Jonathan Spencer

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Overview (1)

Nicknames	Bigmuff Jonah Spence Shafty

Nicknames

Bigmuff
Jonah
Spence
Shafty

Mini Bio (1)

Jonathan (never "John") was a member of the Academy Theatre Teen Ensemble under the direction of Kenny Leon and Carol Mitchell-Leon in Atlanta,GA in the 1980s. He studied David Mamet at Depauw University in the early '90s. Known for his fierce devotion to everything classic rock, Jonathan played a fuzz boxed bass guitar in bars in Athens, Georgia throughout most of the 90s and on into the millennium. He finally found his way to Hollywood in July 2003. He was the principal Casting Director on feature films that competed in Slamdance and the Tribeca Film Festival before making the unusual career back flip of leaving casting for full-time acting. He earned his SAG card on the feature film Lightning Bug and on his first job in Hollywood he was upgraded to principal in a CBS sports promo with Samuel L. Jackson. Jonathan never looked back. In only a couple of years, he has booked over a dozen national commercials, including the Holy Grail ... a starring role in a 4th qtr Superbowl spot. Jonathan currently recurs on the hit TV show Gilmore Girls. You can usually find him lurking late at night in the dark desert streets of Studio City, California.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous_er

Family (1)

Spouse	Holly Bowen (23 May 2015 - present)

Spouse

Holly Bowen (23 May 2015 - present)

Trivia (18)

Played Jonny Y2K on the morning drive-time radio program, The Regular Guys, on WKLS 96Rock in Atlanta, Georgia 1999-2000.

Grand nephew of actress Sarah Cunningham and her husband the late John Randolph.

Collects '60s Gibson electric basses and guitars.

Plays bass guitar through a "bigmuff" sound effects pedal. sometimes credited as "Jonny Bigmuff".

Worked at a talent agency and as a casting director.

Since 2007, he has played in a band in Los Angeles with Laura Slade Wiggins, star of Showtime's Shameless (2011). They met in Athens, Georgia, when Laura was still in high school, during casting of the film Dance of the Dead.

Appeared as a special guest, playing bass, with Drivin n Cryin on New Year's Eve 2009 and 2010.

Graduated high school from Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia.

Attended middle and high school at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia from age 12-16.

Attended elementary school at Holy Innocent's Episcopal School in Sandy Springs, Georgia from age 3-12.

Grew-up in Atlanta, Georgia with actors Brian Baumgartner and Ed Helms of The Office (2005).

Often plays bass guitar with The Tripp Rezac Band and The Beachwood Canyon Rockers at The Piano Bar in Hollywood.

He was the MC and host for Guadalcanal Diary's 30th Anniversary concert on New Year's Eve 2011 in Marietta, Georgia.

His band with Laura Slade Wiggins backed-up Kevn Kinney and REM's Peter Buck on a Northwest tour in July 2012. He and Laura played bass guitar and sang backing vocals respectively, along with playing a mini-set of their own backed by Peter Buck. All 4 members have deep connections to Athens, Georgia. Jonathan has made multiple appearances playing bass as a guest of Kevn Kinney's band Drivin N Cryin.

Played a set with Bloodkin in Bozeman, Montana Summer 2013 as a guest bassist.

Executor At Large of the Healing Light Film Festival in Asheville, North Carolina (2014).

Faculty at The New York Studio for Stage and Screen in Asheville, North Carolina (2015).

Sober since 2017. Does not drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes.