Jim Zulevic
Encyclopedia
Jim Zulevic was an American
actor
, improvisational comedian, television
writer
, and radio host. He died suddenly, possibly due to a heart attack, at age 40.
extraction, grew up in Chicago
, where he graduated from St. Thomas More Grammar School, Brother Rice High School
and Columbia College Chicago
.
He went on to work a number of jobs, from underaged bouncer at Chicago's famed Exit club to a runner at the Board of Trade to support his acting habit. All the while he studied at The Second City
, where he was taken under the wing of mentor Sheldon Patinkin
. Before joining the Second City, he performed for a short time at Chicago's Improv Institute
.
comedy troupe in 1992. He starred in nine stage revues, including "Paradigm Lost" in 1997 with Tina Fey
and Rachel Dratch
. Zulevic created his most famous character of "Billy" at this time.
He appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm
, The Drew Carey Show
, Early Edition
, Prison Break
, Real Time with Bill Maher
, The Shield
, and the final episode
of the long-running series, Seinfeld
.
He also created commercials for the Fox Broadcasting Company
in Chicago
, where he was known for his quirky comments on reruns of The Simpsons
.
, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
, Let's Go to Prison
, Matchstick Men
, The Specials
, and Talent. He also directed a comedy short, Baby Time Share, in 2005.
-FM, and taught improv classes at Columbia College Chicago
and The Second City
.
Jim was working on a project based on the July 1979 Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park at the time of his passing.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, improvisational comedian, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, and radio host. He died suddenly, possibly due to a heart attack, at age 40.
Early life
Zulevic, of Scottish and CroatianCroats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
extraction, grew up in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he graduated from St. Thomas More Grammar School, Brother Rice High School
Brother Rice High School (Chicago)
Brother Rice High School is an all-male, Catholic, college preparatory institution located in Chicago, Illinois, and is administered under the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
and Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
.
He went on to work a number of jobs, from underaged bouncer at Chicago's famed Exit club to a runner at the Board of Trade to support his acting habit. All the while he studied at The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
, where he was taken under the wing of mentor Sheldon Patinkin
Sheldon Patinkin
Sheldon Patinkin is the chair of the Theater Department of Columbia College Chicago, Artistic Director of the Getz Theater of Columbia College, Artistic Consultant of The Second City and of Steppenwolf Theatre and Co-Director of the Steppenwolf Theatre Summer Ensemble Workshops...
. Before joining the Second City, he performed for a short time at Chicago's Improv Institute
Improv Institute
The Improv Institute was a improvisational comedy company in Chicago from 1984 until 1994. The mainstage show was improvised following audience suggestions. The troupe had two storefront-theaters, both on West Belmont Avenue on Chicago's North side, first at 2939 W. Belmont , and later at 2319 W...
.
Second City
Zulevic joined The Second CityThe Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
comedy troupe in 1992. He starred in nine stage revues, including "Paradigm Lost" in 1997 with Tina Fey
Tina Fey
Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer, known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live , the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, and films such as Mean Girls and Baby Mama .Fey first broke into comedy as a featured player in the...
and Rachel Dratch
Rachel Dratch
Rachel Susan Dratch is an American comic actress best known for her roles as a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1999 to 2006.-Early life:...
. Zulevic created his most famous character of "Billy" at this time.
Television
Zulevic wrote for the Jamie Kennedy Experiment.He appeared on Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
, The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
, Early Edition
Early Edition
Early Edition is an American television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this...
, Prison Break
Prison Break
Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an...
, Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher
Real Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous show, Politically Incorrect on ABC , Real Time features a panel of guests that discuss current events in politics and the media...
, The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
, and the final episode
The Finale (Seinfeld episode)
"The Finale" is the name given to the final two episodes of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. They were the 179th and 180th episodes of the show and the 23rd and 24th episodes of the ninth season. It aired on May 14, 1998 to an audience of 76 million viewers...
of the long-running series, Seinfeld
Seinfeld
Seinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
.
He also created commercials for the Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he was known for his quirky comments on reruns of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
.
