Jim Meskimen Speaker Biography
One of the World’s Greatest Impressionists, Comedian, Voice Artist, TV & Film Actor, and Season 8 Semifinalist for “America’s Got Talent”
Jim Meskimen is an accomplished actor, improviser and voice artist whose work is well-known to TV and film audiences. As a professional actor for nearly thirty years Jim has appeared in the films Apollo 13, The Grinch, Frost/Nixon, The Punisher, Not Forgotten, There Will Be Blood and many others. Some of Jim’s TV credits include Friends, Whose Line is it, Anyway?, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Castle, Lie to Me and Rules of Engagement. He was a contestant and semifinalist on season 8 of America’s Got Talent. Jim continues to dazzle audiences with his improvisational skills and appears regularly on L.A. stages.
Early Career
In the 1980’s & 90’s he had a thriving career as a man-on-the-street interviewer for improvised TV and radio campaigns for grocery stores, bank cards, coffee makers, and a host of other clients that won awards for several major advertising agencies. As a designer and cartoonist, he created dozens of characters, weapons and vehicles for the original “Thundercats” animated series.
Political Impressionist
Jim’s impressions of political figures in the 2004 election were showcased in animated cartoons by Jibjab that were among the most popular items on the Internet. His viral video, Shakespeare in Celebrity Voices topped three-quarters of a million views in 2011 and his subsequent impressions videos have cemented him as a major YouTube talent. In addition, The Australian Today Show dubbed him, “The World’s Greatest Impressionist.”
Family Talent and Other Interests
In addition to Jim’s talent, he is a professional artist who exhibits and sells his realist oil paintings. Meskimen lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress and founder of The Acting Center school, Tamra Meskimen. His daughter, Taylor, is also a performer, and his mother is actress Marion Ross, who was Emmy and Golden Globe nominated for her work on Happy Days (as Richie’s mom) and Brooklyn Bridge.
Jim Meskimen Speaking Topics