John Michael Higgins

American actor, game show host and comedian (born 1963)

John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963) is an American actor, game show host, and comedian whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's The Late Shift, and a starring role in the American version of Kath & Kim. He portrayed Peter Lovett in the TV Land original sitcom Happily Divorced and provided the voice of Iknik Blackstone Varrick in The Legend of Korra and Mini Max in Big Hero 6: The Series. He also starred in the NBC sitcom Great News as Chuck Pierce for two seasons. Since 2018, he has hosted the game show America Says, which earned him a 2019 Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host. Higgins attended Amherst College, graduating in 1985 and was a member of the a cappella group the Zumbyes. Starting on April 17, 2023, he has also hosted the new version of the game show Split Second on Game Show Network.

In the early 1980s Higgins was a theatre instructor with Street 70, a theatre production company in Rockville, Maryland. It is now known as Round House Theatre. He also taught voice and improvisation. In 1991, Higgins was featured in Broadway's La Bête, and in 2000 he was seen Off Broadway at Second Stage Theatre in a production of Edward Albee's Tiny Alice. He also originated the title role in Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey Off Broadway in 1993. Higgins's numerous television credits include recurring characters on Ally McBeal, Brother's Keeper, Boston Legal and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show. In Season 8 of Seinfeld, he portrayed Elaine's boyfriend Kurt. He also played attorney Wayne Jarvis in five episodes of Arrested Development. Higgins arranged the dense vocal harmonies sung by the nine part ("neuftet") New Main Street Singers in 2003's A Mighty Wind, a change from the writers' original concept of having the group sing in unison, leveraged by Higgins' musical talent. Higgins gained more recognition by being featured in the films Fun with Dick and Jane, Pitch Perfect and its sequels, and The Break Up, for which he also wrote vocal arrangements. His work as a voice actor includes the roles of Judge Mentok in Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, 2401 Penitent Tangent in Halo 2, and Riddler in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Higgins also portrayed David Letterman in the HBO TV film The Late Shift. Higgins was seen in the pre show video for the Epcot attraction Test Track. However, the ride was refurbished in 2012 and the pre show room was removed. Higgins directs and appears on the stage from time to time as well. In 2004, he played Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in the American premiere of David Hare's Stuff Happens at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. In 2003, he played the title role in A. R. Gurney's Big Bill at New York's Lincoln Center Theater. Higgins has been featured in TV ads for DirecTV, alongside fellow co stars Christopher Guest and Ed Begley Jr., and for Old Navy. He also stars in season 2 of TNT's Raising the Bar as an openly gay, rule obsessed judge. Higgins took part in The Suite Life on Deck, taking the role of the sinister and secluded Mr. Tipton. In 2011, Higgins was cast in Happily Divorced opposite Fran Drescher. He played Fran's gay ex husband, Peter Lovett, a character based on Drescher's real life ex husband Peter Marc Jacobson. In 2012, Higgins was cast as the voice of vain and eccentric businessman Iknik Blackstone Varrick in The Legend of Korra. From 2017 to 2018, Higgins starred as Chuck Pierce on the NBC comedy series Great News. Higgins became the host of the game show America Says in 2018. Coincidentally, he played a game show host 14 years earlier in a season 3 episode of the TV comedy/drama detective series Monk. Since 2019, Higgins has appeared in TV commercials for Omaha based Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. In 2020, Higgins began appearing in a series of adverts for 123. ie, an Irish insurance company. Higgins played the role of Principal Toddman in the 2020 Peacock comedy series Saved by the Bell, which was created by Tracey Wigfield.

