Jonathan Francis Gries was born on 17 June 1957, in Glendale, California USA, and is an actor, director, and writer, perhaps best known for appearing in “Napoleon Dynamite” as Uncle Rico. He was also a recurring character in the series “Lost”, in which he played Roger Linus, but all of his endeavors have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Jon Gries? As of early-2017, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $2 million, mostly earned through a successful career in film and television. Other roles he’s known for include the projects “Martin”, “The Pretender” and “Running Scared”. As he continues his career, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.
Jon Gries Net Worth $2 million
Jon is the son of actress Mary Eleanor Munday and producer Thomas Stephen Gries, so at a young age, Jon would get industry exposure and have his first film experience in “Will Penny” starring Charlton Heston, was written and directed by his father. Subsequently several of Jon’s films have become cult classics, including “Real Genius” in which he played Lazlo Hollyfield. He was also a part of “Rainbow Drive”, a TV film starring David Caruso. In 1992, Gries was cast in the series “Martin”, in which he played Shawn McDermott, remaining in the show for two years, and he would then appear in “Get Shorty” which is based on the novel of the same name written by Elmore Leonard. He was also cast in “Men in Black”, performing a small role which nonetheless helped build his net worth. In 2004, he played Uncle Rico in “Napoleon Dynamite” which became a huge success and helped increase his net worth significantly. He also played werewolf roles in films such as “Fright Night Part 2” and “The Monster Squad”. He received a lot of praise for his performance in “September Dawn” despite generally negative reception for the actual film. In 2003, he was cast in a rare villain role in “The Rundown”, which starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and in 2008 he became part of “Taken” which stars Liam Neeson, and would reprise his role in the next two films of the series. He’s also been a part of video game work, lending his voice to the video game “Hitman: Absolution”.
Other notable television roles Gries has been a part of include the hit show “24”, in which he played a terrorist. He also made guest appearances in “The X-Files”, “CSI: NY” and “Nikita” other credits he has include “Lost”, “Beverly Hills, 90210”, and “Quantum Leap” which is a science fiction series about time travel. He also made a guest appearance in “Seinfeld” for two episodes, and was cast in several episodes of “Supernatural”, the horror television series which stars Jared Paladecki and Jensen Ackles which has earned a cult following over the years. Gries also appeared in one episode of “Psych” as Strabinsky.
For his personal life, little is known about his private life, although he is believed to still be single.
Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Blush, Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Rumble, Teen Choice Award for Film - Choice Sleazebag
Movies
Napoleon Dynamite, Taken, Taken 3, Taken 2, The Rundown, Real Genius, Men in Black, Get Shorty, Will Penny, Unicorn City, The Astronaut Farmer, Stick It, Faults, Northfork, The Monster Squad, September Dawn, Fright Night Part 2, Deep in the Heart, Bad Turn Worse, Noobz, The Sasquatch Gang, Skinwalke...
TV Shows
The Pretender, Martin, Dr Fubalous, Napoleon Dynamite
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Quote
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(On Get Shorty) I was probably the 250th person they saw for that. They saw Matthew McConaughey, Steve Buscemi, a lot of people. Getting it was kind of an anomaly. It's very difficult being nobody and getting a part in a movie like that. My personal feeling is that what I did in the audition didn't translate on film, and part of that was Barry Sonnenfeld's insecurity. There was so much dialogue, so he thought everything should be sped up. He kept saying, "Make it faster," and I think it lost something. When we had the cast and crew screening, there wasn't a peep from the audience. Barry was sweating profusely. He thought everyone hated it. I walked out of there thinking it was gonna be a big flop. Of course, seeing it now, I think it worked just fine, and we were all being too hard on it.
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On Napoleon Dynamite (2004): The fun of this kind of experience, which I think, unfortunately, a lot of people in the film industry miss, is really the adventure of making a movie that is being nurtured almost like a child and having to go through a channel where there are not millions of hands kind of massaging it to the screen.
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On his definition of success: It's not about the money. It's not about the prestige or being recognized. It's about doing work that you really think has integrity.
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Fact
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Played the role of a wolf man in 2 films, in The Monster Squad (1987) as Desperate Man (wolf man in human form) and in Fright Night Part 2 (1988) as Louie.
On Lost (2004) he played the father of Michael Emerson, who is actually 3 years older than him.
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In one of his appearances on Seinfeld (1989), he plays a homeless man that refuses to give Kramer's (Michael Richards) Tupperware back. In Napoleon Dynamite (2004), his character is a door-to-door salesman of Tupperware-like products.
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Does not drink milk and eats very little red meat.
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Son of noted writer/director/producer Tom Gries and actress Mary Munday. His paternal step-grandfather was jazz musician Muggsy Spanier (who was married to Jon's grandmother, Ruth).
$2 Million
