Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

Jonathan Silverman

Jonathan Elihu Silverman is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the comedy films Brighton Beach Memoirs, Weekend at Bernie's, and its sequel Weekend at Bernie's II as well as his starring role in the TV series The Single Guy.

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Jonathan Silverman
Silverman in 2012
Born
Jonathan Elihu Silverman

(1966-08-05) August 5, 1966
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1984–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2007)​
Children1

Jonathan Elihu Silverman (born August 5, 1966) is an American actor.1 He is known for his roles in the comedy films Brighton Beach Memoirs, Weekend at Bernie's, and its sequel Weekend at Bernie's II as well as his starring role in the TV series The Single Guy.

Early life and education

Silverman was born in Los Angeles, California, to a Jewish family. He is the son of Hillel Emanuel Silverman, a rabbi and Devora (née Halaban) Silverman. He is the grandson of famous Conservative Rabbi Morris Silverman. His mother is from Jerusalem, where her family has lived since the establishment of Israel.2 He graduated Beverly Hills High School in 1984 and is friends with David Schwimmer, who was a classmate. In high school, he acted in theater productions of West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Androcles and the Lion, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.34 At the age of 17, he was selected for the road company of Brighton Beach Memoirs, which performed in 15 cities.3

Career

Silverman is known for his roles the films Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985),5 Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) (a film version of the first play of Neil Simon's Eugene Trilogy),6 Caddyshack II (1988),7 Weekend at Bernie's (1989),8 Little Sister (1992),9 and Little Big League (1994).10 He played the role of Eddie in Beethoven's Big Break, and starred in the film Jam (2006).11

Silverman began his career on television, with a main role on the sitcom Gimme a Break! from 1984 to 1986. From 1995 to 1997, Silverman played the title role in the television NBC sitcom The Single Guy.12 In the 2000s, Silverman was a main cast member on the sitcoms In Case of Emergency.13 and Significant Mother. He has also made guest appearances on Friends (in the episode "The One with the Birth"),14 CSI: Miami,15 Psych, Hot in Cleveland, and White Collar. In 2014, he guest starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as a controversial standup comedian.

Personal life

Silverman has been married to actress Jennifer Finnigan since 2007; the two met at a barbecue in 2004.16 They have a daughter.17

Philanthropy

In 2004, Silverman participated in the first-ever US television advertising campaign supporting donations to Jewish federations. The program featured "film and television personalities celebrating their Jewish heritage and promoting charitable giving to the Jewish community" and included Greg Grunberg, Marlee Matlin, Joshua Malina, and Kevin Weisman.18

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
1985 Girls Just Want to Have Fun Drew Boreman
1986 Brighton Beach Memoirs Eugene Morris Jerome Silverman had earlier played the same role on Broadway.6
1988 Caddyshack II Harry
Stealing Home Teenage Alan Appleby
1989 Weekend at Bernie's Richard Parker 8
1991 Class Action Brian
Age Isn't Everything Seymour
1992 Death Becomes Her Jay Norman
Little Sister Bobby / Roberta
Breaking the Rules Rob Konigsberg
Blue Champagne Bob
1993 Weekend at Bernie's II Richard Parker
The Pitch Gary Short film
12:01 Barry Thomas
1994 Teresa's Tattoo Rick
Little Big League Jim Bowers 10
1995 French Exit Davis
1996 Two Guys Talkin' About Girls Lenny Kaminski
1998 The Odd Couple II Brucey Madison
Denial Joel
Border to Border Suicide Guy
12 Bucks Hyper
Just a Little Harmless Sex Danny
1999 Freak City Lenny Stanapolous
2000 Dirk and Betty Tow Truck Guy
Men Named Milo, Women Named Greta The Voice of Reason Short film
2001 Made Bachelor
Lip Service Bobby
It is What it Is Benjamin Malvern
The Medicine Show Taylor Darcy
2004 The Cookout Wes
2005 Laura Smiles Paul
The Life Coach Jonny
2006 Jam Gary
Shoot Jack Puig Short film
Coffee Date Barry
Farce of the Penguins Seal Critics Voice role
2007 Jekyll Lanyon
2008 Beethoven's Big Break Eddie Direct-to-video
2011 Conception Brad
Cookie Johnny Short film
Swinging with the Finkels Peter
Inkubus Office Tech
National Lampoon's Snatched Johnny
2012 Another Dirty Movie Uncle Erwin Also director and executive producer
2013 Crawlspace Tim Gates
G.B.F. Mr. Daniels
Self Storage Jonah Also producer
2014 The Hungover Games Chineca Lame
The Opposite Sex Tom Also director and producer19
Beethoven's Treasure Tail Eddie Direct-to-video20
A Magic Christmas Robert Jones 21
2015 Baby, Baby, Baby Jacob Carlin 22
2016 Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse Shane
2017 An American Dog Story Slibs
2018 Andover Adam Slope Also producer
Frank & Ava Mannie Sacks
2019 Pegasus: Pony with a Broken Wing Josh Killian

Television

Year Film Role Notes
1984 E/R David Sheinfeld Episode: "Son of Sheinfeld"
1984–86 Gimme a Break! Jonathan Maxwell Recurring role, 2 episodes

