The bestJ.K. Simmonsmovies and TV shows reveal just how versatile and committed he is as a performer, making it easy to see why he’s regarded as one of the best character actors currently working. Born in Michigan in 1955, J.K. Simmons spent many decades working on the stage as a theater actor before transitioning to screens. An active performer since 1976, Simmons’ first TV role didn’t come until a decade later when he played a patrolman in the TV moviePopeye Doyle.
However, he’d soon gain recognition thanks to movies like 1994’sThe Ref,and by the end of the decade was becoming a known name due to his parts in the likes ofLaw & OrderandOz.However, his big break arguablycame in 2002’sSpider-Man,which saw Sam Raimi cast him in the career-defining role of J. Jonah Jameson. The best J.K. Simmons movies and TV shows reveal he’s capable of much more than demanding pictures of Spider-Man, however, and each showcases a different side of the actor’s incredibly wide range.
10Law & Order (1997-2010)
J.K. Simmons Plays Dr. Emil Skoda
There have been many now-famous Hollywood actors who got their start onDick Wolf’s hit crime proceduralLaw & Order,and J.K. Simmons is no exception. However, he didn’t just portray a one-off character, but was a recurring presence on the show between 1997 and 2010, playing the part of psychiatrist Emil Skoda.
It was through Dr. Emil Skoda that some of the most interesting and analytical scenes inLaw & Ordertook place. It was Skoda’s job to figure out if criminals were legally sane and could be tried. This meant J.K. Simmons delivered some of the show’s most gripping moments of exposition and psychoanalysis of its many antagonists, andall were made much more memorable thanks to the dark and wry sense of humor Simmons brought to the character.
Among the many J.K. Simmons voice acting roles in his best movies and TV shows, 2016’sKung Fu Panda 3stands out as one of the strongest. The third film inDreamwork’sKung Fu Pandafranchisesees Jack Black’s titular Panda, Po, facing off against one of his strongest adversaries yet - a mighty warrior from the past who has escaped the spirit realm alongside an army of the greatest Kung Fu legends from the franchise’s universe.
This villain, Kai, is voice by J.K. Simmons, who captures the spirit of the character perfectly. He brings a subtle mix of arrogance and bitterness that makes Kai truly memorable, even when compared to other franchise villains like Ian McShane’s Tai Lung from the 2008 original.It’s an especially noteworthy performance since, at the time,Kung Fu Panda 3was intended to be the last installment, and Simmons’ Kai ensured there was a more than worthy villain for Po’s then-final adventure.
Oz
Cast
Oz was a crime-drama series from HBO created by Tom Fontana. The series focuses on the inmates and officers of the fictional experimental Oswald State Correctional Facility. The prison, prioritizing rehabilitation instead of corrective punishment, navigates the fragile social cliques within its halls, where tensions never relent.
When it comes to small-screen roles from his earlier career, perhaps none stand out in J.K. Simmons’ filmography quite likeOz,the hit HBO series that ran from 1997 to 2003. It was throughOzthat Simmons’ displayed his aptitude for playing morally complex antagonists, and that he wasn’t an actor who would shy away from difficult roles.
J.K. Simmons’Ozcharacter, Vernon Schillinger, was one of the most dangerous inmates at the show’s Oswald Maximum Security Prison. Schillinger was the leader of the facility’s Aryan Brotherhood, and was known both for his capacity for violence and willingness to commit sexual assault as a form of punishment.There were no scenes in which Schillinger wasn’t utterly chilling to behold, andOzstands as one of the best J.K. Simmons TV shows or movies because of this.
Burn After Readingis the dark spy comedyfrom the Coen Brothersand bears all the hallmarks of everything that makes the directors so celebrated and beloved by their fans. The all-star ensemble cast includes the likes of John Malkovich, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, and Frances McDormand, but for many it’s J.K. Simmons who steals the show (despite his role being relatively minor).
When it comes to J.K. Simmons comic abilities, few roles display just how funny he can be quite like that of the CIA Superior inBurn After Reading.Forever perplexed by the activities of the other characters (none of whom are aware they’re being spied on), Simmons’ delivery is laugh-out-loud hilarious -especially at the climax when he asks a subordinate what the agency had learned, only to find out it was very little, and resigns himself to declare “I guess we learned not to do it again,” quickly followed by “I’m f****d if I know what we did.”
Juno
Starring Elliot Page, Juno follows the titular character, a teenage girl who unexpectedly becomes pregnant. Deciding to give the baby up for adoption once it is born, Juno finds and befriends Mark and Vanessa, and childless couple desperate for a baby, who she plans to let adopt her child once she gives birth. Michael Cera also stars as Juno’s boyfriend Paulie, with a further cast that includes Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, and J. K. Simmons.
The 2007 coming-of-age comedy-dramaJunodefied all expectations when it was released in 2007. It proved to be acareer-defining movie for Elliot Page, Michael Cera, and Jaon Bateman for starters, and brought no shortage of acclaim both to director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody. It also still stands as one of the best J.K. Simmons movies thanks to his portrayal of Mac MacGuff, the father of Elliot Page’s soon-to-be teen mom Juno.
Junomarks one of several films and TV shows that reveal J.K. Simmons is just as good at playing grounded, down-to-earth characters as he is loud, angry hot-heads like J. Jonah Jameson inSpider-Man.Of particular note inJunois his chemistry with Allison Janney’s Bren MacGuff, Juno’s step-mom.Simmons’ delivery of lines like “I’m not ready to be a pop-pop”(meaning grandfather) are brimming with heartfelt authenticity, and it’s one of his strongest performances to date.
The Accountantcomes from director Gavin O’Connor and was an instant hit both at the box office and among critics when it arrived in 2016. Starring J.K. Simmons as part of an ensemble cast that alsoincludes Ben Affleck and Anna Kendrick,The Accountantis a slick and stylish action thriller that uses every actor incredibly well. This includes J.K. Simmons in the role of Ray King, the Treasury Department director who uses Affleck’s Christian Wolff to track down criminal leads.
Simmons’ performance as Ray King inThe Accountantshared similarities with his portrayal of Commissioner Gordon in the DCEU (specifically in 2015’sBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice). King, like Gordon, is a jaded civil servant who understands the law sometimes isn’t enough for those who want to see justice served. However,Ray King takes things one step further and becomes a vigilante instead of simply relying on one, making him one of the most intriguing and watchable characters J.K. Simmons has portrayed so far.
Night Sky
Created by Holden Miller for Prime Video, Night Sky is a 2022 Drama and Sci-Fi television series starring Sissy Spacek and J. K. Simmons. The premise sees a senior couple that finds a strange device that can transport them to a special location that lets them see the sky of another world.
2022’sNight Sky,the sci-fi drama series created by Holden Miller, stands out among the best J.K. Simmons movies and TV shows as it features him in a slightly more grounded role than some of his other more volatile characters likeSpider-Man’sJ. Jonah Jameson or Terence Fletcher inWhiplash.However, this only further cements it as one of his strongest performances, as it demonstrates the full range of his abilities clearly.
InNight Sky,J.K. Simmons plays Franklin York. A retired woodworker, Franklin discovers with his wife Irene (Sissy Spacek) that their land in the Midwest also serves as a gateway that allows them to travel to another world on the other side of the galaxy.It’s an incredibly intriguing premise, and as the mystery unfolds its Simmons who carries the story both with his own incredible performance and his chemistry with co-star Sissy Spacek.
The Amazon Prime original superhero showInvincibleis one of several examples of solid voice-acting in J.K. Simmons’ career, and the actor has more than proved he’s just as captivating even when he only has his vocal talents to rely on. However, what setsInvincibleapart and secures it as one of the very best J.K. Simmons TV shows or movies is just how iconic he manages to makethe character of Omni-Man.
Appearing in 12 episodes ofInvincible,it was arguably J.K. Simmons' performance as Omni-Man that ensured the show would be instantly thrust into the mainstream. Lines like“look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power”and “think, Mark, think!”have become iconic and heavily memed, all thanks to Simmons’ delivery.Simmons truly makes the global protector-turned-villain an unforgettable character, and none of his many voice-acting appearances are anywhere near as memorable.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a drama that delves into the intense relationship between a young jazz drummer and his ruthless music instructor, exploring themes of ambition, perfectionism, and the costs of success.
J.K. Simmons has received surprisingly little awards recognition across his career, though there’s one movie that bucked this trend - 2014’sWhiplash,directed by Damien Chazelle. His performance as the abusive music instructorTerence Fletcher brought Simmons a multitude of accolades, including an Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Oustanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role.
His performance as the fiery and utterly toxicTerence Fletcher inWhiplashis J.K. Simmons at his absolute best when it comes to his dramatic abilities. What’s more, he has an incredible amount of on-screen chemistry with co-star Miles Teller as Jazz drummer Andrew Neiman (the young musician who finally stands up to Fletcher). A truly phenomenal and gripping film in its own right,Whiplashshould be considered essential viewing for any J.K. Simmons’ fan.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the first film in Sam Raimi’s trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Released in 2002, the film introduced superhero fans to a live-action Norman Osborn, played by Willem Dafoe, who is transformed into his villainous alter ego, Green Goblin, after being forced out of Oscorp Industries. At the same time, Peter Parker is grappling with his newfound abilities as the iconic wall-crawler.
When it comes to the best J.K. Simmons movies and TV shows, there’s one role that’s become synonymous with the actor - J. Jonah Jameson, the head of the fictional NYC newspaper the Daily Bugle in Marvel’sSpider-Man.Firstappearing as J. Jonah Jamesonin Sam Raimi’s 2002 movieSpider-Man,Simmons went on to reprise the role not only in the Raimi trilogy but also the MCU, shows like 2012’sThe Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,and 2012’sSpider-Man: No Way Home.
It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone else demanding“get me pictures of Spider-Man!”or declaring that the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler is a “menace”.
It’s a testament to J.K. Simmons’ embodiment of the character that he remains the go-to voice and/or screen presence for J. Jonah Jameson in more-or-less every piece ofSpider-Manmedia released since 2002.It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone else demanding“get me pictures of Spider-Man!”or declaring that the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler is a “menace”.Since 2002’sSpider-Manwas his debut as the character, it stands as the bestJ.K. Simmonsmovie or TV show, but it’s the character more than anything else that has come to define his career.
