- Jim Meskimen
Infobox actor
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birthdate =10 September 1959
birthplace =Los Angeles, California Jim Meskimen (born
10 September 1959 ) is an Americancomedian andactor , perhaps best known for his work on the improvisation show "Whose Line Is It Anyway? " and as the voice ofPresident Bush and other politicians for the internetJib Jab animated shorts.Meskimen was born in
Los Angeles, California , the son of actorsMarion Ross and Freeman Meskimen. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/88/Jim-Meskimen.html Jim Meskimen Biography (1959-) ] ] A graduate infine art from theUniversity of California and a formeranimator , Meskimen's extensive range ofimpersonation s and vocalisations has made him a frequent recruit to high-profile advertising campaigns in theUnited States . He appeared in five episodes of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air " as Werner, and has appeared in episodes of "Beverly Hills 90210 ", "Seinfeld ", "Grace Under Fire " and "3rd Rock from the Sun ".In 1991, the British improvisation show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" filmed a season of episodes in
New York and Meskimen, along with his improv partner Christopher Smith, was recruited for two episodes which were warmly received. Over the two recordings, Meskimen and Smith appeared alongsideJosie Lawrence ,Ryan Stiles ,Sandi Toksvig andMike McShane . Meskimen's games included making up songs on the spot in the style of Sting andFrank Sinatra . He was declared "winner" of his second episode, and was asked to read the credits asPopeye .The show returned to New York a year later and Meskimen appeared in one more episode, again with Smith, with whom he had performed in New York's popular Interplay improv troupe for a number of years. Also appearing in this episode were Stiles and
Chip Esten but again Meskimen "won", this time reading the credits asKevin Costner playingJim Garrison in the film "JFK". A year later Meskimen moved to Los Angeles where he and Smith set up a new performing troupe andworkshop called "The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company".When "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" relocated permanently to the U.S., Meskimen surprisingly failed an
audition . He has yet to appear on this version of the show.Meskimen had roles in "Apollo 13", "
How the Grinch Stole Christmas " and "The Punisher" while continuing to work as a voice provider, comic and improviser. He voiced the online "JibJab " cartoons and recently began a one-man show based on impersonations entitled "Jimpressions" which debuted at theWoodstock Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois. Also he has appeared in The "Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air " in Seasons 4 and 6.He is married to Tamra, with whom he performs regularly, and they have a daughter, Taylor. His sister is a writer and producer of "
Friends ". Meskimen is a devout Scientologist and has recorded and directed spoken versions of founderL. Ron Hubbard 's fiction works on to cassette. He first read Hubbard's book "Dianetics " in 1982 and attributes his successes in his life and career to the theories therein.References
External links
*imdb name|id=0002350|name=Jim Meskimen
* [http://www.appliedsilliness.com Jim Meskimen's official website]
* [http://www.rstcimprov.com/ The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company's official website]
* [http://www.factivafindstime.com Jim Meskimen in funny office videos for Factiva]
* [http://www.jibjab.com Jib Jab]
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