John Paragon
Biography
John Paragon was an American actor, writer and director who became best known for the children's show Pee-wee's Playhouse, where he played Jambi the Genie, voiced Pterri the Pterodactyl, and wrote and directed several episodes. He got his start with the Groundlings, the Los Angeles improv troupe that also included Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. Raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, and born in Anchorage, Alaska, he co-wrote the Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988) with Reubens, earning an Emmy nomination for writing in a children's special. His film roles included a sex shop salesman in Eating Raoul (1982), a surf photographer in North Shore (1987), and a man who ran a strip-o-gram service in Echo Park (1985). On television he played Cedric on Seinfeld. He also worked with Walt Disney Imagineering on improvisation for park attractions and returned as Jambi in the Broadway Pee-wee Herman stage show in 2010.
66years old at death
- Born Anchorage
- Died Palm Springs
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as John Dixon Paragon
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 15 years1981 to 1996
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Early training
Paragon began his career with the Groundlings, an improvisation group based in Los Angeles, where he performed with Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman.
Behind the camera
Paragon wrote many regular-season episodes of Pee-wee's Playhouse, and in 1988 he co-wrote its Christmas Special with Reubens. The special earned them an Emmy nomination for Best Writing in a Children's Special.
A change of course
Paragon worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to find ways to bring improvisational performance into Disney park attractions. He played Lucky the Dinosaur's keeper when the animatronic figure was tested.
Beyond film
Paragon took up the part of Jambi the Genie again for the Pee-wee Herman stage show's Broadway run, which started performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theater on October 26, 2010.
John Paragon movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Paul Reubens directed two of these films. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Edie McClurg's page
Cassandra Peterson's page
Cheech Marin's page
Mary Woronov's page
Paul Reubens's page
Lynne Marie Stewart's page
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.