Jonathan Penner
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Lindsay Penner (born March 5, 1962) is an American
actor
, writer
and film producer
known for starring in The Last Supper and the television series Rude Awakening
and The Naked Truth
, as well as for appearing on the television show Survivor
.
. He is related to actor Jason Alexander
, who is married to Daena Title - the cousin of Penner's wife, Stacy Title
.
Penner has starred on three television series: Grapevine
, The Naked Truth
and Rude Awakening
and guest-starred in Seinfeld
, CSI
, CSI: NY
, The Tick, Melrose Place, LateLine
, Arrested Development, and The Nanny
, where he appeared in several episodes as Danny Imperiali, whose firing and dumping of fiance Fran Fine kicked off the entire series. Penner has appeared in many films, with featured roles in The Last Supper, Anarchy TV
and Down Periscope
. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1994 for the short film Down on the Waterfront, which he co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in.
In addition to his acting credits, Penner was a contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands
and formerly held the Survivor record of the most votes against on a single season, until Phillip Sheppard from Survivor: Redemption Island
received 17 total votes during his duration of playing. During the following season, Survivor: Fiji, he blogged at CBS
's Survivors Strike Back. He also participated in Survivor: Micronesia
. The series began airing in February 2008.
in 2006. He was one of the original five members of the Rarotonga tribe (Raro). He quickly became notorious among the cast for stealing another tribe's chicken on the first day. In episode three, the four tribes evenly divided into two new mixed tribes, Aitutaki and Rarotonga. Penner found himself on Aitutaki (Aitu). While a member of Aitu, he became part of an alliance that consisted of Yul Kwon, Candice Woodcock
, Becky Lee and Sundra Oakley
. This alliance lasted until episode eight when the members of Aitu and Raro were offered a chance to mutiny by joining the opposing tribe. Penner, along with Woodcock
, chose to leave Aitu for Raro, the only two survivors to accept the offer. After the merge, he flipped again and voted with the former Aitus. Ultimately, Yul voted him out to appease the former Raro members, who viewed Jonathan as a two-faced rat for having betrayed them. He was the fourteenth person voted out, finishing in seventh place. As his torch was snuffed, he turned to the Final Six and asked,"And I'd like my hat back at some time.", then left. Jonathan humbly voted for Yul
in the final tribal council.
, the sixteenth season of Survivor, which began airing on February 7, 2008. He was one of ten returning favorites on the Malakal tribe and later switched to Airai. He was removed from the game during the sixth episode, due to a life-threatening infection in his injured knee. The Survivor medics stated that he had no choice but to be evacuated from the game.
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...
, 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 film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
known for starring in The Last Supper and the television series Rude Awakening
Rude Awakening (TV series)
Rude Awakening is a TV series created by Claudia Lonow, aired by Showtime on 55 22-min episodes for 3 seasons .-Story:Rude Awakening tells the story of Billie Frank, an out of work alcoholic ex-soap opera actress. She tries to go sober and become a writer but continues to struggle with her...
and The Naked Truth
The Naked Truth (TV series)
The Naked Truth is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 1996, and on NBC from 1996 to 1998. The series stars Téa Leoni and co-starred Holland Taylor...
, as well as for appearing on the television show Survivor
Survivor (U.S. TV series)
Survivor is an American version of the Survivor reality television game show, itself derived from the Swedish television series Expedition Robinson originally created in 1997 by Charlie Parsons. The series premiered on May 31, 2000 on CBS...
.
Life and career
Penner was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is related to actor Jason Alexander
Jason Alexander
Jay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
, who is married to Daena Title - the cousin of Penner's wife, Stacy Title
Stacy Title
Stacy Title is a film director and producer. Her filmography as director includes Let the Devil Wear Black , The Last Supper and Down on the Waterfront .She is the wife of Jonathan Penner and has directed him in several movies...
.
Penner has starred on three television series: Grapevine
Grapevine (TV series)
-Plot Synopsis:David owned a restaurant in Miami, while his girlfriend Susan worked for a cruise line, and his brother Thumper was a sportscaster. The series was a 1990s take on Love, American Style in its couple-of-the-week format. Each episode presented the regular characters telling a story...
