Wesley Thompson

Born in Chicago and raised in Pasadena, California, Wesley Thompson began his career on the stage. He was voted Best Actor in college for his leading role in prolific playwright and director George C. Wolfe's very first play, "Up For Grabs". He has since gone on to do dozens of plays all over, but none as rewarding as his supporting role as the lovable loan shark Jumbo in the 2000 production of the romantic-comedy "Panache". It opened at the Pasadena Playhouse but within two months was swiftly moved to off-Broadway, to the Players Theater in Greenwich Village, in which The New York Times called Wesley "an electric, on-stage presence". His television roles are too numerous to mention. From The White Shadow (1978) to The Larry Sanders Show (1992) to Seinfeld (1989), he has done most of the best shows. He was a series regular on two ABC programs: He's the Mayor (1986) and Pursuit of Happiness (1987).