 1997 to 1999, he guest-starred on “NewsRadio” twice before joining the cast as Max Lewis as a substitute for Phil Hartman’s Bill McNeal the show’s last season. Though Lovitz was first hesitant to take on the “NewsRadio” position, after the announcement was made, he declared, “I’m doing this for Phil.” “I have nothing else to say.”
Jon starred in 1996’s “High School High,” hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1997, and had a minor but memorable cameo in Adam Sandler’s “The Wedding Singer” in 1998. He later collaborated with Sandler on “Little Nicky” (2000), “Eight Crazy Nights” (2002), “The Benchwarmers” (2006), “Hotel Transylvania” (2012), “Grown Ups 2” (2013), “Hotel Transylvania 2” (2015), “The Ridiculous 6” (2015), and “Sandy Wexler” (2017).
Jon appeared on “Seinfeld” (1995) and “The Naked Truth” (1997), and from 1997 to 1999, he guest-starred on “NewsRadio” twice before joining the cast as Max Lewis as a substitute for Phil Hartman’s Bill McNeal the show’s last season. Though Lovitz was first hesitant to take on the “NewsRadio” position, after the announcement was made, he declared, “I’m doing this for Phil.” “I have nothing else to say.”
Lovitz has been in the films “A Mouse Tale” (2012), “Jungle Master” (2013), “Jay & Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie” (2013), and “Birds of Paradise” (2014), as well as “Sing Your Face Off” in 2014, “The $100,000 Pyramid” in 2016 and 2018, and “The New Celebrity Apprentice” in 2017. Jon has recently been in the films “Mother’s Day” (2016) and “Killing Hasselhoff” (2017), as well as appearing as a guest star on “Insatiable” (2018), “The Goldbergs” (2019), “The Cool Kids” (2019), and “A.P. Bio” (2020).
Lovitz garnered Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Programme for “Saturday Night Live” in 1986 and 1987, as well as an American Comedy Award nomination for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for “A League of Their Own” in 1993. Jon and his “Happiness” co-stars received a National Board of Review Award for Best Ensemble Acting in 1998, while the cast of “Hotel Transylvania” was nominated for a Behind the Voice Actors Award for Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film in 2013.
Net Worth
Jon Lovitz is a $12 million net-worth American comedian, actor, and producer. Jon Lovitz is most remembered for his time on “Saturday Night Live” (1985-1990), where he played characters such as Tommy Flanagan, The Pathological Liar, who utilised the catchphrase “Yeah! That’s the ticket!”
Jon has over 120 film and television credits, including “Big” (1988), “A League of Their Own” (1992), “Trapped in Paradise” (1994), and “The Wedding Singer” (1998), as well as the television shows “NewsRadio” (1997-1999), “Friends” (1995; 2003), and “Mr. Box Office” (2012-2015). He has also produced “The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz Special” (1992), “Jon Lovitz Presents” (2011), “Lovitz or Leavitz with Jon Lovitz” (2013), and “Globetrotter” (2014). He has voiced Jay Sherman on “The Critic” (1994-1995) and several characters on “The Simpsons” (1991-present).
In 2001, Lovitz played Albert Donay in Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party” on Broadway. He ran The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club (later renamed The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club & Podcast Theatre) on Universal CityWalk at Universal Studios Hollywood from 2009 to 2014.
Facts
| Net Worth | $12 Million |
| Date of Birth | Jul 21, 1957 (65 years old) |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Profession | Comedian, Actor, Singer, Voice Actor, Businessperson |
| Nationality | United States of America |
