Jason Matthew Biggs (born May 12, 1978) is an American actor, director, and producer. He is best known for his lead role as Jim Levenstein in the American Pie film series (1999–2012). His other notable lead credits include Loser (2000), Saving Silverman (2001), Anything Else (2003), My Best Friend's Girl (2008), Life Happens (2011), Grassroots (2012), and Best. Christmas. Ever! (2023).

In television, Biggs is known for his lead roles as the voice of Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012–2014) and Larry Bloom in the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2014; 2017; 2019). His other television lead credits include Drexell's Class (1991–1992), Total Security (1997), Mad Love (2011), and Outmatched (2020). He had a supporting role on the soap opera As the World Turns (1994–1995).

Biggs has received a Screen Actors Guild Award alongside nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Satellite Award.

Early life and education

Jason Matthew Biggs was born on May 12, 1978, in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, to Angela (née Zocco), a nurse, and Gary Louis Biggs, a shipping company manager. His father is of English and Italian descent and his mother is of Sicilian descent. His last name is derived from his English ancestry. He was raised Catholic.

Biggs grew up in Hasbrouck Heights and attended Hasbrouck Heights High School, where he achieved success in tennis. He attended New York University before transferring to Montclair State University, where he eventually dropped out.

Career

Biggs at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2006

Biggs began acting in commercials at the age of five in 1983. In 1991, he made his television debut in the short-lived FOX series Drexell's Class.

In 1988, aged 10, he received his Screen Actors Guild card for appearing in a TV commercial for Pathmark. He later recalled in a 2015 interview in TV Guide, "I remember I had to eat a doughnut in one of the shots. Over and over again. Awesome."

When Biggs was 12, he debuted on Broadway in Conversations with My Father with Judd Hirsch. He then starred in the daytime soap opera As the World Turns, for which he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Best Younger Actor.

Biggs attended New York University briefly from 1996 to 1997, but left to pursue acting. In 1997, he appeared in a short-lived television series called Camp Stories. He starred in 1999's American Pie, which went on to become an international hit that has spawned three sequels (also starring Biggs) and five spinoffs (that did not star Biggs). He accepted starring roles in movies such as Loser in 2000, and others. He also starred (along with his Loser co-star Mena Suvari) in the music video for the song "Teenage Dirtbag" by American rock band Wheatus. In 2001, Biggs starred in the comedy Saving Silverman.

He appeared in the 2002 Broadway production of The Graduate as Benjamin Braddock alongside Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone. In 2003, Biggs appeared as Jerry Falk in the Woody Allen romantic comedy Anything Else. In the 2004–2005 season, Biggs portrayed an Orthodox Jew in Daniel Goldfarb's comedy, Modern Orthodox, staged at Dodger Stages theater in New York City. In 2006, Biggs was seen in the MTV reality show Blowin' Up with Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone which led to his participation in a hip-hop recording with Bay Area rapper E-40. Biggs returned to the stage in the fall of 2008 in Howard Korder's Boys' Life at New York City's Second Stage Theatre.

Biggs in 2012 at the American Reunion premiere in Sydney, Australia

Biggs has appeared in several other films, including Eight Below and Over Her Dead Body. In 2010, Biggs made his literary debut by contributing "Scratch-and-Sniff", a poem about growing up in New Jersey, to the anthology What's Your Exit? A Literary Detour through New Jersey (Word Riot Press, 2010). In 2012, he contributed to the anthology Oy! Only Six? Why Not More: Six-Word Memoirs on Jewish Life with the self-ironic article "This is a Roman nose, OK?" (Biggs is not Jewish.) A year later, Larry Smith, the editor of the anthology, and creator of Six-Word Memoirs, would be the basis for Biggs's Orange Is the New Black character Larry Bloom. He departed the series in February 2015 after two seasons.

Biggs reprised his role as Jim Levenstein in American Reunion, which was released on April 6, 2012. One scene in American Reunion features frontal nudity by Biggs. In the summer of 2012, Biggs took a job voicing Leonardo on Nickelodeon in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He left the series during its second season and was temporarily replaced by Dominic Catrambone. Seth Green permanently took over the role from Biggs beginning in season 3, with Leonardo's voice change being explained in the show's universe, as it was due to his throat getting injured in a battle against Shredder. Biggs also plays the cowbell in the supergroup Yukon Kornelius.

