![]() ![]() In 1997, Jon appeared favorably on several episodes of the popular TV sitcom, Friends (1994), as "Pete Becker", the humdrum but extremely wealthy suitor for Courteney Cox's "Monica" character, and also appeared to fine advantage on the Tracey Takes On. These two blueprint roles went on to define the character types of both actors on film. social scene via the help of cool, worldly, outgoing actor/buddy Vaughn. Swingers (1996), which he also co-produced, centers on Jon as a luckless, struggling actor type who is emotionally shattered after losing his girlfriend, but is pushed back into the L.A. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Notes from Underground (1995) and Batman Forever (1995), he decided to do some risk taking by writing himself and friend Vaughn into what would become their breakthrough film. After filming rudimentary roles in the movies Mrs. Jon broke into TV with a role on the classic series, Seinfeld (1989) (as "Eric the Clown"). Their enduring personal friendship would play an instrumental role in furthering both their professional careers within just a few years. While there, he earned another bit role in the film, Rudy (1993), and met fellow cast mate Vince Vaughn. He also found a couple of bit parts in films. Dropping out just credits away from receiving his degree, Jon moved to Chicago where he focused on comedy and performed at several Chicago improvisational theaters, including the ImprovOlympic and the Improv Institute. He attended the Bronx High School of Science before furthering his studies at Queens College in 1984. His father has French-Canadian, German, and Italian ancestry, and his mother was from a Russian Jewish family. The amiable, husky-framed actor with the tight, crinkly hair was born in Queens, New York on October 19, 1966, the only child of Madeleine (Balkoff), an elementary school teacher, and Charles Favreau, a special education teacher. Beyond his credits and upcoming projects, we talked about his experience co-writing an HBO special with Joe Piscopo, his mid-1980s meeting with Van Halen’s David Lee Roth, and what it was like being under television and film studio’s infamous “holding deals.” More on Ingraffia is here, here and here.Initially an indie film favorite, actor Jon Favreau has progressed to strong mainstream visibility into the millennium and, after nearly two decades in the business, is still enjoying character stardom as well as earning notice as a writer/producer/director. On February 15, 2022, I had pleasure of speaking with Sam Ingraffia via Zoom, as embedded below. He is also a novelist, having written the novel The Right Stiff. His award-winning plays have been produced in theaters around the country. His prolifc writing and producing credits include feature films, television, pilots, comedy specials and Internet series. Over 100 film and television performances have afforded Ingraffia with the opportunity to work as an actor with such acclaimed directors as John Schlesinger, Ron Howard, Mike Newell, Oliver Stone, Danny DeVito and Robert Zemeckis. Would Sam help him out and do the role? At the first rehearsal, Ingraffia realized he knew what he was supposed to do with his life and promptly quit graduate school. ![]() A director friend called and said he was having difficulty casting a small part in a play. After graduating with honors from UCLA, he was completing a Masters Degree in Finance. ![]() Sam Ingraffia’s entry into show business was a bit unusual. By Darren Paltrowitz 0 Sam Ingraffia On His 40+ Years As An Actor, Writer, Producer & Director, Upcoming Projects, Joe Piscopo, Writing Books & More ![]()
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