The Detroit native (born in Detroit on January 9, 1955) and veteran character actor J. K. Simmons ended his brilliant award season with the ultimate prize, a best supporting actor Oscar for “Whiplash.” Then the man who played the nastiest jazz instructor in history proved he’s a sweetheart in real life by telling global viewers to phone their mothers. “Call your mom, everybody,” he said. “I’m told there’s like a billion people or so (watching). Call you mom, call your dad, if you are lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet. Don’t text. Don’t email. Call ’em on the phone. Tell them you love them, and thank them, and listen to them for as long as they want to talk to you.”
Many Americans are most familiar with Simmons as a recurring character in the Farmers Insurance ads, but he has appeared in numerous tv shows and movies.
Sources:
Julie Hinds, “Oscars: 10 huge moments from Hollywood’s biggest night”, Detroit Free Press, February 23, 2015.
Julie Hinds, “Detroit native J.K. Simmons wins an Oscar”, Detroit Free Press, February 23, 2015.
Julie Hinds, “J.K. Simmons lit up Oscars with simple message”, Detroit Free Press, February 24, 2015.