Jeff Doucette

Jeffrey Doucette (born November 25, 1947) is an American actor, comedian, and director. Doucette toured for years with Ernst Emling as the comedy duo Jeff and Ernst. Doucette has appeared in over 90 films and television shows and written two play.. He has also been a voice artist in many television commercials and cartoon and portrayed Benjamin Franklin in ads for numerous brands.

Early life

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was the second of eight children born to Elizabeth "Betty" (née Andres) and William "Bill" Doucette.

Doucette graduated from Marquette University High School in the mid-1960s. After high school, he attended Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, where he became the first Theater Major at the university. After his undergraduate studies, Doucette enrolled in the graduate school at Northern Illinois University, seeking an additional theater degree.

Career

In 1974, Doucette moved to Chicago, joining The Second City improv theater. During his time at Second City, Doucette met his future comedy partner, Ernst Emling, and formed the comedy duo Jeff and Ernst. Under the guidance of improv teacher Del Close, the pair were quickly signed by the William Morris Agency and began to tour the U.S. with folk singer Bob Gibson, eventually opening in larger venues for acts including Barry Manilow and The Spinners.

In 1976, Doucette and Emling moved to Los Angeles, joining the ranks of a burgeoning group of young comics, including Freddie Prinze, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Richard Lewis, Robin Williams, Michael Keaton, Jim Varney, and Andy Kaufman. After many appearances on variety and talk shows, the pair made their first appearance on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' in 1977.

To date, Doucette has appeared in over 92 films and television series, including '' Splash'', '' All The Way'', '' The Dentist 2'', ''Desperate Housewives'', ''Weird Science'', ''Newhart'', ''Alien Nation'', '' Townies'', '' Dog With A Blog'', ''3rd Rock from the Sun'', '' ER'', ''That '70s Show'' and ''Beverly Hills 90210''. He has been a voice artist in many television commercials and cartoons. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.

Doucette was the main antagonist in the Bollywood film '' Hisss'' and appeared in the Disney World attraction Cranium Command.

In television commercials, Doucette has portrayed Benjamin Franklin in ads for Chevrolet Volt: Quicken Loans; Ballpark's Finest Hot Dogs; and El Monterrey breakfast foods. He also made a special appearance as Franklin on ''Mike & Molly''.

Doucette is also a writer and director, having written two plays: ''Big Head Women'', a science-fiction comedy; and ''Without Annette,'' an improvisational comedy written with actress and writer Hope Juber and published by Playscripts, Inc. in 2015.

In 1991, Doucette received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Lead Performance for "Rage, or I'll Be Home For Christmas" at the Alliance Theater in Burbank. In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Student Film Festival Hollywood (ISFFH).

Personal life

Doucette and his wife, Saba, are licensed spiritual practitioners in the United Centers for Spiritual Living; they are active as teachers, counselors and teen and 'tween group leaders. His ''Life Play'' seminars and workshops focus on improvisation as a path for spiritual and self-discovery.

Filmography

Live action roles

Film

Television

Voice roles

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Doucette, Jeff
1947 births
American male comedians
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
Comedians from Milwaukee
Living people
Male actors from Milwaukee