John Paragon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. John Dixon Paragon (born 9 December 1954) is an American actor, writer, and director. He was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on an Army base. He grew up and attended schools in Fort Collins, Colorado. Paragon is probably best known for his work on children's show Pee-wee's Playhouse where he played Jambi the Genie and voiced Pterri the Pterodactyl. In addition to writing many of the regular season episodes of Playhouse, Paragon also co-wrote (with Paul Reubens) the acclaimed Pee-wee's Playhouse Christmas Special in 1988, for which they were nominated an Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Children's Special. Some of Paragon's other memorable roles include Cedric, one half of the gay couple Bob and Cedric on the television series Seinfeld; the title character in the children's movie The Frog Prince; the sex shop salesman in the cult favorite Eating Raoul; and the owner of a Strip-o-gram business in the 1986 film Echo Park. Paragon got his start in the Los Angeles-based improvisation group The Groundlings alongside Reubens and Phil Hartman. He also collaborated with fellow Groundling Cassandra Peterson on numerous Elvira projects, including the recurring role of The Breather, an annoying caller, for her first television series on KHJ-TV-Los Angeles. In recent years, Paragon has worked with Walt Disney Imagineering on ways to incorporate improvisational performance into attractions at Disney parks. In this capacity, he performed as the ...

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Cheech & Chong's Next Movie (1980)

Perennially stoned Cheech and Chong tear through the city of Los Angeles, causing trouble wherever they go. After Cheech loses his job, the two pot enthusiasts head to the welfare offices where Cheech's girlfriend, Donna, works. Instead of collecting unemployment, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tommy Chong
CAST:  Cheech Marin  •  Tommy Chong  •  Evelyn Guerrero  •  Betty Kennedy

Perennially stoned Cheech and Chong tear through the city of Los Angeles, causing trouble wherever they go. After Cheech loses his job, the two pot enthusiasts head to the welfare offices where Cheech's girlfriend, Donna, works. Instead of collecting unemployment, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tommy Chong
CAST:  Cheech Marin  •  Tommy Chong  •  Evelyn Guerrero  •  Betty Kennedy

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)

When her great aunt dies, famed horror hostess Elvira heads for the uptight new England town of Falwell to claim her inheritance of a haunted house, a witch's cookbook and a punk rock poodle. But once the stuffy locals get an eyeful of the scream queen's ample ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Signorelli
CAST:  Cassandra Peterson  •  Susan Kellermann  •  William Morgan Sheppard  •  Jeff Conaway

When her great aunt dies, famed horror hostess Elvira heads for the uptight new England town of Falwell to claim her inheritance of a haunted house, a witch's cookbook and a punk rock poodle. But once the stuffy locals get an eyeful of the scream queen's ample ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James Signorelli
CAST:  Cassandra Peterson  •  Susan Kellermann  •  William Morgan Sheppard  •  Jeff Conaway

Going Berserk (1983)

John Bourgignon, a drummer-chauffeur engaged to the daughter of a United States senator, encounters a sleazy film director, the leader of an aerobics cult, and other crazed characters in the days leading up to his wedding.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Steinberg
CAST:  John Candy  •  Joe Flaherty  •  Eugene Levy  •  Alley Mills

John Bourgignon, a drummer-chauffeur engaged to the daughter of a United States senator, encounters a sleazy film director, the leader of an aerobics cult, and other crazed characters in the days leading up to his wedding.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Steinberg
CAST:  John Candy  •  Joe Flaherty  •  Eugene Levy  •  Alley Mills

Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992)

Wayne Szalinski is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn't quite accurate. But when he brings Nick & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Randal Kleiser
CAST:  Rick Moranis  •  Marcia Strassman  •  Robert Oliveri  •  Daniel Shalikar

Wayne Szalinski is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn't quite accurate. But when he brings Nick & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Randal Kleiser
CAST:  Rick Moranis  •  Marcia Strassman  •  Robert Oliveri  •  Daniel Shalikar

Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

FunnyCuteFunWhimsical

The eccentric and childish Pee-wee Herman embarks on a big adventure when his beloved bicycle is stolen. Armed with information from a fortune-teller and a relentless obsession with his prized possession, Pee-wee encounters a host of odd characters and bizarre ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Burton
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Elizabeth Daily  •  Mark Holton  •  Diane Salinger

The eccentric and childish Pee-wee Herman embarks on a big adventure when his beloved bicycle is stolen. Armed with information from a fortune-teller and a relentless obsession with his prized possession, Pee-wee encounters a host of odd characters and bizarre ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Burton
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Elizabeth Daily  •  Mark Holton  •  Diane Salinger

