# Jay Johnston

Jay James Johnston (born October 22, 1968) is an American actor and comedian. He was a writer and cast member on Mr. Show with Bob and David and had roles on The Sarah Silverman Program, Moral Orel, Arrested Development, and Bob's Burgers.
Johnston participated in the United States Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, and was arrested and charged on June 7, 2023. Following the incident, Johnston was fired from his longtime role as Jimmy Pesto on Bob's Burgers; he has not appeared in any films or television shows since. He pleaded guilty on July 8, 2024, and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison on October 28, 2024, but was pardoned by Donald Trump in January of 2025.

## Early life and education

Johnston was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He has a younger brother named Tim. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in acting from Columbia College Chicago in 1993.

## Career

After graduating from college, Johnston later joined the Chicago Second City's touring comedy for a number of years and also performed in stage shows at the Annoyance Theater in Chicago.
From 1995 to 1998, Johnston worked as a sketch actor and writer on all four seasons of Mr. Show with Bob and David. After the conclusion of Mr. Show, Johnston had a recurring role on Arrested Development, as well as appearing in films such as Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Bicentennial Man.
Johnston and fellow Mr. Show regulars Dino Stamatopoulos and Scott Adsit were part of the creative team behind Adult Swim's stop-motion animation series Moral Orel, which ran from 2005 to 2008. Johnston wrote and directed episodes of the series and voiced multiple characters in the first two seasons.
Johnston starred on all three seasons of Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program as "Officer Jay McPherson", the love interest of Sarah Silverman's sister Laura in the series. The series reunited Johnston with Mr. Show cast members Brian Posehn, Scott Aukerman, B. J. Porter, and Paul F. Tompkins.
Johnston had a recurring voice role as Jimmy Pesto Sr. in the Fox animated series Bob's Burgers from 2011 until his firing in 2021. The role was later recast to Eric Bauza in 2023.
Standing well over 6 feet tall, Johnston regularly played police and other law enforcement roles.

## United States Capitol attack

In March 2021, a Twitter message by the FBI was seeking the identity of a man at the January 6 United States Capitol attack who bore a resemblance to Johnston and who was identified as Johnston by friends of the actor. In a December 21, 2021, article by The Daily Beast, two of Johnston's friends said he admitted to being at the Capitol on January 6. After the FBI tweet and the news of his alleged participation, Johnston's friends and colleagues from Mr. Show with Bob and David reached out to Johnston, but received no response. Johnston was fired from Bob's Burgers shortly after being identified.
The FBI arrested Johnston on June 7, 2023, and charged him with felony obstruction of officers during civil disorder as well as several misdemeanor offenses. He was released after paying a $25,000 bond.
Johnston pleaded guilty to a single felony count of obstructing officers during a civil disorder on July 8, 2024. On October 28, 2024, Judge Carl Nichols characterized Johnston's conduct as "problematic" and "reprehensible", and sentenced him to one year and one day in prison, 40 hours of community service, and pay $2,000 in restitution.
On January 20, 2025, Johnston's fiancé Sara Radovanovitch tweeted that Johnston was among those pardoned by Donald Trump when he entered office for his second term.

## Personal life

Johnston has a daughter, born circa 2011. As of 28 October 2024, he was engaged to Sara Radovanovitch.

## Filmography
### Film

Film work by Jay Johnston :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Jack Frost | TV Weatherman | |
| 1999 | Bicentennial Man | Charles | |
| 2000 | The Independent | Soldier | |
| 2000 | Desperate but Not Serious | Mustachioed Cop | |
| 2001 | Not Another Teen Movie | Roadie | |
| 2001 | Hollywood Palms | Young Cop | |
| 2002 | Men in Black II | Agent | |
| 2002 | The Master of Disguise | Rex | |
| 2003 | Brainwarp | Guy Suave | Direct-to-video |
| 2004 | Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | Eyewitness News Member | |
| 2004 | Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | Eyewitness News Member | |
| 2005 | Dirty Love | Waiter | |
| 2006 | Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny | Gang Member | |
| 2007 | Project Clear Visions: The Anthrax Conspiracy | Michael Patrick | |
| 2008 | The Wayside | Dad | |
| 2009 | Secret at Arrow Lake | Dr. William Hardin | |
| 2011 | Demoted | Kline | |
| 2015 | Hell and Back | Rick the Lost Soul | Voice |
| 2021 | Something About Her | George | |
| 2022 | Wing Dad | Allen Marcus | Last role before his 2023 arrest |

