May 28, 1978
Gemini
Evanston, IL
47 years old
N/A
N/A
TV Actor
Early Life & Background
Full name: Mark Jake Johnson Weinberger (professionally uses Jake Johnson)
Born: May 28, 1978 (age 47) in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago
Family: Raised by his mother Eve (a stained‑glass artist) after his parents divorced when he was two; he has two older siblings. His father, Ken Weinberger, returned to his life when Jake was a teenager and passed away in 2021
Education: Attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, then studied at the University of Iowa before earning a spot in NYU’s prestigious Tisch School for Dramatic Writing; received the John Golden Playwriting Prize in 2002 and had his play Cousins produced off-Broadway
Early Career & Comedy Roots
Stage beginnings: Cut his teeth in Chicago and NYC comedy scenes, performing improv and sketch with Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade, and his troupe The Midwesterners
Struggles & breakthrough: Worked as a waiter and production assistant in LA while landing small TV roles; first substantial TV gig came in 2007 with TBS’s Derek and Simon: The Show
Breakout with New Girl
Nick Miller: From 2011 to 2018, Johnson charmed audiences as the grumpy yet lovable bartender Nick Miller on Fox’s sitcom New Girl, appearing in all 146 episodes
Accolades: Earned Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy Series in 2013
Behind the scenes: Known for bringing authenticity and humor — he once joked he created a permanent "butt imprint" on the New Girl couch after long days of shooting
Film Roles & Voice Work
Diverse appearances:
Paper Heart (2009)
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
21 Jump Street (2012)
Jurassic World (2015) & The Mummy (2017)
Lead in comedies: Let's Be Cops (2014), Tag (2018)
Voice acting: Gained acclaim voicing Peter B. Parker/Spider-Man in Spider‑Man: Into the Spider‑Verse (2018) and its sequel
Recent Projects & Beyond
TV roles: Starred in Stumptown (2019–2020) and Minx (2022–2023), also serving as co‑executive producer on Minx
Directorial debut: In 2023, he wrote, produced, starred in, and directed the indie film Self Reliance
Podcast: Co‑host of the advice podcast We're Here to Help launched in 2023
Personal Life & Interests
Marriage and family: Married artist Erin Payne in 2006 and they have twin daughters, Elizabeth and Olivia (born 2014)
Hobbies: A sports enthusiast—plays in Sunday basketball and tennis leagues, and supports Chicago teams like the Cubs and Bears
Down‑to‑earth persona: Known for his “everyman” charm and appreciation for genuine character connections on-screen
Jake Johnson’s journey—from Midwest theater stages to sitcom stardom, voice‑over roles, a directorial feat, and podcasting—shows his adaptable talent and earnest personality. His love for humor, storytelling, and family shines through each chapter of his career.
