John Ennis is an American actor. He was a cast member on Netflix's W/ Bob & David and on HBO's Mr. Show with Bob and David. Other roles include Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Zodiac, and the revival of Twin Peaks.
Early life and education
Raised in Wellesley and Needham, Massachusetts, Ennis graduated from Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts, and received a bachelor's degree from Emerson College.
Career
Ennis has played roles in Malcolm in the Middle, Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. He played a writer for the fictitious comedy show at the center of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. He also played a part in the YouTube channel RocketJump's Video Game High School as Kimberly Swan's father Kenneth Swan. In 2007, Ennis took a small part in the film Zodiac as Terry Pascoe, protégé of the handwriting expert Sherwood Morrill.
In July 2006, Ennis joined with musician and filmmaker Andrew Jon Thomson to form a cowboy harmony western comedy musical group named Saddle Pals, in the spirit of 1930s movie singing cowboy groups such as Sons of the Pioneers and contemporaries such as Riders in the Sky.
He is also an acting teacher, having taught for several years at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Los Angeles. In the fall of 2007, John Ennis became the "Z" for a series of Wheel of Fortune commercials to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show.
As of 2015, he stars in commercials for Smith & Forge hard cider and Pur water as well as portraying Windfall Willie for the Arizona Lottery since 2017. He also has starred in short films created by Brandon Calvillo on YouTube. He had a small role as a slots player opposite Kyle MacLachlan in the reboot/third season of Twin Peaks.
In 2020, Ennis appeared as a guest on the Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip marathon fundraiser episode of The George Lucas Talk Show.
In 2022, Ennis played Vinnie Palmieri in an episode of Murderville, and had a guest role in Better Call Saul, a show that has also featured his daughter Jessie in a frequent recurring role.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1997Who's the Caboose?Irish Songster1997BuddyPoliceman1997Courting CourtneyGil1998Jack FrostTruck Driver2000Ready to RumbleStan2002Run Ronnie Run!BartenderUncredited2002Eight Legged FreaksCop #12004CellularRent a Cop #12004Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost MovieMan in news report2005Neighborhood WatchScotty2006Tenacious D in The Pick of DestinyGang Member2007ZodiacTerry Pascoe2007Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox StoryThe Big Bopper2013Dear SidewalkSteve2014Play NiceDave Bell2015A Wonderful CloudPaulston2015Fun Size Horror: Volume OneGaylan's Dad2015Contracted: Phase IISpecial Agent Dalton2015Freaks of NatureCoach Pulcifer2016The 4thLiquor Store Clerk2016SlashDeron Zaxa2016NerdlandDetective Donahue2019Love in Moreno ValleyRandy Watson2020The Towering DisasterNarrator2021My FionaLarry2022AllegoriaRobert Anderson Wright
