JK Simmons first acting gig came about because he was a strong baritone singer at the University of Montana and they needed a lead for Brigadoon. After graduation, he spent 5 years in Seattle before moving to New York with a car & $400 to audition on Broadway.
His breakout came in a 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls that got him an agent and led to bigger roles on Broadway as well as TV – booking recurring roles on Law & Order and OZ.
His movie career kicked off a short time later, as Spider-Man’s nemesis of sorts, J. Jonah Jameson.
Even after his OSCAR win, he’s one of the hardest working and versatile character actors in Hollywood, doing everything from voicing the Yellow M&M to Farmers commercials to the latest Terminator movie and an upcoming film with Ben Affleck.