Movies
Zulevic appeared in The Bogus Witch ProjectThe Bogus Witch Project
The Bogus Witch Project is a 2000 comedy film satirizing The Blair Witch Project. It uses different tellings of the Blair Witch, such as The Blair Underwood Project.-The Bel Air Witch Project:*Jenna Leigh Green - Heather*Brian Klugman - Joshua...
, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is a 1975 hit song by Paul Simon, from his album Still Crazy After All These Years. Backing vocals on the single were performed by Patti Austin, Valerie Simpson and Phoebe Snow.-Creation:...
, Let's Go to Prison
Let's Go to Prison
Let's Go to Prison is an American comedy that was released in theatres November 17, 2006, starring Dax Shepard, Will Arnett and Chi McBride, and directed by Bob Odenkirk....
, Matchstick Men
Matchstick Men (film)
Matchstick Men is a 2003 American drama film directed by Ridley Scott. Based on Eric Garcia's novel Matchstick Men: A Novel about Grifters with Issues , the motion picture stars Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman.-Plot:...
, The Specials
The Specials (film)
The Specials is a 2000 American comedy film about a group of ordinary superheroes on their day off. According to the film, the Specials are the sixth or seventh most popular group of superheroes in the world...
, and Talent. He also directed a comedy short, Baby Time Share, in 2005.
Other activities
Zulevic hosted the weekly radio show "Second City Radio" on WCKGWCKG
WCFS-FM , known on-air as "WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", is a radio station licensed to Elmwood Park, Illinois and serving the Chicago, Illinois market...
-FM, and taught improv classes at Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
and The Second City
The Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
.
Jim was working on a project based on the July 1979 Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park at the time of his passing.
Filmography
- Early EditionEarly EditionEarly Edition is an American television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this...
(2 episodes, 1996–1999) - SeinfeldSeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
(1 episode, 1998) - Talent (1998)
- Time Served (1999) (TV Movie)
- The SpecialsThe Specials (film)The Specials is a 2000 American comedy film about a group of ordinary superheroes on their day off. According to the film, the Specials are the sixth or seventh most popular group of superheroes in the world...
(2000) - The Bogus Witch ProjectThe Bogus Witch ProjectThe Bogus Witch Project is a 2000 comedy film satirizing The Blair Witch Project. It uses different tellings of the Blair Witch, such as The Blair Underwood Project.-The Bel Air Witch Project:*Jenna Leigh Green - Heather*Brian Klugman - Joshua...
(2000) (TV Movie) - The Near Future (2000) (TV Movie)
- Curb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your EnthusiasmCurb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
(1 episode, 2001) - The Drew Carey ShowThe Drew Carey ShowThe Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
(2 episodes, 2001) - Matchstick MenMatchstick MenMatchstick Men is a 2003 American drama film directed by Ridley Scott. Based on Eric Garcia's novel Matchstick Men: A Novel about Grifters with Issues , the motion picture stars Nicolas Cage, Sam Rockwell, and Alison Lohman.-Plot:...
(2003) - Melvin Goes to DinnerMelvin Goes to DinnerMelvin Goes to Dinner is a 2003 American film adaptation of Michael Blieden's stage play Phyro-Giants!, directed by Bob Odenkirk. Blieden wrote the screenplay from his stage play, and he also stars in the film , along with Stephanie Courtney, Matt Price and Annabelle Gurwitch.-Plot:Melvin is a...
(2003) - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (2004)
- The ShieldThe ShieldThe Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
(1 episode, 2004) - Prison BreakPrison BreakPrison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on the Fox Broadcasting Company for four seasons, from 2005 until 2009. The series revolves around two brothers; one has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other devises an...
(1 episode, 2005) - Real Time with Bill MaherReal Time with Bill MaherReal Time with Bill Maher is a talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous show, Politically Incorrect on ABC , Real Time features a panel of guests that discuss current events in politics and the media...
(1 episode, 2005) - Let's Go to PrisonLet's Go to PrisonLet's Go to Prison is an American comedy that was released in theatres November 17, 2006, starring Dax Shepard, Will Arnett and Chi McBride, and directed by Bob Odenkirk....
(2006)