Things Are Tough All Over (1982)

Cheech and Chong are hired to drive a limo from Chicago to Las Vegas by two shady Arabs - Mr. Slyman and Prince Habib. Unbeknownst to them, five million dollars of dirty money has been stuffed throughout the car.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas K. Avildsen
CAST:  Cheech Marin  •  Tommy Chong  •  Toni Attell  •  Mike Bacarella

Cheech and Chong are hired to drive a limo from Chicago to Las Vegas by two shady Arabs - Mr. Slyman and Prince Habib. Unbeknownst to them, five million dollars of dirty money has been stuffed throughout the car.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thomas K. Avildsen
CAST:  Cheech Marin  •  Tommy Chong  •  Toni Attell  •  Mike Bacarella

UHF (1989)

The eccentric new manager of a UHF television channel tries to save the station from financial ruin with an odd array of programming.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jay Levey
CAST:  'Weird Al' Yankovic  •  Victoria Jackson  •  Michael Richards  •  David Bowe

The eccentric new manager of a UHF television channel tries to save the station from financial ruin with an odd array of programming.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jay Levey
CAST:  'Weird Al' Yankovic  •  Victoria Jackson  •  Michael Richards  •  David Bowe

Pandemonium (1982)

A former high school student who always wanted to be a cheerleader decides to reopen the cheerleading program at her former high school after years of closure for being targeted by a serial killer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Sole
CAST:  Candice Azzara  •  Phil Hartman  •  David L. Lander  •  Carol Kane

A former high school student who always wanted to be a cheerleader decides to reopen the cheerleading program at her former high school after years of closure for being targeted by a serial killer.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alfred Sole
CAST:  Candice Azzara  •  Phil Hartman  •  David L. Lander  •  Carol Kane

Eating Raoul (1982)

A relatively boring Los Angeles couple discover a bizarre, if not murderous way to get funding for opening a restaurant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Bartel
CAST:  Paul Bartel  •  Mary Woronov  •  Susan Saiger  •  Richard Paul

A relatively boring Los Angeles couple discover a bizarre, if not murderous way to get funding for opening a restaurant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Paul Bartel
CAST:  Paul Bartel  •  Mary Woronov  •  Susan Saiger  •  Richard Paul

Ring of the Musketeers (1992)

Modern day "Musketeers" attempt to become protectors of the inocent. While the biking trio rescue kindnapped children, guard witnesses, and chase mafia types, they also seek the missing fourth musketeer, who wears the famous musketeers' ring.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Paragon
CAST:  David Hasselhoff  •  Thomas Gottschalk  •  Cheech Marin  •  Alison Doody

Modern day "Musketeers" attempt to become protectors of the inocent. While the biking trio rescue kindnapped children, guard witnesses, and chase mafia types, they also seek the missing fourth musketeer, who wears the famous musketeers' ring.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Paragon
CAST:  David Hasselhoff  •  Thomas Gottschalk  •  Cheech Marin  •  Alison Doody

Echo Park (1985)

In the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, everybody is somebody else. May, a single mother who delivers strip-O-grams, dreams of being an actress. She rents one of her rooms out to a pizza-man cum songwriter named Jonathan. Meanwhile, in the next apartment, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Dornhelm
CAST:  Susan Dey  •  Tom Hulce  •  Michael Bowen  •  Christopher Walker

In the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, everybody is somebody else. May, a single mother who delivers strip-O-grams, dreams of being an actress. She rents one of her rooms out to a pizza-man cum songwriter named Jonathan. Meanwhile, in the next apartment, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Robert Dornhelm
CAST:  Susan Dey  •  Tom Hulce  •  Michael Bowen  •  Christopher Walker

The Pee-wee Herman Show (1981)

An adult-oriented version of what would eventually become an award-winning children's classic. This version of the show features Pee-wee's playhouse and many of the characters of the later series, but with adult and sexual overtones and jokes including "mirror ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marty Callner
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Phil Hartman  •  Lynne Marie Stewart  •  John Paragon

An adult-oriented version of what would eventually become an award-winning children's classic. This version of the show features Pee-wee's playhouse and many of the characters of the later series, but with adult and sexual overtones and jokes including "mirror ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marty Callner
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Phil Hartman  •  Lynne Marie Stewart  •  John Paragon

Every Breath (1994)

An unemployed actor gets involved with a strange woman who hangs out in lesbian nightclubs and her rich arms dealer husband.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Bing
CAST:  Judd Nelson  •  Joanna Pacula  •  Patrick Bauchau  •  Willie Garson

An unemployed actor gets involved with a strange woman who hangs out in lesbian nightclubs and her rich arms dealer husband.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Bing
CAST:  Judd Nelson  •  Joanna Pacula  •  Patrick Bauchau  •  Willie Garson

The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway (2011)

Pee-Wee is excited when Jambi the genie grants him a wish. He wishes to fly but gets upset when he sees Captain Carl and Miss Yvonne on a romantic date with each other.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marty Callner
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Phil LaMarr  •  Jesse Garcia  •  Lexy Fridell

Pee-Wee is excited when Jambi the genie grants him a wish. He wishes to fly but gets upset when he sees Captain Carl and Miss Yvonne on a romantic date with each other.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marty Callner
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Phil LaMarr  •  Jesse Garcia  •  Lexy Fridell

Get Out of My Room (1985)

Get Out of My Room, was a mockumentary in the style of This Is Spinal Tap, written and directed by Cheech Marin. In the film, he and Tommy Chong are shown attempting to finish a "video album" for their novelty record Get Out of My Room.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cheech Marin
CAST:  Cheech Marin  •  Tommy Chong  •  John Paragon  •  Beverly D'Angelo

Get Out of My Room, was a mockumentary in the style of This Is Spinal Tap, written and directed by Cheech Marin. In the film, he and Tommy Chong are shown attempting to finish a "video album" for their novelty record Get Out of My Room.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cheech Marin
CAST:  Cheech Marin  •  Tommy Chong  •  John Paragon  •  Beverly D'Angelo

Double Trouble (1992)

Two beefed-up twins operating on opposing sides of the law, team up to stop a nefarious crook in this actioner. Peter Jade is a notoriously arrogant burglar who ends up with the key to an enormous underground cache of diamonds. David Jade is a cop who joins forces ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Paragon
CAST:  Peter Paul  •  David Paul  •  Roddy McDowall  •  David Carradine

Two beefed-up twins operating on opposing sides of the law, team up to stop a nefarious crook in this actioner. Peter Jade is a notoriously arrogant burglar who ends up with the key to an enormous underground cache of diamonds. David Jade is a cop who joins forces ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Paragon
CAST:  Peter Paul  •  David Paul  •  Roddy McDowall  •  David Carradine

Twin Sitters (1994)

An evil business executive is releasing dangerous toxins and the Barbarian Brothers set out to stop his evil work.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Paragon
CAST:  Peter Paul  •  David Paul  •  Christian Cousins  •  Joseph Cousins

An evil business executive is releasing dangerous toxins and the Barbarian Brothers set out to stop his evil work.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Paragon
CAST:  Peter Paul  •  David Paul  •  Christian Cousins  •  Joseph Cousins

The Frog Prince (1986)

Children's musical based on Grimm's fairy tale of The Frog-King. A young girl learns how to be a good friend and princess with the help of a "tall frog."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jackson Hunsicker
CAST:  Aileen Quinn  •  Helen Hunt  •  John Paragon  •  Clive Revill

Children's musical based on Grimm's fairy tale of The Frog-King. A young girl learns how to be a good friend and princess with the help of a "tall frog."  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jackson Hunsicker
CAST:  Aileen Quinn  •  Helen Hunt  •  John Paragon  •  Clive Revill

Pee-wee's Big Holiday (2016)

A fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Lee
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Joe Manganiello  •  Jessica Pohly  •  Alia Shawkat

A fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday.  (more)

DIRECTION:  John Lee
CAST:  Paul Reubens  •  Joe Manganiello  •  Jessica Pohly  •  Alia Shawkat

Red Riding Hood (2006)

Teenage Claire would rather hang out with her friends at the mall than to stay home with her brother Matt while Grandma babysits. Who wouldn't? Unfortunately, Grandma isn't about to let Claire out of the house. Worse, she insists that Claire and Matt listen to her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Randal Kleiser
CAST:  Lainie Kazan  •  Henry Cavill  •  Morgan Thompson  •  Sam Oz Stone

Teenage Claire would rather hang out with her friends at the mall than to stay home with her brother Matt while Grandma babysits. Who wouldn't? Unfortunately, Grandma isn't about to let Claire out of the house. Worse, she insists that Claire and Matt listen to her ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Randal Kleiser
CAST:  Lainie Kazan  •  Henry Cavill  •  Morgan Thompson  •  Sam Oz Stone
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