James Ross Meskimen (born September 10, 1959) is an American actor, comedian and impressionist, who is best known for his voice-over work in video games.
Early life
James Ross Meskimen was born in
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...
on September 10, 1959, the son of
Marion Ross and Freeman Meskimen.
Career
Meskimen portrayed the father of
Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen (born June 13, 1986) is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, equestrian, and former actress. She began her acting career nine months after her birth, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner with her twin sister Ashley Olsen ...
and
Ashley Olsen's characters in ''
Our Lips Are Sealed''. He portrayed Officer Wholihan in ''
How the Grinch Stole Christmas''.
He voices Thom Cat, Neighbor John, and Stumpy in the ''Thom Cat'' short film on ''
Random! Cartoons''. Meskimen provided the voice of the
Genie in the
''Aladdin'' franchise (which started with ''
Disney Think Fast'' in 2008 and even before
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comed ...
' death in 2014). In 2012, Meskimen voices several different characters in ''
Lego The Lord of the Rings''. As well, he is the voice of
George W. Bush and other politicians for the
Jib Jab
JibJab is an American digital entertainment studio based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1999 by brothers Evan and Gregg Spiridellis, it first achieved widespread attention during the 2004 United States presidential election, 2004 US pres ...
animated shorts. In the same year, Meskimen voices and motion captures
David Petraeus in ''
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2''.
In the 1990s Meskimen played 5 inch tall "Little Guy" in commercials for TGIFridays.
Meskimen was a contestant on
season eight of ''
America's Got Talent''. He has also toured various U.S. cities performing a one-man act, entitled "Jimpressions", of celebrity
impersonations and original characters.
Personal life
In 1987, Meskimen married Tamra Shockley.
They have a daughter named Taylor (born 1990).
He is also a
Scientologist
Scientology is a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and an associated movement. It has been variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religious movement. The most recent published census data indi ...
.
Filmography
Film
Television
*''
3rd Rock from the Sun'' – Alan (Season 2 Episode 4)
*''
Anger Management'' – Daniel
* ''
Avatar: The Last Airbender'' – Lieutenant Jee, General How, Avatar Kuruk
* ''
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
''Brooklyn Nine-Nine'' is an American police procedural Television comedy, comedy television series that aired on Fox Television Network, Fox, and later on NBC. The show aired from September 17, 2013, to September 16, 2021, for a total of eight ...
'' – Deputy Chief Williams (Season 8 Episodes 9 and 10)
* ''
Community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, villag ...
'' –
Christopher Walken/
Tommy Lee Jones impersonator (
Season 3 Episode 11)
* ''
Friends'' – Bill (Season 10 Episode 2)
* ''
Even Stevens'' - Dr. Dean
* ''
Good Omens'' -
George H. W. Bush (voice)
* ''
Hot in Cleveland
''Hot in Cleveland'' is an American television sitcom on TV Land starring Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, and Betty White.
The series, which was TV Land's first original series, premiered on June 16, 2010, and was TV Land's ...
'' – Professor Zucker
* ''
Kickin' It'' - Principal Bucket (Season 2, Episode 9)
* ''
Mad'' –
Gandalf
Gandalf is a protagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. He is a Wizards (Middle-earth), wizard, one of the ''Istari'' order, and the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring (characters), Fellowship of t ...
,
Droopy,
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold ( Brandt (1994), p. 4June 14, 1801) was an American military officer who served during the Revolutionary War. He fought with distinction for the American Continental Army and rose to the rank of major general before defect ...
, additional voices
* ''
Malcolm in the Middle
''Malcolm in the Middle'' is an American television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for Fox. The series premiered on January 9, 2000, and ended on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons consisting of 151 episodes.
The single-camera series is a da ...
'' – Waiter
* ''
Parks and Recreation'' – Martin Housely
* ''
Phineas and Ferb
''Phineas and Ferb'' is an American animated musical-comedy television series created by Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh for Disney Channel and Disney XD. Produced by Disney Television Animation, the series was originally broadcast a ...
'' – Additional voices
* ''
Random! Cartoons'' – Thom Cat, Neighbor John, Stumpy ("Thom Cat" short)
* ''
Rules of Engagement'' – Mr. Wrigley
* ''
Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!'' – Agent 1, Robi
* ''
Superman: Red Son'' –
Lex Luthor
Alexander Joseph "Lex" Luthor () is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Lex Luthor originally appeared in '' Action Comics'' #23 (cover dated: ...
,
Perry White,
Guy Gardner / Green Lantern,
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili; – 5 March 1953) was a Georgian revolutionary and Soviet political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953. He held power as General Secreta ...
,
Jor-El
Jor-El, originally known as Jor-L, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, Jor-El first appeared in a newspaper comic strip in 1939 with Superman ...
* ''
The Big Bang Theory'' – Doctor, Man (voice), Las Vegas Wedding Chapel Minister
* ''
The Boondocks'' –
Bill O'Reilly,
Chris Hansen, Additional voices
* ''
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' – Prof. Jeremy Mansfield (Season 4 Episode 3), Werner (Season 6 Episodes 2 and 3 and 11)
* ''
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest'' – Additional voices
* ''
Time Squad'' –
George W. Bush,
George H.W. Bush
* ''
Two and a Half Men'' – Gangster #2 (voice)
* ''
Whose Line Is it Anyway?'' – Himself
Video games
* ''
Armored Core V'' - Jack Batty, Men of Honor Unit B, Zodiac No. 8
* ''
Baldur's Gate'' – Edwin Odesseiron, Jebadoh, Khalid, Thaldorn
* ''
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn'' – Edwin Odesseiron
* ''
Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal'' – Edwin Odesseiron, Khalid
* ''
Batman: Arkham City'' – Officer Tom Miller
* ''
Batman: Arkham Knight'' – Additional voices
* ''
Batman: Arkham Origins'' – SWAT Officers, Cops
* ''
Call of Duty: Black Ops'' –
John F. Kennedy
* ''
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2'' –
Secretary of Defense David Petraeus
* ''
Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight'' – Various
* ''
Destroy All Humans! 2'' - Additional voices
* ''
Diablo III'' – Additional voices
* ''
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls'' – Additional voices
* ''
Disney Infinity 3.0
''Disney Infinity 3.0'' (also known as ''Disney Infinity: Star Wars'') is an action-adventure sandbox video game published by Disney Interactive Studios (the last game to be published by the company before their closure) for Microsoft Windows, Pl ...
'' – Ultron
* ''
Disney Think Fast'' – Genie
* ''
Epic Mickey'' – Voice
* ''
Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two'' – Mad Doctor
* ''
EverQuest II'' – Guild Patron Volarian, Baron Zafimus, Sergeant-at-Arms Ironcast, Commission Deputy Halford, Naturalist Tummyfill, Borthen, Amren Talbot, Morte Winghammer, Green Hood Trap Master, Banker Izark, Ubani, Overseer Travog
* ''
Fantastic 4'' –
Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the f ...
, Additional voices
* ''
Final Fantasy XIII-2'' – Additional voices
* ''
Gothic 3
''Gothic 3'' is a fantasy-themed open world action role-playing game for Microsoft Windows developed by Piranha Bytes. It is the sequel to ''Gothic II''.
A ''Collector's Edition'' was released containing bonus collectible material. JoWooD rele ...
'' - Additional voices
* ''
Hitman: Blood Money'' – Additional voices
* ''
Kinect Disneyland Adventures'' – Genie
* ''
Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix
''Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix'' is an HD remastered collection of three games in Square Enix's '' Kingdom Hearts'' series: '' Kingdom Hearts II'', '' Birth by Sleep'' and '' Re:coded''. A successor to the series' '' HD 1.5 Remix'' collection, ...
'' – Genie (''Kingdom Hearts Re:coded'' cinematics)
* ''
Lego Jurassic World'' – Additional voices
* ''
Lego The Lord of the Rings'' – Various
* ''
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII'' – Additional voices
* ''
Madagascar: The Video Game'' – Albino Crocodile, Guard, Jogger, Sailor
* ''Marvel Dimension of Heroes'' - Ultron
* ''
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite'' - Ultron, Ultron Sigma, Ultron Omega
* ''
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order'' - Ultron,
Ultimo
* ''
MAG'' - SVER Executive
* ''
Minecraft Story Mode'' - Milo
* ''
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl'' - Nigel Thornberry (voiceover added in the June 2022 update)
* ''
Robots'' - Ratchet, Additional voices
* ''
Shark Tale: The Video Game'' – Lino, Additional Tenant Fish
* ''
Shrek the Third'' - Captain Hook, Attendant 2, Geek
* ''
Skylanders: Trap Team'' – Additional voices
* ''
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom'' - Genie
* ''
Syndicate'' - Additional voices
* ''
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan'' - Wingnut, Stone Warriors
* ''
The Lego Movie Videogame'' – Additional voices
* ''
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II'' – Elven King
Thranduil
* ''
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II - The Rise of the Witch-king'' - King Thranduil
* ''
Ultimate Spider-Man'' – Additional voices
Internet
* ''
Jib Jab
JibJab is an American digital entertainment studio based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1999 by brothers Evan and Gregg Spiridellis, it first achieved widespread attention during the 2004 United States presidential election, 2004 US pres ...
'' –
George W. Bush
Music
* ''
Bugs Bunny and Friends Sing
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...
'' –
Elmer Fudd
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meskimen, Jim
1959 births
Living people
America's Got Talent contestants
American impressionists (entertainers)
American male comedians
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
American Scientologists
Comedians from California
Male actors from Los Angeles
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors