Jason Alexander

Born: September 23rd 1959
Where: Newark, New Jersey

Born Jay Scott Greenspan, the actor was educated at the School of Fine Arts at Boston University.

He studied drama and was registered under his stage name Jason Alexander which he adopted at the age of 15.

In 1977 Jason had his first professional acting job in the children's theatre special, The Pushcart Players: Feelings and Friends.

His feature debut came in The Burning and in the same year he featured in the TV movie Senior Trip!

It was a further five years before he was cast in his next feature, Peter Weir's The Mosquito Coast.

At last recognised for his talents, Jason won a Tony award for his multiple roles in the musical Jerome Robbins' Broadway.

His most famous role to date was his year long stint as of George Costanza on the popular NBC comedy series, Seinfeld.

In 1990 he had a small role in the blockbuster Pretty Woman, and his first leading role in a feature was in I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore.

In 1992 he made his directorial debut with an episode of Seinfeld. His work earned him a Directors Guild of America Award nomination.

Jason's next leading role came as the hotel manager coping with an orangutang in Dunston Checks In, and also in 1996 he voiced one of the gargoyles in Disney's animated The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The following year he signed a two-year exclusive deal with 20th Century-Fox with the prospect of returning to weekly series work.

Jason has most recently starred with Gwyneth Paltrow as the title character's best friend in Shallow Hal.