Biggs at PaleyFest 2014 panel for Orange Is the New Black

It was announced in September 2014, that Biggs would star on Broadway in The Heidi Chronicles. The play opened on March 19.

In December 2014, The Hollywood Reporter announced Biggs was cast to star in the comedy Amateur Night. Biggs plays a well-meaning expectant father who unwittingly accepts a job chauffeuring prostitutes (Janet Montgomery, Ashley Tisdale) around Los Angeles. Jenny Mollen, who is Biggs' wife in real life, appears as his wife in the film.

In 2023, Biggs starred as Rob Sanders in the Netflix Christmas-themed film Best. Christmas. Ever. alongside Brandy, Heather Graham and Matt Cedeño. He co-hosted Blue Ribbon Baking Championship on Netflix in 2024. In 2025, he made his directorial debut with the comedy thriller Untitled Home Invasion Romance, which he also starred in.

Personal life

In January 2008, Biggs became engaged to his My Best Friend's Girl co-star, actress Jenny Mollen; they married on April 23, 2008. They have a son who was born on February 15, 2014. A second son was born on October 2, 2017. Biggs and Mollen sold their house in Los Angeles, California, situated near the Sunset Strip in 2015 and moved to Manhattan, New York City. As of 2017, the family resided in the West Village. In May 2026, it was reported Biggs and Mollen had separated.

From 2012 to 2014, Biggs regularly caused controversy with his posts on Twitter by making sexual jokes about Ann Romney and Janna Ryan in response to the 2012 Republican National Convention; by joking about the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in 2014; by joking about Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down in 2014; and by mocking the death of The Bachelorette contestant Eric Hill. In a 2012 interview, Biggs stated that he has "a very fucked up sense of humor" and said he enjoyed the ability to "surprise people on a daily basis" on Twitter because his real personality is so different from those of the characters he usually plays. He apologized for and deleted his tweet about Malaysian Flight 17; in a later interview, he said that it had led to death threats against him.

In 2023, Biggs and his wife Mollen signed the "No Hostage Left Behind Letter", an open letter to US President Joe Biden demanding the release of all hostages from the October 7 attacks.

Biggs has Italian citizenship.

Biggs has struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol. In 2025, he stated that he had reached seven years of sobriety.

Filmography

Film

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Mike Mulligan and His Steam ShovelBoy
The Boy Who Cried BitchRobert
1997Camp StoriesAbby
1999American PieJim Levenstein
Detroit Rock CityStudent/Guy in Red Track Suituncredited
2000Boys and GirlsHunter/Steve
LoserPaul Tannek
2001Saving SilvermanDarren Silverman
American Pie 2Jim Levenstein
Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackHimselfCameo
Prozac NationRafe
2003American WeddingJim Levenstein
Anything ElseJerry Falk
2004Jersey GirlArthur Brickman
2005Guy XCorporal Rudy Spruance
2006Farce of the PenguinsInsecure PenguinVoice
Eight BelowCharlie Cooper
Wedding DazeAnderson
2007The GlitchAlanShort film
2008Over Her Dead BodyDan Sianidis
My Best Friend's GirlDustin
Lower LearningTom Willoman
2009Kidnapping CaitlynnMaxShort film
2010Remember MeJim LevensteinArchive footage; uncredited
The Third RuleDonShort film
2011Life HappensSergei
GrassrootsPhil Campbell
2012American ReunionJim LevensteinAlso executive producer
2016Amateur NightGuy Carter
2017Who We Are NowVince
2018Dear DictatorMr. Spines
2019Jay and Silent Bob RebootHimself
2020The SubjectPhil Waterhouse
2021Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and RageHimselfDocumentary; Archive footage; uncredited
2023Best. Christmas. Ever.Rob Sanders
2024The 4:30 MovieConstruction Worker
Operation Taco Gary'sHimself
2025Untitled Home Invasion RomanceKevin Stanwellalso director
2026InfluencedTBA