Year Title Role Notes 1986 National Lampoon's Class of '86 Various characters 1988 Vampire's Kiss Ed 1997 G. I. Jane Chief of Staff 1997 Wag the Dog John Levy 1999 Bicentennial Man Bill Feingold 2000 Du lebst noch 7 Tage Social Worker 2000 Best in Show Scott Donlan 2001 The Man Who Wasn't There Emergency Room Physician Uncredited 2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Whit Summers 2003 A Mighty Wind Terry Bohner 2004 Jiminy Glick in Lalawood Andre Devine 2004 After the Sunset Hotel Manager Uncredited 2004 Killer Diller Deermont 2004 Blade: Trinity Dr. Edgar Vance
2005 English as a Second Language Norman Benjamin 2005 Fun with Dick and Jane Garth 2006 The Break Up Richard Meyers 2006 For Your Consideration Corey Taft 2007 Evan Almighty Marty Stringer 2007 Fred Claus Willie 2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Record producer Uncredited 2008 Yes Man Nick 2009 Still Waiting Dennis 2009 The Ugly Truth Larry 2009 Fired Up Coach Keith 2009 Couples Retreat Therapist 2010 The Burying Beetle Philip Short film 2011 Bad Teacher Principal Wally Snur 2011 6 Month Rule Paul 2011 We Bought a Zoo Walter Ferris 2012 My Uncle Rafael Damon 2012 Big Miracle Wes Handrick 2012 Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse Prince John Voice 2012 Pitch Perfect John Smith 2013 Rapture Palooza Mr. Lewis 2013 Super Buddies Drex Voice 2013 The Best Man Holiday Stan 2014 A Million Ways to Die in the West Dandy #1 2014 Planes: Fire & Rescue Cad Voice 2014 Tell Huffman 2014 Breaking the Bank Richard Grinding 2015 Pitch Perfect 2 John Smith 2016 Is That a Gun in Your Pocket? Mayor Wally 2016 Sundown Dad 2016 Internet Famous Dave Larson 2016 Mascots Upton French 2016 Almost Christmas Brooks 2017 Shimmer Lake Brad Dawkins 2017 Pitch Perfect 3 John Smith 2017 Reality High Principal Dixon 2018 Scooby Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold Riddler Voice 2018 Status Update Mr. Moody 2021 Licorice Pizza Jerry Frick 2022 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie Warren Stone Voice 2022 The Curse of Bridge Hollow Principal Floyd 2024 Prom Dates Principal Lundy TBA Spinal Tap II Filming