, The Naked Truth
The Naked Truth (TV series)
The Naked Truth is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 1996, and on NBC from 1996 to 1998. The series stars Téa Leoni and co-starred Holland Taylor...
and Rude Awakening
Rude Awakening (TV series)
Rude Awakening is a TV series created by Claudia Lonow, aired by Showtime on 55 22-min episodes for 3 seasons .-Story:Rude Awakening tells the story of Billie Frank, an out of work alcoholic ex-soap opera actress. She tries to go sober and become a writer but continues to struggle with her...
and guest-starred in 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...
, CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
, The Tick, Melrose Place, LateLine
LateLine
LateLine is an American TV sitcom that ran on NBC from March 17, 1998, through March 16, 1999. Due to an abrupt cancellation, there were seven unaired episodes .Created by John Markus and Al Franken , LateLine depicted the...
, Arrested Development, and The Nanny
The Nanny (TV series)
The Nanny is an American television sitcom co-produced by Sternin & Fraser Ink, Inc., and Fran Drescher in association with TriStar Television for the CBS network...
, where he appeared in several episodes as Danny Imperiali, whose firing and dumping of fiance Fran Fine kicked off the entire series. Penner has appeared in many films, with featured roles in The Last Supper, Anarchy TV
Anarchy TV
Anarchy TV is a 1998 low budget, independent comedy film. It was directed by Jonathan Blank, and features Alan Thicke, Jessica Hecht, Jonathan Penner, Tamayo Otsuki, and Ahmet, Dweezil, Diva and Moon Unit Zappa...
and Down Periscope
Down Periscope
Down Periscope is a 1996 comedy film starring Kelsey Grammer as the captain of a rust-bucket Navy submarine, the USS Stingray, who is fighting for his career....
. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1994 for the short film Down on the Waterfront, which he co-produced, co-wrote, and starred in.
In addition to his acting credits, Penner was a contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
and formerly held the Survivor record of the most votes against on a single season, until Phillip Sheppard from Survivor: Redemption Island
Survivor: Redemption Island
Survivor: Redemption Island is the twenty-second season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, which premiered on February 16, 2011. Applications were due in January 2010, and filming lasted from August to September 2010. The season was filmed in the vicinity of San...
received 17 total votes during his duration of playing. During the following season, Survivor: Fiji, he blogged at CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Survivors Strike Back. He also participated in Survivor: Micronesia
Survivor: Micronesia
Survivor: Micronesia — Fans vs. Favorites is the sixteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, being the show's third to include contestants from past seasons, after the all-returning contestant pool from Survivor: All-Stars, and Survivor: Guatemala in which...
. The series began airing in February 2008.
Cook Islands
Penner was a contestant on Survivor: Cook IslandsSurvivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
in 2006. He was one of the original five members of the Rarotonga tribe (Raro). He quickly became notorious among the cast for stealing another tribe's chicken on the first day. In episode three, the four tribes evenly divided into two new mixed tribes, Aitutaki and Rarotonga. Penner found himself on Aitutaki (Aitu). While a member of Aitu, he became part of an alliance that consisted of Yul Kwon, Candice Woodcock
Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
, Becky Lee and Sundra Oakley
Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
. This alliance lasted until episode eight when the members of Aitu and Raro were offered a chance to mutiny by joining the opposing tribe. Penner, along with Woodcock
Survivor: Cook Islands
Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, having premiered on September 14, 2006...
, chose to leave Aitu for Raro, the only two survivors to accept the offer. After the merge, he flipped again and voted with the former Aitus. Ultimately, Yul voted him out to appease the former Raro members, who viewed Jonathan as a two-faced rat for having betrayed them. He was the fourteenth person voted out, finishing in seventh place. As his torch was snuffed, he turned to the Final Six and asked,"And I'd like my hat back at some time.", then left. Jonathan humbly voted for Yul
Yul Kwon
Yul Kwon is a television host and former government official, lawyer, and management consultant based in Virginia. He first gained national recognition as the winner of the reality TV show Survivor: Cook Islands...
in the final tribal council.
Micronesia
Penner was a contestant on Survivor: MicronesiaSurvivor: Micronesia
Survivor: Micronesia — Fans vs. Favorites is the sixteenth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor, being the show's third to include contestants from past seasons, after the all-returning contestant pool from Survivor: All-Stars, and Survivor: Guatemala in which...
, the sixteenth season of Survivor, which began airing on February 7, 2008. He was one of ten returning favorites on the Malakal tribe and later switched to Airai. He was removed from the game during the sixth episode, due to a life-threatening infection in his injured knee. The Survivor medics stated that he had no choice but to be evacuated from the game.