GOING BACK TO MOVIE THEATERS Read More
Gift Cards | Offers | Sign In Sign Out
  • Fandango Screen Reader Users: To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our Flixster.com website, which has the same tickets as our Fandango.com and MovieTickets.com websites.
  • Skip to Main Content
  • Movies

    Now Playing

    • See All Now Playing

    Opening This Week

    = Limited Release
    • Boogie (2021)
    • Chaos Walking
    • Raya and the Last Dragon
    • The Affair (2021)
    • My Salinger Year (2021)
    • Son (2021)
    • The Truffle Hunters (2020)
    • See All Opening This Week

    Coming Soon

    • The Courier (2021)
    • Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)
    • Nobody (2021)
    • Black Widow (2021)
    • Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway
    • See All Coming Soon

    Explore More

    • Watch Trailers on MovieClips
    • Top Box Office
    • New For Streaming
  • Theaters + Tickets

    Where are you located? Here are our top cities

    • New York, NY
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Atlanta, GA
    • Chicago, IL
    • Austin, TX
    • Miami, FL
    • San Francisco, CA
    • Phoenix, AZ
    • Washington, DC
    • Boston, MA
    • San Diego, CA
    • Seattle, WA
    • Edison, NJ
    • Houston, TX
    • Tampa, FL

    Find theaters + movie times near

  • Movie News

    Featured Movie News

    • scene from breaking news in yuba county
      Watch Exclusive 'Breaking News In Yuba County' Clip: Where's Karl?
      Read More
    • This Week in Movie News: An Update on the Next ‘Star Trek’ Movie, a Clooney and Roberts Rom-Com Reunion and More
      Read More
    • This Week in Movie News: ’Spider-Man 3’ Title Revealed, ‘Superman’ Reboot in the Works and More
      Read More

    Explore Content

    • Movie Reviews
    • Home For The Holidays
    • Awards Watch
    • Indie Movie Guide
    • Family Guide
    • House Of Screams
    • Weekly Ticket
  • My VIP Account

    Join FandangoVIP

    Buy Movies. Get Movies.

    Earn 125 points on every ticket you buy. Rack up 500 points and you'll score a $5 reward for more movies.

    Learn more

    Insider Perks

    Get your swag on with discounted movies to stream at home, exclusive movie gear, access to advanced screenings and discounts galore.

    Learn more

    Partner Rewards

    Collect bonus rewards from our many partners, including AMC, Stubs, Cinemark Connections, Regal Crown Club when you link accounts.

    Learn more

    Refunds + Exchanges

    We know life happens, so if something comes up, you can return or exchange your tickets up until the posted showtime.

    Learn more
    Join Fandango VIP For Free

    (It only takes a few seconds to join)

    Already a Fandango VIP? Sign In

Thomas Lennon Biography

  • Overview
  • Biography
  • Filmography
  • Photos
Thomas Lennon
Date of Birth:
Aug 9, 1970
Birth Place:
Oak Park, IL

Biography

One of the few members of the New York-based MTV comedy troupe "The State" to hail from the Midwest, Chicagoan comedian Thomas Lennon is also an accomplished screenwriter.

Born in Oak Park, IL, on August 9, 1970, Lennon attended New York University as an undergraduate in the late '80s, at a point when Todd Holoubek -- a member of the campus sketch comedy team "Sterile Yak" -- abandoned that earlier group in favor of forming an alternative improvisational ensemble, christened "The New Group." Comprised largely of freshmen, the team blended film, video, and live performance in its live audience shows. Lennon joined the ensemble, as did fellow coeds Kevin Allison, Michael Ian Black, Ben Garant, Michael Patrick Jann, Kerri Kenney, Joe Lo Truglio, Ken Marino, Michael Showalter, and David Wain. Following a series of original shows (which began with "I'm Rubber, You're Glue"), The New Group landed its first gig as the opening act for Dennis Miller during one of the comedian's appearances at NYU, circa 1990. He paid them 1,000 dollars total.

In the early '90s, Lennon made several short films, including The Waiters, which ran on the Bravo network; meanwhile, after MTV formally rejected the ensemble's pitch for a weekly series, Wain worked with the others to shoot demos for the MTV series You Wrote It, You Watch It, which catalyzed the network's interest. At that point, The New Group changed its name to "The State: Full Frontal Comedy." They landed an official series on MTV in 1993, boosted by an appearance on The Jon Stewart Show, in which they completely demolished the comedian's set. Over the course of the first two years, ratings skyrocketed, carrying the series through several seasons. It wrapped in 1997.