Year Title Role Notes 1988 Miami Vice Murray Phillips Episode: "Hell Hath No Fury" 1991 Mathnet I. M. Uppwardd Episode: "The Case of the Poconos Paradise" 1994 The George Carlin Show Dan Goodwin Episode: "George Expresses Himself" 1996 Cybill Chip Episode: "Cybill Does Diary" 1996 The Late Shift David Letterman Television film 1997 Seinfeld Kurt Episode: "The Little Jerry" 1997 Weird Science Timidius Episode: "I, Chettus" 1997 Party of Five Glenn Episode: "S'Wunnerful Life" 1997–1998 Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show Ar'nox 3 episodes 1998 From the Earth to the Moon Master of Ceremonies Episode: "The Original Wives Club" 1998 Nothing Sacred Father Jesse O'Connell Episode: "HIV Priest! Film at Eleven" 1998 Guys Like Us Mr. Levin Episode: "Maestro's First Crush" 1998–1999 Brother's Keeper Mark 3 episodes 1998–1999 Mad About You Patrick 2 episodes 2000 Get Real George Clark Episode: "Guilt" 2000 Movie Stars Kurt Mason Episode: "Who's on First?" 2000–2002 Ally McBeal Steven Milter 13 episodes 2001 Bette Alex Berringer Episode: "Big Business" 2001 Frasier William Episode: "It Takes Two to Tangle" 2001 Gideon's Crossing Dr. Plummer Episode: "The Mistake" 2002 George Lopez Charles Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Honey" 2002–2007,2018 Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law Mentok the Mindtaker, Zardo, Grape Ape, additional voices Voice, 31 episodes 2003 Monte Walsh Robert Slocum Television film 2003–2006 Arrested Development Wayne Jarvis 5 episodes 2004 Game Over Sully, Guidance Counselor, Proctor Voice, 4 episodes 2004 Higglytown Heroes Tow Truck Driver Hero Voice, episode: "All Tire'd Out" 2004 Monk Roddy Lankman Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Game Show" 2004 Boston Legal Jerry Austin 2 episodes 2005 Joey Albert 2 episodes 2006 So Notorious Phillip Walker Episode: "Whole" 2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Anthony Caprice Episode: "Time of Your Death" 2008–2009 Kath & Kim Phil Knight 17 episodes 2009 Numbers Floyd Mayborne Episode: "Dreamland" 2009 Raising the Bar Judge Albert Farnsworth 9 episodes 2009–2010 Community Professor Eustice Whitman 3 episodes 2010 Glee Russell Episode: "Dream On" 2010 Glenn Martin, DDS Various Voice, episode: "Funshine, USA" 2010 Psych Clive Prescott Episode: "Chivalry Is Not Dead But Someone Is" 2010 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Riddler Voice, 2 episodes 2010 Human Target Richard Applebaum Episode: "The Other Side of the Mall" 2010–2011 Glory Daze Brother Jerrod 2 episodes 2011 The Suite Life on Deck Wilfred Tipton Episode: "Twister: Part 3" 2011 Man Up! Mr. Tipton Episode: "Camping" 2011–2013 Happily Divorced Peter Lovett 34 episodes 2011–2013 The Good Wife Rodney Jesko 2 episodes 2011–2014 Wilfred Dr. Cahill 4 episodes 2012 Doc McStuffins Star Blaster Zero Voice, episode: "Blast Off!" 2012 Cars Toons Stanley Voice, episode: "Time Travel Mater" 2012–2014 Sullivan & Son Gary Barton 3 episodes 2012–present Bob's Burgers Doug Wheeler, additional voices Voice, 12 episodes 2013 Men at Work Lindsey Tucker Episode: "The New Boss" 2013 Good Morning Today Reverend Jeremiah Phelps Voice, Episode: "Episode Three" 2013–2014 The Legend of Korra Varrick, additional voices Voice, 22 episodes 2014 Mike & Molly Dr. Gayle Rosen Episode: "Mind Over Molly" 2014 Terry the Tomboy Doctor Larry Television film 2014 Phineas and Ferb Additional voices Episode: "Phineas and Ferb: Star Wars" 2014 Franklin & Bash Dominic Episode: "Love Is the Drug" 2014 Jessie Carlisle Episode: "Between the Swoon and New York City" 2014–2017 Sofia the First Flambeau Voice, 3 episodes 2014–2015 Instant Mom Hoyt Ebnetter 3 episodes 2015 Turbo FAST Pasadena Paul, Trash Fire Snail Voice, episode: "Groundhog, Stay!/Gone Guys Gone" 2015 Switched at Birth Larry Shimingo Episode: "Borrowing Your Enemy's Arrows" 2015 Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise Evan Television film 2015 Adam Ruins Everything Sommelier Episode: "Adam Ruins Restaurants" 2016–2018 Angie Tribeca Randy Zaius 3 episodes 2016 The Tom and Jerry Show Uncle Harry Voice, episode: "Say Uncle" 2016 2 Broke Girls Elliot Episode: "And the Pity Party Bus" 2016–2017 All Hail King Julien Barty Voice, 7 episodes 2016 Tween Fest Todd Crawford 8 episodes 2016 Awkward Garrett Gibson Episode: "Happy Campers. Happier Trails" 2017–2018 Great News Chuck Pierce 23 episodes 2017 Dropping the Soap Flock Deluge Episode: "Man Musk" 2017 Niko and the Sword of Light King Scampi Voice, 3 episodes 2017 Goldie & Bear Pops Weasel Voice, episode: "Pops Goes the Weasel" 2018–2020 Big Hero 6: The Series Mini Max, additional voices Voice, 25 episodes 2018–2022 America Says Himself (host) 540+ episodesNominated Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host (2019) 2018 Drunk History Wilhelm Von Osten Episode: "Animals" 2018–2020 F Is for Family Dr. McCallister Voice, 2 episodes 2018–2019 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Warren Stone Voice, 6 episodes 2019 Just Roll with It General Caleb Barnswallow Episode: "General Nuisance" 2019 Archibald's Next Big Thing Tolby Voice, episode: "The Enchanted Mansion/The Shell Game" 2019 Sunnyside Wallace Furley Episode: "The Ethiopian Executioner" 2020 Single Parents Bud Cooper Episode: "The Angie Man" 2020–2021 Saved by the Bell Principal Toddman Main role 2021 Monsters at Work Argus Voice, episode: "The Cover Up" 2022 Celebrity Jeopardy! Himself 2 episodes 2022 Super Pumped Mike Ovitz Episode: "Grow or Die" 2022 Tab Time Burnie 8 episodes 2023 Split Second Himself (host) Also executive producer 2023 Family Guy Kidnapper #1 Voice, episode: "Snap(ple) Decision" 2023–2024 Baby Shark's Big Show! Mayor Anchovy Voice, 15 episodes