Main role, 25 episodes

1985 Challenge of a Lifetime Steven Schoonover Television film
1989 Traveling Man Billy Fox
1992 For Richer, For Poorer Michael Katourian
Broadway Bound Stanley Jerome Television film; Silverman plays the older brother of the character he had originally played on Broadway.
1993 12:01 Barry Thomas Television film
1994 Couples Jamie
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Pugh Episode: "Don't Just Do It"/"Joined at the Hip" (voice role)
1995 Sketch Artist II: Hands That See Glenn Television film
Friends Dr. Franzblau Episode: "The One with the Birth"
Caroline in the City Jonathan Eliot Episode: "Caroline and the Folks"
1995–97 The Single Guy Jonathan Eliot Main role, 41 episodes
1996 London Suite Paul Dolby Television film; uncredited
Arliss Jonathan Silverman Episode: "The Client's Best Interest"
1998 The Inspectors Inspector Alex Urbina Television film
2000 The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence Alex Urbina Television film; also co-executive producer
Good as Gold Television film
2001 These Old Broads Wesley Westbourne
2002 Bobbie's Girl David Lewis
2003 Miss Match Barry Episode: "The Price of Love"
Deacons for Defense Michael Deane Television film
Free for All Johnny Jenkins Main role, 7 episodes
2004 CSI: Miami Jay Seaver Episode: "Under the Influence"
Pryor Offenses Ian Television film
DeMarco Affairs Eddie Rosen
2004–05 Kim Possible Jimmy Ding Episodes: "Ron Millionaire", "Dimension Twist" (voice role)
2005 Related Brad Episode: "Sex and the Sisters"
2007 In Case of Emergency Harry Kennison Main role, 13 episodes
Close to Home Pete Durkin 3 episodes
2008 Numb3rs Kurt Young Episode: "Blowback"
2009 Psych Lyin' Ryan Episode: "Truer Lies"
Married Not Dead Gordon Television film
2010 Medium Matt Mulhearn Episode: "Sal"
Jack's Family Adventure Jack Vickery Television film
2011 Paul the Male Matchmaker Brian Episode: "Don't Be a Meanie"
Greek Lasker Parkes 3 episodes
White Collar Gerald Jameson Episode: "Veiled Threat"
2012 Hot in Cleveland Dr. Minton Episode: "The Gateway Friend"
2013 Monday Mornings Dr. John Lieberman Recurring role, 5 episodes
2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Josh Galloway Episode: "Comic Perversion"
Significant Mother Harrison Marlowe Main role, 8 episodes23
2015 Getting On Dr. Happy Gladner Recurring role, 5 episodes
2016 Baby Daddy Malcolm Episode: "Homecoming and Going"
Castle Alan Masters Episode: "Dead Again"
2017 Rosewood Bastion Bleiweiss Episode: "Blistering Heat & Brotherly Love"
Still the King Bob Episode: "The Hungover Games"
2018 K.C. Undercover Mitch Bishop Recurring role, 4 episodes
Scandal Robert Bacall Episode: "Army of One"
Take Two Bradley Marsh Episode: "Smoking Gun"
Salvation Roland Cavanaugh Recurring role, 4 episodes24
2019 No Good Nick Paul Recurring role, 5 episodes
2020 Station 19 Ted Episode: "Dream a Little Dream of Me"
2021 Good Girls Dave Recurring role, 13 episodes
2021-2023 Moonshine Daniel Bennett Recurring role, 9 episodes
2023 Goosebumps Perry Biddle Episode: "Night of the Living Dummy"

Awards

In 2014, Jonathan won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Johnny in National Lampoon's Snatched at the Hoboken International Film Festival.

References

References

  1. Koven, Mikel J. (2008). Film, Folklore, and Urban Legends. Scarecrow Press. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-0-8108-6025-4. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  2. Miller, Gerri. "Actor Jonathan Silverman: A lover, a joker, an online minister". Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. July 29, 2015.
  3. Von Maurer, Bill (December 16, 1983). "The Kid from 'Brighton Beach'". The Miami News. p. C1.
  4. Friedman, Dorothy (November 30, 1986). "Silverman is 'Broadway Bound'". The Advocate and Greenwich Time (Stamford, Connecticut). p. D1.
  5. Girls Just Want to Have Fun Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  6. Maslin, Janet. "Screen: 'Brighton Beach Memoirs'". The New York Times. December 25, 1986
  7. "Stealing Home""Caddyshack II". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  8. Holden, Stephen. "Review/Film; Spoofing Hamptons Life With a Mobster Murder" The New York Times, July 5, 1989
  9. Little Sister tcm.com, retrieved October 19, 2017
  10. Lowry, Brian. Little Big League Variety, June 17, 1994
  11. Caprario, M. D (June 29, 2009). "'Jam' Makes Los Angeles Debut at 2006 Hollywood Film Festival". LA Splash. Retrieved October 19, 2017
  12. King, Susan (September 24, 1995). "Profile: The Most Eligible Guy". Los Angeles Times.
  13. "In Case of Emergency". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  14. "Our guide to top Friends eps from season 1". Entertainment Weekly. January 8, 2004.
  15. "CSI. Under The Influence". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  16. "OK! Exclusive: Jonathan Silverman & Jennifer Finnigan Married!". OK! Magazine. July 28, 2007. Archived from the original on December 7, 2007. Retrieved April 24, 2009.
  17. Juneau, Jen (October 6, 2017). "Jennifer Finnigan and Jonathan Silverman Welcome Daughter Ella Jack". People. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  18. "Film and Television Celebrities Promote Jewish Federations in First-Ever National Television Advertising Campaign" (Press release). United Jewish Communities. August 2, 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013.
  19. "The Opposite of Sex". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  20. "Beethoven's Treasure Tail". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  21. "A Magic Christmas". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  22. "Baby, Baby, Baby". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  23. Goldberg, Leslie (April 10, 2015). "CW Orders Comedy Series 'Significant Mother' for Summer". The Hollywood Reporter.
  24. Mitovich, Matt Webb (April 3, 2018). "Salvation Adds Jonathan Silverman for Season 2, Brings Back Taylor Cole". TVLine. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
External links