  jonathan niven "jon" cryer (born april 16, 1965) is an american actor, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. born into a show business family, cryer made his motion picture debut as a teenaged photographer in the 1984 romantic comedy no small affair; his breakout role came in 1986, playing "duckie" dale in the john hughes-written film pretty in pink. in 1998, he wrote and produced the independent film went to coney island on a mission from god... be back by five. although cryer gained fame with his early film roles, it took several years to find success on television; none of his star vehicles, including the famous teddy z, partners, and the trouble with normal, lasted more than 22 episodes. in 2003, cryer was cast as alan harper on the cbs sitcom two and a half men, for which he won two primetime emmy awards in 2009 and 2012. cryer received a star on the hollywood walk of fame for television in 2011. cryer made a cameo appearance as himself playing alan harper in due date (2010). his other film appearances include tortured (2008), shorts (2009) and hit by lightning (2014). ==early life== cryer was born in new york city, new york. his mother, gretchen (nÃ©e kiger), is a playwright, songwriter, actress, and singer; his father, donald david cryer, is an actor and singer who originally studied to be a minister.{{cite web| url=http://www.filmreference.com/film
1965_births 20th-century_American_male_actors 21st-century_American_male_actors Alumni_of_the_Royal_Academy_of_Dramatic_Art American_male_film_actors American_male_television_actors American_male_voice_actors American_screenwriters American_television_directors American_television_producers Living_people Male_actors_from_New_York_City Outstanding_Performance_by_a_Lead_Actor_in_a_Comedy_Series_Primetime_Emmy_Award_winners Outstanding_Performance_by_a_Supporting_Actor_in_a_Comedy_Series_Primetime_Emmy_Award_winners The_Bronx_High_School_of_Science_alumni