Abraham Benrubi

Abraham Rubin Hercules Benrubi (born October 4, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for his appearances as Jerry Markovic on the long-running medical television drama '' ER'', for his first role as Larry Kubiac on the series '' Parker Lewis Can't Lose'', Dennis in '' Without a Paddle'', and for his voice acting on the Adult Swim claymation series ''Robot Chicken'' as well as numerous video games including many in the ''World of Warcraft'' series.

Early life and education

Benrubi was born on October 4, 1969, in Indianapolis, Indiana, the eldest son of Patricia and Asher Benrubi, known professionally as Adam Smasher or "The Smash", who was the lead singer of Roadmaster and a radio personality in St. Louis. His paternal grandfather was from a Greek Jewish family. His paternal grandmother, who was born to a Greek Orthodox Christian family, helped shelter Jews in Greece during World War II and later converted to Judaism. Benrubi graduated from Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis.

Career

Benrubi's early appearances included roles in the shows ''Growing Pains'', '' Married... with Children'' and ''Blossom''. His first major role was on the show '' Wings'', as Roy "R.J." Biggins, Jr., Roy's gay son. He would appear as R.J. twice: once during the show's second season, and again during the seventh season, shortly after he began working on NBC's '' ER''.

Benrubi portrayed a young Dan Conner, the character portrayed by John Goodman, in a flashback episode of ''Roseanne''.

Benrubi appeared on ER from its first season, playing desk clerk Jerry Markovic. He was a regular cast member from 1994 to 1999; again from 2002 to 2006; and again from 2008 to 2009.

Benrubi starred as one of the main characters in ABC's show '' Men in Trees'' (2006 to 2008), playing bartender/millionaire Ben Tomasson. This was a role where he got noticeably more main dialog and depth than with his previous longtime characters on ''ER'' and ''Parker Lewis Can't Lose'', where he played a more supporting role. Ben Tomasson was described as "the cuddliest TV character since Jorge Garcia's Hurley on '' Lost''" by TV-critic David Bianculli.

Following the cancellation of '' Men In Trees'' in early 2007, Benrubi returned to the cast of '' ER'' in late 2008 for the show's final season.

Benrubi starred in the short-lived ABC show, '' Happy Town'' (April to June 2010) where he portrayed the part of Big Dave Duncan. Almost immediately after ABC announced the series' cancellation, he appeared in a new show '' Memphis Beat'', where he portrayed the part of police Sgt. Jody "JC" Lightfoot, a desk sergeant who is 1/16 Chickasaw by a distant relative, but chooses to embrace Native American culture all the same.

In May 2011, it was announced that he would star in '' Glutton'', a "3D psychological thriller" directed by David Arquette. Benrubi would have played Jethro, a 1,200-pound man, forced to save his sister's life. Jethro's sister would have been portrayed by Patricia Arquette, while Kacey Barnfield would have also starred as his blind neighbor and only friend.

Benrubi is a member of Los Angeles' Sacred Fools Theater Company.

Other work includes portraying Mose in the 2003 western '' Open Range'', a role the actor won because he had been cut out of director Kevin Costner's previous film, ''The Postman''. He frequently voices characters on Adult Swim's stop-motion animation show ''Robot Chicken'' (created by personal friend Seth Green), and has also contributed to a second show from ''Chicken's'' creators, '' Titan Maximum.''

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Benrubi, Abraham
1969 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
American male video game actors
American people of Greek descent
American people of Greek-Jewish descent
Jewish American male actors
Male actors from Indianapolis
21st-century American Jews