### Television

Television work by Jay Johnston :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Ellen | Transition Guy | Episode: "Hello, I Must Be Going" |
| 1995–1998 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Various characters | 28 episodes; also writer |
| 1997 | Just Shoot Me! | Exterminator | Episode: "Lemon Wacky Hello" |
| 1997 | Alright Already | Overnight Parcel Guy | Episode: "Again with the Porno Video" |
| 1999 | Ultimate Trek: Star Trek's Greatest Moments | Spock | Television film |
| 2000 | Tenacious D | FBI Agent | Episode: "Road Gig" |
| 2001 | DAG | Chainsaw | Episode: "Prom" |
| 2001 | Two Guys and a Girl | Cab Driver | Episode: "An Eye for a Finger" |
| 2001 | Spring Break Lawyer | Reporter | Television film |
| 2001 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Jeremy | Episode: "Shaq" |
| 2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Ed | Episode: "Reese Drives" |
| 2002 | Next! | Various | Pilot |
| 2004 | Sweetwater Tides | Abbott Lewison | Television film |
| 2004 | Last Laugh '04 | Pervert | Television film |
| 2004–2013 | Arrested Development | Officer Taylor | 10 episodes |
| 2005 | Weekends at the D.L. | Bill Combs / Darnell Dickerson | 2 episodes |
| 2005–2008 | Moral Orel | Coach Stopframe / Various voices | 30 episodes; also writer and director |
| 2006 | American Misfits | The Boss | 3 episodes |
| 2006 | Lovespring International | Carl Jason | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | Last Laugh '06 | Officer 'Shuggatitz' | Television film |
| 2007 | Human Giant | Whale Trainer | Episode: "Let's Go"; also consultant writer |
| 2007 | Bad Dad | Drunk Bad Dad | Episode #1.2 |
| 2007 | Larry the Cable Guy's Christmas Spectacular | Mormon Guy | Television film |
| 2007–2010 | The Sarah Silverman Program | Officer Jay McPherson | 32 episodes |
| 2009 | Reno 911! | FBI Agent | Episode: "Viacom Grinch" |
| 2009 | Parks and Recreation | Ranger | Episode: "Hunting Trip" |
| 2010 | Community | Police Officer #2 | Episode: "The Science of Illusion" |
| 2010–2012 | Mary Shelley's Frankenhole | The Wolfman / Various voices | 11 episodes |
| 2011 | Jon Benjamin Has a Van | Greg Devlin | Episode: "Little Little Italy" |
| 2011 | Nick Swardson's Pretend Time | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | Guy Suave: Homicidal Spy | Guy Suave | Television film |
| 2011–2021 | Bob's Burgers | Jimmy Pesto / Foodie (voice) | 43 episodes |
| 2012 | Anger Management | Rodney | Episode: "Charlie Tries to Prove Therapy Is Legit" |
| 2012 | NTSF:SD:SUV:: | The Letterer | Episode: "Wasilla Hills Cop" |
| 2013 | Childrens Hospital | Capt. Beach-House | Episode: "Imaginary Friends" |
| 2013 | High School USA! | Officer Dumphy (voice) | 5 episodes |
| 2013–2019 | Mr. Pickles | Mr. Goodman / various voices | 30 episodes |
| 2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Repairman | Episode: "Ellie Kemper Wears a Purple Ruffled Sleeveless Top & Lavender Flats" |
| 2015 | Rick and Morty | Coldstone Creamery Employee (voice) | Episode: "A Rickle in Time" |
| 2015 | W/ Bob & David | Various roles | 4 episodes; also writer |
| 2016 | Modern Family | Carl | Episode: "Crazy Train" |
| 2016 | Hidden America with Jonah Ray | John | Episode: "Los Angeles: All That Glitters Is Not Gold" |
| 2016–2017 | Love | Pastor Lewis | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Animals | Ad Man 4 | Episode: "Humans" |
| 2018 | Take My Wife | Guy | Episode #2.3 |
| 2018 | The 5th Quarter | James Naismith | Episode: "Hashbrowns & Potaters" |
| 2019 | Kevin Hart's Guide to Black History | Various roles | Television film |
| 2019 | Dope State | Paul Standinghpin | Television film |
| 2019–2021 | Momma Named Me Sheriff | Mr. Goodman / Buff Swede (voice) | 18 episodes |
| 2020 | Better Call Saul | Don Wachtell | Episode: "Wexler v. Goodman" |