Thomas Lennon

Birth Date:

August 9, 1970

Birth Name:

Thomas Patrick Lennon

Birth Place:

Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Nick Name:

Tom

Film Debut:

Aisle Six 1992

Breakthrough Film:

Memento 2000

Biography

Thomas Lennon is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, producer, director, and novelist recognized for his distinctive comedic performances in film and television. Born on August 9, 1970, in Oak Park, Illinois, he developed an interest in performance while growing up and became involved in theater during his school years. He attended New York University, where he became a member of The State, an influential sketch-comedy troupe that eventually gained national attention through its MTV television series. Lennon’s work with the group helped establish him within the American comedy scene and led to collaborations with several performers who would become longtime creative partners. His early screen work included the 1992 student short film Aisle Six, marking one of his first film appearances.

After The State, Lennon continued expanding his career as both a performer and writer. He and Robert Ben Garant developed Viva Variety before creating Reno 911!, the Comedy Central comedy series that became his defining early success. Lennon played Lieutenant Jim Dangle, an eccentric sheriff’s lieutenant whose flamboyant personality and distinctive appearance made him one of the show’s most memorable characters. He also wrote and produced the series, demonstrating his talents behind the camera. His film career grew through appearances in Memento, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Night at the Museum. Lennon and Garant also became successful screenwriting partners, working together on projects including The Pacifier, Balls of Fury, and the Night at the Museum films.

Lennon has remained a familiar presence in comedy while taking on a wide variety of supporting roles. He appeared in I Love You, Man, 17 Again, Bad Teacher, The Dark Knight Rises, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and Baywatch, often bringing an understated but highly recognizable comic energy to his characters. On television, he played Felix Unger in the 2015 revival of The Odd Couple and appeared in series including How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, Drunk History, and Santa Clarita Diet. Beyond acting, Lennon has continued writing, producing, and directing, establishing himself as a versatile figure whose career combines performance with comedy creation and screenwriting.

Movie Portfolio