Jon Cryer
Biography
Jonathan Niven Cryer was born on April 16, 1965, in New York City, New York. He is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer, and the son of actress and singer Gretchen Cryer. He made his motion picture debut in the 1984 romantic comedy No Small Affair and gained greater fame as Duckie in the 1986 John Hughes-scripted film Pretty in Pink. In 1998, he finished writing and producing the independent film Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God Be Back by Five. Although he gained fame through these films, it took several years to find success on television, as his earlier starring shows, including The Famous Teddy Z, Partners, and The Trouble with Normal, did not last very long.
Career overview
Jonathan Niven Cryer is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer who was born on April 16, 1965, in New York City, New York. He is the son of actress and singer Gretchen Cryer. He made his motion picture debut in the 1984 romantic comedy No Small Affair and subsequently gained greater fame for his role as Duckie in the 1986 film Pretty in Pink, which was scripted by John Hughes. Later in his film career, he finished writing and producing the well-received independent film Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five in 1998.
Despite achieving some fame through his early film work, it took him several years to find success on television. The television shows he starred in during this period, including The Famous Teddy Z, Partners, and The Trouble with Normal, did not last very long.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- aka Charlie Sheen (2025) as Self
- BRATS (2024) as Self
- The Little Pageant That Could (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Extended Family (2023) as Jim Kearney
- Extended Family (2023) Executive Producer
- The Jennifer Hudson Show (2022)
- Password (2022) as Self - Celebrity Guest
- 18½ (2022) as H.R. 'Bob' Haldeman (voice)
- Devoured (2022) as Narrator
- Big Time Adolescence (2020) as Reuben
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self - Guest
- Batwoman (2019) as Lex Luthor
- Crisis Aftermath (2019) as Self
- The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (2018) as Eugenio Derbez
- Will & Grace (2017) as Jon Cryer
- Drop the Mic (2017) as Self
- Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television (2017) as Jon Cryer
- DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016) as Lex Luthor
- Justice League Action (2016) as Felix Faust (voice)
- The Great Indoors (2016) as Donnie
- Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows (2016) as Self
- The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015) as Self
- Supergirl (2015) as Lex Luthor
- Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014) as Self - Guest
- The Flash (2014) as Lex Luthor
- Hit by Lightning (2014) as Ricky Miller
- Mom (2013) as Customer
- Mom (2013) Director
- Ass Backwards (2013) as Dean Morris
- Arrow (2012) as Lex Luthor
- John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast (2012) as Self
- Stay Cool (2011) as Javier
- Company (2011) as David
- Conan (2010) as Self
- Due Date (2010) as Alan Harper
- Who Do You Think You Are? (2010) as Self
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Weather Girl (2009) as Charles
- Shorts (2009) as Dad Thompson
- Tortured (2008) as Brian Mark
- Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby (2008) as Richard Pig (voice)
- Hannah Montana (2006) as Ken Truscott
- Danny Phantom: Reality Trip (2006) as Freakshow (voice)
- American Dad! (2005) as Quacky (voice)
- American Dad! (2005) as Desk Clerk (voice)
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self - Guest
- The Reichen Show (2005) as Self
- Metro Chase (2005) as Mr. Stamm
- The Soup (2004) as Self
- Danny Phantom (2004) as Freakshow (voice)
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- On Air with Ryan Seacrest (2004) as Self
- Retrosexual: The '80s (2004) as (archive footage)
- NCIS (2003) as Cyril Taft
- Two and a Half Men (2003) as Alan Harper
- Two and a Half Men (2003) Director
- Two and a Half Men (2003) Story
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Hey Joel (2003) as Joel Stein
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Jon Cryer (uncredited)
- Big Brother (2000) as Self - Actor, 'Two & a ½ Men'
- The Trouble with Normal (2000) as Zack Mango
- Family Guy (1999) as Kevin (voice)
- Becker (1998) as Roger
- Hercules (1998) as The Winged Wolves (voice)
- Two Guys and a Girl (1998) as Justin
- Holy Man (1998) as Barry
- Getting Personal (1998) as Sam Wagner
- Glam (1998) as Jimmy Pells
- Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five (1998) as Daniel
- Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five (1998) Writer
- Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five (1998) Producer
- The View (1997) as Self
- The Practice (1997) as Terry Pender
- Dharma & Greg (1997) as Brian (uncredited)
- Plan B (1997) as Stuart Winer
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) as Self - Guest
- The Pompatus of Love (1996) as Mark
- The Pompatus of Love (1996) Writer
- The Pompatus of Love (1996) Co-Producer
- E! True Hollywood Story (1996) as Self
- Cannes Man (1996) as Self
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Trevor McPhee
- Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995) as Duckie
- Partners (1995) as Bob
- Heads (1994) as Guy Franklin
- The Waiter (1993) as Tommy Kazdan
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
- Hot Shots! (1991) as Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach
- The Famous Teddy Z (1989) as Teddy Zakalokis
- Penn & Teller Get Killed (1989) as Frat Boy #3
- Rap Master Ronnie: A Report Card (1988)
- Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) as Lenny
- Dudes (1987) as Grant
- Hiding Out (1987) as Andrew Morenski / Max Hauser
- O.C. and Stiggs (1987) as Randall Schwab Jr.
- Morgan Stewart's Coming Home (1987) as Morgan Sewart
- Pretty in Pink (1986) as Philip F. 'Duckie' Dale
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Phil
- Noon Wine (1985) as Teenage Herbert
- No Small Affair (1984) as Charles Cummings
- American Playhouse (1982) as Teenage Herbert
- People's Choice Awards (1975) as Self - Host
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer