Gregory Jbara

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Gregory Jbara
Gregory-Jbara-head-shot.jpg
Photo of Jbara by Bill Kiefer.
Born (1961-09-28) September 28, 1961 (age 59)
Westland, Michigan, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Juilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Spouse(s)Julie Jbara
Websitewww.gregoryjbara.com

Gregory Jbara (/dʒəˈbɑːrə/; born September 28, 1961) is an American film, television and stage actor, and singer.

Early life and education[]

Jbara was born in Nankin Township (now Westland), Michigan, the son of an advertising office manager[1] and an insurance claims adjuster.[2] He is of Lebanese and Irish descent.[3][4] After graduating from Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Michigan,[5] Jbara attended the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1981. He majored in Communication Studies and took classes in Theatre and Musical Theatre. He left Michigan to attend the Juilliard School's drama division (1982–1986, Group 15),[6] where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.[2][7]

Both of Jbara's brothers also have careers in the entertainment industry. Mike, formerly President and CEO, WEA Corp.,[8][9] was named President of Alternative Distribution Alliance worldwide in June 2013.[10] Brother Dan has made his career primarily as a reality show producer.[11][12] Jbara also has a sister, Judy, who is Director of Client Relations for Beer Financial Group.[13][14]

Career[]

Jbara originated the role of "Jackie Elliot" (known as "Dad") in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical, which opened on November 13, 2008. For his portrayal of "Dad," Jbara received the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical during the 2008-2009 Broadway awards season.[15][16][17]

On May 5, 2005, Sardi's caricatures of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stars Butz, Gleason, Jbara and Scott were unveiled in a ceremony hosted by fellow co-star Sara Gettelfinger.[18] (Scoundrels star John Lithgow had already been caricatured at Sardi's.)[19] In a 2008 Grand Rapids Press interview, Jbara (noting the importance of being caricatured at the landmark Broadway restaurant) said, "You don't remember a year later who won the Tonys, but that picture will be in Sardi's for the rest of my life."[20]

Jbara received the BackStageWest Garland 2000 Award for his performance in the West Coast premiere of George Furth's play, Precious Sons, co-starring Nora Dunn, Michael Malota, Ginger Williams and Adam Wylie.[21]

In 2006, Jbara received a Special Award from the New England Theatre Conference for his achievement in theatre.[22]

Jbara appeared as TV Land's on-camera spokesperson in eight different spots featuring three generations sitting on a couch: grandpa (William Severs), father/boomer (Jbara) and teenage son (Dylan Kepp). The spots focused, humorously, on the contrasts among those generations and were first shown on TV Land during the TV Land Awards broadcast on April 22, 2007.

Gregory's prominent TV roles to date are as Dan O'Keefe in the Fox/WB sitcom Grounded for Life (2002–05) and as NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Garrett Moore on the CBS drama Blue Bloods (2010–present).

Broadway credits[]

Other selected stage credits[]

Selected TV credits[]

  • Bartender in Frasier episode, "Shutout in Seattle: Part 2"
  • "DCPI Garrett Moore" (recurring role) in Blue Bloods
  • "Mr. Finn" in Nurse Jackie episode, "Game On"
  • "Oscar Newton" in Law & Order episode, "Brilliant Disguise"
  • "Stan Lawrence" in Monk episode, "Mr. Monk Gets Lotto Fever"
  • "German General," "German Soldier," and "German Priest" in Family Guy episode, "Road to Germany"
  • "Col. Roger Bright" in The Unit episode, "Paradise Lost"
  • "Judge Herman Zemit" in Conviction episode, "True Love"
  • "The Tree Trimmer Hero" (voice) in Higglytown Heroes episode, "Kip Gets Swing Fever" 2005
  • "Himself/Narrator" in Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2000-2003
  • "Dan O'Keefe" (recurring role) in Grounded for Life (Seasons 2-5)
  • "George Haan" in Century City episode, "Sweet Child of Mine"
  • "Gene Lester" ("Pyramid" contestant) in Friends episode, "The One Where the Stripper Cries"
  • "Congressman Segal" in The West Wing episode, "Angel Maintenance"
  • "Rev. Compton" in Ally McBeal episode, "Reach Out and Touch"
  • "Mike" in Malcolm in the Middle episode, "New Neighbors"
  • "Jo Jo Regosi" (recurring role) in That's Life
  • "Scott Morgan" in Touched by an Angel episode, "At the End of the Aisle"
  • "Director Greg" in Come on Over episode, "Welcome to the Theatre"

Selected film credits[]

Miscellaneous credits[]

  • "Audio-animatronic Radio Newscaster" for Spaceship Earth (The Age of Information scene; character announces Amelia Earhart's flight across the Atlantic)[23]
  • "Husband out dancing with wife" in multi-media ad campaign for Caduet which launched April 2008 (internet, television, print)[24]
  • "Dad of college student" in TV ad for Olive Garden Mezzalunas [25]

References[]

  1. ^ "Jbara biography," filmreference.com
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Jbara Still A SCOUNDREL!". Broadwayworld.com. June 13, 2006.
  3. ^ GregoryJbara.com - A Midsummer Night's Dream movie premiere report by actor, 1999 Archived 2007-09-02 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ GregoryJbara.com - Interview with actor, 2000 Archived 2008-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "GregoryJbara.com - Biography (Misc. Extras)". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  6. ^ "Alumni News: November 2011". Juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Gregory Jbara (Group 15)
  7. ^ "Lunch, Learn, and Pass the Tony, Please!". The Juilliard Journal. November 2009.
  8. ^ GregoryJbara.com: NETC Convention 2006 Photo Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ MarketWire.com: Mike Jbara Named President and CEO, WEA Corp.
  10. ^ Billboard.com: Warner Music Names Stu Bergen Int'l President; Promotes Mike Jbara, Matt Signore, Matt Flott
  11. ^ GregoryJbara.com: Billy Elliot Opening Night Photo
  12. ^ SonyPictures.com: Ripley's Believe It or Not: Production Bio Archived 2011-06-05 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ GregoryJbara.com: 2007 Stage / Broadway / Recording News: September Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ BFG profile
  15. ^ OuterCritics.org - Awards for 2008-2009 Archived 2014-01-02 at the Wayback Machine outercritics.org
  16. ^ DramaDesk.org - Awards for 2008-2009 Archived 2009-07-20 at the Wayback Machine dramadesk.org
  17. ^ TonyAwards.com - Nominees and Winners, Billy Elliot Archived 2009-05-22 at the Wayback Machine tonyawards.com
  18. ^ On the Scene: Four Scoundrels Make the Wall at Sardi's, Broadway.com Video Feature archived at gregoryjbara.com Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ A Wall Full of Scoundrels at Sardi's, Photo Op:Broadway.com Buzz Archived 2006-11-21 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Stage, screen star comes to aid of Actors' Theatre - mlive.com article archived at gregoryjbara.com Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ The Blank Theatre Company - Awards Archived 2007-10-08 at archive.today
  22. ^ NETC Online: Excellence in Theatre Awards
  23. ^ GregoryJbara.com - "Greg's voice part of Spaceship Earth" Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "Link to more info, scan of print ad, video". Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  25. ^ Mention in Broadway.com interview

External links[]

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