Television

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1990The Fotis Sevastakis StoryTelevision film; Unaired
1991–1992Drexell's ClassWillie TrancasMain role; 8 episodes
1994–1995As the World TurnsPete WendallRecurring role; 7 episodes
1997Total SecurityRobbie RosenfeldMain role; 13 episodes (7 unaired)
2001The Andy Dick ShowHimself2 episodes
2002Off CentreRick SteveEpisode: "The Good, the Bad and the Lazy"
2004FrasierDr. HauckEpisode: "Goodnight, Seattle: Part 2"
Sesame StreetHimselfEpisode: "Baby Bear Tries to Make Curly Sleep"
2005Will & GraceBaby GlennEpisode: "The Hole Truth"
2006Blowin' UpHimselfEpisode: "The Break-Up"
2007I'm in HellNickTelevision film; Also producer
2009Happiness Isn't EverythingJason HamburgerCBS pilot; Also producer
2011Mad LoveBen ParrMain role; 13 episodes; Also producer
2012–2014Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesLeonardo / Rat Man Freak (voice)Main role (season 1–2) Episode: "Of Rats and Men" (Rat Man Freak voice)
2012–2013The Good WifeDylan Stack2 episodes
20128 Out of 10 CatsHimselfEpisode: "Episode #14.2"
2013–2014; 2017; 2019Orange Is the New BlackLarry BloomMain role (season 1–2), guest (season 5), recurring (season 7) 30 episodes
2014Hollywood Game NightHimselfEpisode: "Game Night: Behind Bars"
DeadbeatReed KellyEpisode: "Out-Of-Body Issues"
2016NightcapHimselfEpisode: "Mean Guest"
2017The Good FightDylan StackEpisode: "Chaos"
Angry AngelHimselfTelevision film
2018The Wendy Williams ShowHimself (Host)Episode: "Brian Balthazar; Jason Biggs"
2019The BacheloretteHimself (Guest)Episode: "Week 3"
2020OutmatchedMikeMain role; 10 episodes
The Masked SingerGuest panelistEpisode: "The Playoffs: Group A"
2021Cherries WildHimself (host)Main role
Jason Biggs' Cash at Your DoorHimself (host)Main role
2022Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDet. Andy Parlato-Goldstein2 episodes
2024Blue Ribbon Baking ChampionshipHimself (host)

Music videos

Music videos
YearTitleArtistRole
2000"Teenage Dirtbag"WheatusPaul Tannek

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
1995Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Younger Actor in a Drama SeriesAs the World TurnsNominated
Soap Opera Digest AwardsOutstanding Male NewcomerNominated
2000Blockbuster Entertainment AwardsFavorite Actor – NewcomerAmerican PieNominated
MTV Movie & TV AwardsBest Comedic PerformanceNominated
Breakthrough Male PerformanceNominated
Teen Choice AwardsFilm – Choice ActorNominated
Film – Choice ChemistryNominated
Film – Wipeout Scene of the SummerLoserNominated
Young Hollywood AwardsBest Ensemble CastAmerican PieWon
2002MTV Movie & TV AwardsBest Kiss (shared with Seann William Scott)American Pie 2Won
Best LineNominated
Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie Actor – ComedyNominated
2004Choice Movie Hissy FitAmerican WeddingNominated
Choice Movie Liplock (shared with Alyson Hannigan)Nominated
2005Taormina International Film FestivalBest ActorGuy XWon
2012Teen Choice AwardsChoice Movie Actor – ComedyAmerican ReunionNominated
2014Satellite AwardsBest Cast – Television SeriesOrange is the New BlackNominated
2015Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesWon
2020Breckenridge Festival of FilmBest ActorThe SubjectWon
San Antonio Film FestivalBest ActorWon
Loudoun Arts Film FestivalBest ActorWon

Theater

Theatre
YearTitleRoleTheatreNotes
1991–93Conversations with My FatherYoung JoeyRoyale Theatre
2002The GraduateBenjamin BraddockGerald Schoenfeld Theatre
2004–05Modern OrthodoxDodger Stages Theatre
2008Boys' LifeSecond Stage Theater
2015The Heidi ChroniclesScoop RosenbaumMusic Box Theatre

External links