During the series' run, Lennon wrote much of the material, including the popular "Monkey Torture" sketch. After the show ended, he joined cast members Kerri Kenney and Michael Ian Black to create the Comedy Central variety show spoof Viva Variety, based on an old sketch from The State. Lennon transitioned to features by voicing the documentarian character in the hit comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous, the feature-film debut of State director Michael Patrick Jann. Lennon also appeared in the feature films Memento, Out Cold, and Boat Trip, as well as TV commercials for various candy items and video-game platforms.

Returning to the television series format, Lennon sustained a recurring role in the short-lived ABC medical drama MDs. He then reunited with Kenney and other State members to create the reality cop show spoof Reno 911!, starring himself as pretty-boy Lieutenant Jim Dangle. Directed by Jann, the show became a hit on Comedy Central in 2003.

Lennon maintained a busy schedule in 2004, with supporting roles in the A-list romantic comedies A Guy Thing, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and Le Divorce. That same year, he also did screenwriting work (alongside many others) on Todd Phillips's Starsky & Hutch (2004), and the terribly received action comedy Taxi, starring Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon. While Reno 911! continued through 2005, Lennon contributed to the scripts of such mainstream releases as Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005), The Pacifier (2005), Night at the Museum (2006), and Let's Go to Prison!

2007 saw the young comedian and scenarist involved in his most ambitious project to date. He posed a triple threat as cast member, executive producer, and screenwriter of that year's Balls of Fury, directed by fellow "Stater" Ben Garant, one of the major forces behind Reno 911! He was cast in Hancock and the comedy I Love You, Man. In 2009 he co-wrote Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. He had a small but crucial role in 2011's Cedar Rapids, and appeared in the comedies Bad Teacher and What's Your Number?

Lennon lives with his wife, Jenny Robertson, in Los Angeles.
— Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
New on DVD Today (and Through End of the Year!)
Stacie Hougland December 17th 2013, 6:11 pm

New on DVD Today (and Through End of the Year!)

DVD of the Week: 'I Love You, Man'
Stacie Hougland August 10th 2009, 4:58 pm

DVD of the Week: 'I Love You, Man'

Offers

  • <b>Receive a $10 Reward</b>

    Receive a $10 Reward

    when you spend $25 on participating products. SEE DETAILS

  • <b>Receive a Movie Rental</b>

    Receive a Movie Rental

    when you purchase an Edible Movie Night Gift Box. SEE DETAILS

New + Coming soon

  • Raya and the Last Dragon poster

    Raya and the Last Dragon

  • Chaos Walking poster

    Chaos Walking

  • Tom & Jerry (2021) poster

    Tom & Jerry (2021)

  • Nomadland poster

    Nomadland

  • Judas and the Black Messiah poster

    Judas and the Black Messiah

  • Land (2021) poster

    Land (2021)

  • The Little Things (2021) poster

    The Little Things (2021)

  • The Croods: A New Age (2020) poster

    The Croods: A New Age (2020)

Experience + Explore

  • Movies In Theaters
  • Movie Actors and Actresses
  • Mobile
  • New For Streaming
  • Special Offers
  • Gift Cards

Editorial Features

  • Home For The Holidays
  • Awards Watch
  • Indie Movie Guide
  • Family Guide
  • House Of Screams
  • Movie News

Videos

  • Movie Trailers
  • Weekly Ticket
  • Mom's Movie Minute

Photos

  • Red Carpet Premieres
  • March Celebrity Birthdays
  • Award Shows Red Carpets

Follow Us

  • Fandango on Facebook
  • Fandango on Twitter
  • Fandango on Instagram
  • Fandango on Youtube

Get Updates On All Things Movies

Privacy Policy

Thanks for signing up!

Get Fandango Apps

Fandango iOS App Fandango Android App
Refunds & Exchanges Help My Fandango Live Chat
  • About Fandango
  • Careers
  • Advertising
  • Link to Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Fandango Rewards
  • Site Index
  • Your Privacy Rights - Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Policies
  • AdChoices
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • California Notice
Fandango Affiliated Companies:
  • Vudu
  • FandangoNOW
  • Movieclips
  • Rotten Tomatoes
  • Flixster.com
  • MovieTickets.com
  • Ingresso
© 2020 Fandango

Welcome Back to Movie Theaters

Fandango helps you go back to the movies with confidence and peace of mind.

  • Find Open Theaters Near You
  • Check Theater Safety Policies
  • Contactless Ticket Purchase
  • Contactless Ticket Entry
  • Worry-free Refunds & Exchanges
See Open Theaters Near You