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1994–1996Mr. Show with Bob and DavidVarious30 episodes1996Men Behaving BadlyPhilEpisode: "Christmas"1996Mr. Show with Bob and David: Fantastic NewnessVariousTelevision film1997The Weird Al ShowDad in CommercialEpisode: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Hamster"1998Buffy the Vampire SlayerManagerEpisode: "Faith, Hope & Trick"1998Two Guys and a GirlAshley's NeighbourEpisode: "Two Guys, a Girl and Oxford"1998Mr. Show and the Incredible, Fantastical News ReportVariousTelevision film1999Just Shoot Me!WaiterEpisode: "And the Femmy Goes To..."1999Oh, Grow UpCameron DundeeEpisode: "Good Pop, Bad Pop"1999FrasierCarlosEpisode: "Radio Wars"2001–2002Malcolm in the MiddleArtie9 episodes2003Still StandingChuck QuinnEpisode: "Still Our Kids"2004Arrested DevelopmentSupervisorEpisode: "Not Without My Daughter"2004Pilot SeasonMan in HallwayMiniseries2004Last Laugh '04Bar PatronTelevision film2004Father of the PrideChutney7 episodes2004Man with a VanPaulTelevision film2005Kevin HillWalter DaltonEpisode: "Cardiac Episode"2005Tom Goes to the MayorFactory OwnerEpisode: "Porcelain Birds"2005Weekends at the D.L.Sheriff Harland BeltoneEpisode #1.82005Life as We Know ItEddieEpisode: "Papa Wheelie"2006RodneyJohnnyEpisode: "When Rodney Comes Marching Home"2006SwitchstanceOfficer Frank TurnbullTelevision film2006–2007Studio 60 on the Sunset StripDenny / Writer #16 episodes2007–2019American Dad!Tex / Criminal / Driver2008Reno 911!Bus PassengerEpisode: "The Wall"2008Downers GroveJohn2 episodes2008Chocolate NewsOfficer HerlihayEpisode #1.62008, 2010The Sarah Silverman ProgramFree Hug Guy / Stranger2 episodes2010True Jackson, VPF. David PillowsEpisode: "Little Buddies"2010Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!Bronze ManEpisode: "Crows"2011Jon Benjamin Has a VanSmoking DriverEpisode: "Smoking"2011Nick Swardson's Pretend TimeMagic FanEpisode: "Flying Stripper"2011Let's Do This!Camera and Boom Op GuyTelevision film2013Shelf LifeSailor SquintEpisode: "Rub-A-Dub-Dub"2013Comedy Bang! Bang!Army GeneralEpisode: "Rainn Wilson"20132Fur1Oliver8 episodes2013The Funtime GangPhotographerTelevision film2013–2014Video Game High SchoolKen Swan / John Ennis6 episodes2014Anger ManagementBalloon GuyEpisode: "Charlie and Sean Fight Over a Girl"2014It's Only TemporaryLeslieTelevision film2014The Walsh Bros. Great & Secret Comedy ShowJohn2 episodes2014Fishbowls Are Definitely My ThingPork MacintoshEpisode #1.52014SantiagoFather ManagerEpisode #1.32014–2015TMI HollywoodVarious / Host3 episodes2014–2018Mr. PicklesVarious roles8 episodes2015Battle CreekRichardEpisode: "Old Flames"2015Why? with Hannibal BuressPatriotEpisode: "8th of July Celebration!"2015The MailroomLlewyn VanderzwaagEpisode #1.42015W/ Bob & DavidVarious roles4 episodes2015–2016Stupid BitchDad5 episodes2015, 2016Another PeriodHobo / Hot Dog Man2 episodes2015–2018Drunk HistoryVarious roles3 episodes2016LoveDonEpisode: "Magic"2016D-SidesFrankEpisode: "Daddy's Comin' Home Tonight"2016Bajillion Dollar Propertie$Cable GuyEpisode: "Brtox"2016Filthy Preppy TeensReynardEpisode: "The Island"2016Hidden America with Jonah RayBirddogEpisode: "Austin: End of the Road"2017The MickSullyEpisode: "The Balloon"2017Mourners, Inc.HarveyEpisode: "Pilot"2017Twin PeaksSlot Machine ManEpisode: "Part 3"2017Adam Ruins EverythingRich AdministratorEpisode: "Adam Ruins College"2018A Tale of Two CoreysAgentTelevision film2018TowniesSass Wooderen5 episodes2019Kevin Hart's Guide to Black HistoryVarious rolesTelevision film2019Second Chances with Jason NashBobEpisode: "Jason Nash Learns to Fight"2019Star Wars ResistanceVarious roles3 episodes2019Momma Named Me SheriffSpace CaptainEpisode: "Television"2019Artista ObscuraHenri CoutardTelevision film2020Brews BrothersBrother Thomas2 episodes2020Dead to MeSlade2021Bunk'dPop PopEpisode: "Pop Pop Poppin' In"2022MurdervilleVinnie PalmieriEpisode: "Murder by Soup"2022Better Call SaulLenny2 episodes
References
External links
Official Saddle Pals of the Western Frontier Website