Jim Meskimen (born 10 September 1959) is an American comedian and actor, perhaps best known for his work on the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?.
Meskimen was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of actors Marion Ross and Freeman Meskimen. A graduate in fine art from the University of California and a former animator, Meskimen's extensive range of impersonations and vocalisations has made him a frequent recruit to high-profile advertising campaigns in the United States. He appeared in five episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air as Werner, and has appeared in episodes of Beverly Hills 90210, Seinfeld, Grace Under Fire and 3rd Rock from the Sun.
In 1991, the British improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? filmed a season of episodes in New York and Meskimen, along with his improv partner Christopher Smith, was recruited for two episodes which were warmly received. Over the two recordings, Meskimen and Smith appeared alongside Josie Lawrence, Ryan Stiles, Sandi Toksvig and Mike McShane. Meskimen's games included making up songs on the spot in the style of Sting and Frank Sinatra. He was declared "winner" of his second episode, and was asked to read the credits as Popeye.
The show returned to New York a year later and Meskimen appeared in one more episode, again with Smith, with whom he had performed in New York's popular Interplay improv troupe for a number of years. Also appearing in this episode were Stiles and Chip Esten but again Meskimen "won", this time reading the credits as Kevin Costner playing Jim Garrison in the film JFK. A year later Meskimen moved to Los Angeles where he and Smith set up a new performing troupe and workshop called The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company.
When Whose Line Is It Anyway? relocated permanently to the U.S., Meskimen surprisingly failed an audition. He has yet to appear on this version of the show.
Meskimen had roles in Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Punisher while continuing to work as a voice provider, comic and improviser. He voiced the online JibJab cartoons and recently began a one-man show based on impersonations entitled Jimpressions which debuted at the historic Woodstock Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois. Also he has appeared in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air in Seasons 4 and 6.
He is married to Tamra, with whom he performs regularly, and they have a daughter, Taylor. His sister is a writer and producer of Friends. Meskimen is a devout Scientologist and has recorded and directed spoken versions of founder L. Ron Hubbard's fiction works on to cassette. He first read Hubbard's book Dianetics in 1982 and attributes his successes in his life and career to the theories therein.
Jim Meskimen is an accomplished actor, improviser and voice artist whose work is well-known to TV and film audiences. He has appeared on Britain's acclaimed "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1988) several times, and was a recurring character on "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The" (1990) for two seasons. He has worked with director Ron Howard (I) on several of his films, including Paper, The (1994), Apollo 13 (1995), Edtv (1999) and the upcoming How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). Jim continues to dazzle audiences with his improvisational skills and appears regularly with the group, "The Really Spontaneous Theatre Company" in L.A. area theaters. Like many significant Hollywood figures, Meskimen credits L. Ron Hubbard and the bestselling book "Dianetics" for much of his success. Meskimen is married to actress Tamra Meskimen and they have a daughter, Taylor. His mother is Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress Marion Ross of "Happy Days" (1974) and the critically acclaimed series, "Brooklyn Bridge" (1991).
